NDB - eBay you hateful b*stard!

[binky_bass]

I frequently trawl various 'instrument for sale' sites when I've got nothing better to do of an evening once the boy is in bed and after the wife and I have had some dinner... 8pm to 9pm is my prime hour!

 

I stumbled across a Conklin GTBD-7 on eBay yesterday, not too many of these were made, they were meant to be a cheaper, more accessible version of the USA Custom Shop Conklins, however they were very expensive to make and the quality was exceptionally good, not too far off that of the USA Custom Shop basses, so they stopped production after maybe a year or so. They did the GT-7 (the cheaper version) and this GTBD-7 versions with Bartolini pickups and preamp as well as a premium top and through neck. 

 

I've owned a couple of these over the years as well as two USA Custom Shop Conklins (one I still have and I will die with), so I'm very familiar with them vs the USA stock and they are really great basses. 

 

I made an offer on this one, we had a quick chat about logistics, and the offer was accepted! Should be with me Tuesday/Wednesday of next week. Comes with a spare set of strings and a hardcase too. 👍 

 

Damn you eBay for FORCING me to buy this! 😆

 

[Geek99]

Holy f*** 

[tauzero]

Nice.

[itu]

How do you tune that smörgåsbord? What's the scale length and string spacing in the bridge? 

 

Congratulations on a fine bass! 

[binky_bass]

4 minutes ago, itu said:

How do you tune that smörgåsbord? What's the scale length and string spacing in the bridge? 

 

Congratulations on a fine bass! 

I'll probably go with BEADGCF tuning. I have a USA Custom Shop 8 string Conklin, an ACG 9 string and a Bee Bass 10 string (Binky), so I'm used to these oversized beasts! Scale length I believe is 35", spacing I think is 17mm.

[Hellzero]

Have you ever played the USA Bill Dickens model, Russ?

 

I did at the Frankfurt Musik Messe, when they were released, under the surveillance of the master himself, who has huge hands that said.

 

It sounded really really really well, but even back then I found it very heavy, the bass, not Bill, though... 🤪😉🤔

[binky_bass]

No, I've not played a full fat US Bill Dickens, but I do own this US full fat Custom Shop 8 string Conklin, which I imagine wouldn't be too dissimilar! And probably weighs similar!

 

Edited 13 hours ago by binky_bass

[velvetkevorkian]

Nice score, that's a prettier top than the slightly wonky quilt I have on mine. I always assumed these were 34", I should probably check that.

[Hellzero]

Scale length of the GTBD-7 is indeed 34 inches @velvetkevorkian, not 35 inches @binky_bass. 😉

[Hellzero]

More photos and details here: Conklin GTBD-7 Bill Dickens Signature with Natural Finish https://reverb.com/item/11052050

 

[HeadlessBassist]

Lovely Conklin you've scored there - you'll be able to iron your shirts on the fingerboard in between string changes!

[Paulhauser]

Nice score Russ! The GTBD was on my bucket list for a few years albeit I was not succesfull in getting one. I had a GT-7 though for a few years, the regular overseas Conklin 7er and that was a great bass, heavy but balanced exceptionally well with the huge body and fat neck. I seem to remember that the neck on the Dickens model is somewhat narrower and thinner than the GT-7. I think you are up for a treat!

[binky_bass]

2 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

Nice score Russ! The GTBD was on my bucket list for a few years albeit I was not succesfull in getting one. I had a GT-7 though for a few years, the regular overseas Conklin 7er and that was a great bass, heavy but balanced exceptionally well with the huge body and fat neck. I seem to remember that the neck on the Dickens model is somewhat narrower and thinner than the GT-7. I think you are up for a treat!

I've had 2 or 3 of these over the years, then genuinely are very good basses, even at the price point they were when they were new. Looking forward to giving this one a blast in a day or two! 

[Paulhauser]

1 hour ago, binky_bass said:

I've had 2 or 3 of these over the years, then genuinely are very good basses, even at the price point they were when they were new. Looking forward to giving this one a blast in a day or two! 

Come to think of it, this Dickens model has some quite advanced Bartolini preamp package in it. I did a search and it indeed is quite something 🙂

 

[velvetkevorkian]

I did have to print that off to take to the shop when I got mine serviced. Unbelievable amounts of treble on tap there.

[NancyJohnson]

Many, many moons ago I did a stint on the Conklin stand at a guitar show when it was held in Docklands.  Honestly no idea how it came about; drummer at the time had a Yamaha endorsement and he seemed to have this lucid connection (by association) with the UK importers of Hamer and Warwick (who were based in Ascot at the time).  

 

So we drive up.  Get lost in Docklands, are followed, then pulled over and questioned by the police.  We're late and arrive, I'm in the booth and told to play the seven-string.  I notice that the bridge doesn't fit the body shape and was told to try and cover it up with my right hand while playing.  I do 45-60 minutes and it's all over.  I'm rewarded with an EBS Octaver pedal for my trouble and as I had a lanyard, I have blagging rights (so free Rotosound strings and I get to meet Jim Marshall).

 

What a day.

[binky_bass]

8 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

Many, many moons ago I did a stint on the Conklin stand at a guitar show when it was held in Docklands.  Honestly no idea how it came about; drummer at the time had a Yamaha endorsement and he seemed to have this lucid connection (by association) with the UK importers of Hamer and Warwick (who were based in Ascot at the time).  

 

So we drive up.  Get lost in Docklands, are followed, then pulled over and questioned by the police.  We're late and arrive, I'm in the booth and told to play the seven-string.  I notice that the bridge doesn't fit the body shape and was told to try and cover it up with my right hand while playing.  I do 45-60 minutes and it's all over.  I'm rewarded with an EBS Octaver pedal for my trouble and as I had a lanyard, I have blagging rights (so free Rotosound strings and I get to meet Jim Marshall).

 

What a day.

I may have been at that one... what year was it? I went to 3 guitar/bass shows around 2001-2006ish and met Jim Marshall at all 3. I still have 3 Marshall posters (one of Jim in front of a wall of Marshall stacks, one of Jim and Nico McBrain and one of Hendrix) all signed by Jim and made out to me and all with different dates on them. Two are on my studio wall next to a Birdhouse flyer signed by Tony Hawk fly, a few signed set lists from various gigs and a Tim Russ (Tuvok from Star Trek Voyager) signed promo photo! Not sure where the third is Jim poster is... 🤔 

 

Found a photo, 2003, 2004 and 2005. 👍 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by binky_bass

[Hellzero]

I've had some posters during the 90's signed by Jim himself until they started asking money for it... 🤦🏻

 

Talked a few times with him too about amps and drums, he was a very nice guy.

[NancyJohnson]

52 minutes ago, binky_bass said:

I may have been at that one... what year was it? I went to 3 guitar/bass shows around 2001-2006ish and met Jim Marshall at all 3. I still have 3 Marshall posters (one of Jim in front of a wall of Marshall stacks, one of Jim and Nico McBrain and one of Hendrix) all signed by Jim and made out to me and all with different dates on them. Two are on my studio wall next to a Birdhouse flyer signed by Tony Hawk fly, a few signed set lists from various gigs and a Tim Russ (Tuvok from Star Trek Voyager) signed promo photo! Not sure where the third is Jim poster is... 🤔 

 

Found a photo, 2003, 2004 and 2005. 👍 

 

 

Jim Marshall signed me a copy of the 'It goes up to to 11, dunnit?' poster.

 

God know where that is now.