binky_bass

Except for some light tarnishing, the BD signature having worn off the pickups (happens with all of them!) and 2 missing screws in the rear cavity cover, it is immaculate. Came with a spare set of SIT strings, second cavity cover and a semi-hard case too. So all in, there's agreed price was a bit of a steal...

Back from 2 days 'business' in Cologne to find the Conklin patient waiting for me upon my return! I forgot just how well made these things are... unbelievably thin neck profile, no real visible or 'feelable' difference in build quality to that of my USA Conklin (hardware, pickups, preamp, woods etc aside...)

Sounds like a budget Doubtfire rip off!

Mine doesn't care too much either... the occasional eye roll, but generally I only buy second hand and at a price I know I won't loose money on if/when I sell. I'd rather have a collection of things I can enjoy (and sell if need be) than a bunch of cash in the bank that will gain bugger all interest and be no fun!

I don't have Facebook so can't access that link. I suspect it's a Korean made 5 String Conklin Groove Tools? Guessing it's this one thats for sale for £550 on The Fretboard.

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, 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. 👍

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!

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!

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.

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! 😆

It was more a request for photos of @HDG specific bass due to the mention of that model number I'm not familiar with!

Is this the giant bodied Ernie Ball 70's acoustic bass with Schaller machine heads? I know what an Earthwood Acoustic Bass is, but I dont recognise that model number. Any photos?

A standard eBay AI description from the spec and the title the seller provided. 100% not written by the seller.

It's subjective isn't it. If you were in the market for an ACG let's say, some might look to buy new and spec it up to their liking and pay full retail, some might be very happy with something 90% to their liking and pay say 30% less on the second hand market. Neither is 'right', its entirely subjective. I've bought many basses that I simply wanted to try, some I've loved and kept, some I've enjoyed for a short time and moved on, some I've broke even, some I've came out on top a little and some I've lost a little on. For me, buying second hand at a price I'm reasonably confident I won't loose money on allows me to enjoy and play significantly more basses than I ever would do if I'd only bought new. It's also vastly broadened my horizons in terms of what I now really look for in a bass - it's honed my 'wants' to an extremely specific list that I know suits me perfectly. As I say, tis all subjective with no correct answer! Do what suits you.

Potentially, I'm lucky enough to have a few from both sides of this particular fence. I have a few ACGs Alan made for me and of course Binky the 10 string Bee Bass. I also have some I've bought well under their market value that I doubt I'll ever sell and some I've bought for about their market value as I wanted to try it but also didn't want to buy new and loose a chuck after the initial purchase. 'Orses for Courses as they say!