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8/18/2019 Conklin Custom Color
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8/18/2019 Conklin Custom Color
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We turn good ideas……into great guitars! www.conklinguitars.com
Your guitar or bass should be an extension of your personality, a tool designed to
make the most of your unique musical abilities, and that is what Conklin is all about.
We work directly with you to create the exact guitar you have in mind…a one-of-a-kind
professional instrument of the finest quality.
At Conklin, each of us is dedicated to
creating instruments of unsurpassed
workmanship… instruments that
push the envelope of conventional
thinking and conventional standards.
Every aspect of construction at
Conklin is performed by hand. We
have no CNC machines, no robotics,
no computer aided design or drafting
— just a handful of experienced
craftsmen with keen eyes, skilled
hands, an unwavering attention todetail and an obsession for quality.
Conklin Guitars is a small, but proud
company dedicated to producing
uncompromising instruments for
discerning musicians. We aim to meet
or exceed your highest expectations.
If you can dream it…
Conklin can create it.
You have a dream…
We have the means.
Bill Conklin (left) and partner Phil Goschy. Two guys enrichingpeople's lives.
2
Company Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Product Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Extended Range Instruments . . . . . .4A Word About Woods . . . . . . . . . .10Signature & Custom Guitars . . . . .10
No holds barred…the sky's the limit . . . . . .
Mobile Electric Upright (M.E.U.) BassA revolutionary instrument . . . . . . . .13
New Century Series. We limited the optionsand lowered the prices . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Hollowbody Guitars and BassesThe hippest of the hollowbodies . . . . .17
The Exclusive "Melted Top"Organic Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
The Power of Piezos & TheMagic of Midi . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Team PlayersConklin owners and users . . . . . . . . .22
For More InformationWe want to hear from you . . . . . . . . .23
C O N T E N T S
We understand that the very heart and soul of
the instrument lies within the neck.
Therefore, we are extremely particular about the
materials and processes used to build our necks. All
Conklin instruments are constructed with a durable
multi-laminate neck. This standard feature provides
unparalleled strength and stability and resists twisting
and bowing like no one piece neck ever could. Otherbenefits of this design include a much more even
volume spectrum across all the strings and a livelier,
cleaner, focused response on every note.
Beautiful, Durable, Multi-Laminate Neck
Rugged Integral
Headstock
Exclusive Contoured
Neckheel
Conklin’s tapered and contoured neckheel provides the smoothest transition from neck to body andeffortless access to the highest fret.You'll swear you’re playing a neck-thru-body.
Conklin’s integral headstock, fully contoured body and tapered neck heel provide t he ultimate in comfort, playabilityand durability.
For added strength, the Conklin neck andheadstock is cut from a single multi-laminateblank, then inlaid, fretted and hand carvedfor a comfortable, somewhat “broken-in”feeling that fits perfectly into your hand.
3
Conklin's tilt-back headstock increases tension over thenut for better sustain and the straight string pull designimproves tuning accuracy.
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We turn good ideas……into great guitars! www.conklinguitars.com
Extended
4
We wrote the book on…
Tuned in fourths
and spanning the limits of
range, these Conklin
Sidewinders combine contra bass
(below E), standard bass, tenor bass
(normally tuned A-C) and piccolo bass (an octive above
standard E-G) and allows you to play through all these modes without
any thought involved.
Range Instruments.
5
Our intention, when designing these extended range instruments, was not so we could brag
that we had more strings than anybody else. These are incredibly versatile, totally practical,
serious “World-class” instruments.
Try not to view these instruments as some alien creature requiring super human strength and
huge hands to play…quite the contrary. The “Side-winder” is a very user-friendly
instrument, easily adapted to by any player with a basic knowledge of the bass and guitar.You may be amazed to know that many Conklin converts report that the 7-string is actually
easier to visualize and play than a six string bass! With the addition of the high F-string
chording becomes as natural as on a keyboard or guitar and even complicated scales
become easier and faster because of being able to play vertically without having to
transpose up the neck.
Much of Conklin's notoriety has come from the fact that we thrive in areas that any other
company would fear to tread. Nothing exemplifies this more than our extended range
instruments. Basically any instrument that has range beyond the normal 6-string guitar or 4-
string bass could be considered extended range. However, Conklin has become famous for
taking range and versatility to the limits. Since the introduction of our sidewinding 7-string
bass in 1992, Conklin has built hundreds and hundreds of custom order 7, 8, and even 9-string
basses; and the response has been similarly overwhelming to our 8-string guitars.
Why so many strings?
Since the release of our Sidewinder 7-string bass in 199 2, Conklin has pioneered more advancements in the field ofextended range instruments than any other company and more recently we've made history with our 8- and 9-stringbasses, tuned in fourths from Low F# to High F or even High Bb!
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Extended Range Instruments
Tight, punchy presence
The Superior construction of our super strong maple/purpleheart neck offers several
advantages. The need for graphite reinforcements which sterilize your tone is eliminated and
it provides punchy, focused lows and mids, bright, clean glassy highs, incredible sustain and
the tightest low “B” on the p lanet.
The tight bottom end response also enhances right hand technique by allowing for lower
action and a lighter touch while creating more even dynamics.
Unparalleled comfort and playability
The Sidewinder bodystyle is also perfectly balanced and seemingly weightless making the
Conklin bass a dream to play for hours at a time. The Sidewinder bass features a 34" scale,
double expanding truss rods, a custom made bridge, available with narrow or wide string
spacing and a wonderfully thin, fast neck. The extended arch of the fingerboard created by
the wider neck is more ergonomically suited to your hand which actually reduces fatigue and
improves playability.
Guitarists need added range too!
Conklin’s standard 8-string guitar has added range in both directions making it a lead player’s
dream. Modern jazz guitarists will find the chordal possibilities wide open, and country
pickers will love the versatility of the low “B” for baritone range and the high “G” for slide
work. Or, for those who like their Lows, the 8 can be tuned with two lower strings for a
walking bass line or devastatingly low chords.
String spacing on the 7 & 8 string guitars is virtually identical to
standard electrics. Five piece laminated necks are standard, and both models feature a
custom made Conklin bridge.
All Conklin extended range instruments are available with Conklin’s exclusive “melted tops”,
custom electronics, and many other options.
A radical design that’s quite comfortable and very playable; this 36 fret 7-string is the epitome of extended rangeand versatility.
6 7
Extended Range Guitars
This pair of 8-strings featuremulti-scale fingerboards(licensed by Novax). Thefanning of the frets creates alonger scale length on the bassside to allow for tunings wellbelow the normal range of a 6-string. The shorter scale on the treble side allows for tuning to
High A.
3 on/off switches;3 band EQ. Totalcontrol…
totally cool
For the traditionalistlooking for extendedrange we offer thisSidewinder 8-stringwith wooden “Melted”pickguard.
Check out the custom Conklin tremelo on this shreddin' 7.
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Extended
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This georgeous satin finished 7-stringfeatures a one piece figured walnut top.
While this one features a one piece solid
figured maple body. Bo th utilize Lane Poorpickups and full EQ.
This simple beauty features neck-thru-bodyconstruction, a beautiful, curly maple top andBartolini pickups.
Two beautiful custom basses. A quiltedmaple 5-string built for Danny DeMoraleswith Wayne Newton and a “Melted Top” 6-string made for Kieth Nelson with Diana
Ross and Donna Summer.
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Range Basses
It just doesn't get any nicer than this. A stunning one piece figuredwalnut top hammers it home.
Bill “The
Buddha”
Dickens
leaves
crowds
wiped out
with his technical prowess. Here he is on the world's
first 9-string bass. Bill's Custom Basses feature stereopanning, parametric EQ and a 12-volt power supply.
This“to die for”
Sidewinder7-string
screams for attentionwith its one-of-a-kind
“Melted Top”, piezo andmagnetic electronics and
incredible tone and playability.
Our 8-string
basses add an
F# below B or a
high Bb above F.
This one also has an on-
board parametric EQ and
direct out XLR.
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Signature & Custom Guitars
Redefining custom
At Conklin Guitars, custom means just that…the customer is free to choose every
specification of the instrument including design, woods, colors and componentry.
High-performance
refinement
Before construction, every detail of your
custom Conklin design is carefully
evaluated for balance, weight and overall
player comfort (whether seated or
standing). Conklin helps you refine your
ideas, to assure that your guitar delivers
unmatched performance regardless of
how radical the design. And, of course,
every guitar is fully inspected and set-up
prior to delivery by a professional
technician/musician for perfect tuning,
intonation and playability.
A word aboutWoods
As a general rule of thumb the lighter
more porous woods will give a warmer
woodier, more resonant response and the
heavier, denser woods will have the
brighter, snappier more focused tone.
Keep in mind that each piece of wood is
merely an ingredient of the overall result.
There is no right or wrong.
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Extremely rare curly Koa highlights thisspectacular
7-string featuring an on-board Parametric EQ(PEQ).
Could this be the most incredible feat of custom guitarengineering ever?
The result of this obsession is Conklin’s extraordinary
“Standard Set-up” - a wealth of options available asstandard equipment on every custom Conklin Guitar.
These include your choice of bodystyle, neck width,
scale length and fingerboard radius, standard woods and
standard colors, as well as any type of bridge or tremolo
system, tuning machines and pickups. And that’s not all.
Other standard features include:
A multi-laminate neck and unified headstock for superior
strength, beauty and durability.
Your choice of fine maple, rosewood, or ebony, fingerboard.
Chrome, gold or black hardware.
An ergonomically designed body, featuring our exclusive tapered neckheel.
A recessed straplock system for worry-free stage movement
and low profile strap attachment.
A locking input mechanism to prevent accidental cord
extraction.
Mother of Pearl position markers located on the upper edge
of the fingerboard that double as top and side dots allowing
easy viewing from any angle.
An Ultralite case from Modern Case Company.
Conklin Guitars’ unprecedented limited Lifetime Warranty
against defects in custom workmanship for as long as you
own your guitar.And if that’s not enough…Absolutely unlimited custom options
can be specified.
All Conklin instruments can be orderedwith an earth-friendly, fully resonant,urethane/oil finish. Many players prefer the “woody” feel and sonic properties of this hand-rubbed finish. Also note thedetailed mother-of-pearl inlay work on thiswenge and purpleheart bass.
Our standard case is the form-fit
"ultralite" from Modern Case Co.
Bill shapes and sands the edges of ahollow body bass.
Conklin Guitars is dedicated to creating the ultimate
level of instrument. One whose standard features
include higher standards…an obsessive attention to
detail for those who will not settle for second best or
compromise commitment.
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Phil puts the final touches on anexquisite 8-string bass. Controlcavities are competely shieldedand each instrument is hand-
wired with meticulous attention to detail.
All new stylesAll new standards.
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Brilliant tropical colors highlight thiscomfortable, well-balanced guitar.
This ferocious-looking bulldog was three-dimensionally carved and then air brushed. Acartoon brought to life.
A trio of custom
basses…a solid
“honeycomb” quilt
maple lefty 7;
a 3 octave
Wenge/Bubinga neck- thru with Ziricote top
and a one-of-a-kind
4-string in the same
shape as our
Crossover guitar. The
“Melted” pick guard
on the arched top 4 is
made of Cocobolo and
curly maple.
This MIDI 7-string has it alland does it all.Call or write forowners manual(just kidding)!
“HeavenlyHardbodies”Somemouth-wateringmorsels of “MeltedTops” and3-D relief carving.The 8-stringdragon bass wasmade for Victor Wooten.
12 13
Cus•tom (kus'tem)adj. 1. Made or done to order, or, made extra fine; 2. Making things to order, or dealing in
things made to order [a custom luthier]; 3. Made according to personal or individual
specifications, according to the customer's specifications …syn. SEE ALSO CONKLIN.
Conklin Means Custom
We turn good ideas……into great guitars! www.conklinguitars.com
“It
melts in
your hand
not in yourmouth. ”
We call this bass
the “Ultimelt”
because of its liquid
looks, precision
craftsmanship and superior
performance. We think
it will melt
your heart.
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The instrument that was originally designed to
allow upright players to move around on stage
and electric players to easily adapt to upright
style has evolved into a revolutionary instrument
that continues to amaze even its designers. The
Conklin M.E.U. or Mobile Electric Upright is a
fully mobile, fully portable, extremely well-balanced electric upright that is strapped on like
an electric bass but hangs on the body in
upright position. A combination of precisely
placed strap buttons and an ingenious balance
block on the back of the instrument allows the
lightweight M.E.U. to hang effortlessly just off
the player’s body at a perfect playing angle and
height.
The secret to the M.E.U.’s size and mobility lies
in its 34” scale length, but don’t think for a
second that the M.E.U. can’t run with its long-
scale acoustic counterparts. The Conklin hasan incredible acoustic tone, even down to the
“thud” produced when plucking an upright
string and the vibrating top effect produced by
bowing an acoustic. You won’t believe your
ears!
The M.E.U. bass shownwith the removablebalance block andadjustable strap whichallows the instrument torest in perfect uprightposition on any sizeplayer.
Kyth Trantham demonstrates the bowability of the5-string M.E.U.
Mobile Electric Upright
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Even with its drastically downsized body, thin
profile and lack of arching or F-holes; the
M.E.U. sounds like it’s two
feet wide, six feet tall and
pushing air! Die hard
acoustic players are
amazed at how theM.E.U. neck and
fingerboard
replicates an
expensive full
size upright and
even transmits
vibrations into
the left
hand; a
characteristic rarely found on any electric
upright.
The strap on design and compact shape of
the body also allows the player to “become
one” with the instrument making the M.E.U.
easier to play, even in thumb position.
Another advantage of the M.E.U. is its
traditionally styled body. When combined
with its realistic acoustic, sonic
capabilities the M.E.U. will surely be
welcomed in virtually any musical
forum just short of the symphony.
The M.E.U.’s size makes it a hands
down winner in yet another
category; transportability. At only
52” the M.E.U. can be zipped into its
custom Ultralite Case and easily carried
across campus over the shoulder, tossed
into the back seat of any subcompact car
and even placed in the overhead
compartment of most planes!
No more of those shipping
nightmares for acoustic
upright players.
If you currently play acoustic
upright, electric upright or
standard electric bass, you
owe it to yourself tocheck out the Conklin
M.E.U. bass. From
Conklin and no one else!
“M.E.U.” Bass
Players include:Allen Woody - Government MuleVictor Wooten - Bela FleckKevin Chown - Studio Musician0
Paul Arntz - Nashville session player.Paul IL - LA Session Player
The M.E.U. sounds like it’s two feetwide, six feet tall and pushing air!
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Understanding that not every player has the need for a completely
custom instrument or even the budget to acquire one, Conklin is
proud to offer a limited production series of guitars and basses, priced
within the reach of virtually anyone.
These instruments are not mass-produced, down-grades of our
renowned signature and one-of-a-kind models, but are standardized
versions of our most requested designs and options. The NEW
CENTURY SERIES™ guitars and basses are hand made to the same
exacting standards, by the same craftsmen, using top grade hardwoods
and name brand hardware, right in the same shop as our finest custom
instruments. By limiting options, instead of lowering quality, we are able
to streamline production and lower costs.
Every instrument produced at Conklin features the same craftsmanship,
playability, and lifetime warranty, regardless of price.
New Century Seriesguitars and bassesfeature cherry bodies,multi-laminate necks,rosewoodfingerboards and ourexclusive“off-sides” dots.All 4,5,6, & 7-stringbasses are availablein 3 models and 3
option packages.•
We’re with you for life… That’s integrity!
*See New Century Series price list for full details.
The “New Century Series” Instruments of Integrity
17
The New Century Series
The versatile bodystyle of the Conklin“ Crossover” can be set-up in several different variations.
Note how well this design lends itself to strat-style, tele-style and Les Paul*-style
configurations. All pick guards are made of wood.
All 6, 7, 8-string New Century Guitars are available in 2 bodystyles, 3 models and 3 option packages.
*See New Century Series price list for full details.
*Strat, tele, and Les Paul are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instrument Co. and Gibson Guitars. Conklin is in no way affiliated
with these companies.
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“The Hippest of the Hollowbodies”
Conklin Arch Tops...
Sing the same construction techniques that allowed us
to produce our highly praised Mobile E lectric Upright
(M.E.U. Bass) Conklin is now offering a new line of hollowbody
guitars and basses. These
wonderful instruments are
built around the samecompact body style as our
solid bodies for a more intimate feel
and comfortable playing position than
can be achieved on a full size jazz box.The
neck, pickups, electronics and bridge are also
set up in a more familiar fashion to allow electric
players to feel right at home at all times.
Because the
deep,hollowbody
design features both
magnetic and piezo
pickup options these
hip little hollow bodies
can do it all from a
screaming lead guitar , a th ick chunky rhythm
guitar , a beautiful warm jazz box or a rich glass-like
acoustic guitar .
Once you see, hear and
feel the new Conklin
hollow-bodies you may
decide this is the only
guitar you need.Conklin hollowbodies can be decked out with piezo
and magnetic pickups, preamps, EQ's, on board
MIDI electronics, “Melted T ops” and even multi-
scale fingerboards as on this beautiful Sidewinder
hollowbody .(T uned Low B to High A).
Piezo pickups in the bridge of this georgeous 6-
string Crossover hollowbody produce incredibleaccoustic tones while the neck position
humbucker gives it a wonderful warm
jazzbox tone.
19
Conklin hollowbodies includ e an
easy-access control cover, contoured
neckheel and arched back.
A Les Paul lovers
archtop.
This spectacular piece features walnut back and sides, 5 pc. “Melted
Top”, 3 band EQ, MIDI electronics and custom Conklin bridge.
Dave Wood, New
York City jazz,
funk &fusion
session artist.
T o celebrate their 15th year
of business and the release
of their new hollowbody basses;
Conklin is proud to offer this Limited
Edition 15th anniversary model. A
special finish, select hardware, exotic
wood binding and custom electronics
highlight this hollowbody
7-string Sidewinder
bass.
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We turn good ide as……into great guit ars! www.conklinguitars.com20
How do they do that?
It's a work of art that works!
The Magnificent “Melted Top”
Conklin Guitars has become known for its many unique creations and exclusive innovations,
but nothing sets us apart from the pack like the
“Melted Top”. The world class Conklin craftsmen have developed what may be the ultimate
construction technique. In a special process the Conklin design team uses only the finest
exotic woods to create stunning organic graphics; two or more different types of wood are
combined into a unique visually stimulating pattern to portray the illusion of movement,
harmony and colorful excitement.
Once the boards are chosen, the Conklin craftsmen must figure out how each of the woods
will interact in the pattern to create the finished top. From there, Conklin uses a secret
process to “melt” each piece into the pattern with super precise airtight joints. It’s hard to
believe these woods didn’t grow this way in nature! Every finished Melted Top is a one-of-a-
kind creation as unique as the woods that go into it and the artist that owns it.
Conklin offers four basic patterns in 2,3 and 5-piece tops which allow for an infinite number of
designs that can be created using different species of woods and grain patterns. Custom
patterns are also available.
The process of making Melted Tops is a
radical departure from the standard
bookmatched top (i.e. figured Maple
tops) seen on virtually every guitar
manufacturers’ products today.
Conklin's highly skilled luthiers carefully
sort through hundreds of boards from
several different species of wood suchas burl walnut, curly, quilt or birdseye
maple, lacewood, cherry and purplehart
just to name a few. Each piece is
selected for its particular grain pattern or
color contrast when combined with the
other woods. Conklin is the first and only guitar company on the planetoffering this mysteriously beautiful and diverse construction
method, blending impeccable craftsmanship and artistic
creativity.
Piezo crystals imbedded in the saddles of
this ABM bridge ca n be used fo r a wide
variety of applications.
MIDI electrtonics hidden inside the control cavity of this bass allow it to produce the sounds of virtually
any other instrument. The only clues to its existence
are a patch switch, a synth switch and the
telltale 13-pin o utput jack. Other electronics include
a 3 band EQ, a magnetic pickup blend knob and a
piezo/magnetic blend knob.
The Power of Piezos
When people hear the term piezo pickup these days, they often think of the ones used
in acoustic/electric guitars and those that make solid bodies sound like acoustics;
that is correct, but that's definitely not all the piezo is capable of.
The Magic of MIDI MIDI allows your guitar or bass to digitally interface or communicate with other MIDI
equipped devices such as computers, controllers and converters so that you can write,
record and edit your music via your computer or create the sounds of virtually any other
instrument, live
or in the studio.
21
Piezo crystals can be installed under each bridge
saddle giving the individual strings their own signal.
These separate signals can be used for splitting thebass and treble strings into separate outputs for doing
two hand tapping techniques without cross talk or for
true stereo panning. And because the piezo operates
on string pressure instead of vibration, the response is
virtually instantaneous making them the perfect
candidate for another challenging task…triggering
MIDI systems.
Our MIDI electronics are made by RMC and
are completely housed within the control
cavity of the instrument and triggered via
piezo pickups in the bridge. This methodallows us to do multi-string applications and
also tracks much faster and more accurately
than the old hex pickups. This system is
compatible with any 13 pin MIDI converter
and can be blended with the existing piezo
and magnetic signals from the instrument.
You can order MIDI electronics on any of our
custom shop, New Century Series or
hollowbody instruments.
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We turn good ideas……into great guitars! www.conklinguitars.com
Ask the Experts.
Send us your dream.
So let your imagination soar…We’ll turn your goodideas into a great guitar.
All Conklin basses are available fretted or fretless. Fretless models can be ordered with or without lines and with orwithout a hard finish on the fingerboard.
If you need assistance with your design and hardware selection please don’t hesitate to call
our friendly, knowledgeable staff. That’s what we’re here for!
(417) 886-3525 or E-mail: [email protected]
A combination of your imagination and our craftsmanship — your Conklin will allow you to
reach unexplored musical horizons and discover new avenues of expression and untapped
potential within yourself.
If you have drawings or sketches of your dream instrument that you feel may help convey
your ideas to us; send them along with your other specifications to:
CONKLIN GUITARS & BASSES P.O. Box 1394/Springfield, MO 65801
OR FAX THEM TO: 417-886-2934
Copyright© 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998 Conklin GuitarsPhotos by J.T./Envision/Harmon Creative Photo
23
Ask us about Conklin Wearables…Jackets, Shirts & Hats as well as Conklin
accessories…strings, cases and stands.
TEAM PLAYERS Notable Conklin Owners & UsersSee our Website for updated listings and bios on these
and many other incredible artists.
Conklin doesn’t have the
huge budgets that are often
used to "buy" endorsers,hand out free equipment or
sponsor major tours or
clinics.
These artists simply
wanted an instrument as
individual as they are and
had the integrity to pay us to
get them. Now that's an
endorsement!
22
Pennal Johnson Ted Whitmore Jake Kot
John Jordan
Keith Rouster
Josh SmithEddie PruittMark Harris
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$300