Conklin

Conklin

Also known as: Conklin Guitars, Conklin Guitars & Basses, Conklin Basses

Unclaimed

Conklin Guitars & Basses is a custom guitar and bass builder based in Springfield, Missouri. Founded by luthier Bill Conklin in 1984, the company grew out of his early experiments with unusual shapes, exotic woods, and unconventional configurations. Conklin is widely credited as a pioneer of the extended-range bass, producing seven-, eight-, nine-, and eleven-string instruments at a time when s...

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Conklin Guitars & Basses is a custom guitar and bass builder based in Springfield, Missouri. Founded by luthier Bill Conklin in 1984, the company grew out of his early experiments with unusual shapes, exotic woods, and unconventional configurations. Conklin is widely credited as a pioneer of the extended-range bass, producing seven-, eight-, nine-, and eleven-string instruments at a time when such designs were largely unheard of. The shop offers both standard production models and fully bespoke custom builds, with most instruments designed, crafted, and assembled in the United States.

The brand is known for its signature construction techniques, including the "Melted Tops" method introduced in 1991, which joins multiple species of wood into seamless multi-piece tops with unique grain patterns. Other notable products include the Sidewinder seven-string bass, featuring stereo panning, pickup splitting, and an onboard parametric EQ, and the M.E.U. (Mobile Electric Upright), an electric upright bass worn on a strap. Conklin also produces the Groove Tools line, a more affordable import range developed around the extended-range bass concept.

Conklin has a long association with bassist Bill Dickens, whose signature seven-string model helped popularize extended-range bass playing. The company's instruments have developed a devoted following among players seeking unusual string counts, exotic tonewoods, and hand-built custom specifications.

Conklin has 3 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Electric Basses and Solid Body Electric Guitars. Their gear is featured by 2 artists, with the strongest followings in Funk / Soul, Rock, and Hip Hop. Notable users include Victor Wooten and Rocco Prestia.

Artists Who Use Conklin

Victor Wooten uses 1 Conklin product

Victor Wooten

Bassist · Chick Corea Elektric Band

Rocco Prestia uses 1 Conklin product

Rocco Prestia

Bassist · Tower of Power

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