Oh Man, the beast showed up today! Ya know what? It ain't such a beast after all. It is barely heavier than my 5 string Balance K Deluxe, and lighter than some I have had. On top of that, the neck that looks so imposing in photos is really easy to get around on. The carve is quite thin, and access is not an issue at all. I can't complain about the condition as it is excellent, but more importantly, it plays great, sounds incredible, and is structurally flawless. I even fixed the broken latch with a rivet, so all is right with the World once again. Absolutely no regrets about buying this unusual bass, and now I don't have to cry about having sold my old 7 string ever again. I did not realize it when i bought it, but the bass is a 32" scale. The shorter scale makes it super easy to play, and there is no loss of a massively powerful low end. I set it up with my favorite tape wound strings with a bare core 18 for the high F, and it is incredibly well balanced and responsive. It is exactly what I have been hoping it would be, and a lot more. All my fears are long gone, and it is just fretless 7 string bliss from here on out.
