Antoniotsai 7 string bass

7 string (GT8366) bass. Birds eye rosewood top and back over mahogany. 7 ply maple and mahogany neck-through design. 24 frets, abalone and pearl inlay on 3,5,7,9,12,15,17,and 19th. Volume, blend, bass, mid, and treble controls. On/off active passive switch, (9V system with preamp control pot). Bass was made in 2008, Vietnam and/or Taiwan. Neck radius is very thin and fast. Balance is very good for the weight, does not pull on the shoulder like my Conklin did. Unknown brand of pickup but closely modeled after the half size soapbars of Bartolini. Very slight satin or natural finish. Individual saddles with through-body stringing options. Body style is close to the Ibanez SR series. Came with light gigbag.

I play covers from Johnny Cash to Rage against the machine. I also play progressive metal in an original project. The bass is easily modeled with the eq to suit many tones. I run it passive mostly as the boost from the active electronics is overwhelming. Sound can be very bright to warm and any mix in between. Slight hum but not worse than many guitars and easily fixed with a copper shielding kit. Bass is at home on the stage and in the studio. I use a 450W head and 4X10 and 1X15 cabinets. The fit and balance of the bass makes it comfortable for a 7 string to be used live for a normal 3-4 hour gig. Many people admire the beauty and guess the cost as much higher than what was actually paid.

The nut was a tad sloppy. Use the best judgment and look a the alignments of saddles and through body grommets. I chose this one because it looked well on line. When I got it I adjusted the string height a bit and the neck was straight and true. Pickups were at a decent height, have not adjusted them as of now. Minor body issues like a glue seam here or there, nothing major. Remember these are hand made. No other person notices, they basically drool before messing their shorts when I tell them how much I paid for it. Overall the bass was beautiful out of the box.

I have not used it for a gig and I am unsure if I will. At a practice I can move around and being a neck-through; the bass is very strong and feels like it can withstand a show. My original band is easier on gear so I will use it there, but playing covers in smoky bars is reserved for my ESP. I would be heart broken if the Antonio Tsai was damaged by a drunken fan. The strap buttons are large and feel solid.

I haven't had the need to contact Tony or his staff. I have just ordered a fretless 7 and if it is as good as the first one; I will send him nothing but thanks.

I have been playing for 24 years. I have owned Ibanez, Fender, Hohner, Yamaha, Spector, Esp, and Conklin basses. After spending big money for the "name brands"; I feel my future is with Tony and other "obscure" brands. When I think of new basses the name Fender never comes to mind. Ibanez and ESP have been my standards for many years. I still use ESP for rowdy shows but I think I have found a good thing. I did about 3 weeks of researching basses before settling on the Tsai. I feel I made the right decision. I love everything about the bass and would replace it if it met an unfortunate demise or theft. I think it has enough features not to need more. I know Antonio Tsai has problems with hollow body instruments. I hear they crack, but really...traveling in the belly of a jet at 25K+ is no good for thin wood. His basses are tip top and worth a great deal more. If you are thinking about an exotic...go grab one of his designs before he raises the prices...

2008 made in Vietnam and sold on Ebay.
This is my second one.
24 fret neck through body with 7 laminates on neck (maple/mahogany)
Bird???s eye maple top, mahogany body
2 single coil pickups with active electronics (vol/pan/3 band EQ)
rosewood fingerboard with extensive abalone and mother of pearl inlays (soaring eagle base of the fret)
Individual string bridges with strings through body
35" scale. Absolutely Gorgeous, saints a the church love the look of it.
Gotoh-style tuners (probably Chinese)

Excellent for Gospel music, clean low, clear high and smooth mid. Excellent for stage and studio, looks awesome. Low noise, couldn???t be more happy.

This bass was packed just like the last one, wrap up like a little baby. No complaints.

I???m generally a smooth player but, when the spirit hits the room the nature of the music change to a more progressive style (shouting music). She hold up very well.

Antoniotsai responded quickly when it comes to emails. As far a service, I do my own set-ups; if it???s beyond my understanding I have a luthier. So I???m not concerned about their customer support or a warranty.

Playing for over 21 years, I own a Ken Smith Black Tiger 6, 2 American made Fender Deluxe Jazz Basses 4 and 5, Yamaha RBX 765A fretless, Antoniotsai 7 string solid walnut wings with beautiful inlay. loved that one so much I just purchased another Antoniotsai bird???s eye top, mahogany body. In my own opinion, Antoniotsai makes excellent basses, I personally think he giving them away. If these basses were built in the U.S. they want go for at less 2 grand a pop easy. I so happy I can go on Ebay and get a high end bass from Antoniotsai for a Rogue price. This bass is not a Ken Smith but, it???s a helleva lot better than the majority of basses you'll find at the Guitar Center. Antoniotsai has a faithful customer in me.

2008 made in Vietnam and sold on Ebay.
First of all this is pretty darn good bass for its price. I???m no cry baby; I don???t expect this bass to sound like a Fodera or a Ken Smith at the price of a pawn shop kick around. To every player reading this review, DO NOT BASE YOUR JUDGMENT ON OTHER FOLKS OPINIONS, TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF. You might like it or even love it. 24 fret neck through body with 7 laminates on neck (maple/walnut)
walnut body wings
2 single coil pickups with active electronics (vol/pan/3 band EQ)
Satin finish on wood
walnut fingerboard with extensive abalone and mother of pearl inlays
Individual string bridges with strings through body
35" scale
Gotoh-style tuners (probably Chinese)

Strong lows in the active setting, excellent for gospel music. I usually play clean but, I the studio I use effects. The bass has some noise but, what do you expect from a $300.00 bass? Personally, I'm rather impressed by its deep low end, punchy mids and clean high end. I like this bass a lot; I???m no cry baby like a lot of people wanting a Porsche for the price of a Yugo.

Yes the bass needed some adjustments. Neck needed a little tightening, some new strings, very minor fret work, and a little dusty when I got it. But Hey Man, What do you expect for 300 bucks!! I paid $4,500.00 big ones for my 6 string Ken Smith Black Tiger , everything on that bad boy had better been right for the price I paid.

I play for my local church, occasionally at gospel concerts, and in the studio. I???m a smooth player, I feel and caress all my basses. If you treat them with love, they???ll love you back but, if you beat on them they will act up. I haven???t given her a name yet but when I???m finished with her, she???s going to be as good as Mahogany (my Ken Smith Black Tiger ). Some Bartolini pick-ups and electronics you know, stuff like that???..

They seem to be pretty cool. They were quick to respond when I emailed them. I'm not really concerned about a warranty. If any problems, I call my luthier or I???ll fix it myself, I set-up and fix my own basses..

I???ve been playing for 21 years, I own 2 American made Fender Jazz Basses 4 and 5 their names are Jazimine I and II, Bonita is a Yamaha RBX 765a hot rodded with Bartolini pick-ups and electronics, last but not least is Mahogany, a Ken Smith 6 Black Tiger. I love the inlay art on the bass, as a matter of fact, thats her new name. Layla, because of the inlay work. All my basses were above $1,000.00 except Bonita the Yamaha, $600.00, so I don???t expect a lot out of Layla just yet, she a baby, she going to be a big girl someday???

bought about 2 years ago off ebay....for 200$ plus 145$ shipping....i just loved the look and coulndt belive he accepted that low offer. got the bass withing 4 days , nice case, and i was very impressed with just the overal size and wieght of it. my other basses are war wicks and the i have an ibanez soung gear 6 string, this bass was far more impressive visually. it has string thru body bridge and 3 band eq the action was very low and the pickups looked like rip off bartoloni.

no shorts, no buzzes, good grounding, some of the lower frets buzzed. and the frets hung over the edge of the fret board a little more than a comercial made guitar. but it sounded really good and i was amazed.

like i said there were some fret issues (none major). the action was amazingly low, perfect for tapping. a little top heavy but i like a heavy bass. the finish did not have a clear coat on it and looked like unfinished funiture. the woods used were amazing and you can see the planing marks in the body. you can tell it was hand made and not computer robot pumped out like 99% of the other guitars on the market. it looks unfinished and raw, but i like that it has character.

ive read alot about these guitars cracking and having problems.....mine has never given me any problems.

besides when my hands are dirty it will mark up the back of the neck because there no gloss, it just doesnt wipe off.

so WASH YOUR HANDS!

ive orderd 3 guitars from them. there emails are quick but there english is bad, getting better, but still bad. i wouldnt even try to warantee somthing from across the world. i take it as a risk you take to own somthing not very many people have. you can just go ruin down tot he local shop and buy one. and that makes it speacial

ive been playing sine i was 13 and im now 28...i wanted to expand my colection with some custom pieces that where more to show off than for actual function. and that where this bass comes in. if im goin to play a show or record im using my warwick. but if i want to shock and awe, im busting out the custom 7 string that just looks rediculous!.......i love this bass. its not and everyday driver. but it gets looks!

Neck through body-detailed mother of pearl and albalone inlay 35" scale length- Made in taiwan- active pick-ups, ash wood body with maple lamenent neck. Rose wood fingerboard. Bridge string through body or surface. 3 band EQ

Nice warm clean sound. EQ works great. Tones of tones available. Great for all styles of playing.

The bass came in great condition with a nice quality gig bag. It had a few marks on one of the horns but nothing that is really noticable. The action needed some set-up. Frets were all un even. Some notes wouldn't play with my action. After a food fret dress the neck is perfect and plays better then any bass I have ever owned. Inlays work is amazing. It is beatiful.

Bass has a nice weight. It is a little neck heavy but that is ok. Seems to be stirdy. Truss rods seem to hold tension with no problem. I have only tweaked it a few times as it settled. It seems to be holding fine.

I haven't had to deal with the company only with shipping. The bass came quite quickly. It has a 30 day warranty. I dont think I will need it. I have a good local Luthier which can do any work I need.

I have been playing bass for 18 years. 10 years pro. I have owned many basses from ibanez, cort, conklin, hammer, yamaha, fender, godin. This bass is just as good if not better then some. The neck is nice and thing and fast and easy to play. The bass uses standard 4 string spacing which is great. easy for slap style. I have it now tuned EADGCF and it is great for two handed tapping. There is very little fret noise. All notes seem realy clean and piano like. For the money I think it is a great value. Bought on Ebay for $145 us. shipping was $135 us. Fret dress was $100. All in all a great value.

2006 made in Vietnam and sold on Ebay.
24 fret neck through body with 7 laminates on neck (maple/walnut)
walnut body wings
2 single coil pickups with active electronics (vol/pan/3 band EQ)
Satin finish on wood
Rosewood fingerboard with extensive abalone and mother of pearl inlays
Individual string bridges with strings through body
35" scale
Gotoh-style tuners (probably Chinese)

Sounds really nice-full lows and mids and the highs are not to strident. Some single coil hum if one or the other pickup is soloed (like a Jazz Bass in that respect).
I'm using it with either Eden or Nemesis amplifiers or a Behringer V-amp Pro and 10" speakers.
Overall the bass seems to fit well in about any style.

Eeek! When I got the bass it had an extremely poor fret job and set up. $80 worth of fret levelling, truss rod adjusting (there are two on the bass) and general set up later in the hands of my very competent bass repairman and it plays like it looks.

Looks to be OK-I'm planning on replacing the bridge and tuners and may try Bartolini pickups as well, so this may not be an issue anyway.

The factory is in Taiwan and any work would basically cost me 2/3 of what I paid for the bass in shipping alone. If you're a stateside customer I'd not even go there...

Well, let's be honest here-it's a neck through active 7 string for less than 1/4 the price of it's nearest competitor, the Korean-built Conklin Groove Tools Bill Dickens 7. They are great basses for sure, and I also own one of them. I bought the Tsai as a backup for touring with my own band in which I play 7 strings often. I think anyone buying a $330 bass with all of these bells and whistles would have to anticipate some issues just like someone who buys a "fixer upper" for %60 of what houses are going for in some neighborhoods. Anyone who thinks they're going to get an Alembic 7 string at this price is, frankly, dreaming. That said, with an initial investment of $330 on an Ebay auction and another $150 shipping and insurance and $80 of work by my repairman, I've got a credible active 7 string neck-through (to be honest neck heavy!)for less than $600 investment.
Just be aware that if you buy one of these you're likely looking at some setup costs and possibly recrowning and reseating some frets to make it play it's best. If you have access to a good repairman who can do that it's worth a shot.
I have been playing for 36 years and have Alembics, Carvins, Modulus Graphite, Conklin/Groove Tools and Hotwire 4, 6 and 7 strings.