Ken Smith basses - esp. the Amati model

cpaterso · #1 08-10-2009, 08:10 PM

hi all - i am thinking about getting a 2nd bass - and am quite interested in the Amati model that Ken Smith makes.

does anyone have any experience with any of these basses? they are carved; they look good; but i am far away from PA, and can't see how i can try one out.

thoughts, please?!!!

Craig

basswraith · #2 08-10-2009, 08:15 PM

He doesn't make double basses.
Those basses you are looking at are imports.

Peck_Time · #3 08-10-2009, 08:43 PM

smithbassforums

KJPbop · #4 08-12-2009, 07:46 AM

Greetings! Telling us where you are located will help your fellow TB'ers to assist you in possibly finding something closer to home. Regards, KJPbop

cpaterso · #5 08-12-2009, 07:52 AM

hi - I am in Ontario, Canada, just outside Toronto.

I would like a carved bass, but if the Chinese basses are not reputable, then......

thanks for any ideas,

Craig

Eric Hochberg · #6 08-12-2009, 10:21 AM

Shen, Christopher and Wan Bernadel are reputable.

**Damon Rondeau** · #7 08-12-2009, 10:26 AM

Luscombe Violins are somewhere in southern Ontario -- they are a Christopher dealer. They've got a good website.

cpaterso · #8 08-15-2009, 12:34 PM

hi again: So, Chinese basses seem to be getting a better rep.

anyone know about Eastman basses? They look quite good - Luscombe Violins sells them too.

Craig

Eric Hochberg · #9 08-15-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaterso

hi again: So, Chinese basses seem to be getting a better rep.

anyone know about Eastman basses? They look quite good - Luscombe Violins sells them too.

Craig

No, there are good basses and not so good from China. You can't generalize. Eastman has a good rep, too.

neal davis · #10 08-15-2009, 01:36 PM

check out Heinl music in Toronto, they are the best bass shop in Ontario by far. You can find some deals if you look often enough, they sell new basses by strunal but usually have basses from old czech factory carved up to old Italian master basses. It would be worth a trip. They are located on church street in Toronto between, Shutter and Dundas on the east side. They are only open monday to friday and only late till 7pm or so on Thursday

MIKMAN · #11 08-16-2009, 10:24 AM

I own one of these basses. It is a very good instrument and the tonewoods are the best quality i have ever seen. My bass delivers a rich, warm arco sound (strung with Belcantos) and it is easy to TP playing. When i used it for piz work (strung with Spiros) it produced a long sustained sound, rich in fundamentals. The piz tone is not particularly loud but even in all strings. Generally speaking it is a very good value for money choice.
Mike