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ken smith s/n 48!!!!

nalapit13

nalapit13

official player and catcher of bass
Jul 6, 2007
2,204
1,802
48
Middlesex, NJ
www.myspace.com
#1
i just got this bass through a good friend of a friend here on talkbass. it is #48!!!!!

i bought it with the intention of restoring it and have been in contact with ken smith to take it to him for the restoration.

someone tried refinishing it and did a not so nice job. it is a little bit chewed up on one headstock corner.

it has alembic pickups and preamp in it. two of the original holes have been filled.

it plays amazing. i dont know if you can see in the pic but it was quality controlled by ken on 11/18/81.

the control plate is engraved with the smith S and the serial number. it is very very cool looking. but i cant capture a good pic of it.

i will post pics of it once it is finished, and maybe if ken finds this thread while he is working on it he can post some in process pics.


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#3
Interesting.

I'm extremely put off by the obvious joint in the headstock. The control cavity looks a bit rough, too, especially since the panel isn't recessed. Apart from those details, it's a beautiful instrument. It'll be cool to see the finished restoration and (maybe) pictures along the way. Do you plan to keep it the same color?
 
#11
saxofunk said:
Interesting.

I'm extremely put off by the obvious joint in the headstock. The control cavity looks a bit rough, too, especially since the panel isn't recessed. Apart from those details, it's a beautiful instrument. It'll be cool to see the finished restoration and (maybe) pictures along the way. Do you plan to keep it the same color?
Click to expand...

That joint actually makes the neck/headstock even stronger. You will find many builders who do it. Ken still does it, Fodera, Taylor etc etc. Most of them (including Ken now) just put a veneer on the face of the headstock that hides the joint.
 
#16
rodneyat said:
That joint actually makes the neck/headstock even stronger. You will find many builders who do it. Ken still does it, Fodera, Taylor etc etc. Most of them (including Ken now) just put a veneer on the face of the headstock that hides the joint.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I'm not knocking the joint, I know why it's there and why it looks that way. I simply don't like it shouting at me, "Here I am!"
 

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