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Fakes?

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K

KSB - Ken Smith

Inactive
Commercial User
Mar 1, 2002
4,237
52
74
Perkasie, PA USA
www.kensmithbasses.com
Disclosures
Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd.
#1
 
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#2
Some of the auctions say [insert brand name] style bass, others don't. Apart from patents and copyright issues, the first is acceptable to me. After all, there's a lot of [insert brand name] style basses around. Several custom builders have started their career and established their name by copying excisting shapes and designs. Off course when selling/buying it should be very clear to all the parties involved that it's not the real deal. When that's the case, IMHO there's no need to stay away.
 
#6
The NTB 'Warrior' looks very nice, actually... :hiding:

PhotosfromSD500126.gif


PhotosfromSD500115.gif
 
#7
I personally wouldn't consider buying something like this unless:

1) the seller had a higher eBay feedback rating (his is only 9), and

2) I'd seen some reputable customer testimonials that these things produce a reasonably playable instrument.
 
#14
Guys,

Do yourselves a favor and listen to Ken.
Stay away from this guy....

He use to go under the ID of luthierextreme on E-bay.

I to thought it was a fair price for some of the exotic woods he was selling, but let me tell you....
I ended up buying a "rare 1 piece Brazilian Mahogany" Jazz body from this guy...And while the body was indeed that..His routing jobs are horrible! It looks like a 2 yr. old did it.
Let's just say it was done by a very unsteady hand.

As for his "somewhat" finished basses..I heard nothing but bad things about them. Seems all there necks are twisted.

OH..and for shipping...I received the body in a very thin "cardboard" box, body wrapped in a clear plastic bag, completely wet.

You truely get what you pay for.....if it seems to good to be true ...IT IS!

Rob
 
#16
And I thought only China had the market sewn up on patent infringement..

Two things to remember with anything you buy..

"You get what you pay for"

and

"Caveat Emptor"
 
#17
I've emailed a couple of his buyers, and they reported the same wet plastic wrapper, and one said that the body was cracked and filled in with some sort of wood putty, and stained to match. :eyebrow: Guys, they may look nice, but give me a wardrode, manicurist, wigs, cosmotologist, and a hair removal kit, and I can make a dude look like Tyra Banks, and hell, he'd be cheaper than Tyra, but would you still want him ? ;)
 
#19
Who cares if the neck is twisted or not...or if the price is cheap.

You have someone trying to trade on the Ken Smith name, lying and basically stealing from those who might not know.

Producing poor quality instruments is just a secondary issue.
 
#20
Maybe it would help to fine tune what this guy is and what he is doing.

I wouldn't call those Fakes. The couple I pulled up said **** "Style" body. So, he's really not pawning them off as actual **** bodies.

Now, if you want to call them junk, or call them infringing on patents, go for it. All probably true. :)

[However, I never quite understood what qualifies as stealing when you're talking about body and headstock shapes. To me, that's like asserting a patent on the shape of - a circle. I always found that dialog - and corresponding corporate legal action - pretty lame. Manufacturers should compete on sound, feel, workmanship, and cost - not the shape of a body. But, what do I know.]
 
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