Fakes?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

One sure-fire marketing technique to appeal to musicians around the globe would be an image of some AAAA grade exotic Brazilian ash on the beach in Rio. I can almost hear the Jobim playing softly in the background right now.

I saw the 'Girl from Ipanema' USA debut on TV back in the '60s while still a teenager produced by Herb Albert. Joao Gilberto playing guitar behing his young and beautiful wife Astrud Gilberto. I had an instant crush on here. I just didn't like the chords on the bridge of that song.. Later on, I got to see her in person in a club in NY except now she was pushing 50.. Crush 'Crushed'!

Wow, this thread is still on fire!

For the record, I'm not a fan of the Fender Knockoffs and see no reason to buy them, but Ken Smith basses are not KSD, nor are any true Ken Smith basses (that I've played at least) either looked, sounded or felt like a Fender, on the other hand they are hand made in the USA works of art (even if Ken can be a bit of an grouch). "His" basses are not anywhere near in the same league as the KSD's which are cheap Asian J-bass knock-offs intended for kids and teenagers. I've just played a relatively new (used) KSD over at Griffon in Palo Alto the other day, and (no offense Ken, and I'm sure you'll take none) it was a total piece of crap... below an MIM in my book (but above a squire).

Fender rules!

There, now that I've offended everyone, I'm hitting the unsubscribe and going to bed!

Wow, talk about a 'Hit n Run'...Ouch..

Wow, this thread is still on fire!

Well I do have a way of 'fanning' the flames. I guess it's 'fee generated' somehow..

"Hello Ken, Brooklyn Gear here, look we got this realy good deal where we can get these J bass style copies made cheaply in Asia somwhere but in order to sell some we'd like to put a well known bass builders name on it and charge five times their value and people will buy them thinking that they are as good as basses made by the builder in question. We'll give you 10% for using your name, are you in?"

See Luchi, this is how it's done!

Don't you wish life was so simple? I wish they were 5x their value. Then I would be way too busy Fishing for Marlin to come up here on TB. Actually, it was quite a bit more involved than that but believe whatever 'floats your boat'. As far as your theory goes, maybe I should have my place swept for 'bugs' and see if my phones are 'tapped'..

I agree they are less expensive to make than any handmade Bass but by far, not the cheapest shop or country to deal with. The same shop making these in Korea has a shop in Indonesia and offered BG Basses for 1/2 the price to make them over there in lots of 500 units. BG opted to pay double for the difference in Quality and have them made in smaller lots of 60-120. Now BG is up to runs of 140-200 increased only by demand for the product worldwide.

Cheaper to make or buy does not necessarly mean cheap!

 

[emils]

It's OK Ken, I was only trying to be sarcastic.

 

[-Sam-]

I had an idea before, its probaly really stupid and everyone is going to think im an idiot but anyway...

Ken have you checked out the quality? if its okay maybe you could like sponsor him or something i mean let him make basses for you as he seems to like doing it and them have an imported line?? i dont really know the legalities but whatev
that way you would kill two birds with one stone, your fraud issue would stop and he would get to keep making the basses?

Its probly really stupid and about to get completly proved wrong but i thought i might throw my idea in the air...

Let the cutting begin

 

[Luchi Luthier]

"Hello Ken, Brooklyn Gear here, look we got this realy good deal where we can get these J bass style copies made cheaply in Asia somwhere but in order to sell some we'd like to put a well known bass builders name on it and charge five times their value and people will buy them thinking that they are as good as basses made by the builder in question. We'll give you 10% for using your name, are you in?"

See Luchi, this is how it's done!

Are you moving production from korea to China to make the J Bass copies? i have no doubt it will be cheaper, and as our friend mentioned up there, it will probably sound like crap anyway... (i didn't say that, someone who played your product did).

.....copies made cheaply in Asia somwhere but in order to sell some we'd like to put a well known bass builders name on it and charge five times their value and people will buy them thinking that they are as good as basses made by the builder in question

which is Fender.. So are admiting that ONE: you make copies of FENDER and use KEN SMITH name to advertise your copies, TWO: you are now lowering more the quality of them, which carries the name of "THE MAN" and found another place in Asia, because they are made in Korea already, to build it cheaper than what it cost you, BUT CHARGE 5 TIMES MORE!!!???##@@& so you clearly exploiting all that buy these COPIES OF FENDER and now KEN SMITH name is not enough to sell them? you will need to find another ..."well known builder.." i tought KEN SMITH is a well known builder...

if that happened, KEN SMITH will have to open another thread with the same name as this one, because the other well known builder, will be putting his name on Ken Smith Copies, and therefore, be copying the COPY.... geee it is very complicated !!!!!!

my $0.02

 

[Luchi Luthier]

It's OK Ken, I was only trying to be sarcastic.

 

[Luchi Luthier]

I had an idea before, its probaly really stupid and everyone is going to think im an idiot but anyway...

Ken have you checked out the quality? if its okay maybe you could like sponsor him or something i mean let him make basses for you as he seems to like doing it and them have an imported line?? i dont really know the legalities but whatev
that way you would kill two birds with one stone, your fraud issue would stop and he would get to keep making the basses?

Its probly really stupid and about to get completly proved wrong but i thought i might throw my idea in the air...

Let the cutting begin

Hey, i have offered that... but never got the answer... and im glad he didnt....Besides, i dont think he deserves my swet to after it is done put his "S" on it and exploit his consumers charging what they are charged... plus, why make in brazil, when they can be made in Korea or Indonesia.

 

[Luchi Luthier]

Cheaper to make or buy does not necessarly mean cheap!

hunnnn, now because they have your name as "copier", oops again.... designer, they are cheaper to make...but not cheap! I tought you said that how a $180 bass can be any good?? just because it is the STYLE..STYLE...STYLE, of a KS bass? only yours are good...oops, excellent (which they are) - and to justify you charge 6K for it so you can go fish Marlins?

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Hey, i have offered that... but never got the answer... and im glad he didnt....Besides, i dont think he deserves my swet to after it is done put his "S" on it and exploit his consumers charging what they are charged... plus, why make in brazil, when they can be made in Korea or Indonesia.

Yes you did but the quality we get from Korea is way better and I would not trust you for a minute either way! I don't need YOU to make anything for me. We are doing just fine making our Basses in the shop. If you have any comments about the KSD's then contact BG and get off this thread.

 

[morf]

hunnnn, now because they have your name as "copier", oops again.... designer, they are cheaper to make...but not cheap! I tought you said that how a $180 bass can be any good?? just because it is the STYLE..STYLE...STYLE, of a KS bass? only yours are good...oops, excellent (which they are) - and to justify you charge 6K for it so you can go fish Marlins?

And people actually defend you. LOL.

 

[Luchi Luthier]

Yes you did but the quality we get from Korea is way better and I would not trust you for a minute either way! I don't need YOU to make anything for me. We are doing just fine making our Basses in the shop. If you have any comments about the KSD's then contact BG and get off this thread.

you did not have the pleasure to see one of my basses yet, so you cant say that. and we have here in this thread that KSD's are what?? oh yes... CRAP! but that is someone else opinion and i cant say it because I have never seem any either. and why contact them, they carrie your name in their COPIES, and you probably is getting burned on it because you have no way to check the quality of them.... plus you know more than i do, these basses can be produced in ASIA, for less than US$30

....then contact BG and get off this thread.

why should i get off this thread, ohhh because it has your name on it? i tought this whole thing was about me?? am i missing something here?

 

[Luchi Luthier]

And people actually defend you. LOL.

Morf, just because now people showed that he does or did exactly what he was saying to all that i did, now that is ok? actually people are not defending me at all, i am getting bit up everyday... i am trying to defend myself... anyway, got work to do.. peace.. Luchi

 

[morf]

I havent seen Ken step over the line here. You have repeatedly.

 

[Luchi Luthier]

I havent seen Ken step over the line here. You have repeatedly.

are you kidding me???

 

[lamarjones]

Right about now.....I think a lock is in order.

But, that is purely my opinion.

 

[Headroom]

I saw the 'Girl from Ipanema' USA debut on TV back in the '60s while still a teenager produced by Herb Albert. Joao Gilberto playing guitar behing his young and beautiful wife Astrud Gilberto. I had an instant crush on here. I just didn't like the chords on the bridge of that song.. Later on, I got to see her in person in a club in NY except now she was pushing 50.. Crush 'Crushed'!

Astrud Gilberto was indeed a gorgeous woman. And the Brazilian women I've had the opportunity to meet are not only attractive, but also warm and bright- certainly not "pieces" of anything as my locker-room humor implied. In any case, congradulations on your justifiably renown work Mr., Smith. How many of us would love to be as good at what we do for a living?

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

you did not have the pleasure to see one of my basses yet, so you cant say that. and we have here in this thread that KSD's are what?? oh yes... CRAP! but that is someone else opinion and i cant say it because I have never seem any either. and why contact them, they carrie your name in their COPIES, and you probably is getting burned on it because you have no way to check the quality of them.... plus you know more than i do, these basses can be produced in ASIA, for less than US$30


why should i get off this thread, ohhh because it has your name on it? i tought this whole thing was about me?? am i missing something here?

Get off because you are posting false information. Nothing costs $30. Nothing! I check alot of these basses and have done the set-ups on quite a few as well. You haven't a clue here so stick with what you know whatever that may be. You are fighting a loosing battle here. Each time you post, you are digging your grave deeper. Give it a rest and act your age, please!

 

[Luchi Luthier]

Get off because you are posting false information. Nothing costs $30. Nothing! I check alot of these basses and have done the set-ups on quite a few as well. You haven't a clue here so stick with what you know whatever that may be. You are fighting a loosing battle here. Each time you post, you are digging your grave deeper. Give it a rest and act your age, please!

You are right, it is not $30, i was wrong!! it is $22, but if you are the only bidder, you can get for $17, and shipping is FREE, and it is already in USA.. so I gues, production cost, is less than what i can possibly imagine...and i should get a clue before post such a high price for production, BTW this guys is also copying a lot of fender shapes... lets get on him too? just take a look yourself.. http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ELECTRIC-GU...9584118QQihZ018QQcategoryZ47074QQcmdZViewItem

 

[morf]

Shipping for that item is 45USD and there is no current bid on it. It also looks pretty crappy to me, a waste of a good 65 bucks.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Astrud Gilberto was indeed a gorgeous woman. And the Brazilian women I've had the opportunity to meet are not only attractive, but also warm and bright- certainly not "pieces" of anything as my locker-room humor implied. In any case, congradulations on your justifiably renown work Mr., Smith. How many of us would love to be as good at what we do for a living?

Thanks.. Actually I'm really just a Bass player with a business in Basses. I played last night in a Symphony with one of my DBs with gut strings (giving then a whirl, been 30 years since guts), I will record some Jazz on Sunday (on bossa there, authentic bass style I will apply) with another DB of mine and Monday I have another Symphony thing but will bring out my main Bass as I need it for what we are playing.

Here in the shop I do a variety of things from working on the Basses, picking wood, giving info on the phone and email and TB as well. Once in awhile I have a 'fire' to put out like this guy from Brazil. With Oil fires, they just blow it up to put out the blaze. Anyone got some Dynamite to spare?

As far as the Marlin Fishing goes, I don't do that. Can't afford it and don't have the time IF I had the money. I would rather just play Bass when not here in the shop. Also, I have a family and my kids are quite active. One is in Music college now down in Philly (also does gigs around the area and was just recorded on Melvin Davis's new CD with Melvin soloing over his walking line) and the other in HS but is taking a college computer cource for his A+ certification. He's 15 and only in 10th grade but a wiz on the keys.

 

[Rano Bass]

you did not have the pleasure to see one of my basses yet, so you cant say that. and we have here in this thread that KSD's are what?? oh yes... CRAP! but that is someone else opinion and i cant say it because I have never seem any either. and why contact them, they carrie your name in their COPIES, and you probably is getting burned on it because you have no way to check the quality of them.... plus you know more than i do, these basses can be produced in ASIA, for less than US$30


why should i get off this thread, ohhh because it has your name on it? i tought this whole thing was about me?? am i missing something here?

Man... i'm starting to think this guy doesn't even understands english .He just can't see that he's offending people, and then he say's he's sorry and do it again.