Hammersmith K4 - TalkBass Special Model

[Fat Freddy]

Truly sorry to hear that you're still having trouble getting the "K" models produced.....

Hope things improve dramatically in that respect in the new year....

 

[MarkoYYZ]

I'm good with waiting but how about those of us who did not order on this TalkBass special but rather from your Facebook page, how does this affect us?

Same thing applies. Best to send me an email from the address we made the paypal arrangement from, so I can best keep track. I'm a little behind with my facebook messages and will dig through those today as well.

It's tricky on there... I need to keep posting stuff, but then when I do I get a bunch of new contacts. Even today with the satin black bodies, already two new people asking questions. Need to fight through this current phase and then be able to bring someone on board to handle communications. I've been skipping days here and there, and weekends almost completely, and it's been mostly manageable. About to offer a sale for the rest of the year though (along with a few stock builds) so I need to block off every third hour to talk online, probably.
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[jumbodbassman]

i am cool waiting. If the K is anywhere near the bass i just had in quality, it will be well worth the wait. the alumXXXXX pickups are my only fear actually.

i am loving the flat black.....

 

[two fingers]

I still have my fingers crossed for @MarkoYYZ and Hammersmith customers. If the quality of my bass is any indication we will have a serious contender at an in between cheap and boutique price point once all of the supply issues get hammered out. Here's hoping that by Valentines Day we can all share a good chuckle over all of this and have a K bass club here at TB.

(I won't lie that I'm hoping it gets worked out so we can see the K5 come to fruition as well. )

 

[MarkoYYZ]

i am cool waiting. If the K is anywhere near the bass i just had in quality, it will be well worth the wait. the alumXXXXX pickups are my only fear actually.

I think the Alumitones will probably end up being our "basic model" pickup that will end up with dealers, and suspect we'll build more with Nordstrands and the like for the online/TB/expert type buyers. They are good pups, just hot - though the BigSplits you tried out were on the hot side too. Height adjustment will be pretty important, and probably offer enough wiggle room for most to find their usable tone.

 

[jumbodbassman]

bigsplits would not work on the 2 pickup model would they???

 

[bigsnack]

Same thing applies. Best to send me an email from the address we made the paypal arrangement from, so I can best keep track. I'm a little behind with my facebook messages and will dig through those today as well.

It's tricky on there... I need to keep posting stuff, but then when I do I get a bunch of new contacts. Even today with the satin black bodies, already two new people asking questions. Need to fight through this current phase and then be able to bring someone on board to handle communications. I've been skipping days here and there, and weekends almost completely, and it's been mostly manageable. About to offer a sale for the rest of the year though (along with a few stock builds) so I need to block off every third hour to talk online, probably.
.

Ooh, what kind of sale? I've been thinking of requesting a medium scale P/J build to compliment the one I already have

 

[Meyatch]

@MarkoYYZ glad you are getting at least some things straightened out with the K basses. Maybe you hiring another factory will get the first factory in line a little bit? Are you going to fulfill all the talkbass orders out of the 25, or is it first come first served including the facebook orders? Are you doing any special builds for namm out of the 25, or will they all be alumitone?

 

[MarkoYYZ]

bigsplits would not work on the 2 pickup model would they???

Not if the 2nd pickup is in the neck position. If it's a 33.25" scale then a second BigSplit could go by the bridge, which is similar to the C4 you tried out (if a little closer together and cheated towards bridge a hair).

Ooh, what kind of sale? I've been thinking of requesting a medium scale P/J build to compliment the one I already have

I was going to do an "at par" deal for Canadian customers, but think I may as well just make a 15% off special until the end of the year, for builds that would deliver after Feb when we're back from out west, unless it was from on-hand parts. Have materials on hand for about 10-15 basses (aside from NAMM stuff), depending on how the bodies are routed - many have an MM at the bridge for example. A couple will be trade-ins. I'll check what we have for 32" necks and let you know.

@MarkoYYZ glad you are getting at least some things straightened out with the K basses. Maybe you hiring another factory will get the first factory in line a little bit? Are you going to fulfill all the talkbass orders out of the 25, or is it first come first served including the facebook orders? Are you doing any special builds for namm out of the 25, or will they all be alumitone?

Some of the initial ~40 have cancelled, a few I have converted to other basses with the same deposit, and I'm about to refund 2 more. 25 would almost cover everything still ordered - some being shipped from NAMM probably. Anything "custom" would be after anyways, which is also several of those 40, so 25 gets the bulk of the first release out (and is the qty we could agree to with the new OEM considering the $$ on my end and tight schedule on theirs). I still have people contacting me to order and refuse most, but have accepted a couple that are clear that they will be springtime deliveries.

I do agree that the threat of a 2nd OEM should provide a motivation to the first to get with it, but that remains to be seen how it plays out. When they are so busy that they don't really need your work, it's tough to twist their arm and the threat of leaving is sort of empty - and you don't really want to play that card with them when they are in a position of advantage. It's also good that I didn't, as I am now learning of an entirely new wrinkle in things that I didn't know existed until a couple of hours ago. I have a lot of reading to do :/
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[bigsnack]

Not if the 2nd pickup is in the neck position. If it's a 33.25" scale then a second BigSplit could go by the bridge, which is similar to the C4 you tried out (if a little closer together and cheated towards bridge a hair).


I was going to do an "at par" deal for Canadian customers, but think I may as well just make a 15% off special until the end of the year, for builds that would deliver after Feb when we're back from out west, unless it was from on-hand parts. Have materials on hand for about 10-15 basses (aside from NAMM stuff), depending on how the bodies are routed - many have an MM at the bridge for example. A couple will be trade-ins. I'll check what we have for 32" necks and let you know.


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Sounds good, thanks!

 

[DerekW]

Not if the 2nd pickup is in the neck position. If it's a 33.25" scale then a second BigSplit could go by the bridge, which is similar to the C4 you tried out (if a little closer together and cheated towards bridge a hair).


I was going to do an "at par" deal for Canadian customers, but think I may as well just make a 15% off special until the end of the year, for builds that would deliver after Feb when we're back from out west, unless it was from on-hand parts. Have materials on hand for about 10-15 basses (aside from NAMM stuff), depending on how the bodies are routed - many have an MM at the bridge for example. A couple will be trade-ins. I'll check what we have for 32" necks and let you know.


Some of the initial ~40 have cancelled, a few I have converted to other basses with the same deposit, and I'm about to refund 2 more. 25 would almost cover everything still ordered - some being shipped from NAMM probably. Anything "custom" would be after anyways, which is also several of those 40, so 25 gets the bulk of the first release out (and is the qty we could agree to with the new OEM considering the $$ on my end and tight schedule on theirs). I still have people contacting me to order and refuse most, but have accepted a couple that are clear that they will be springtime deliveries.

I do agree that the threat of a 2nd OEM should provide a motivation to the first to get with it, but that remains to be seen how it plays out. When they are so busy that they don't really need your work, it's tough to twist their arm and the threat of leaving is sort of empty - and you don't really want to play that card with them when they are in a position of advantage. It's also good that I didn't, as I am now learning of an entirely new wrinkle in things that I didn't know existed until a couple of hours ago. I have a lot of reading to do :/
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Those last couple of sentences don’t sound good.

 

[ScarfFace]

So, I'm curious now. Your initial 25 would not include the TB specials I assume since those 5 color finishes do not include the two finishes that were decided upon? Is that correct?

 

[MarkoYYZ]

So, I'm curious now. Your initial 25 would not include the TB specials I assume since those 5 color finishes do not include the two finishes that were decided upon? Is that correct?

There is only two each of the TB Blue and Rootbeer in the orders, we'll probably paint those here, unless those who chose those finishes agreed to take one of the standard colors (with an incentive of slme kind?).

Those last couple of sentences don’t sound good.

Not something specific to this - just a general computer thing that hit me upside the head earlier today. It HAS impacted this all, though, it's just not fully clear to me yet to what extent. :/
.

 

[NOLA Bass]

I’m in for the long haul Marko, don’t worry about me. I’ll see you at NAMM.

 

[ScarfFace]

There is only two each of the TB Blue and Rootbeer in the orders, we'll probably paint those here, unless those who chose those finishes agreed to take one of the standard colors (with an incentive of slme kind?).
.

mm

I can't speak for the others, but I might be open to switching.

 

[wintremute]

Like NOLA, I'm in for the long haul. I think the bass at the end of the rainbow will be worth it.

 

[jumbodbassman]

me three...

 

[NKBassman]

I do agree that the threat of a 2nd OEM should provide a motivation to the first to get with it, but that remains to be seen how it plays out. When they are so busy that they don't really need your work, it's tough to twist their arm and the threat of leaving is sort of empty - and you don't really want to play that card with them when they are in a position of advantage. It's also good that I didn't, as I am now learning of an entirely new wrinkle in things that I didn't know existed until a couple of hours ago. I have a lot of reading to do :/
.

From the the way you're describing the situation, I don't think OEM 1 would see pulling your order as much of a motivation. In fact, probably the opposite... they'd probably be glad to such a small pesky bit of business off their plate so they can focus on their bigger stuff.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

From the the way you're describing the situation, I don't think OEM 1 would see pulling your order as much of a motivation. In fact, probably the opposite... they'd probably be glad to such a small pesky bit of business off their plate so they can focus on their bigger stuff.

Pretty much, except the first OEM likes the other product line we've done, it's just the K's that are so far off the map that they have trouble setting up the tooling for the necks. I really like their work, pricing and location (it ties in with lighting supplier very near by, which is rare over there) and prefer not teaching new factories how to knock off the K. I haven't made any "threat" at all, just said that I REALLY need the K stuff to start shipping and with NAMM coming may need to run a sample batch with someone else. The entire industry is pretty small. A lot of them either know each other, or are related in some way, or got their start working for the other, etc... really no different than here with Fender > Suhr > Nordstrand or other such breakaway companies that start as people are experienced and make connections. If I was over there a lot more often or for extended periods, it would be a completely different game. I probably need to just plan for that going forward, if this is going to grow the way I expect. One of their other major clients has someone there 6 months out of every year, and another is there probably 10 months of the year (though I think that has as much to do with him not paying taxes in his home country and liking the, um, cheap and plentiful extracurricular entertainment).

The path is just different than expected, being a little more long and winding, but the destination is not changing.
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[Volunteerk9]

I can't imagine the headache this has to be. It's not like you can just hop in your car and run 20 minutes down the road for a face-to-face either. I'll own a Hammersmith K one of these days as I've been hooked on them from the first concept drawing that was posted on here.