• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hammersmith K4 - TalkBass Special Model

What finish should the TalkBASS special model be? (select two)

  • TalkBASS BLUE forum theme

    Votes: 79 42.0%

  • White Tux (w/ blocked & bound maple neck, all black hardware) - no binding

    Votes: 19 10.1%

  • White Tux (w/ blocked & bound maple neck, all black hardware) - with black binding

    Votes: 62 33.0%

  • Metallic Gold - no binding

    Votes: 10 5.3%

  • Metallic Gold - with Cream binding

    Votes: 21 11.2%

  • Rootbeer Metallic - no binding

    Votes: 17 9.0%

  • Rootbeer Metallic - with Cream binding

    Votes: 62 33.0%
  • Total voters
    188
#682
I spoke to Marko for over an hour on Sunday, and we talked a lot about the K situation (duh) so here's the basic rundown of how this has all gone down. It might leave you with more questions than answers, and I'm happy to do my best to answer them.

1. Marko Debuts the K around NAMM 2017.
2. Everyone gets excited and Marko takes a bunch of pre-orders.
3. Marko is small time as far as the OEM is concerned, so they put Hammersmith on the back end of their workload.
4. Marko ups his order by a substantial amount hoping to get moved up in their production schedule. This required a much greater initial deposit. The order included Hammersmith's other models as well, not just the Ks.
5. Errors in communication from both parties (OEM sending e-mails to the wrong address, Marko getting frustrated by a lack of communication) have led to a strained relationship and almost no communication between Marko and the OEM. However, Marko believes that the OEM should have started production at some point over the summer.
6. There is a remaining balance that needs to be paid before the OEM will ship out the goods. The OEM has not provided Markop with production updates, so Marko doesn't know what (if anything) is currently ready to ship.

Marko's plan going forward is to meet with his OEM at NAMM '19 (Marko will be going as a guest, Hammersmith as a brand will not be at the show). He's hoping to get a concrete answer from them. Beyond that, he's simply going to pay off the balance due to the OEM ASAP. His best case scenario was that things will begin shipping to him sometime in March-April.

Another big reason for the delay is that the initial basses shown at NAMM were prototypes. There were still several things about the design that needed to be re-worked. Those kinks were sorted so that both Marko and the OEM were satisfied, and that's when Marko tried to get the ball rolling. This (in addition to the fact that the current OEM already has Marko's money) is why Marko didn't want to start the process all over again with a new OEM.

As far as my take on the situation, I think Marko is a solid guy. I personally don't think it's fair to draw comparisons to guys like Dr. Bass. I think Marko got overexcited and over-promised things he wasn't fully equipped to deliver, but he seems to have done what he can to make it right with everyone involved) As far as I'm aware, everyone who wanted a refund got one, and everyone that wanted a replacement bass got one. There's only a handful of us that are still waiting on the K basses (I think Marko said 5-6 of us), which is what we all chose to do. If that's not true, please let me know.

Again, to his credit, he's stopped taking orders, hasn't tried to sell anything he doesn't have on hand, took his website down, etc. I don't get the sense he's in it to take the money and run. It's an unfortunate situation that likely could have been avoided, and on the phone Marko took full responsibility for it.

His lack of communication is completely inexcusable, and the reasons he gave for that were unsatisfactory, though relate-able (overwhelmed by the sheer volume, and something about his Talkbass commercial user membership expiring that won't allow him to post in this thread).

That's the gist of everything. As I said before, I'm happy to try and answer any questions you guys have. Like I said, definitely not good news, but not really bad news either. My conversation with Marko left me feeling hopeful, and I'm eager to see how this all works out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Novarocker, DiabolusInMusic, wintremute and 2 others
#683
Thanks for the update.
Unfortunate for all concerned as you’ve stated but more unpleasant for myself living in Western Australia.
Last I spoke with Marko was well over 12 months ago when he offered me a refund. Nothing, absolutely nothing, no money, no communication since.
Like you guys, I’m a reasonable man and have been more than patient but cannot excuse Mako’s lack of communication.
He gladly took my 50% deposit and then nothing. I’ve been out of pocket for over 2 years now, inexcusable.
Still shaking my head how my trust in someone turned so sour. Such a fool am I.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DiabolusInMusic, Fat Freddy, S-Bigbottom and 1 other person
#684
petersland said:
Thanks for the update.
Unfortunate for all concerned as you’ve stated but more unpleasant for myself living in Western Australia.
Last I spoke with Marko was well over 12 months ago when he offered me a refund. Nothing, absolutely nothing, no money, no communication since.
Like you guys, I’m a reasonable man and have been more than patient but cannot excuse Mako’s lack of communication.
He gladly took my 50% deposit and then nothing. I’ve been out of pocket for over 2 years now, inexcusable.
Still shaking my head how my trust in someone turned so sour. Such a fool am I.
Click to expand...

I certainly wouldn't consider you a fool. Up to that point, Marko had a great track record, and his company seemed to come out of nowhere. There was no reason to think it couldn't happen again with the Ks. I'm the same boat as you. I think I was the 2nd person to put a deposit down. Marko had actually sent me a refund by mistake earlier in the year, but I opted to wait it out for the K.
 
#685
Thank you for the update, primussucks9126. Pretty much everything you said tracks with what I've heard. But man, that's a CRAZY long time to get the basses from the OEM (assuming they actually do ship later this year).
 
#686
It is insanely long. I think it wasn't properly explained that initial samples were just prototypes, so Marko's initial spring 2017 estimate was unrealistic to an extreme degree. I didn't get specific dates or amounts of money exchanged, but if I had to guess, I'd say the initial deposit wasn't made until almost a year after preorders were taken. Again, pure speculation on my part.
 
#687
primussucks9126 said:
I spoke to Marko for over an hour on Sunday, and we talked a lot about the K situation (duh) so here's the basic rundown of how this has all gone down. It might leave you with more questions than answers, and I'm happy to do my best to answer them.

1. Marko Debuts the K around NAMM 2017.
2. Everyone gets excited and Marko takes a bunch of pre-orders.
3. Marko is small time as far as the OEM is concerned, so they put Hammersmith on the back end of their workload.
4. Marko ups his order by a substantial amount hoping to get moved up in their production schedule. This required a much greater initial deposit. The order included Hammersmith's other models as well, not just the Ks.
5. Errors in communication from both parties (OEM sending e-mails to the wrong address, Marko getting frustrated by a lack of communication) have led to a strained relationship and almost no communication between Marko and the OEM. However, Marko believes that the OEM should have started production at some point over the summer.
6. There is a remaining balance that needs to be paid before the OEM will ship out the goods. The OEM has not provided Markop with production updates, so Marko doesn't know what (if anything) is currently ready to ship.

Marko's plan going forward is to meet with his OEM at NAMM '19 (Marko will be going as a guest, Hammersmith as a brand will not be at the show). He's hoping to get a concrete answer from them. Beyond that, he's simply going to pay off the balance due to the OEM ASAP. His best case scenario was that things will begin shipping to him sometime in March-April.

Another big reason for the delay is that the initial basses shown at NAMM were prototypes. There were still several things about the design that needed to be re-worked. Those kinks were sorted so that both Marko and the OEM were satisfied, and that's when Marko tried to get the ball rolling. This (in addition to the fact that the current OEM already has Marko's money) is why Marko didn't want to start the process all over again with a new OEM.

As far as my take on the situation, I think Marko is a solid guy. I personally don't think it's fair to draw comparisons to guys like Dr. Bass. I think Marko got overexcited and over-promised things he wasn't fully equipped to deliver, but he seems to have done what he can to make it right with everyone involved) As far as I'm aware, everyone who wanted a refund got one, and everyone that wanted a replacement bass got one. There's only a handful of us that are still waiting on the K basses (I think Marko said 5-6 of us), which is what we all chose to do. If that's not true, please let me know.

Again, to his credit, he's stopped taking orders, hasn't tried to sell anything he doesn't have on hand, took his website down, etc. I don't get the sense he's in it to take the money and run. It's an unfortunate situation that likely could have been avoided, and on the phone Marko took full responsibility for it.

His lack of communication is completely inexcusable, and the reasons he gave for that were unsatisfactory, though relate-able (overwhelmed by the sheer volume, and something about his Talkbass commercial user membership expiring that won't allow him to post in this thread).

That's the gist of everything. As I said before, I'm happy to try and answer any questions you guys have. Like I said, definitely not good news, but not really bad news either. My conversation with Marko left me feeling hopeful, and I'm eager to see how this all works out.
Click to expand...

There is a certain degree of irony in blaming communication problems for this mess through a third-party messenger. I have a hard time believing @paul refuses to let Marko post a single update in this thread without paying for a CUP. Additionally, Marko hasn't been on TB since May. I highly doubt any member contacts the administrators without actually logging into the site but it is possible.

I do not have any interest in this debacle but I do know a thing or two about running a successful business. Most of this can all be traced back to communication and setting expectations. Never set expectations you cannot deliver and, more importantly, radio silence is the worst kind of damage control. Hopefully, everybody can get what is owed to them when the dust settles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC, primussucks9126, wintremute and 2 others
#689
I received a substitute bass. I’ve had it for a while. It’s a pretty awesome P bass with a Geezer Pickup in it.
C5F64773-C3E7-4B2C-8624-957FA8930127.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: wintremute and Marikk
#691
Marko reached out to me via email, and said that he will be at NAMM. He wont' have a booth, but he will be present, and asked if I'd like to meet up with him. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to speak with him.

Do you guys have any specific questions you'd like me to ask?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DiabolusInMusic and Novarocker
#700
primussucks9126 said:
@wintremute

Sorry to bug you, but I'm just curious if you learned anything new after meeting with Marko? Killer work in the NAMM thread. Mighty Kind of you to do that for the forum.
Click to expand...

It's on my list of things to do. I'm under the weather (surprise surprise), swamped at work, still putting up NAMM photos, and dealing with a potentially new band.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC, Fat Freddy and ctmullins

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back