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Help identifying a bass

C

Chase Smith

Jun 12, 2020
3
3
#1
Hi,

I work for a second hand store and we sometimes sell 'rarer' items online and one of the things I was given to look up is a bass which looks like it is a custom thing. There aren't any obvious brand markings on it but it looks like a pretty good job so I thought I could get some insight here.

I used to lurk around this forum a long time ago when I had a czech spector and remember seeing a lot of basses that look similar but I can't remember enough to sort it out.

I appreciate any leads, thanks.
 

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#7
Hi,

Yeah, it is said to have been signed by Sting. I don't think it was ever verified. The store has had this bass for awhile. I think another person tried to list it as a Ken Smith custom, but I'm not sure why if it was a Ken Smith it would have a blank headstock. Tuners are also Smith. I forgot to look at the electronics today so I'll check the cavity tomorrow maybe there is something in there. It just looks unique to me I thought maybe someone might even recognize it or know the previous owner.
 
#10
Chase Smith said:
Hi,

Yeah, it is said to have been signed by Sting. I don't think it was ever verified. The store has had this bass for awhile. I think another person tried to list it as a Ken Smith custom, but I'm not sure why if it was a Ken Smith it would have a blank headstock. Tuners are also Smith. I forgot to look at the electronics today so I'll check the cavity tomorrow maybe there is something in there. It just looks unique to me I thought maybe someone might even recognize it or know the previous owner.
Click to expand...

The headstock being blank and not exactly like the typical KS shape is what makes me think it's not a Smith bass. In any case I don't think it would be difficult to ask the man himself.

These are the kinds of instruments I dream of finding in a pawn shop. Weird, possible off-putting with an unknown origin, with lots of hours of chasing leads involved to figure it out. I did a little digging but the only thing I could find is a website that rehosted a photo and description from what appears to be an old eBay listing.

Link Removed

A little further digging actually revealed another copy/paste of the old eBay ad in a French forum (you won't need to read french, see post 1274.
Basse abominable pour vous (esthétique et/ou confort de jeu) - page 13 - Zikinf

I guess at one point it was listed for 1900 USD on eBay but the previous owner also could not identify whether or not it was a Smith bass. Seems it had some issues with the neck as well.

Anybody else got anything? :) The ad on eBay no longer exists and hasn't for a good while so that in itself is a dead end.
 
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#14
abarson said:
Gah! I know I've seen this recently! Damn memory...!
Wasn't it a guy who worked in Ken Smith's shop but did a few of his own designs on the side?
There's something unique about the main body part that the guy was trying to patent, I think.
Click to expand...

Probably sits between your legs so you can fake playing an upright while sitting down at your jazz gig :D

Edit: I have come to think about my statement as a non-joke now. That might actually work!! :woot:
 
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