high increase prices on use Ken Smith basses

[otto B]

I wonder if anyone beside me have noted the very sudden high increase prices on use Ken Smith basses. I have noted that folks are trying to sale their basses at an average $2K to $3K more from what they used to be for many years. For example a Ken Smith bass they used to be in the range between $3500-$4500 now folks want close to $6K.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I wonder if anyone beside me have noted the very sudden high increase prices on use Ken Smith basses. I have noted that folks are trying to sale their basses at an average $2K to $3K more from what they used to be for many years. For example a Ken Smith bass they used to be in the range between $3500-$4500 now folks want close to $6K.

It’s simple. There no new vintage Ken Smith basses. Folks are charging what the market will bear.

 

[Erik Turkman]

I have also noticed that asking prices for used Smith basses has gone up. Although, I’m not sure if actual selling prices have increased. People can ask whatever they want, but buyers also need to think the price is reasonable.

There are various issues involved. First, new production of Ken Smith basses has dropped off since production moved to Kevin Brubaker, and prices increased at the same time. Also, there are fewer models being offered now, with a concentration on the higher end neck through models. COVID didn’t help either.

If people are hanging on to old basses, then there will be fewer on the used market. In many contexts, used pricing is relative to the cost of the same thing new. If new prices have gone up, or if you simply cannot get a new version of the same bass that is being offered used, then that may affect the price on the used market.

I can see that costs and availability of new basses may have caused a price increase in new instruments, but there are still the same number of used Smith basses in existence. Ultimately, potential buyers will determine what is a fair price for used instruments.

 

[jd56hawk]

Really only two things to do about it.
Sad but true.

 

[Kmrumedy]

I've been trying to find a BT 4 string to match my 1989 BT5. It's like trying to find Hen's teeth. Prices out of Japan are insane.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I wonder if anyone beside me have noted the very sudden high increase prices on use Ken Smith basses. I have noted that folks are trying to sale their basses at an average $2K to $3K more from what they used to be for many years. For example a Ken Smith bass they used to be in the range between $3500-$4500 now folks want close to $6K.

I think some of it is because of Foderas success. Back in the early days of Ken smith guess who did the woodwork? So yeah my guess is because fodera is up into the $10,000+ range the really old Ken smith basses values have gone up, so now everyone who has a Ken smith wether it’s from 1981 or 2021 is trying to retire off of it.

 

[otto B]

They are all good points. Once thing is for sure the sales in the past 1-4 years has really slowdown.

 

[IronSean]

COVID lockdowns have lead to a lot of people not taking vacations and picking up hobbies at home instead. Instrument sales are up in different places because of this which doesn't help too.

 

[IronSean]

So, some of it is inflation, some of it is the current environment and number of people interested with cash to spend, some of it is a new generation who revered these instruments in the past finally being able to afford them, some of it is the price of new instruments going up.

It's not just Ken Smith basses. Dingwalls are up big time. ESP Standard Series and E-II guitar prices are up a fair bit (You used to be able to find Standard Series Eclipses for 9-1200 USD, now they're closer to 2K even for the "lower prestigue" E-II versions), Mesa Boogie Studio preamps I used to see for $4-600 all over the place are $1000+ now, etc. Prices are up all over the place.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

So, some of it is inflation, some of it is the current environment and number of people interested with cash to spend, some of it is a new generation who revered these instruments in the past finally being able to afford them, some of it is the price of new instruments going up.

It's not just Ken Smith basses. Dingwalls are up big time. ESP Standard Series and E-II guitar prices are up a fair bit (You used to be able to find Standard Series Eclipses for 9-1200 USD, now they're closer to 2K even for the "lower prestigue" E-II versions), Mesa Boogie Studio preamps I used to see for $4-600 all over the place are $1000+ now, etc. Prices are up all over the place.

The moral here is think twice or three times before you get GAS, and sell or trade perfectly good gear in for the next new thing. The price for getting back what you miss might be a whole lot more than you want to pay.

 

[ModuMan]

The moral here is think twice or three times before you get GAS, and sell or trade perfectly good gear in for the next new thing. The price for getting back what you miss might be a whole lot more than you want to pay.

For real. I know I have too much stuff but in a number of cases I'm glad I got them when I did.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I remember when mostly every Urban Gospel player had a Ken Smith. This hasn’t been the case in years. But I wonder how many are wishing they had held on to those basses.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I remember when mostly every Urban Gospel player had a Ken Smith. This hasn’t been the case in years. But I wonder how many are wishing they had held on to those basses.

A lot of them probably wish they had them because Ken Smiths are very nice instruments. At this point in life, I feel so much about buying basses is more about chasing fashion or fad than genuine artistic choices. I know that is not true for everyone, but it has certainly been true for me.

 

[davec]

They will come back down, the average guy who wants a Smith is 50+ years old, we’ll be taking a well deserved dirt nap soon enough and the prices will come back down. but at lest for right now we are the prime target to spend 7k on a bass

 

[otto B]

I kind of disagree I believed the KS value will remain up high.

 

[otto B]

After talking with some good old friends now I understand why old KS basses have gone up in price, and they most likely will continue to go up. Despite there are still making KS basses, unfortunately they are not the same as the old onces.

 

[Nenor]

After talking with some good old friends now I understand why...

Could you please elaborate?

 

[scubaduba]

Despite there are still making KS basses, unfortunately they are not the same as the old onces.

I’d like more clarification on this please.

 

[otto B]

First of all, I apologize if I confused everyone on my little comment. I was only just saying that I talked with some friends about the KS basses, how the old KS are becoming hard to find, and the increase of price on the old KS. We came into the conclusion the new KS bass that are been build at the brubaker shop are great but they have some details that has not been replicated as to the old KS basses, so with that said the old KS are becoming more desirable and collectable. It is to that reason we think they have gone up and it will continue to to go up.

 

[Mastodon2]

I’d like more clarification on this please.

The same reason vintage Ferraris go up in price. Are they "better" cars than new Ferraris? Objectively, no. But they are older, and that comes with it's own allure in the marketplace.

If someone wants to buy a retro "golden age" instrument from a builder, whenever that golden age may be, which is of course dependent on the opinion of the prospective buyer, then there aren't any more of them being made. The pool of instruments which may come on to the market is only getting smaller and smaller.

If Ken retired fully and had not passed his name and designs on to Kev Brubaker to keep building them, I think the prices would be even higher now. We still don't know what Ken will do after he retires, if he ever does retire that is. He has a son, so maybe he will take over the KS name and keep the basses coming through one means or another.