if you go to the web site of Ken Smith basses you will see the Kds basses so what's up with them not supporting them,here is a ideal maybe they should take them off there site,don't get me wrong I love all of Ken Smith Basses they are outstanding that is what made me buy the Kds because I seen it on there site so it must be Cool because they don't have nothing but the best...Sam
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KSD basses
- Thread starter sshorepunk
- Start date
if you go to the web site of Ken Smith basses you will see the Kds basses so what's up with them not supporting them,here is a ideal maybe they should take them off there site,don't get me wrong I love all of Ken Smith Basses they are outstanding that is what made me buy the Kds because I seen it on there site so it must be Cool because they don't have nothing but the best...Sam
Funny to see this thread resuscitated after almost 6 years. In the meantime, I bought a Lakland DJ5 with J-Retro to treat my GAS for a seventies style active 5-string. Much better quality than the KSD for not that much more money.
Looks like the Carvin SB4000 and SB5000 might offer the same active seventies vibe for even less money (no block inlays available, though
).I think I will check out the lakland,but like I said before the kds basses are not bad basses just that you should beable to get some kind of support from who ever makes them and they should be taken off Ken Smith web page and that way it won't mislead people,but I plan on keeping it and doing some more mods on my own,maybe the Ken Smith preamp that they say they have for it Mm,Mm...Sam
Guys, I plan to buy a lefty 60s 5 String KSD soon, I beleive they will not fit into a standard case, is this true ? also if one of you could tell me the lenght of the bass I would be greatful, I am finding it hard to source a hard case for this baby..
many Thanks
CDJazz
many Thanks
CDJazz
Here I will resurrect it for you again in 2013
Quote from Ken in 2010
"Ok, I had the Burner first made in 1989 in Japan, copied from a BT 5G bass and the models were then made with woods we supplied and completed all the basses in our shop. We did them thru 1998 and then made the BSR Burner for 2 years ending in 2000/Y2K. That was the USA/Japan Burners that say Ken Smith on the head.
A few years ago as the KSD's were in full swing (from about 2004) I suggested to Brooklyn Gear (the old KSD producer) to start making BSR-Burners in Korea (where they were then made) along with the KSD J-copies. This was due to a possible lawsuit by Fender trying to stop the world from using the Jazz body shape. Having a design of my own already and quite popular I had BG send my samples to the Factory to make in either case, win or loose. In the process, a new Factory in China was hired as the Koren Factory was not delivering as well as before, possibly due to the competition from China. The other companies that only copy would have had have a tougher time surviving if Fender were to win their case. For me, I wished Fender the best as I would prefer all companies make original designs.
Anyway, Fender lost that fight and BG was in the process of turning over the KSD project to their fulfillment house at the time, D'Andrea co. who was doing the actual importing already from Korea and then China as the making of the basses were switched to a more reliable shop.
At this same time, Sleek Elite in Japan had already been making higher end handmade J-models for the Japan market with my blessing and some of my design work as well. I also supplied them with some wood parts and hardware or electronics as needed. Sleek Elite (SE) was on their own to use whatever parts they thought necessary. It was their bass, not mine and it was called KSD Brooklyn, no affiliation with the former Brooklyn Gear company at all.
Then SE started making the Burner models again with my blessing and help but made only a very high end model for Hadrien Feraud. This is the HF KSD Burner.
So, you have the old KSB produced/imported Burners (BT and BSR) from 1989-2000 from Ken Smith Basses, the KSD line now produced by D'Andrea in both J-models and BSR models and the handmade basses by Sleek Elite under the name KSD Brooklyn in both a J-model and the original Burner/BT-bolt-on as used by Hadrien Feraud.
What was the question again?.. lol
Oh, an contrary to erroneous belief as displayed on some pages over at TalkBass by the misinformed, I was and still is the consulted designer as well as the Licensor of all KSD (Ken Smith Design) products. I consult regularly on KSD matters with both Sleek Elite as well as D'Andrea (and Brooklyn Gear in the past) on both design, materials and even marketing of the KSD products. I never left or severed my relationships with any KSD produced product and have been paid Royalties from the start as well as currently and going forward. I own the name KSD/Ken Smith Design and have no intention of disassociating myself with a product and name that is now world recognized and accepted in various price points and markets worldwide.
For those of you that also chat on TB, please tell them to disregard false rumors to the contrary. The truth is the truth and the horses mouth has just spoke.."
Quote from Ken in 2010
"Ok, I had the Burner first made in 1989 in Japan, copied from a BT 5G bass and the models were then made with woods we supplied and completed all the basses in our shop. We did them thru 1998 and then made the BSR Burner for 2 years ending in 2000/Y2K. That was the USA/Japan Burners that say Ken Smith on the head.
A few years ago as the KSD's were in full swing (from about 2004) I suggested to Brooklyn Gear (the old KSD producer) to start making BSR-Burners in Korea (where they were then made) along with the KSD J-copies. This was due to a possible lawsuit by Fender trying to stop the world from using the Jazz body shape. Having a design of my own already and quite popular I had BG send my samples to the Factory to make in either case, win or loose. In the process, a new Factory in China was hired as the Koren Factory was not delivering as well as before, possibly due to the competition from China. The other companies that only copy would have had have a tougher time surviving if Fender were to win their case. For me, I wished Fender the best as I would prefer all companies make original designs.
Anyway, Fender lost that fight and BG was in the process of turning over the KSD project to their fulfillment house at the time, D'Andrea co. who was doing the actual importing already from Korea and then China as the making of the basses were switched to a more reliable shop.
At this same time, Sleek Elite in Japan had already been making higher end handmade J-models for the Japan market with my blessing and some of my design work as well. I also supplied them with some wood parts and hardware or electronics as needed. Sleek Elite (SE) was on their own to use whatever parts they thought necessary. It was their bass, not mine and it was called KSD Brooklyn, no affiliation with the former Brooklyn Gear company at all.
Then SE started making the Burner models again with my blessing and help but made only a very high end model for Hadrien Feraud. This is the HF KSD Burner.
So, you have the old KSB produced/imported Burners (BT and BSR) from 1989-2000 from Ken Smith Basses, the KSD line now produced by D'Andrea in both J-models and BSR models and the handmade basses by Sleek Elite under the name KSD Brooklyn in both a J-model and the original Burner/BT-bolt-on as used by Hadrien Feraud.
What was the question again?.. lol
Oh, an contrary to erroneous belief as displayed on some pages over at TalkBass by the misinformed, I was and still is the consulted designer as well as the Licensor of all KSD (Ken Smith Design) products. I consult regularly on KSD matters with both Sleek Elite as well as D'Andrea (and Brooklyn Gear in the past) on both design, materials and even marketing of the KSD products. I never left or severed my relationships with any KSD produced product and have been paid Royalties from the start as well as currently and going forward. I own the name KSD/Ken Smith Design and have no intention of disassociating myself with a product and name that is now world recognized and accepted in various price points and markets worldwide.
For those of you that also chat on TB, please tell them to disregard false rumors to the contrary. The truth is the truth and the horses mouth has just spoke.."
