KSD & KSB & KS

Thanks for the post. It's always good to get information from the source. It will be interesting if you produce a Japanese KSD. I'm sure the quality will be in the region of a Metro as will the price if it is double the current KSD price.

I think the abundance of great music made on so many different basses should bring the focus back to the musicians who play the basses. Ultimately, it is the player who finds a bass that suits him or her. Others may agree with choice, others may not get it at all. So what? Let's talk basses with the knowledge going in that we will not always agree about it.

 

Ken, I very much appreciate you posting here and staying involved in the bass community. Both you and Roger provide a great service to us by staying in contact.

Now a quick suggestion, If your going to import a "higher end" KSD from Japan I would suggest you get more "involved" in the quality control. Perhaps checking the Basses before there shipped. My biggest hesitation with the KSD's has been quality. Like I said, I was at a store that had four on the wall and three had serious issues. Lakland seems to be able to import from Korea and maintain a pretty good level (although they do appear to be having some production problems) at least the "bad ones" aren't hitting the store shelves.

At the price point your talking about 13-1800 I could see an exceptional bass coming from Japan. The KSD 70's I played was a good set up away from being an excellent bass, they have a pretty good sounding pre (better the the MM Fender IMO) and a good neck feel. But at that price point quality flaws will not be tolerated near as easily by the market. For your "names sake" consider doing set-ups and final ship from your shop ala Lakland and Sadowsky. I'm sure the market will gladly bear any additional cost for the up tick in quality.

 

+1

 

Excuse me mr. Smith, but I'm sure that 'we are just the designer' isn't something KSD-owners appreciate to hear when they have a problem with their instrument. I've said it before in a similar thread - for some reason you chose to ignore - but I'll say it again: your name is on a bass, so whether you like it or not these are also your customers. Customers who in many cases have bought that particular bass because it carries your name, a name that in their opinion stands for quality.

Don't get me wrong, every single thread about KSD makes one thing very clear: 'you're only in it for the money', just like the smart Korean manufacturer who came up with the idea to make a lucrative deal with a famous name to sell more of his Jazz copies. Apparently you need KSD to keep your core business up and running, there's nothing wrong with that if the attitude is right. IMHO it isn't, and although I can afford a bells and whistles Ken Smith and although I like the design very much, I will never buy one because of this.

I really don't expect you to care about my opinion, but you should realise that a disappointed KSD-owner will almost certainly stay away from the 'real thing'. A KSD-owner who is (almost) treated like he just ordered a custom Smith might at some point in his bass playing life decide to do just that. Why do you think Bill Conklin and Dan Lakin are always being friendly, respectful and helpful towards GrooveTools or Skyline owners..?

 

huh? i don't know why you don't see what ken smith is saying here;they just did the design and some QC that's why their called KSD.my take on those bass's is that they have nothing to do with ken smith bass's they are two diff things.as far as KSB "needing"KSD sales to keep his core biz running i doubt it but more importently i don't know just like you don't unless you work with/for ken smith.i think that you should take ksd for what they are;mid-priced bass's DESIGNED by ken smith

 

Thanks Ken, much appreciated!

 

KSD = Ken Smith DESIGN

Ken has said that he's not involved in production, nor manufacture, nor sale, nor distribution. Just design. If so, that seems pretty clear; I don't honestly know how it could be clearer.

If you have a problem with how a bass is produced or sold, it makes sense to take it up with the people who are responsible for producing and selling it. Which apparently is not Ken.

 

OK mr. Smith, you once again made a point without making a point, not reacting to anything I said about customer service and investing in a good relationship with customers before they are 'real' customers. I guess one could see that as an aswer in itself. And judging by the other reactions apparently critical questions to a TB-member of your calibre are 'not done'. But please allow me to express my sincere curiosity here:

The KSD line. If it isn't for the money, why ARE you 'in it'? Why stick your name on instruments you have had (close to) nothing to do with in the first place, spending (wasting?) valuable time answering phone calls and e-mails 'without billing BG' while they make good money using your name? What leads me to my final question: in what way are KSD basses designed by you? Which aspect of the construction, shape, electronics etc. etc. makes it your design? No matter how hard I try, I only see some Jazz Bass copies with your name written on the headstock, but what do I know?

 

No, you miss the point. Anybody can ask a critical question of anyone, provided that forum decorum is observed.

But since this is a public forum, such a question is itself open to general criticism if people think it's unfounded or off-base--again, provided that forum decorum is observed.

You've been disagreed with. Nobody has tried to stifle your free speech.

 

Holy crap. Give up already. Most people in business for themselves usually are in it for the money. Most people who punch a clock are in it for the money. Lets face it we all have to do something 'fro the money'. Some poeple happen to be incredibly lucky 'be in it for the money' doing something they love be it building basses or building office towers or corn cob pipes. The rest who work for the money and don't like the work; I guess you could call that bribery.

And as far a only seeing a jazz bass copy. You're entitled to your opinion. We've all got one. But getting into the who jazz bass copy issue takes away from Ken Smith intent with the original post. The jazz bass copy (Sadowsky, Lull, Pensa, Celinder) horse has been flogged to death.

Insulting the man is the way to Talkbass losing a very valuable resource. And with that we will probably end up with another closed thread.

 

So Mr. Smith should provide service above and beyond for a bass that is not his own? Hang on, I gotta call Ned because I saw a Kramer-era Korean Spector on ebay and I want his opinion....

No. You should just know better.

See above post.

He never said he wasn't in it for the money...he said he didn't need it to stay in business (which is what you asserted). Could you please find me a manufacturer that isn't motivated by their ability to pay the bills doing something they love? Do you work for free? Mr. Smith has spent years crafting basses. At this point in his career, he is a well-established and respected maker of high-end basses. Years spent sweating. Years spent getting his product out. And years spent making his own name a respected one in the bass-building community and beyond. I don't know the whole story behind KSD, but I do know that this man is in a position to be paid for being associated with a bass' design and construction. That says a lot. I'm sure it doesn't make up for all of the unpaid time he's put into getting to this point, but it helps. He was involved to a certain extent in the design of the bass. End of story. The bass says Ken Smith DESIGNS. Why crucify him?

If that is all you see, why are you even involved in this thread?

Mike

 

I can only see my comments - critical, but motivated - being ignored by both mr. Smith and others. We can agree to disagree, and I might even be prepared to change my opinion if proven wrong, but for that I at least need some reaction, don't I? And let's not forget that I reacted to something mr. Smith said himself in a thread started by himself to clear things up about his own business!

Thanks for proving my point. Exactly what I meant earlier. Apparently asking critical questions to certain TB-members equals insulting them. Doesn't matter if you're being polite and within 'forum decorum'. We're all equal, but some members are more equal than others? Please... :scowl:

 

I have already asked specific civil questions, being critical but polite and within 'forum decorum' as someone called it earlier. If you see this as a 'line of attack' I don't understand why. As I said earlier I reacted to something you said yourself in this thread you started yourself to, as you said yourself, 'clear things up'.

If you don't like my questions I asked to 'clear things up' for myself, if you don't want to aswer them or if you just want to get off-topic by insulting me (see bold quotes above, now point out my insults please) it's your choice. I'm not playing that game, and any objective moderator reading this thread will have to admit that. Too bad you've chosen to walk this path, I will not join you...

edit: apparently you want to know how old I am: 29

 

Way to dodge his questions. Nice try on the spin, too...but apparently you are the only person that hasn't found your manner of inquisition "questionable". It is entirely possible to be insulting and still appear polite.

By reading your post, I'll assume your next charge will be that this entire forum, moderators included, is taking Ken's side because he's a manufacturer and we all own his basses. You'd be wrong then, too. I don't know Ken from Adam and will probably never buy one of his instruments. You accuse Mr. Smith of taking the low road? You paved the low road in this thread; not by your questions, but by the way you asked/answered them.

Mike

 

+1. Ken has many design innovations to his credit.