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The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

#502
Human nature is funny. I can tell you without a doubt that the ‘new’ Foderas are as good as anything before them... yet, I’m holding on to my Foderas that Vinny built himself! Same with my Sadowskys — I want the ones that came from Roger’s bench!

Irrational for sure but I’d bet it’s representative of the way that many of us feel with these things.
 
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#503
I don’t think there is anything wrong with folks putting a higher value on basses that passed through Ken’s hands. Regardless of if they are better or worse then the new ones.

As Joel said human nature or nostalgia, folks serve Christmas dinner with Grandmas pasta bowl. Not because it makes the food taste better but because it makes them feel good.

There is a history of great innovation with Smith, Fodera, Thompson etc. having one that passed through their hand directly isn’t a slight on the current guys building abilities but a tribute to the innovator.
 
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#504
walking Bass said:
One possible factor favoring older basses is the scarcity and cost of premium woods. We're also, happily, in an era when wood conservation is a factor.

My Smith bass was "started in the US, worked on in Japan and finished in the US" per Ken Smith. It was completed 8/2/90.
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Kevin Brubaker told me that Ken has literally tons of wood in storage. Way more than he could ever use for builds for many, many years.
 
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#505
I think if Smith himself walked away from final inspection and set-up, then we could say things won’t be the same. As ped posted, and as KS has been saying since earlier this year, the person whose name is on the basses is still overseeing the product, and has joined with a builder who he considers very capable of meeting his standards.

Sounds great to me but wow I wonder how Brubaker can make their own great basses AND Smiths! What a huge amount of work these builders do! No more complaining about prices! lol
 
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#506
Jeff Sarsippius said:
I think if Smith himself walked away from final inspection and set-up, then we could say things won’t be the same. As ped posted, and as KS has been saying since earlier this year, the person whose name is on the basses is still overseeing the product, and has joined with a builder who he considers very capable of meeting his standards.

Sounds great to me but wow I wonder how Brubaker can make their own great basses AND Smiths! What a huge amount of work these builders do! No more complaining about prices! lol
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These are fair points. Realistically there is no way a business like KS can survive more than it has, without such a move (Leo hasn't finished a p bass in quite a while...). The question is has the right decision been made for the continuation of the brand. I'm not familiar with Brubaker outside of what I read here, but maybe he has a model for continuing high quality production well into the future, even when he himself can't personally do the work. If so, partnering with such a guy is the best move to perpetuate Smith basses after Ken is done, and ensure the legacy he built continues.
 
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#511
Just wanted to post a few pics of my new to me 1999 CR5 I recently purchased from @LowB-90 (thanks again!). This is my first foray into the KS world of basses and so far I'm blown away! Bass is morado top and back with mahogany core. Can't wait to get this baby out of the house on my next gig. Pics are from previous posts here on TB but it is unchanged (and better than I have taken so far) so might as well use them...thanks and have a great day!

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#512
ScottfromCalgary said:
Just wanted to post a few pics of my new to me 1999 CR5 I recently purchased from @LowB-90 (thanks again!). This is my first foray into the KS world of basses and so far I'm blown away! Bass is morado top and back with mahogany core. Can't wait to get this baby out of the house on my next gig. Pics are from previous posts here on TB but it is unchanged (and better than I have taken so far) so might as well use them...thanks and have a great day!

View attachment 3423099 View attachment 3423100 View attachment 3423101 View attachment 3423102
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Congrats! I recently got a mahogany-core, bolt-on Smith and it sounds amazing. Mine is also really light and comfortable to play (which pleasantly surprised me, I bought it without playing it first so I didn't know what to expect)
 
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#513
Reedt2000 said:
Congrats! I recently got a mahogany-core, bolt-on Smith and it sounds amazing. Mine is also really light and comfortable to play (which pleasantly surprised me, I bought it without playing it first so I didn't know what to expect)
Click to expand...

Admittedly, I'm still getting used to the ergonomics while standing, which is the way I primarily play. It's a little different than I've been used to (mostly FSO's - fender shaped objects - to date) but I know with a little time my body will adjust.

EDITED to remove a question that I found answers to on other threads.
 
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#514
ScottfromCalgary said:
Admittedly, I'm still getting used to the ergonomics while standing, which is the way I primarily play. It's a little different than I've been used to (mostly FSO's - fender shaped objects - to date) but I know with a little time my body will adjust.

EDITED to remove a question that I found answers to on other threads.
Click to expand...
The one I bought is the BSR body shape with longer horns so I have absolutely no issues standing with it.
 
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#516
ScottfromCalgary said:
Just wanted to post a few pics of my new to me 1999 CR5 I recently purchased from @LowB-90 (thanks again!). This is my first foray into the KS world of basses and so far I'm blown away! Bass is morado top and back with mahogany core. Can't wait to get this baby out of the house on my next gig. Pics are from previous posts here on TB but it is unchanged (and better than I have taken so far) so might as well use them...thanks and have a great day!

View attachment 3423099 View attachment 3423100 View attachment 3423101 View attachment 3423102
Click to expand...
Purty.

Congrats.
 
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#517
#518
So, this is my first experience with an 18 volt preamp.

With my 9 volt basses, it usually became very apparent when the battery needed to be replaced.

With my Smith, the last couple of times I played it, it sounded good, but was just a fuzz away from great.

Replaced the batteries and went to practice...

Oh yeah. There it is.
 
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