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Where did all the Ken Smiths go?

#81
Had a late 90's walnut mahogany core BSR5GN i traded for a Celinder Update 12 years ago. Probably an artifact of NT basses, it lacked authority in a busy mix. It also had its own feel which made rotating with Fender type basses challenging for me at the time. Today I'm much happier with a B Quad 5 for that kind of sound (less woody but way more booty).
 
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#82
L. L. Elwood said:
Hey Samatza, Thanks for the comments. I think you're right. Smith simply isn't making these any longer. In fact I've communicated with Ken about getting a 4 string M model and he just let me know there's not plan to make them any time soon! That may not be the case with the Tiger or Elite Series.. You may be able to order a 4 string.. IF so it'd most likely be a few months and have a $7k+ price tag depending upon your option choices. On another note, is that a Surine Affinity in your profile pic?
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It seems the choice will get narrowed down to increase efficiency, sign of the times I guess.

It would be difficult for Brubaker to accommodate a large product line alongside his own models but offering a few key models and options will suffice to keep Smith fans happy. I’d love to own one but the herd is already too big and I suffer from sellers remorse so there’s that…

The bass in the profile pic is a fretless Surine Regency. I do have a 5 string Quest in the arsenal also. I had these two made by Scott many years ago and they have stayed with me and have done many gigs.

Wishing you a great 2022, be well.
 
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#85
I was able to get a few favorite basses back before they went to eye-watering prices, and I consider myself fortunate in that regard... but I really wish I had gotten a Smith. Like in the 90's lol... or even a few years ago.

I knew a guy in a regional band (Hearsay from DC if anyone knows) who played a Smith 5'er and it was so amazing. Granted, they were expensive even then so it wasn't on my radar as a college kid at all. But I do regret not hunting one down when I could have.
 
#86
bass12 said:
Daniel has been involved in the construction of MTDs for at least nine years. At this point I doubt anyone will notice a difference in MTDs once Mike stops participating in the building process. From what I can tell, the transition that has been under way is probably about as seamless as a transition could be - and I would suspect that Daniel is responsible (and has been for a while) for a lot more in the shop than most people would realize.
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I could not agree more, great point!!! I have seen that as well and Mike/Daniel and MTD are doing this so the right way!!!

Did not mean to imply anything on my end other than there will be this “view”, as it always happens. My personal view is similarly that the quality will remain superb given the smart transition… but even with some new models you can see Daniel is also his own artist and person. So the quality level will I’m sure be amazing… but there’s guaranteed to be a change and evolution to some degree. That isn’t a bad thing… but Daniel will have his own mark to leave. I’m personally hoping he just ups the ante even more… I think the possibility is there.
 
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#87
Ken Smith has always been an expensive bass. To some people they are worth every penny. I wouldn’t expect to pay 90’s and early 2000’S $ for one today. Supply and demand is also a key factor.

For what they cost, I’m glad they have never been my thing . Otherwise I’d be out of quite a bit of $. :smug:
 
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#88
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Ken Smith has always been an expensive bass. To some people they are worth every penny. I wouldn’t expect to pay 90’s and early 2000’S $ for one today. Supply and demand is also a key factor.

For what they cost, I’m glad they have never been my thing . Otherwise I’d be out of quite a bit of $. :smug:
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That’s the way I feel about Foderas.:D
 
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#90
Bass Viking said:
+1. So unless you want something unique and special a mass-produced instrument is a great choice. Even Squiers are impressive these days.
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The Chinese made MTD Kingston I picked up this January has really impressed with its build quality. At $1,100, I do not consider it a budget bass, but compared to so many basses on the market, it was not that expensive. No one has to go broke to buy a quality bass these days. Some of the cheaper basses are heavy, but it was until very recently top of the line production basses, like Music Man, were routinely boat anchors. A 11lb Squier Jazz V with good action and nice fretwork is a deal at $500. Get a good strap and play sitting as much as you can.
 
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#91
Dr. Cheese said:
The Chinese made MTD Kingston I picked up this has really impressed with its build quality. At $1,100, I do not consider it a budget bass, but compared to so many basses on the market, it was not that expensive. No one has to go broke to buy a quality bass these days. Some of the cheaper basses are heavy, but it was until very recently top of the line production basses, like Music Man, were routinely boat anchors. A 11lb Squier Jazz V with good action and nice fretwork is a deal at $500. Get a good strap and play sitting as much as you can.
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Low End Lobster demoed an import MTD and it sounded really good!

I have a Chinese Eastman guitar (1500 Canadian $$) and an Indonesian Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster (just under 600 Canadian $$). Both are well made.
 
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#92
Bass Viking said:
Low End Lobster demoed an import MTD and it sounded really good!

I have a Chinese Eastman guitar (1500 Canadian $$) and an Indonesian Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster (just under 600 Canadian $$). Both are well made.
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That is the same model, the Super 5, that he demoed. I know one of my all time favorite basses is my Glarry Fretless, a bass that cost me $103 USD shipped.
 
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#93
Prices for Ken Smiths are certainly up there. I had a Walnut BSR4M I got around 2000, and I paid under$2000 for it new. When I was forced to sell it a year or so later to help pay for a new roof (we got hosed by the folks we bought our house from -not that I'm still bitter ) I had to let it go for $1300 --a loss of around $700. I think in part that's because the Burner series was undercutting the value of the main line. But now I see Burners from that era on ebay for more than my BSR4M cost me!

What I hate most is not really having access to the parts, particularly the bridges. His bridges are my favorites and have used them on two of my basses with a third in the wings. And, I always wanted a pair of the soapbars to use in a build.

Of course, I'd love to get another Smith -but not when the market is like this.
 
#95
Kmrumedy said:
Been the in the market for quite a while for 4 string Ken Smith, mid-late 80's BT preferred. It's like finding hen's teeth.

Right now on Reverb, there are 97 Foderas for sale and only 13 Smiths (I'm not counting Burners. Just American made Smiths). Currently 1 Smith came up for sale this week on TB.

I've noticed in the last two years or so, Smiths are showing up less and less for sale everywhere including TB.

The timing coincides with Ken's announcement of American Smiths now being made by Brubaker.

I haven't played the new ones, but they certainly don't look like the same quality of the old KS production crew.

What do you think is driving this? Are people holding onto them now since the Brubaker deal?

They are worth quite a deal more than they used to be, so are the collectors snatching up the old ones and holding on to them??

Thoughts?

(BTW - I had Ken make me a BT5 in 1989 which I still own. Only bass I ever bought new and only bass I have ever kept more than a few years. Never owned another bass that comes close to this Smith.)
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Better be quick; https://reverb.com/item/50189860-ken-smith-bsr-4mw-2002-4-string-bass-guitar
 
#96
It'll be hard from here to eternity. Smiths are actually plentiful online, however, with the ongoing trend of what people are charging for them now, it's no wonder why people are deciding to keep them...ESPECIALLY hard to get ones like 4 stringers. I literally saw a used three knob 6 on sale for 10K.....10K??.. and I've seen others used for 6-8K. Seems they are grossly appreciating with time. It's a rich man's sport, if you got 'em, better hang on to 'em.
 
#98
You want to know why there aren't a lot of 80's 4 string Ken Smiths for sale? Probably because not many were made. If we set our wayback machine for the 80's, and start gong into guitar stores, you'll find.....me - looking for an affordable 5 string. I didn't have much luck; there were VERY few affordable 5 strings in the 80's in general - there were scads of good, affordable 4's from lots of makers back then, but 5's?. You didn't have to spend Smith money to get a great 4. But if you were looking for a 5, you had to spend a few grand to get a 5'er - even in GC. I ended up with a Carvin, which at only one grand was cheap (we're talking 80's dollars, that was a lot of money back then). Any 5'er you could try beforehand in a store was 3 grand or more. Smith's reason to exist was they made good 5'ers (and 6'ers) - people didn't buy their 4's (too many other good alternatives), but they did buy their 5's.

Why are so few Smith 4's from the 80's for sale? Because they just aren't out there.
 
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