Why do people not like Ken Smith basses.

[wraub]

IMO,

Smith basses are well built, they have their own sound, and they are distinctive to look at.
They are not visually appealing, their sound is somewhat limited, and the construction is nothing that I haven't seen matched or bettered just on the TB Luthier's forum, let alone in the gen pop of "real" luthiers.

For the record, I have seen many Smith basses, and have played most of those.
They are, simply, not for me. At all.

If others enjoy them, more power to 'em.

Discussions of Builder Personality are for another, um, discussion.

wraub

 

[ArvindJayaram]

I wouldn't mind having one. Sometimes a builder's personality can be a dealbreaker, true, and if I had a bad experience with a person, I might not be willing to support his business.

I wouldn't want all my instruments to be exactly the same anymore than I would want all my FX pedals to sound exactly the same. Sometimes a tool that is not good for one situation may be exceptionally useful in another.

This post is akin to someone saying "Why do people not like Ibanez/ESP/Gibson/Fernandes/XYZ basses?" Entirely a subjective thing and on the internet, trashing something you don't have, for whatever reason, is not unheard of. Lots of people play Ken Smiths, just like lots of people play Ibanezes. Whoever's playing whatever will bash the alternatives, more often than not (since this is the power of the internet).

I leave you with a Leonard Cohen poem:

There are two kinds of people in this world
Those that like meat
And those that don't
The people that like meat like to sink their teeth into something
The people that don't like meat like to sink their teeth into something else
If you believe any of these words
You are lost

- Jimmy Rage

 

[Tim Bishop]

Dear fellow TB members and Moderator,

I really find the title of this thread desgusting.
In fact, if some smart ass (who maybe never touched a high end Smith bass in his life) likes or not Ken Smith' personality, his site, his jeans or whatever dirty gossip running around, should not be allowed as thread on this site.
I belive that TB is about what we like about basses, about playing basses and learning new things about basses, and not about killing the image of one of the greatest bass builder in US and in the world.

We should be really proud to live today among the greatest bass luthiers and bass makers ever, so no need to spread unjustified venom on them.
Some like him or not, Ken Smith is one of the very best, so I believe it could be more convenient to thank him for creating these magnificent basses and recognizing that he was an early pioneer in opening 30 years ago new fresh roads for the modern bass.

Thank you for trying to remede this.

Best regards

Agreed.

 

[Tim Bishop]

The only KS bass I've played was an '85 five string, in very good shape but well played in, N° 173. Ken said it was one of their first fivers. The strings were old but the bass had an extremely even and uniform tone all the way up the neck and on all strings. It sounded quite middy with a lot of character and I got a kick out of playing such an interesting bass with its own vibe, but that was the end of it for me. The build was interesting and you could tell a lot of thought and care went into the design and the build.

Vinny Fodera would probably agree.

He should agree. Ken taught him well.

 

[iwearpumas]

Dear fellow TB members and Moderator,

I really find the title of this thread desgusting.
In fact, if some smart ass (who maybe never touched a high end Smith bass in his life) likes or not Ken Smith' personality, his site, his jeans or whatever dirty gossip running around, should not be allowed as thread on this site.
I belive that TB is about what we like about basses, about playing basses and learning new things about basses, and not about killing the image of one of the greatest bass builder in US and in the world.

We should be really proud to live today among the greatest bass luthiers and bass makers ever, so no need to spread unjustified venom on them.
Some like him or not, Ken Smith is one of the very best, so I believe it could be more convenient to thank him for creating these magnificent basses and recognizing that he was an early pioneer in opening 30 ago new fresh roads for the modern bass.

Thank you for trying to remede this.

Best regards

I was not trying to down credit the Ken Smith basses. I own a Ken Smith bass and it is the only bass I play. I love my bass. I was just trying to find out why people don't like them, I can't understand why people don't like his basses. I agree, his website, personality, clothes, or whatever shouldn't matter. It reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld, the Soup Nazi episode, many people didn't like his personality, but he still had a line outside for his soup. At the end of the day, the product is what matters. Who cares about the past of him and Fodera, the past is the past, and it happened for a reason.

Anyway, I personally love Ken Smith basses. I plan on buying a couple more from him. But my post wasnt to bad mouth him, but to understand why people don't like his basses.

 

[iwearpumas]

IMO,

Smith basses are well built, they have their own sound, and they are distinctive to look at.
They are not visually appealing, their sound is somewhat limited, and the construction is nothing that I haven't seen matched or bettered just on the TB Luthier's forum, let alone in the gen pop of "real" luthiers.

For the record, I have seen many Smith basses, and have played most of those.
They are, simply, not for me. At all.

If others enjoy them, more power to 'em.

Discussions of Builder Personality are for another, um, discussion.

wraub

I know how you feel. I enjoy listening to other basses. Foderas, MTDs, Roscoes, Original Tobias', Spector, etc. I enjoy listening to them, and I respect and honor their work. But as for the tone in my head that I want to represent me, I find it in Ken Smith basses. (I do plan on getting a Fodera Emperor Elite II 6 string though)

 

[bassics4]

Necks are way too thick (depth). Otherwise, good bass - just not my sound.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Unpossible

 

[Nenor]

Necks are way too thick (depth). Otherwise, good bass - just not my sound.

You mean Warwick, right?

 

[sharpbass]

Necks are way too thick (depth). Otherwise, good bass - just not my sound.

fastest necks I have ever played..and I am a girl.

 

[kokorollc]

I currently own an old BT4 neckthrough and it's pretty freaking amazing. I'll agree though that Ken can be pretty short and superior in his dealings. Here's a thought that surprisingly hasn't been mentioned. If you don't want to support "a jerk", (for the record I think any Artiste should be given at least a bit of latitude), then buy used. However much of an Ahole the guy may come off as it's well documented that the instruments are pretty special. Buy a used one from some dude who's moving on to a Sadowsky or an MTD. Roger and Mike are nicer than your grandma. By relieving someone of their poor Smith you may actually be supporting some other boutique builder who is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Smith tone is truly one of a kind. Some love it, some hate it. You can't deny it's unique. I think there are a handful of basses that you can actually name the brand from the tone. Smith, Warwick (Thumb), Sadowsky, and a handful of others. Everything else sounds like everything else. You can't argue with build quality and playability. These are two areas that Smith absolutely excels in.

 

[chaosMK]

I dig this tone for the style (great player too)-

 

[Kwesi]

Dear fellow TB members and Moderator,

I really find the title of this thread desgusting.
In fact, if some smart ass (who maybe never touched a high end Smith bass in his life) likes or not Ken Smith' personality, his site, his jeans or whatever dirty gossip running around, should not be allowed as thread on this site.
I belive that TB is about what we like about basses, about playing basses and learning new things about basses, and not about killing the image of one of the greatest bass builder in US and in the world.

We should be really proud to live today among the greatest bass luthiers and bass makers ever, so no need to spread unjustified venom on them.
Some like him or not, Ken Smith is one of the very best, so I believe it could be more convenient to thank him for creating these magnificent basses and recognizing that he was an early pioneer in opening 30 ago new fresh roads for the modern bass.

Thank you for trying to remede this.

Best regards

Czechoslovakia before you wreckyaslovakia.

 

[knarleybass]

I have gone to the anaheim NAMM show since the 80's, and never could I ever get him to answer any questions about his basses...

 

[synaesthesia]

Are you Ken Smith in disguise? What are you protecting.

There is a genuine and perceivable dislike for Ken Smith basses that bass players and other musos often talk about, you hear it it chatter amongst bassplayers; and this affects Rickenbacker and Alembic as well, and historically it affected the muddy short scale Gibson basses; largely because they don't have the Fenderesque physiognomy nor tonality. I alerted a guitar player to the Chick Corea Electrik Band in '86 and Pattitucci was playing a Smith then, the guitarist commented without asking that it was the ugliest bass he ever seen..... What's wrong with discussing that? Commenting that a bass guitar is priced at e.g. $4- 5K USD and that companies website looks like it was DIYed by somebody's reluctant nephew is a valid question - how much does a website affect marketing a bass in the 21st century? Maybe the bass players who play Smiths share his peculiar aesthetic taste - why are these 'desgusting' (sic)?

Dear fellow TB members and Moderator,

I really find the title of this thread desgusting.
In fact, if some smart ass (who maybe never touched a high end Smith bass in his life) likes or not Ken Smith' personality, his site, his jeans or whatever dirty gossip running around, should not be allowed as thread on this site.
I belive that TB is about what we like about basses, about playing basses and learning new things about basses, and not about killing the image of one of the greatest bass builder in US and in the world.

We should be really proud to live today among the greatest bass luthiers and bass makers ever, so no need to spread unjustified venom on them.
Some like him or not, Ken Smith is one of the very best, so I believe it could be more convenient to thank him for creating these magnificent basses and recognizing that he was an early pioneer in opening 30 ago new fresh roads for the modern bass.

Thank you for trying to remede this.

Best regards

 

[One Drop]

He should agree. Ken taught him well.

Point.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

I own a four string Smith from the early 80's- I think it's #41.
My only disappointment is that it's a 4 string. The look, the tone, and the playability are phenomenal.
As for Ken himself, well... He has a strong personality. I also have a strong personality. Part of the Wussification of the western world is lack of tolerance for anyone who's different or stands out.
I know he can be rude- I have experienced it. Stop being a bunch of wussies. Strong people have strong personalities!
I have read all about what an ***hole I am as well on my companies' Google review page. The vast majority of my former customers who hate me, wouldn't accept the fact that I refuse to block out a timeslot in advance for a taxi ride which is so short that the transaction will lose me money. This would be poor parenting on my part, my twins need a daddy who can successfully feed and house them.
The modern world has no forgiveness for people who stand their ground on principle. Ken has carved out a niche by not giving in and by not being a milk toast wuss.

Go back to your "we hate Ken" love fest.

Carry on!

 

[One Drop]

I own a four string Smith from the early 80's- I think it's #41.
My only disappointment is that it's a 4 string. The look, the tone, and the playability are phenomenal.
As for Ken himself, well... He has a strong personality. I also have a strong personality. Part of the Wussification of the western world is lack of tolerance for anyone who's different or stands out.
I know he can be rude- I have experienced it. Stop being a bunch of wussies. Strong people have strong personalities!
I have read all about what an ***hole I am as well on my companies' Google review page. The vast majority of my former customers who hate me, wouldn't accept the fact that I refuse to block out a timeslot in advance for a taxi ride which is so short that the transaction will lose me money. This would be poor parenting on my part, my twins need a daddy who can successfully feed and house them.
The modern world has no forgiveness for people who stand their ground on principle. Ken has carved out a niche by not giving in and by not being a milk toast wuss.

Go back to your "we hate Ken" love fest.

Carry on!

Could be, could be people don't like being insulted by the person they are about to hand money over to.

I can handle a lot of attitude, it all depends on the circumstance and what I want from a relationship or how much I have to gain. But there is a limit: Ken's behaviour here was simply inexcusable and no one should be ashamed for having a bad taste in their mouth after experiencing his tirades.

I think people have been admirably reserved here, actually.

 

[My name is Mudd]

Could be, could be people don't like being insulted by the person they are about to hand money over to.

Or already have...in large quantities as well.

 

[KingRazor]

Never played one but I've seen Ed Friedland play his and his Lull's blow the Smith out of the water.