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Why do people not like Ken Smith basses.

#221
Kwesi said:
Czechoslovakia before you wreckyaslovakia.
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So much win it needed to be quoted.

It's still strange to me that people talk about Ken Smith the guy when they praise his instruments. Ken Smith doesn't build or finish them- he has a group of great luthiers that build them in his employ.

Very nice basses though.
 
#223
nukes_da_bass said:
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!
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Whereas I expect a certain level of professionalism from someone who is about to take a lot of my money. Not being an assjacket is pretty central to the customer care side of that. I've never fine business with you, but in my opinion, essentially telling me to nut up and be a man is a p155-poor justification for not being able to behave in a business deal.

I keep coming back to the fact that Smith et al are not sitting in an array of one; they are makers that inhabit a slim, but populated slice of the market. You can walk from one without actually giving up on an exquisite bass. For my money, I'd go see Vinny Fodera. I'll know that the bass will be nigh-on perfect, it will look much classier to my eye and my overall experience throughout the ordering and buying will be beyond reproach.
 
#224
roadkill2309 said:
Whereas I expect a certain level of professionalism from someone who is about to take a lot of my money. Not being an assjacket is pretty central to the customer care side of that. I've never fine business with you, but in my opinion, essentially telling me to nut up and be a man is a p155-poor justification for not being able to behave in a business deal.

I keep coming back to the fact that Smith et al are not sitting in an array of one; they are makers that inhabit a slim, but populated slice of the market. You can walk from one without actually giving up on an exquisite bass. For my money, I'd go see Vinny Fodera. I'll know that the bass will be nigh-on perfect, it will look much classier to my eye and my overall experience throughout the ordering and buying will be beyond reproach.
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Well, while the above stated "other brand" is also a quality instrument. Trust me, from personal experience, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will get any better customer service from them...Unless your initials are VW. Check my profile, i've owned 3 and actually had problems with 2 of the 3. It was a nightmare to get the time of day from them. I had to get my dealer involved both times and it still took months to get them fixed. So, pick your poison. Ken will definitely respond to you but maybe not necessarily with the attitude you want. The "other guys" may just never respond to you. Again, unless your initials are VW. Not sure which is worse.
 
#227
rodneyat said:
Well, while the above stated "other brand" is also a quality instrument. Trust me, from personal experience, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will get any better customer service from them...Unless your initials are VW. Check my profile, i've owned 3 and actually had problems with 2 of the 3. It was a nightmare to get the time of day from them. I had to get my dealer involved both times and it still took months to get them fixed. So, pick your poison. Ken will definitely respond to you but maybe not necessarily with the attitude you want. The "other guys" may just never respond to you. Again, unless your initials are VW. Not sure which is worse.
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I think your experience makes you an outlier.

However, I completely believe you. At one point, I had a similar experience with another maker that has a sterling reputation. It was infuriating because I was surrounded by TBers who loved the company and were on a practical first-name basis with the owner. I think that even the best companies have one client every now and again who walks away angry. It really sucks for those of us who get to play that role, though.
 
#228
Bryan R. Tyler said:
So much win it needed to be quoted.

It's still strange to me that people talk about Ken Smith the guy when they praise his instruments. Ken Smith doesn't build or finish them- he has a group of great luthiers that build them in his employ.

Very nice basses though.
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Seriously? I had no idea. I dunno what his output is like but he just ga e me that "one man operation" feel in regards to the US made Smiths. How long has he employed a team?
 
#230
roadkill2309 said:
I think your experience makes you an outlier.

However, I completely believe you. At one point, I had a similar experience with another maker that has a sterling reputation. It was infuriating because I was surrounded by TBers who loved the company and were on a practical first-name basis with the owner. I think that even the best companies have one client every now and again who walks away angry. It really sucks for those of us who get to play that role, though.
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Nope, his experience with that builder is not an outlier.
 
#231
maturanesa said:
There is something strange in how they look... the horns are pointy, asymmetrical in shape and width, the rest of the body is round and large, some of them look really awful
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Yeah, this looks really awful:

bsr5gn.jpg
 
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#234
Phil Smith said:
Nope, his experience with that builder is not an outlier.
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I guess that 'outlier' was the wrong term. I'd say that all indications are that his experience with that builder and mind with the one to which I referred are in a marked minority, in both cases apparently highly mitigated since changes at the management level.

It's hard to really make any solid statements about stuff like this, I know; it's not like we've got a lot of hard stats to go on. But I'd say that anecdotal evidence bears me out on this.
 
#236
roadkill2309 said:
I guess that 'outlier' was the wrong term. I'd say that all indications are that his experience with that builder and mind with the one to which I referred are in a marked minority, in both cases apparently highly mitigated since changes at the management level.

It's hard to really make any solid statements about stuff like this, I know; it's not like we've got a lot of hard stats to go on. But I'd say that anecdotal evidence bears me out on this.
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The thing is you can't speak for other people. I hope their process is better now, not for me, but for other people, because when you take your bass to someone, you don't expect it to come back to you with other parts on it that you didn't tell them to replace. That's just bizarre.
 
#237
After owning a Rickenbacker, next I wanted Alembic..until I TRIED ONE...stiff feel and overly expensive.

There was a Ken Smith in that shop as well...I refused to touch it after I saw the price tag; even more expensive than Alembic. Kind of like buying a Rolls-Royce for a daily driver when any USA domestic would do. It was ...after all... just an electric bass....

Regardless, I couldn't afford either at that time.

Years later, when I could, I chose Zon Sonus 6 [ lined fretless]..At a fraction of the price of a similar Alembic or Ken Smith...just as "boutique" and everything I wanted in that type of bass; made to my order and specs.

Had I not chosen Zon, a Tobias would have been 2nd choice with no further consideration for Alembic or Smith basses.

For Alembic/ Smith money, you can INVEST in a similarly priced String Bass, which will more quickly increase in value, whereas ZON, Alembic, Smith..etc may take over a decade to equal and increase in value; provided you don't use it or play it often.

A string bass' sound is improved with more hours of being played; thus a gain in over-all value as well.
 
#238
The lesson is: don't meet your heroes. You will almost always be disappointed.

I have always loved the rolling stones, then I started reading more about Mick and Keith and they are not people I'd love to hang out with for various reasons. Soured me for a time on their music... but now I've come around.

If you like his basses, like his basses. If you don't like him, don't take it out on his work.
 

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