Why do people not like Ken Smith basses.

[DWBass]

Nice basses for sure. I didn't like the feel of the neck (felt chunky to me....at least the one I played) and I hate the slap tone. My sound is single coil j pups. Smiths are way outside my sound.

I wanted to add, a band I sub with, the bassist plays 2 Ken Smiths. A 4 and a 6. Every now and then they will call me on stage to play a song or 2. I'll grab the 4 since I don't play 6's. Bass just feels weird to me. Not comfortable at all. He also uses heavy gauge strings so just way too much for me. I've since travel with my own bass so when they decide to call me up, I plug in my own. LOL.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Yep, I know that feeling. Like when you reach for a low G on a Spector and end up with an A lol!
I find i can adapt to an instrument’s ergonomics in about two songs. The will to play prevails!!

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I had a "Vinnie" built early Smith.
Two issues with it:
1) way too heavy, almost 13 lbs.
2) it was a 4 string.

Incredible incredible instrument. I occasionally miss it.

 

[Bassheart365]

I had a KS bass stage. I owned a 5 and 6 string. Craftsmanship is second to none. I thought the design and woods were beautiful. They had a low mid emphasis which I liked. Got a decent slap tone on them too. Didn't mind the weight because I prefer dense woods. Super easy to play too because the action was so low. But then I found my Le Fay Singer 5 string. It nails the Fender jazz tone, but with built quality on a Stadivarious level. So my KS 5 became expendable. Then I replaced the KS 6 with a Dingwall 6 string.

 

[JonPHLl87]

Brad Johnson,

I don't see where Dan B ever said he wouldn't buy a Smith because of his website. You're putting words in his mouth.

The fact is that Smith's website is horrendous, and at worst, it can be seen as bad customer service. By looking through his site it's difficult to know exactly what the distinctions are of the different models. I wanted to know what the Tiger models looked like and couldn't find them by navigating his site. I had to google it in order to find the page on Smith's website that contained the pictures. Even then, there was no explanation of what differentiates the various models, other than a price list.

You're right that none of this is a big deal. Not big enough to avoid buying his basses if you're interested, but it's also not a big deal to fix it. Professional website design is cheap, and the fact that his site looks homemade (by a wacko) makes him and his business look amateurish to someone who who is not familiar with him and his basses.

One more thing, if you, as business, want to convince the public that you make beautiful products, you need to show that appreciation for beauty in other areas: your website, your business cards, etc. The fact that his site is so ugly makes it easy to understand why his basses are considered ugly by most people here.

You need to relax! Lol

 

[JonPHLl87]

ken Smith used to be a member here, before he was banned. In MY opinion, he was a colossal d-bag. I remember a thread where he flamed a guy LITERALLY for simply asking him who supplied the graphite rods for his necks. For that reason alone I'd never buy a Ken Smith. There are multiple other instances I recall, but that one blew my mind. I tried to defend the cat, and Smith jumped on me! A-hole to the ultimate degree. Combine that with the fact that the aesthetics do nothing for me, and the few I played felt too chunky in my hands, AND the fact that (to ME) they are overpriced.

I'm pretty much a Conklin guy, and love Bill's work. I also love Beneventes, Roscoes, and Nordstrands. On top of that, all of those builders are top notch dudes who don't need a wheelbarrow to haul around their ridiculous ego.

I'm not gonna get into a pissing contest on a public forum over my opinion. I know some will have issues with my statement(s). If you have a problem, feel free to PM, but I won't get sucked into to an e-penis waving competition.

This is pretty ridiculous. You should consider deleting this post. Just straight up rude!!!! The name calling is uncalled for.... smh

 

[mongo2]

I've only tried one Ken Smith bass (4 string) and I simply didn't like the feel of it.

 

[JonPHLl87]

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.

This is not true at all! He made the first ones and it's his design... smh

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

This is not true at all! He made the first ones and it's his design... smh

Actually it’s very true. Coming up with a design is not building the instruments. Not that there’s anything wrong with having luthiers build his designs, but it’s not like when you order an Elrick bass and Rob Elrick is building your bass himself. A lot of people don’t understand that it was Ken’s great team of luthiers (and now Brubaker’s crew) that were doing the woodworking because his name was on the headstock.

 

[Mvilmany]

Because Ken Smith is one step away from Will Smith, and a lot of folks can’t even.

 

[JonPHLl87]

Actually it’s very true. Coming up with a design is not building the instruments. Not that there’s anything wrong with having luthiers build his designs, but it’s not like when you order an Elrick bass and Rob Elrick is building your bass himself.

Actually it’s very true. Coming up with a design is not building the instruments. Not that there’s anything wrong with having luthiers build his designs, but it’s not like when you order an Elrick bass and Rob Elrick is building your bass himself. A lot of people don’t understand that it was Ken’s great team of luthiers (and now Brubaker’s crew) that were doing the woodworking because his name was on the headstock.

He knows how to make them, he made the first few basses. I know this to be true. Just because he doesn't make them today, doesn't mean he's not a luthier.

 

[Watchootognbout]

The truth is this:Many of you don't like a Ken Smith bass because it doesn't look and sound like a Fender P-Bass.
And because of that you think a Ken Smith is wrong!

That's it and that's all!

 

[pb9717]

I've owned everything from Fender american deluxe Jazzes to Spector's to Sadowsky's. I had a Ken Smith american made Chuck Rainey 5 in maple walnut in the BT body. It was the american bolt on made in Percasie back in 95'. I was having a hard time with it initially and Ken Welcomed me to bring it to percasie for a set up and discussion. It seemed the action I wanted required a lighter touch which I hadnt developed. Ken also trained me on how to use the EQ more delicately instead of diming the controls. He wasnt warm fuzzy, but he took care of my questions and treated me fairly. I eventually sold it because I just thought it was time to move on. I used it for years doing club dates, and I found the ergos good for my Body, and I also found the BT style the nicest design of those in his line. Ultimately, i was drawn to a Yamaha TRB-5P. It had the piezo pickup in conjunction with a P & J set, and the neck was a thru body. It just had more sound diversity than the CR5 Ken Smith. ( Also , my drummer of 16 years hated that smith, he would constantly say " get a jazz bass) after Y2K I moved to j style basses, and have been an avid sadowsky user for years. When you pull a sadowsky out of your case, you get no grief. When you pull out a smith. everybody goes "whats that?" But, they're great basses, just not designed for most folks.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I've been impressed by how Smith basses sound for decades. Unfortunately for me I've never seen one to try out locally. And judging by the pictures of them basses that I've seen, they're a work of art.

My main basses are all 35" scale, and it didn't appear that Ken would build a bass in that scale length.

I see that Kevin Brubaker had taken over Ken's operation, so I now have a glimmer of hope that he'll offer a 35" scale Smith.

 

[J.Wolf]

Ken makes a fine bass that some people love and others do not. Issues people have with his instruments are purely subjective, whether thats tone or feel or aesthetic preferences. Objectively, they are masterfully built, reliable, stable and have a high degree of design integrity. He also is one of the modern grand daddy's of the art form.

Personally, I dont like the way they feel or sound. More importantly, I have not had good personal interactions with him, and between that and my subjective preferences, I have no desire to own one. Ken the man, vs. Ken the luthier is an important distinction to make, and one could argue that his personality has no bearing on the quality of the instrument. My own opinion is that we live in a world in which where and how you spend your money is ultimately how your voice is heard. So I think there is a connection between the man and the product, in a specific and very relevant way.

Also worth noting, the classic Smith tone from his construction methods and those Kent Armstrong Humbuckers with his pre is super unique and archetypal, and some guys make them sound SO good. If you want that sound, that is the OG source.

My .02c anyways

 

[JPMcGuire]

I have tried numerous Ken smiths. Great build quality and feel. Way to compressed to sit well in a typical mix imo. Moved on to fodera for my home and happy. Much more versitle for any type of music.

If Ken was open to other pickup choices and pickup placement I would have tried a new custom. That’s a primary ingredient of a Ken smith tone.

 

[lalo_garcia-maynez]

In the right hands this is what they sound like



Now tell me you don't like them???

I have 5 of them; I will NEVER sell them they are very unique and special for me.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I miss my (early) Ken Smith. If only it had been a 5er!

 

[Chickenwheels]

In the right hands this is what they sound like



Now tell me you don't like them???

I have 5 of them; I will NEVER sell them they are very unique and special for me.

I love “King Cockroach”. And yes, the Smith/Jackson sounds beautiful: super even and smooth. Never owned one, but I’d dig a Smith 5 I reckon. All the ones I’ve played have been awesome.

 

[DDXdesign]

I always oohed and ahhed at the gorgeous Smiths I would happen across at Chuck Levin's, but they always seemed so big (I'm not a tall or longarmed dude) so I couldn't really get on with them. That's a wiiiiide body. Nothing wrong with them objectively, I think, just didn't work for me.