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Why do people not like Ken Smith basses.

#22
malthumb said:
Are you talking about KSD basses? Ken Smith Design? If so, they are not representative of the basses he makes in the US. I owned a Burner (made in Japan in the '90s). It was okay. Not great.....okay. At the time my teacher had a Chuck Rainey. I played the two back to back. His CR was amazing, IMHO. I also played a few of the neck thru models at Huber & Breese. Even more amazing. But for the price, I prefer my Alembics.
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Nah, I meant the Burners. I can't say I've had my hands on a U.S. Smith.

I'm more impressed by the looks and reputation of Alembic. Good call.
 
#26
Ken Smith has the most disorganized, ugliest website in the industry. Even if you know exactly what you're looking for it can be difficult to find it by navigating his site. He should be embarrassed to have a website that looks like it was designed by a maniac shoe bomber. Ken, if you're reading this, it's 2012. Hire someone (professional) to design your website. I'm embarrassed for you.
 
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#29
I don't care for the look or sound, but I tried one once and that was a very well made bass. But if I had that kind of cash to put in a instrument, that would not be a Ken Smith. That said, I probably won't buy a boutique bass in my life, I prefer basses around $1000 that I can knock anywhere without really caring.
 
#30
Ken Smith basses are expensive, do have wide necks and are kind of ugly. But they rank with the best made, best playing, and best sounding basses ever made (IMO, of course).

The Asian-made Burner models aren't real Smith basses, and can't compare in any way to a US-made Smith bass.
 
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#31
matante said:
Ken Smith has the most disorganized, ugliest website in the industry. Even if you know exactly what you're looking for it can be difficult to find it by navigating his site. He should be embarrassed to have a website that looks like it was designed by a maniac shoe bomber. Ken, if you're reading this, it's 2012. Hire someone (professional) to design your website. I'm embarrassed for you.
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Yep, it's pretty bad. I almost expect to see listings for Community Bingo Night...
 
#32
I think their bodies are too big and look almost disproportionate in a sense. Don't dig the looks. Tone wise its not my style and like some said wouldn't be anyone's first pick for a rock or heavy music gig and a host of others. The ones I've played seemed to me to be too bright and more oriented toward soloists. Oh just remembered the wide necks, don't care for them either.
 
#34
The Ken Smith's of the world are a dying breed. Sure, there is a market, but when they are gone, so is the market. What sets Ken Smith apart from the other boutique builders like Fodera, IMO, is the reluctance to shape and grow his business around the evolution of the industry. Yes, he can say he was there at the beginning, feeding the fire of legend, but will he be there at the end? AMS has some KSD(import?) on clearance right now if anyone is interested. To me, the body and headstock are ugly. If I wanted to sound like an up and coming session ace from Brooklyn in 1980, I would buy one. Not sure what this "signature" Ken Smith tone is and would love some reference.
 
#40
Kwesi said:
Feel-wise, I actually dig Smiths. There was one that had this crazy thick neck but all the others I've tried felt great. I dig the look too, very unique but still stylish.
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Just the tone, huh? Personally, I feel like they look like a backyard build, kind of hackneyed and unbalanced, shape-wise. Their tone to me was notable as far as mid-presence. Their looks kind of defy their voice...guess that's the beauty of them.
 

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