Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 In case anyone missed the sub-heading, both are now: After a unfair and insulting accusation of product placement by Ken Smith on his forum last night when I was trying to be helpful to other members, I've decided I no longer want to be associated with Smith basses or Ken Smith. Besides which the money would be useful right now. So up for sale are my matching fretted and fretless BSR5GN basses: [b]2002 Smith BSR5GN[/b] I bought this from Bob at the Bass Palace and its been my main gigging instrument for the last 5 years. There are a few very small barely visible and stone chip sized indentations mainly as a result of normal wear and tear and the finish being so soft. The bass features a 5 piece laminated neck of bubinga and maple with mahogany wings and 5A quilted maple facings with an ebony fingerboard. The bass is completely stock, has been well looked after and has just been fitted with a brand new set of Elixir strings. Price is £1800 and includes a Smith hard case, a Smith strap and allen keys plus any other case candy I can find. [b]2005 Smith BSR5GN fretless[/b] I bought this from Evan at Bass NW in 2005 and its been my main fretless. There is virtually no wear or marks and the bass has been well looked after. The instrument is completely stock and features a 3 band eq with series/parallel switches as an extra option. The bass features a 5 piece laminated neck of bubinga and maple with flame maple wings and walnut top with an unlined ebony fingerboard. Price is £1900 because fretless basses are slightly less common and includes a Smith hard case, a Smith strap and allen keys plus any other case candy I can find. Both instruments play like butter and have that typical Smith scoop with sweet treble and lots of warmth and growl. Goes without saying that they will be missed. [b]T&C's[/b] They will be available through this forum for the next 2 weeks and then I will be taking them to the Gallery for sale on consignment. The price of them will obviously increase to account for the Gallery's 15% commission. Shipping is likely to be around £25 per bass but I would prefer to meet if possible for petrol money. Feel free to PM me with questions or for more pics. No offers thanks because I know these basses WILL sell at these prices. Re: trades, I'm only interested in a headless Status Stealth 5 string or Series 2000 5 string or a Yamaha BBNEII + cash adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgraham Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 That's a real shame CK. I completely understand where you're coming from though. Always liked the look of your Smiths; I'm sure you won't have any difficulty moving them on. Best of luck anyway! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Wow, this is staggering. I would love that fretted 5. I started to scheme about how I could afford it, but truly, I can hardly justify it. Good luck (grudgingly) with the sale. Want to spill what happened on the KS forum? By PM if you'd rather! I've had dealings with Mr Smith and know how I feel about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Let just say as a Smith owner/player for the last 5 years I expect to be given the benefit of any doubt over my motives for posting there. I'll PM you with the details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overwater#1 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I'm shocked Steve, that's such a huge shame!! Good luck with finding a new bass to replace them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='317330' date='Oct 29 2008, 09:42 AM']Let just say as a Smith owner/player for the last 5 years I expect to be given the benefit of any doubt over my motives for posting there. I'll PM you with the details.[/quote] Me too please. Oh man, you know how much I covet that beautiful fretted 5... oh god, if I could even remotely afford it, I'd take it in a heartbeat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='Rich' post='317352' date='Oct 29 2008, 10:11 AM'] Me too please. Oh man, you know how much I covet that beautiful fretted 5... oh god, if I could even remotely afford it, I'd take it in a heartbeat... [/quote] I do mate and nothing would make me happier than to pass the fretted 5 on to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obi 2 kenobi Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 What thread in the Smith forum ? I had some dealings with him in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 (edited) Sorry to hear about the Ken Smith issues. These basses look beautiful, and what a pair to compliment eachother. Best of luck with the sale mate Edited October 29, 2008 by benwhiteuk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 OB1, the exchange was by PM. I know I'm not the only one who has had encounters so I'd prefer to avoid getting into the specifics in public or to encourage anyone to slag Ken Smith off on this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I think I've found the original post that has caused this. I assume it escalated somewhat in the PMs Steve? I know Ken can be fairly brusque, but this is sad indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='walbassist' post='317398' date='Oct 29 2008, 11:09 AM']I think I've found the original post that has caused this. I assume it escalated somewhat in the PMs Steve?[/quote] I've responded by PM, Gareth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDM Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 (edited) I know it's not my place to tell you want to do, but it seems a bit radical to no longer play a bass because of whatever happened between you and the builder. I understand that you don't want to be associated with Ken Smith anymore for whatever reasons. But if the basses are as nice as you say they are, then I reckon neither of you are really benefiting from you selling them. He's losing an endorsement, and you're losing out on two very nice basses right? /opinion (I don't know what happened on the Ken smith forums, so my opinion could be totally wrong) Good luck with the sale! Edited October 29, 2008 by thedonutman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippyfloop Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 OMG ! That fretted is loverly.... Don't know what happened between you and Mr Smith but I had a bass built by a person who became very unhelpful and nasty. Couldn't keep the bass after that ! Every time I pick it up it would remind me of what happened and I would get upset and angry. Shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='thedonutman' post='317486' date='Oct 29 2008, 12:38 PM']I know it's not my place to tell you want to do, but it seems a bit radical to no longer play a bass because of whatever happened between you and the builder. I understand that you don't want to be associated with Ken Smith anymore for whatever reasons. But if the basses are as nice as you say they are, then I reckon neither of you are really benefiting from you selling them. He's losing an endorsement, and you're losing out on two very nice basses right? /opinion (I don't know what happened on the Ken smith forums, so my opinion could be totally wrong) Good luck with the sale![/quote] Fair enough donutman. I was thinking about retiring the Smith 5 fretted before it got too much player wear anyway. Its a great bass, however I was planning on keeping it for sentimental reasons. Obviously now thats changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BassKS Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Without sounding like Janice from Friends, "oh my god" the fretted one is one beautiful piece of (b)ass. I wish I had a real job and not a PhD bursary!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippyfloop Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 How much does the fretted weigh ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='flippyfloop' post='317606' date='Oct 29 2008, 02:32 PM']How much does the fretted weigh ?[/quote] :ph34r: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='walbassist' post='317398' date='Oct 29 2008, 11:09 AM']I know Ken can be fairly brusque, but this is sad indeed.[/quote] +1 I've saw a thread on TalkBass a year or so ago where KS was surprisingly brusque.. Good luck with the sales CK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='flippyfloop' post='317606' date='Oct 29 2008, 02:32 PM']How much does the fretted weigh ?[/quote] I can't actually tell you, I'm afraid! I don't have a set of bathroom scales or any other way of weighing it. It feels about the same as my stingray/cutlass/spector 6 if that means anything? Certainly not remarkably heavy or light. A number of other Basschatters have played it at BassBashes and remarked on how comfortable and easily it plays. [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='317639' date='Oct 29 2008, 03:04 PM']+1 I've saw a thread on TalkBass a year or so ago where KS was surprisingly brusque.. Good luck with the sales CK![/quote] Cheers Nik, its my understanding that the Talkbass thread lead to him setting up his own forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjamm Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Gargh...if only a Marleaux Constat Fretless was in your wish list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Principles are a bitch. But good on ya. Are you angry enough to swap both basses for one SX jazz and then post the fact at the offending forum? P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='317656' date='Oct 29 2008, 03:22 PM']Cheers Nik, its my understanding that the Talkbass thread lead to him setting up his own forum.[/quote] Interesting! It would appear then that basses are definitely his forte, whilst internet forums may very well not be... That fretted bass is absolutely gorgeous by the way.. Perhaps you should keep just one of them to avoid completely 'throwing the baby out with the bath water', as the saying goes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Jamie: Hmm, sorry mate. If I could help you out, I would. Unfortunately I'm getting a bit particular in my old age Paul : Not quite angry enough to do that I'm afraid. Nothing wrong with SX basses though. Nik: I know it looks like I'm firing off on one, but I've been vascillating over selling anyway because of my work situation as you'll have seen in my collection thread. This event has made the decision a lot easier and less clouded by sentimentality. I know how to get a Smith-esque sound from a custom instrument (the secret isn't that mysterious) and I don't intend to get a new Smith in the future any more than I intend to purchase a new Musicman bass (for pretty much the same reasons as it so happens.) BTW: already had a very serious bite on the Smith 5 fretted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Worth a try. But saying that, my SX Jazz has completely killed my GAS. I spend more time lusting after g*****s now than basses. And that is the first bass that has ever done that for me! P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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