Ken Smith 25th Anniversary (Lefty)

[gravesbass]

Hey Gang,

Well, it's time to move a few basses I have for reasons I cannot control. My beloved Smith is 1 of 2 made in 2005. Mine is the Walnut and there is a flame maple one somewhere out there. Ken put his "best" work into this bass and the woods, tone, sustain and everything else is top notch. The fingerboard is macassar ebony streaked and sooooo damn beautiful. There is not a mark on this bass but a VERY tiny line on the back that can be buffed out. Suggested retail is 9200 and street for a 25th ann is $6900. Wait time is 2 years but this is a true 25th ann model.

I will build a link soon for all the pics. I am asking $4500 US Dollars and only offer to lower 48 on this. I want this transaction east as possible and less time on the road/air the better. If you know the quality of Ken's BEST basses, you will not be disappointed.

I am firm on my asking price or i'll just hang onto it for a while longer. There is nothing out there that has the quality woods and attention to detail as this bass has. Its PERFECT and 100% left handed inc. all the controls!!!!!

[gravesbass]

One more.......

[gravesbass]

Correction: It was completed in Feb 2006. I fould the paperwork. Here are the specs:

Flame Maple Core
7-Pc Hard Roock Maple-Bubinga Neck/Graphite Inlay Bars
Gold Plated Truss Rod Cover
24-Fret Macassar Ebony Board w Abolone Dots
Smith Humbucker Pickups w/ adjustable pole pieces
Smith BMT 3-Band 18V Circuit with 4-Way Adjustable Dip Frequency switches - Pre/Vol, Blend, Bass, Mid, Treb
Series-Parallel Switches
Hand Rubbed Dutch Varnish Finish and Hand Polished Catalyzed Lacquer Finish
String Spacing: 9mm/nut (23/64) - 18mm at the bridge (23/32)
Fingerboard Width: Nut: 1 3/4 - 24 fret 3"
Neck & Head: 5-Piece Laminated Aged Hardrock Maple & Morado with Graphite Inlaid Bars w/Matching Headstock overlay with Gold Plated Truss Rod Cap a'la 1980's.
Gold Solid Brass (QSR) Bridge (Made In USA)Scalloped Brass NutFingerboard: Macassar Ebony with Abalone Pearl Top & Side DotsAngled Back Headstock / Coat of Arms carving on backCore Choices: Tiger Maple
Finish: Classic Hand Rubbed High Gloss Catalyzed Lacquer over Stradivari Gold Oil ("Ken's Secret Sauce")
Hardware: Gold Smith Hardware & Dunlop "Flush Mount" Straploks
Electronics: "NEW" Smith B.M.T. 3-Band EQ 18-volt Circuit; Internal 4-way adjustable frequency DIP Switches for each Band Including
Series/Parallel Switches for each Pickup, Smith Custom Bass
Body Wings: "Highly Figured" 5-Piece Laminated Wings w/ Contrasting Laminates
Top & Back Choices from "Ken's Private Stock" of Figured Walnut

[andrew]

NICE!!!

[fivebass52]

Beautiful!

[AzWhoFan]

F@ck me gently, that's sweet!

Did you pick out the woods yourself, or find it hanging on a wall in a store?

[gravesbass]

Thanks man
Nope, Ken picked the woods. Its his best of the best private stock.
I got it in a trade but wanted the bass for 2 years. Long story... but I wanted it since it was on the wall at atlanta bas gallery. They wanted 6200 at the time. They are now 6900 street. Inflation......
I got it in a trade of my Wal. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with it and worth every penny. I just have too many in the herd and want ot get down to 6. I have 11 still.

[andrew]

And what might that 11 be? What are your current keepers?

[AzWhoFan]

Thanks man
Nope, Ken picked the woods. Its his best of the best private stock.
I got it in a trade but wanted the bass for 2 years. Long story... but I wanted it since it was on the wall at atlanta bas gallery. They wanted 6200 at the time. They are now 6900 street. Inflation......
I got it in a trade of my Wal. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with it and worth every penny. I just have too many in the herd and want ot get down to 6. I have 11 still.

Ah, i thought it rang a bell! Here's the pics from ABG. i've lusted after that bass for ages.

http://www.atlantabassgallery.com/bass_ ... ass_id=347

[gravesbass]

Yes sir..... That's her but she looks MUCH nicer in person. The attention to detail cannot be seen from a pic hanging on a wall. All in all, if I resort to ebay , it ain't gonna be cheap. If it doesnt sell, i'll hang on till the economy comes back a little....

It would make a dream Christmas gift tho.... hint nudge...

[thumbslam]

Looks like a Carvin Icon, just not as cool. Would have sent to $$$$$ already but that scuff on the case in the 3rd pic down turned me off. HHEEE HHEEE

[gravesbass]

Yea, your right... there is a scratch on the edge of the case. Tell ya what, i'll drop 1k for the mark on the case..... That might be a deal breaker.. ha!!! (kidding of course). The case is the freebee but a nice fitted one at that.

For you thumbslam... $500 total just for being a cool dude. It's only mildly better than a Carvin!

[pjmuck]

Absolutely stunning! Makes me wish I played 5ers.

[QU!CK]

So how many black market kidneys do I need to sell in order to finance this dream bass?!


-J

[markcv]

Beautiful Graves. I saw this on the Atlanta Bass gallery web site and gassed over it too. What do you think? Better than an F Bass?

[gravesbass]

Hey Mark.... I will never say an instrument is better than another (unless its a cheap POS bass). I respect George Furlanetto highly and he build some wonderful instruments. The Ken Smith has its own tone. It can be subtle and it can be aggressive. The mid knob alone is worth every penny. Every note stands out and the neck is perfect. great bass and the prettiest collection of woods you will ever see next to the quality of Alembics finest. Hope that helps. Check youtube for ken smith vids. there should be some samples up there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytU2BedreOg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZDp1bGV ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6McJYbV8Bs

Just for a few... Listen with headphones or good speakers tho. They have a tone of their own!

[slybass3000]

Too bad you are not considering Canada as a destination,


Sly

[gravesbass]

Here is a comparison I found on the neck-thru vs the bolt-on. I don't believe some of the comments as the bolt on is better as its all subject to what tone your looking for. Neck-Thru will be better sustain and deeper tones.. The active treble knob can give you PLENTY of trebly highs for plucking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0quJTuSV ... re=related

[gravesbass]

[quote="slybass3000"]Too bad you are not considering Canada as a destination,

I sent you a PM.

[Rodent]

that is one insanely gorgeous KS!!!

I like where Ken has centered the midrange control frequency - it's perfect with his custom pickups (and it was an added cost item in '94 when I ordered my custom from him )

all the best,

R