FranKenSmith on EB: where to start...

belinmad · **Posted:** July 7th, 2014, 9:21 pm

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331255021467

Jeroen · **Posted:** July 8th, 2014, 3:12 am

Who in his right mind would do something like that to such a superb instrument? :shock:

fivebass52 · **Posted:** July 8th, 2014, 3:48 am

I'm assuming that is the original body shape, but WTF, who-in-the-hell decided to "enhance" the headstock into resmebling a yam?! :shock:

bobjones2260 · **Posted:** July 8th, 2014, 5:59 am

Never understood with a million right handed instruments, why anyone would take a Lefty and mod it for right handed. On the plus side they got it right on Ebay it's beat up but for a fraction of the cost you can get a really good playing Ken Smith bass due to the war wounds.

belinmad · **Posted:** July 8th, 2014, 6:14 am

That lower horn seems so weird... would love to find out if it's really an original Ken Smith design or it got further "modded"

Lefty007 · **Joined:** March 12th, 2008, 5:13 pm **Posts:** 770

The only "Smith" in that bass are the pickups, it's not a Smith bass. Wrong pickup location, not a Smith neck (wrong heel shape), not a Smith body (impossible to get that body shape from shaving a Smith body, or that headstock shape from a Smith headstock) nor the bridge, nor the controls' location. And the stringers are not consistent with Smith basses either.

Pretty irresponsible of this dealer to list that as a Smith bass.

AzWhoFan · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 10:57 am **Posts:** 2866

Lefty007 wrote:

The only "Smith" in that bass are the pickups, it's not a Smith bass. Wrong pickup location, not a Smith neck (wrong heel shape), not a Smith body (impossible to get that body shape from shaving a Smith body, or that headstock shape from a Smith headstock) nor the bridge, nor the controls' location. And the stringers are not consistent with Smith basses either.

Pretty irresponsible of this dealer to list that as a Smith bass.

what he said. The volute is nowhere near Ken's design. It's possible the maple top came from some other Smith bass that was butchered in a previous life. Possible, but doubtful.

tomdbass · **Posted:** July 8th, 2014, 9:18 am

I agree-not a Ken Smith. The body "shape" is very similar to a Carl Thompson bass. Either way, whoever modded this bass was not thinking clearly.

AzWhoFan · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 10:57 am **Posts:** 2866

Listing has been removed. THANK GAWD!!!

fivebass52 · **Posted:** July 8th, 2014, 9:15 pm

AzWhoFan wrote:

Listing has been removed. THANK GAWD!!!

Was about to say, someone should alert eBay on the total scam this bass is, and thanks to lefty007 for knowing a lot about Smith basses... I had no idea this bass is totally wrong, except for the pickups.

bhunt1 · **Joined:** October 8th, 2009, 3:19 am **Posts:** 865

It's back with a modified description and new high res photos!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluebond-Lefty- ... 4d208f8579

screambasses · **Posted:** July 11th, 2014, 5:14 am

I wouldn't pay more that $200 for that, regardless of how it "plays."
And then, it would only be for it's "aesthetics." Something to lure young girls into bedroom with...
"Hey, you wanna see something incredible? Come look at this."

"pete"

zawinals · **Joined:** July 27th, 2009, 12:13 pm **Posts:** 35

Hey guys-

Umm...by now you know this is an actual custom bass, a Bluebond, and after researching online, found pics of various basses from this maker. And, was ASTONISHED to find that the headstock was actually original to the bass. His headstocks were all like that. I just don't get it. I've seen it time, and time again: builders put all their time and energy into designing and building a bass with beautiful woods and great electronics, and it seems as if they often drop the ball, or become lazy, when designing the headstock, which to me is the signature on the piece. And this exams is the worst that I've ever come across.

fivebass52 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2014, 5:30 pm

zawinals wrote:

Hey guys-

Umm...by now you know this is an actual custom bass, a Bluebond, and after researching online, found pics of various basses from this maker. And, was ASTONISHED to find that the headstock was actually original to the bass. His headstocks were all like that. I just don't get it. I've seen it time, and time again: builders put all their time and energy into designing and building a bass with beautiful woods and great electronics, and it seems as if they often drop the ball, or become lazy, when designing the headstock, which to me is the signature on the piece. And this exams is the worst that I've ever come across.

Yep, what he said... http://rockbassist.brinkster.net/bluebond.htm , although this is not the actual builder's website...

glefty5 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2014, 11:10 pm

Am I showing my ignorance/bad taste by saying this bass looks very well made, tho pity about the headstock shape.

LeftyBassist.com

FranKenSmith on EB: where to start...

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