LeftyBassist.com

Anyone have any history on this bass?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lefty-Ken-Smith-Nec ... ?pt=Guitar

I have no history on it but it is a beautiful bass.

Thank you for spotting that auction! Now I know where click-me!-> this killer 4 string bass <- click-me! ended up.

Damn, and it's only 3 1/2 hours away from me. I sure could use a few days of R&R in Vegas ......

More lefty Ken-porn for y'all:
Some danged fine wood

Zero feedback seller, and the picture is the same as on the Ken Smith-website. I'm not too sure about this...

Jeroen - I saw this post earlier, just didn't have time to say the exact same thing. First time seller, one picture, bleak description, seller is in Vegas.... sounds like a total gamble to me! If that were my bass, I would be posting a collection of pictures showing all sides, close-ups etc., and writing a somewhat long-winded story on how much I loved the bass, will miss it, and would definitely describe the woods and tone of such a beautiful bass. I'm sure you all would do the same.

If this is indeed a legitimate sale, it's most likely being fronted by a pawn shop that took it in from a bass player down on his luck, or, it's a bass player down on his luck, one step before taking it to a pawn shop. In either case, he's no salesman at all, and has done nothing to entice anyone so far to bid on his bass. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.....

I contacted this dude and called him on it. Let's see his response.
I told him to either take it down or post additional photos.

Don't screw with a lefty bassist...

p

I am in Vegas this weekend for the Rush concert at MGM Grand, so I emailed this guy to see if I could check out the bass in person before I go to the show. No reply yet, but if I can check out the bass I'll take some pics.

He just got back to me, says it's not a fraud and that he'll get photos up today.

p

He responded and I called him and I will be able to check out the bass at around 100-130pm. He told me its not the actual bass pictured in the auction (which is the same one on the KS website), but its the same model with bubinga and walnut. He says he is going to post pics as per the previous post. I'll still take some of my own pics and try to post if I can.

I sent an email thru ebay to the seller earlier today asking for pics other than the pic culled from Ken Smith's web page. I didn't realize that Ken's shop worked with bubinga. Seller responded promptly.

I went and met up with the guy at a restaurant to check out the bass, noodle around on it a little and take pictures.







Nice little detail at the base of the headstock

Tried to show how straight the neck is, but my point and shoot camera has limited depth of field.

Serial number at base of the neck.

I was told this was the very first lefty Ken ever made. It played well with very good action, but I wasn't able to play it thru an amp so I can't make any statements about the sound. The weight was on the lighter side, I could see playing quite a while with it without and shoulder aches. Dunlop Straploks are mounted flush into the body. The overall condition is very good, with a few marks of buckle rash here and there (see photos). As you can see it is not the actual exact bass he initially posted in the auction, but it appears to be a genuine Ken Smith bass of the same model(although I am not an expert or historical authority on Ken Smith instruments). The Ken Smith bass case is back east with the guy's family and he will work to have it shipped to the new owner.

Hopefully these pics and information will help everyone in their decision whether to bid on the bass or not. On a side note, the guy seemed very nice and down to earth and ready to make a deal.

thanks for geting those pics up before tonight's concert!

Any clue what the core wood is? Is it the same as the walnut-looking stringers? Is it a 5 or a 3 piece neck? Lokks to me like a 3-piece from the pics.

And BTW, my KS is a 1996, and i know for sure Ken made lefties prior to that, so maybe the seller ment that it was the 1st lefty bass made from bubunga?

My Smith's a '94 CR4 (Chuck Rainey model). So he definitely made lefties prior to '96. But I've never seen a bubinga one.

Beware the lefty police! Thanks Penguin for taking the time to check it out. Nice looking bass. I'm sure the next time this guy decides to sell a bass on eBay, he'll think twice - at least! - before listing a bass with the wrong picture/s for starters, and will include a more detailed description.

But, how else ya going to learn? Especially when selling to a tightly-knit organization of Lefties!

Bass just sold for $1,000.00 on two bids from the only bidder. Anyone here get this one? Unbelievable deal!!

WOW - $1K is a S-T-E-A-L for this used lefty!!!

controls look standard Vol - Blend - Active Treble - Active Mid - Active Bass

3-piece neck-thru with flame Maple laminate to thicken up the neck on the back side where it runs thru the body

looks like a Mahogany body core with Bubinga on the top/back faces

also looks like a Morado (Pau Ferro) fretboard

all the best,

R

Well something's definitely fishy here. $1000 is an amazing price, but the buyer only has a 2 feedback rating and has already left positive feedback for the seller. Unless he lived in the immediate area and picked the bass up or was looking over the seller's shoulder when the auction ended, it seems a bit premature to me to be giving positive feedback hours after the end of an auction.

If it's legit that is a RIDICULOUS DEAL!!!!

Perhaps penguin decided to buy it after being inspired by Geddy Lee the night before?