JONES bass, England.

[OliverBlackman]

34 minutes ago, Russ said:

The 1970 live album from The Who. Entwistle's playing a Precision and his tone is fearsome. 

 

Then again, at that time it was just the four of them (before they started adding keyboards, etc) - his main challenge was being heard over Moon's drums! 

thanks! Quite a different scenario to those I was talking about! Loads of sonic space in a small outfit with cranked amps!

 

6 minutes ago, Wolverinebass said:

Live at Leeds by The Who. Arguably one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. With a precision. Which cuts through. Weird that.

 

I've got a 2017 classic 50's precision. No doubt with crap wood and pickups. Strange that I've never had a problem cutting through. Could it be through a knowledge of eq, effects, overdrive and where the rest of the band sits in the overall frequency spectrum might have something to do with it?

 

Not all basses are good for all things, true and I choose basses for different projects based on how they should work sonically, but the assertion that passive fenders don't cut through isn't true at all.

You’re not reading the details of my point so you’ll never agree. I also have no idea how you play and what band setup you play in so couldn’t advise on your specific scenario.

 

Anyway, hopefully these Jones basses have very good electronics to match the Competition they’re sitting in, and make up for the boxy aesthetics.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

1 hour ago, Wolverinebass said:

Live at Leeds by The Who. THE greatest album ever recorded.

 

 

FTFY 😁

[Chris2112]

I've got a lot of time and respect for what Mark Jones is doing with his instruments. His woodworking and craftsmanship looks absolutely world class, and I'm pleased to see a product of that quality being made in a small operation in England. It's a brave move to try and break into the toxic and often snobbish bass market, even when your product appears to be as good as anything else you can buy. 

 

Yes, the earlier basses were obviously inspired by Ken Smith. I'm not sure why that attracted such opprobrium; I don't think an order with Jones Bass would have gone to Ken Smith otherwise. If you see an R Bass or a D'Mark, you don't automatically think that Fodera have lost out. If you see a Unicorn, you don't assume that the order would have otherwise automatically gone to Alembic. If you see a Lull, you don't assume that Sadowsky, Devon, Valenti, Fender, Moon etc have lost an order. I think some of the initial criticism over social media of the derivative styling was just people sticking the boot in because they could. Because Mark was posting the builds online as the luthier, it was probably quite easy for the detractors to have a pop at them. 

 

I don't like Mark's current shapes as much but his coolest, sleekest shape is one that he needs to make more fuss about. I think he calls it the MK1 shape. I absolutely love it. See the attached item.

 

Irrespective of what you think of the shapes of the basses, you can't argue that they look absolutely flawless in the pictures. I'm not sure if he does his own finishing but the high gloss finish he getting looks like glass, it's absolutely incredible. 

 

[EBS_freak]

Re poly finishing - I believe tdog does them.

[tauzero]

I can't remember where it was that I heard the theory, but allegedly guitars are attractive because they mirror the female form, so near-parallel top and bottom like the Jones SM1 don't look like the traditionally attractive female, and presumably Flying Vs appeal to those who like teenage Olympic gymnasts. 

[FunkyDude]

3 hours ago, tauzero said:

I can't remember where it was that I heard the theory, but allegedly guitars are attractive because they mirror the female form, so near-parallel top and bottom like the Jones SM1 don't look like the traditionally attractive female, and presumably Flying Vs appeal to those who like teenage Olympic gymnasts. 

The SM1 does kind of grow on you after a while. That shape has character.

[FunkyDude]

5 hours ago, Chris2112 said:

I've got a lot of time and respect for what Mark Jones is doing with his instruments. His woodworking and craftsmanship looks absolutely world class, and I'm pleased to see a product of that quality being made in a small operation in England. It's a brave move to try and break into the toxic and often snobbish bass market, even when your product appears to be as good as anything else you can buy. 

 

Yes, the earlier basses were obviously inspired by Ken Smith. I'm not sure why that attracted such opprobrium; I don't think an order with Jones Bass would have gone to Ken Smith otherwise. If you see an R Bass or a D'Mark, you don't automatically think that Fodera have lost out. If you see a Unicorn, you don't assume that the order would have otherwise automatically gone to Alembic. If you see a Lull, you don't assume that Sadowsky, Devon, Valenti, Fender, Moon etc have lost an order. I think some of the initial criticism over social media of the derivative styling was just people sticking the boot in because they could. Because Mark was posting the builds online as the luthier, it was probably quite easy for the detractors to have a pop at them. 

 

I don't like Mark's current shapes as much but his coolest, sleekest shape is one that he needs to make more fuss about. I think he calls it the MK1 shape. I absolutely love it. See the attached item.

 

Irrespective of what you think of the shapes of the basses, you can't argue that they look absolutely flawless in the pictures. I'm not sure if he does his own finishing but the high gloss finish he getting looks like glass, it's absolutely incredible. 

 

Totally agree with you Chris, well said 👍

Do like the gloss finish but it's a £500 optional extra! 😥

[therealting]

I regret not getting one of the earlier KS-inspired builds for £2k when I had the opportunity. I don’t like the look of the newer shapes. 

[tauzero]

5 hours ago, FunkyDude said:

The SM1 does kind of grow on you after a while. That shape has character.

 

It looks like Cartman with his arms up.

[NickA]

I'm not wild about the shapes...then again, the photos on the website are almost all detail shots; it's quite hard to get a feel for the over-all looks of them.

 

Anyway, it's the sound and playability that counts.  Ergonomics look good ( better than Wals, anyway).

[Killerfridge]

53 minutes ago, NickA said:

I'm not wild about the shapes...then again, the photos on the website are almost all detail shots; it's quite hard to get a feel for the over-all looks of them.

 

Anyway, it's the sound and playability that counts.  Ergonomics look good ( better than Wals, anyway).

Mark very kindly sent me a picture from his Instagram to help me get a feel for the shape. I think it's quite good, it's definitely grown on me

[Chris2112]

I will say again that this with a buckeye burl, redwood, quilted maple top or something like that... I'd want for nothing more than a six string. I've now spent the morning thinking about it!

 

 

[EBS_freak]

47 minutes ago, Killerfridge said:

Mark very kindly sent me a picture from his Instagram to help me get a feel for the shape. I think it's quite good, it's definitely grown on me

So Ken Smith Burner meets Fodera Monarch.

[FunkyDude]

38 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

So Ken Smith Burner meets Fodera Monarch.

And live happily ever after! 😜

[Chris2112]

Sorry to bang on about this shape but I love it. It works as a four string too. And look at the six from the back! So smart. This the direction I'd like to see Mark follow, if he won't just do the BT/BSR shape in future. 

 

As previously stated, I have no problem with something looking like a British Ken Smith. It may seem a bit jarring to some but that's only because he's the first guy to do it but look at all the other amazing builders that were clearly influenced by Ken. 

[OliverBlackman]

20 minutes ago, Chris2112 said:

Sorry to bang on about this shape but I love it. It works as a four string too. And look at the six from the back! So smart. This the direction I'd like to see Mark follow, if he won't just do the BT/BSR shape in future. 

 

As previously stated, I have no problem with something looking like a British Ken Smith. It may seem a bit jarring to some but that's only because he's the first guy to do it but look at all the other amazing builders that were clearly influenced by Ken. 

I prefer this shape too. My grievance with the KS shape isn’t that it’s a KS copy, but that it’s been done so badly!

[Cosmo Valdemar]

1 hour ago, Chris2112 said:

Sorry to bang on about this shape but I love it. It works as a four string too. And look at the six from the back! So smart. This the direction I'd like to see Mark follow, if he won't just do the BT/BSR shape in future. 

 

As previously stated, I have no problem with something looking like a British Ken Smith. It may seem a bit jarring to some but that's only because he's the first guy to do it but look at all the other amazing builders that were clearly influenced by Ken. 

Now that's more like it! Vaguely Zon Sonus-esque but still looks like an original design. The body looks a lot more comfortable than the previous ones which look a bit slab-like to me.

Plus, it's got the right amount of strings 😆

[kuetsum]

What's the price range for a Jones bass?

[Killerfridge]

26 minutes ago, kuetsum said:

What's the price range for a Jones bass?

About £3-4k

[kuetsum]

43 minutes ago, Killerfridge said:

About £3-4k

Oh.. that needs a lot of love..

[RonC]

Wow, these are stunning basses! What a craftsmanship!!

[Misdee]

22 hours ago, Chris2112 said:

Sorry to bang on about this shape but I love it. It works as a four string too. And look at the six from the back! So smart. This the direction I'd like to see Mark follow, if he won't just do the BT/BSR shape in future. 

 

As previously stated, I have no problem with something looking like a British Ken Smith. It may seem a bit jarring to some but that's only because he's the first guy to do it but look at all the other amazing builders that were clearly influenced by Ken. 

To me that's a much more attractive than the Smith-style body shape. It's not a poor man's version of something else.

 

 I think this chap would have a better chance in the marketplace with a bass more along those lines. However well-made they are, the other styles are too derivative for him to establish the brand. A bass like that with a filter preamp could attract a lot of interest in a world starved of Wals.

 

Like I said before, he looks to be highly skilled bass builder and I wish him well with it all.

 

This thread did prompt me to discover that Smith basses start at 10,000 dollars nowadays, so what do I know? Maybe a more affordable Smith is an attractive proposition after all, providing there's still enough  bass players who aspire to those basses. 

 

 

[Killerfridge]

2 hours ago, Misdee said:

This thread did prompt me to discover that Smith basses start at 10,000 dollars nowadays, so what do I know? Maybe a more affordable Smith is an attractive proposition after all, providing there's still enough  bass players who aspire to those basses. 

I was about to say that Ken Smith and his workshop don't even make the basses anymore (it was subcontracted to Brubaker guitars), but apparently they've taken back production. Still it's a crazy price right?

[kuetsum]

5 minutes ago, Killerfridge said:

I was about to say that Ken Smith and his workshop don't even make the basses anymore (it was subcontracted to Brubaker guitars), but apparently they've taken back production. Still it's a crazy price right?

It's a very weird situation and turns out Ken just made a statement and claimed brubaker can't meet the standard and the relationship fall apart.

 

 for those who own a brubaker era might has a mixed feeling...as the premium price tag

 

From what Ive learned, it's in house again.

 

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by kuetsum

[Killerfridge]

33 minutes ago, kuetsum said:

It's a very weird situation and turns out Ken just made a statement and claimed brubaker can't meet the standard and the relationship fall apart.

 

 for those who own a brubaker era might has a mixed feeling...as the premium price tag

 

From what Ive learned, it's in house again.

 

 

I would feel pretty bad learning my Ken Smith is built by someone else, but at the same price. Not that Brubaker couldn't make it just as well as KS, but that's why I would be paying the premium. Kinda like if Warwick built Sadowskys just cost the same as the ones built by Roger