JONES bass, England.

[FunkyDude]

  On 30/12/2024 at 17:52, 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.

 

 

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Well, I just knew the partnership wouldn't last right from the beginning! 🙄

[Misdee]

Funnily thing is, the German-made Sadowsky basses are so good at the moment  that they would actually make me think twice about ordering a NYC-made bass even if they were the same price. Seriously, they are that good.

 

On the other hand, if I had forked out for a Brubaker-made Ken Smith I would be miffed, to say the least. If Ken himself is denouncing the basses as substandard then that would seriously undermine my enjoyment of owning it.

[ped]

Ken doesn’t make them himself anyway so whether they’re ’in house’ or ‘in someone else’s house’ is kind of immaterial. It’s more likely that Brubaker found him hard to work with and now Ken is making it sound like they were the problem and trying to sell the new ‘in house’ basses. Over the years various parts of the production have been outsourced anyway.  

[binky_bass]

  On 31/12/2024 at 08:10, ped said:

Ken doesn’t make them himself anyway so whether they’re ’in house’ or ‘in someone else’s house’ is kind of immaterial. It’s more likely that Brubaker found him hard to work with and now Ken is making it sound like they were the problem and trying to sell the new ‘in house’ basses. Over the years various parts of the production have been outsourced anyway.  

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Having heard rumours of Ken's 'personality' and knowing first hand the absolute fabulous quality of Brubaker basses, I suspect there's a good deal of truth in what you've said! 

[White Cloud]

  On 30/12/2024 at 20:28, Misdee said:

Funnily thing is, the German-made Sadowsky basses are so good at the moment  that they would actually make me think twice about ordering a NYC-made bass even if they were the same price. Seriously, they are that good.

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I agree. I don't see how an NYC (or any alternative) iteration can improve upon the German builds. 

[Killerfridge]

  On 31/12/2024 at 08:10, ped said:

Ken doesn’t make them himself anyway so whether they’re ’in house’ or ‘in someone else’s house’ is kind of immaterial. It’s more likely that Brubaker found him hard to work with and now Ken is making it sound like they were the problem and trying to sell the new ‘in house’ basses. Over the years various parts of the production have been outsourced anyway.  

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I suspect you're likely right. There was an email chain posted on TB where Ken pretty much stated he had nothing to do with Brubaker right in the middle of the contract. I doubt that went down with Kevin Brubaker, and is probably just a glimpse into their relationship 

[Mikey D]

  On 29/12/2024 at 15:07, EBS_freak said:

So Ken Smith Burner meets Fodera Monarch.

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I was going to say this, maybe with a bit of early Anthony Jackson 6 about it but smaller body. Also the headstock has a bit of Ibanez grooveline about it. I have a buckeye burner 5.

 

Some of my favourites. I'm a fan and would like to try one day as I'm in the market for a 6er. 

[ped]

It’s more Ken Smith BT shape. I really like the shape and found it very comfortable. I prefer it to the BSR shape anyway. 

[Mikey D]

Looks like he needs a few more followers to get this to 5k before end of the year. What can BC do in 11 hours? Follow on Instagram if you aren't already.

[jefframm]

I've embarked on a build with Mark - for what is now called the MK2 body style. It's early in the process - but I've found Mark really easy to communicate with and very helpful. He's addressed all of my questions and ideas very quickly and was very open to my concerns about weight and how to manage that. Very excited to see things come along!

[FunkyDude]

  On 14/01/2025 at 17:53, jefframm said:

I've embarked on a build with Mark - for what is now called the MK2 body style. It's early in the process - but I've found Mark really easy to communicate with and very helpful. He's addressed all of my questions and ideas very quickly and was very open to my concerns about weight and how to manage that. Very excited to see things come along!

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Nice one Jeff 👍, please keep us updated with the build. 😁

[Killerfridge]

I see he's got something in the works with Giacomo Turra. Not a fan of his mimed videos, but will be nice if it gets Jones some exposure

[Mrbigstuff]

  On 14/01/2025 at 20:43, Killerfridge said:

I see he's got something in the works with Giacomo Turra. Not a fan of his mimed videos, but will be nice if it gets Jones some exposure

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That guy is such a good musician! Hopefully they have a really good design idea because I think Jones’ craftsmanship deserves something aesthetically pleasing.

[shoulderpet]

  On 24/12/2024 at 16:41, tubbybloke68 said:

Look very impressive! My wallet’s trying to creep away to a safe dark corner …

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My wallet is safe, I would have to give up eating for several months to afford one of those.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Prototype 4 string on Facebook - it's for sale...

 

I like it!

 

[AndyTravis]

Yeah. Thats lovely

[Sibob]

  On 12/02/2025 at 21:17, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Prototype 4 string on Facebook - it's for sale...

 

I like it!

 

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Yeah very cool, needs smaller knobs IMO…but minor detail. 
 

Si

[EBS_freak]

Those knobs are very cool! - but agreed, not for this bass.

[Beedster]

  On 28/12/2024 at 07:52, OliverBlackman said:

But my experience is that in larger setups especially, with a modern passive Fender the audience are unlikely to hear much definition in the notes. It tends to be all the low end which can make the sound a bit wooly (nothing wrong with that if it’s what is desired).

 

My experience with boutique instruments is that the electronics are all of significant design and quality that they do not suffer this same issue. I guess this is why they are popular in gospel, musical theatre and big bands. Plus in those musical situations the player is often seated and not throwing the instrument around the stage ala the who.

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That explains why Precisions are so rarely seen/heard in live and recorded music. I guess it was the absence of definition, the excess of low notes (the latter not something a bass guitar should ever aspire to of course), and the overall woolyness that eventually killed them off. When you think about it, it's amazing that Fender still make them really. Rubbish instruments, really rubbish  

[Mrbigstuff]

  On 14/02/2025 at 17:17, Beedster said:

That explains why Precisions are so rarely seen/heard in live and recorded music. I guess it was the absence of definition, the excess of low notes (the latter not something a bass guitar should ever aspire to of course), and the overall woolyness that eventually killed them off. When you think about it, it's amazing that Fender still make them really. Rubbish instruments, really rubbish  

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Come on read what I said properly. I state two things you’ve neglected to recognise before posting a sarcastic response. 
 

1) I specifically refer to large ensembles where you see less Fenders in typical professional bands compared to 5 string active boutiques.

 

2) I specifically referred to modern fenders. Even in smaller ensembles (bands) a lot of the Fender used are vintage (pre 80s) because the tone cuts through the mix better and has that full fat timbre. I’m sure they’d use modern fenders instead if they cut the mustard given how much cheaper and easier to maintain they are.

[Beedster]

  On 14/02/2025 at 18:12, OliverBlackman said:

Come on read what I said properly. I state two things you’ve neglected to recognise before posting a sarcastic response. 
 

1) I specifically refer to large ensembles where you see less Fenders in typical professional bands compared to 5 string active boutiques.

 

2) I specifically referred to modern fenders. Even in smaller ensembles (bands) a lot of the Fender used are vintage (pre 80s) because the tone cuts through the mix better and has that full fat timbre. I’m sure they’d use modern fenders instead if they cut the mustard given how much cheaper and easier to maintain they are.

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I think you're talking out of your backside frankly 👍

[Beedster]

  On 14/02/2025 at 18:43, Beedster said:

 

I think you're talking out of your backside frankly 👍

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That was a bit rude, apologies, but my sentiment re Fenders remains 👍

[Cosmo Valdemar]

A new pic posted on Facebook. Slightly ungainly headstock IMHO.

 

 

[Mrbigstuff]

  On 14/02/2025 at 18:43, Beedster said:

 

I think you're talking out of your backside frankly 👍

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There’s better ways to say you disagree. You have your experiences, I have mine.

Jones bass has his and there’s nothing wrong in having more basses in the world.

[Beedster]

  On 14/02/2025 at 20:57, OliverBlackman said:

There’s better ways to say you disagree. You have your experiences, I have mine.

Jones bass has his and there’s nothing wrong in having more basses in the world.

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That is not what you said though, you dismissed a whole category of instruments on the basis of spurious technological and audio grounds. Happy for more basses in the world, but the idea that if there’s more than a certain n= in the band you need a boutique 5er remains utter bollocks 👍