Anthony Jackson Contra Bass

[Steven Freitas]

Can you shed some light on what it was like to work
with Anthony Jackson. Some credit him with being the one
with the idea for such an instrument, yet if it wasn't for
you Ken, none of that might have happened. I remember
Bass Player magazine having a picture of a custom instrument
which appears to be a Ken Smith Contra Bass. I know this was
after the original two that were made for him and Bill Dickens.

I don't mean to pry, but the history of your instruments has
always fascinated me. If you were building what I would call
an exquisite instrument, why would someone turn to another
manufacturer that, for lack of better words, hacked your designs
for their own benefit.

Please let us know the real story.