Hi from Brooklyn Gear

[George Shippey]

Adam it would be nice to hear from you when KSD basses will be in stock I have bought one five months ago wrote to your email, phoned your offices. My supplier is one of your main dealers and he cannot get you to answer the phone or any emails sent to him. Personally, I don't care if Ken Smith is upset and moans that it is not his fault. The product is designed and therefore endorsed by him.

George Shippey

[Brooklyn Gear]

Mr. Shippey

I have responded to your emails and when I have accurate dates on when the new basses are ready you will be informed. I will not release basses before they are ready. I would rather be criticized for having shipping delays than releasing a bad bass.

Best regards
Adam Levy

[George Shippey]

Dear Adam:
I have promised not to say anything more in the forum about KSDs. The product is excellent. I have written to you by snail mail from London UK and I hope that I will be hearing some good news from you with your reply.

George Shippey

[George Shippey]

I bought three KSD705s two of the dealers refunded the money and one dealer has said he does not know when if ever. I will be able to have my bass. One dealer who is sells a substantial proportion of KSDs has said to me he will never carry them again, a copy of the email I enclosed to you when will they be available six months to wait is a long time are you in business or not. If not I can get my third refund and invest it in something else. the name Ken Smith Design and Ken Smith really makes me quite upset.

[Bob Faulkner]

Wow, you made it 5 days after posting that you wouldn't post anymore about this..

Honestly man, don't hold Ken responsible for this. If you want to see your bass delivered on time and have astounding quality, order a Smith.. KSD may be a good bass, but it's not worth the apparent pain you're suffering trying to get one. If Brooklyn Gear can't deliver product, they will fold in short order and the whole mess will just be a bad memory.

[George Shippey]

I would also be wary of purchasing anything at the moment because I am nervous about being disappointed again

[Bob Faulkner]

No reason to be wary. As an owner of a Ken Smith bass for the past 7 years, I can attest there is nothing else like it.. He delivered my bass almost 2 months earlier than promised..

I've never had a problem getting in touch with Ken for anything. Though you may not always like what he says or how he says it, there is no trouble in getting an answer from him about his business.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by George Shippey

I would also be wary of Ken Smith as well after all this bass is endorsed by him

Who are you really working for?

How dare you sit in 'my house' and openly question my credibility?

I helped design a Bass for Brooklyn Gear.
What am I guilty of?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Gear

Mr. Shippey

I have responded to your emails and when I have accurate dates on when the new basses are ready you will be informed. I will not release basses before they are ready. I would rather be criticized for having shipping delays than releasing a bad bass.

Best regards
Adam Levy

Ask him, not me. You and many others are confusing KSB, me and my company with BG, another company I did some design work for. I have no powers over them. I wish I had better news but until BG can get the QC up to par, things will remain as-is. There are many factors here but none of them as far as KSD's are concerned have much to do with me or my products at this time.

[George Shippey]

I was pleased to know that there are some KSDs in transit as well as spare parts and that the issues have been resolved. I think that rebranding the bass would be a strategic mistake considering that some of the reviews by owners have been very positive. Personally, I own a Sadowsky, and I have gigged and recorded with a television orchestra for the past several months. The conductor and other musicians prefer the tone of the KSD to Sadowsky. Some people felt that they could adjust the truss rod themselves with the wrong wrench, as well as other issues which Adam assures us now has been resolved. If I was Brooklyn Gears Brand manager I would make the new production run as KSD MKII which would be best for his company and reassure break the associations with the problems of the past. I wish Adam and Ken all the best and hope that I will receive my bass one day.

[Ken Smith]

The KSD line of Basses is now the product of D'Andrea Inc.

Story available here.