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Bass Guitars | Electric Bass | Small body/multi-fret
Used | Condition: Good
Ken Smith  |  Product Code: 856741

Ken Smith USED S-II A 4-string '86

$12,876.47 $14,164.12
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Product Condition
Brand New Unused, as sold.
Mint Like new, no flaws.
Excellent Barely used, very minor wear.
Very Good Light wear, fully functional.
Good Visible wear, plays fine.
Fair Heavy wear, still playable.
FAQ

Description
Purchased from Amigo Guitar Show.
Vintage Smiths with a built-in envelope filter!

This is a rare early 4-string model featuring a body wing made of figured maple carefully laminated in three layers with a veneer in between, and a similarly laminated, robust 3-piece maple neck-through construction.

In the processing of the neck-to-body joint, the use of a tone block and the beautiful treatment of the morado sandwiched between them demonstrate artistic woodworking elements that would later be seen in Smith and Fodera instruments.
According to the signature on the backplate, this instrument appears to have been completed in 1986, but the serial number is from 1985, suggesting that it may have been processed during Vinnie Fodera's time at the company and then finished and shipped the following year.

It features a custom circuit specially made by HAZ (*1) that evolves a high-voltage driven preamp circuit reminiscent of Alembic, and converts the filter circuit originally intended for tone control into an envelope filter. The filter frequency can be selected from two types via a switch: manual (knob) and envelope (auto-wah).
The filter circuit, designed by a former Musitronics engineer, is different from that of the Mu-tron™, but that alone makes it interesting. It's a truly fascinating instrument that exudes the energy unique to that era.
While it is possible to supply high voltage power (*2) using a dedicated power supply and cable, since there is no power supply, it can only be powered by three 9V batteries.

The circuit itself appears to be using a circuit board manufactured around 1980, one of the earliest models to feature this circuit, judging from the components installed. This particular circuit showed signs of modification and some component deterioration, so the previous owner entrusted it to a HAZ engineer for restoration, including recapping, wiring repairs, and replacement of faulty parts, resulting in a faithful readjustment to the original circuit.

The neck condition and truss rod function are fine, and there is no fret buzz or other issues.
Some of the potentiometers have a slight crackling sound, but it becomes smoother after turning them for a while.

This is a rare instrument that gives you a glimpse into the history of high-end basses that flourished in New York in the early 1980s.

Weight: ≈5.22 kg

Original hard case, wrench x2



*1: Haz Laboratories is a custom electronics workshop founded by Henry Zajac, a former engineer at Musitronics, famous for the Mu-Tron. It is known for producing high-quality original circuits for companies such as Spector, Steinberger, Ken Smith, and Fodera, and is also famous as the manufacturer of the Mu-Tron III+.

*2: Do not use the Alembic DS-5 power supply with this unit. The voltage, wiring, and other specifications may differ. If the circuit board or components are damaged due to the use of the DS-5, we may refuse to repair the product under warranty, or even charge a repair fee.

Payment & Security

Payment methods

  • American Express
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  • Bancontact
  • Google Pay
  • iDEAL Wero
  • JCB
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Visa

Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.

For orders exceeding Paypal’s transaction limit of 1 million yen, we will provide more details. For secure transactions, items will only be shipped to the address registered in your Paypal account.

Regarding detailed information and contact information to us, please check FAQ.

Please Note

The following information applies to international orders.

■ Condition

Items with “USED” in the product name are pre-owned and will be delivered as shown in the photos. Signs of wear may be present. All items are function-tested by our staff and rechecked before dispatch.

■ Stock

Many products are stocked across Ikebe stores in Japan. As a result, shipment may take several days. In-store sales may also cause items to sell out. If an item is unavailable, we will contact you promptly; in that case, the order will be canceled and any payment will be refunded.

■ Shipping

We ship via FedEx. Shipments are fully insured against damage or loss during transit.

  • Asia: 10–20 days (estimated)
  • North America & Oceania: 20–30 days (estimated)

Shipping costs are calculated based on the delivery address and confirmed at the time of dispatch.

■ Taxes & Duties

Import duties, taxes, and fees are the buyer’s responsibility and are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These fees are typically collected by the carrier upon delivery or at pickup. Please check with your country’s customs office for details before purchasing.

■ Other

We cannot declare a reduced item value or mark purchases as gifts.

* Warranty

Our product warranty is valid only within Japan.

* Voltage

All electrical products are intended for the Japanese market and are designed for 100 V operation.

*Regarding transportation

Based on the regulations of the shipping company, aviation laws, and the laws and import regulations of the destination country, we cannot ship dangerous goods or restricted items internationally.

Examples of such items include, but are not limited to, high-pressure gases (aerosol cans), flammable liquids (oils, paints, etc.), combustible materials, batteries, and other items classified as dangerous goods.

If your ordered items fall under these restrictions, we reserve the right to cancel your order or ship only certain items, at our discretion.

Furthermore, accessories and included items are also subject to these restrictions, so any items deemed ineligible for shipment will be removed before shipping. Please understand this in advance.

The final decision on whether or not to ship will be made by us based on the shipping company and relevant laws and regulations, and we cannot guarantee individual decisions in advance.

About us

Founded in 1975, Ikebe Music is one of Japan's largest general music stores.Thanks to its long history and proven track record, it has earned the trust of musicians and music fans not only in Japan but around the world.

Ikebe Music ships not only within Japan, but also overseas.As a well-known retailer of used musical instruments in Japan, we have a wide selection of used and vintage instruments.

We have a wide variety of unusual and rare instruments, so please take a look.Please note that we do not list new products, as our contracts with our suppliers prohibit international shipping.

About our stores

In Japan, we have about 30 stores in Tokyo (Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Akihabara) and Osaka.

We have just opened our flagship store, IKESHIBU (IKEBE SHIBUYA), in Shibuya, Tokyo, which brings together numerous musical instrument specialty stores and serves as a hub for entertainment culture.

Please be sure to stop by if you are visiting Japan.

Tokyo area
Osaka area
About Shipping

We carefully pack every item with protective materials to ensure it arrives safely.
The photos above show an example of how we securely pack a bass guitar for shipping.

Regarding handling of used products

All used products sold by Ikebe Musical Instruments Store are inspected, working, and maintained, ensuring their safety and security. We inspect each item individually for defects before shipping.

If there are any missing images, please contact us with your inquiry and let us know the angle and focus you need to better understand the condition of your item before ordering. We will respond after taking photos.

Because these are used items, we strive to provide detailed information about their condition so you can order with confidence.

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