I did read that Jason is starting another venture and look forward to the possibilities. Shame about King.

They just seemed to have ""it"". (Style, sound, whatever.)

Are you talking about the company King Double Bass or a band?

Just did some google detective work. My bass player has been trying to get a bass from them for a year now. Brad totally screwed him, took over $1000.00 so far and never even had a work order made for his bass. My bass player has since been in contact with Jason about resolving the situation but I just told him the news of this post from King's facebook. Hopefully everything will get worked out.

From their facebook page, I am sad to announce that I am no longer with King Doublebass. This ...decision was forced on me since my professional reputation was threatened by management’s shady business practices.

It is unlikely that King can or will fill any outstanding customer orders. As a professional gesture to these customers, I have leased the shop next door to complete these outstanding orders out of my own pocket.

Through this unfortunate chain of events, I have been offered an opportunity with a company seeking my expertise in designing and manufacturing a new line of handcrafted upright basses and electric guitars.

During the last eight months, I’ve been working with this company on new instruments and electronic designs scheduled for release later this year. I am excited to say that these new instruments are my best work to date. These new instruments will combine vintage acoustic tone, road-ready durability and better feedback control that will make any soundman happy.

The official company announcement will be released in July, with photos depicting some of the instrument prototypes and accessories, shortly there after.

Please contact me at (714)664-0436 with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Jason Burns

Djordje Has set up a forum for him to answer direct queries at artofslapbass.com

http://www.artofslapbass.com/artofsl...owcat&catid=13

I wish him the best. it's gotta be heartbreaking to close the company he put so much effort into, but he's very excited about the new things on the horizon.

yeah man, thats the drama I am talkin' about. Partnerships go south and its a sad part of business.

Shame about the customers getting burned. I think Jason is trying to salvage his Rep and making good. But it could take him a long time as from waht I gather, several hundred thousand dollars of issues to fix just like the one you speak of.

Yeah man, I've seen at least one person that ordered three years ago. Thats a HUGE backlog of work.

I'm assuming the same applies for those sparkly hollow body guitars they started making?

I can't seem to find anything on the old net, about the guitars or whether or not they are going to continue making them, not that it's a good idea to give them any money, I was mainly curious...

But if it's to the point where one of your founders and partners publicly criticizes his own company's "shady practices" and the best way for him to fix the problem is to just start over, then there are some serious problems...

I don't know the whole story here. But I've seen so many business partnerships fail, that I would NEVER advise someone who's going into business to take on a partner, ever! Period, end of story...

i heard the same thing today... its a real shame. though i cant wait to see what eventually comes from it

That sucks for the people who paid money and dreamed about a new bass forever. Shameful.

My bass is a King Doublebass. They really were entry level basses. I never played a Jimbo or Lee Rocker - maybe they were higher quality.

I think the concept was spot on, and wish the best for Jason. I know the Kay / Englehardt line is really bad now. Slim pickings in the plywood line. Most is just crap from china.

I'm in the market for a 1962 Kay. One day.

Sad news.

Any rumors about the "company seeking my expertise in designing and manufacturing a new line of handcrafted upright basses and electric guitars." ?

I'm sorry to hear this. Whatever the musical merits of the entry-level King line when considered in absolute terms, they were basses designed for the rigors of contemporary live – loud – rockabilly, and obviously filled a niche in the market. Their graphic treatments were diverse and well-executed, and undoubtedly part of the attraction.

I know nothing of the partnership's internal intrigue, but I had the opportunity to meet Jason after WinterNAMM '09, and found him clearly passionate about what the company was doing.

One of the things he was doing at the time was building a bass for Tom TV Jones – and I got to tag along with TV and associates on a late-night visit to the King shop. I took all these pics at that time, intending sometime to post them.

I guess now's the time.

---

The shop is/was located in a small strip industrial complex somewhere in Orange County (whose geography baffles me).

Behind this door...

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is the office.

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Behind the office, the paintbooth and finish area, where basses (lots of basses) take on their intended look and wait for completion.

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Jason and bass...

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TV models his bass-in-progress.

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To the right of the finish area a small hallway leads to the rest area...

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...which faces the actual shop where the woodwork is done. Jason graciously shows off the custom forms and table where body components are milled and shaped.

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King guitar porn:

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And back to the parking lot for arty parting shots of the King Corporate Truck.

Bet he 's gonna regret that tattoo now...

I feel so bad for Jason...I've only met him twice - both times at NAMM - but like Proteus said, he couldn't be more passionate and dedicated. I hope it all works out for him in the end.

Our bass player is one of the many on the list - he's getting a refund (whew!). His main upright is a '52 Kay and he is in desperate need of something more solid for when we travel. The temperature changes on that Kay on destructive and it's now been glued back together a gazillion times. It's his baby and I'd love to see him with something he doesn't have to pamper.

Thanks for the pics. I like that orange bass . (for some reason)

thomas said: Bet he 's gonna regret that tattoo now...

I don't see why. He built an icon in the rockabilly scene. everyone wants a King Doublebass. regardless of perceived quality or long waiting lists. If he regrets anything it's prolly taking a partner. I know I'd be damned proud to have the likes of Jimbo and Lee Rocker (among many others) playing my instrument every night. And I'd wear the tattoo with pride, whether the company failed or not.

Good luck to Jason. King filled a hole in the rockabilly scene. and I'm sure Jason will be back in it in no time.

now as an aside... I wonder if TV had to wait 2 years for his Bass?

No big deal about it, Ink... just a general remark about tattoos, that changes in life will probably render most tattoos obsolete one day.

Of course he should always be proud of his work !

He's a young man, he'll bounce back!

Hey everybody. I've been in pretty regular contact with Jason. I've been a King Endorser since the earliest days of the company. Jason is far from out of the game. He's working his butt off to make good on the outstanding orders which is more than alot of people would do. One of my best friends has been waiting on a bass (paid in full) for over 2 years now. Jason is just as dedicated to his vision as he's ever been. He was put in a position were his only viable option was to close up shop, and take his experience and expertise elsewhere. He's got some really exciting things coming up and it's going to be very exciting. I've been playing his basses live and for most of my studio work for almost 7 years now, and can honestly say that as long as Jason Burns is building basses, that I will play virtually nothing else.

As far as them being 'entry level'. The Slapking line was designed to be just that. Entry level basses. they were a bit more money than an Engelhardt, but you got a much better instrument. My main touring bass is a Slapking (with some pretty extreme relicing) and I don't consider it entry level at all. The finishes weren't as nice as the Tigerkings, Roadkings and SparkleKings, but the design and materials were virtually Identical. My Tigerking is one of the nicest and best sounding plywood basses I've ever played. It's been on all the Hillbilly Casino CDs, an Old Crow Medicine show CD, 3 Legendary Shack Shakers CD's and tons of other small projects. I joke that that bass gets more work than I do.

I am very excited for Jason and wish him the best. Keep your eyes open and you'll hear from him soon enough with some amazing new projects soon..

be well -g

I don't doubt that he will rise up from this. How many start it instrument makers fail cause no one has heard of them. I dont think there is very many upright players who dont know about king.

yeah,he's a young man. a good name can last forever,ask fred gretschIII

Damn, too bad. Cool basses and Jason seems cool as hell. I was interested in the Nick Curran Model they were supposed to come out with.

That's too bad. I have a Chekislovakian orchastral bass, but, I had always wanted to have a King Double Bass that would match my White Falcon. All the way down to the gold sparkle binding around the F holes and body sides. So sad to hear of the compainies desolution.

gretsch and king, like peanut butta and jelly if ya ask me.

Well my bass player is finally getting his bass! Jason finished it and shipped it out this week! His new company is called Blast Cult. They're supposed to have a website up by now but I haven't seen anything about it besides what's on the doublebass chat boards Their new logo,

Here's a pic of his new baby. Pretty classy!

Jimbo has been playing an early prototype Blast Cult bass on the road apparently.