Ken Smith String Users

[bassteban]

I used to swear by them in my Warwick period. SS light gauge(Rockmasters?). I have a set of KS nickel rounds on my fretless 7, though I swapped the tapered B for, ironically, a GHS. I think I'll try the Rockmasters out on my 6 next time I restring it. BTW, I happen to like the fruity purple end wraps.

[coop]

I use Rockmasters on my G&L L-2500s, and SB-2. Slick rounds on the ASAT. They are my favorite brand for the past couple of years. Great tone and feel.

[WillBuckingham]

I've had Ken Smith steel roundwounds (105,85,65,45,28) on my Pedulla for about a month. While they're great strings (you can count on anything Ken puts his name on to be top quality), the tone is too bright for me. I love them for funk and some jazz, but I also need to use the same bass for latin music and reggae and I really can't get a big enough sound for those genres. I ordered some strings from Pedulla last week and we'll see how those stack up.

-Will

EDIT: I forgot to mention that those purple windings on my green bass with gold hardware makes for the most wild-looking mardi gras bass!

[Slaymus]

I use custom light bass burners (nickel) on my Warwick Thumb B.O 6-string. Great feeling and the high are very sweet. However, I prefer labella B-strings, which are tighter.

[war_n_peace]

Originally Posted by WillBuckingham

I've had Ken Smith steel roundwounds (105,85,65,45,28) on my Pedulla for about a month. While they're great strings (you can count on anything Ken puts his name on to be top quality), the tone is too bright for me. I love them for funk and some jazz, but I also need to use the same bass for latin music and reggae and I really can't get a big enough sound for those genres. I ordered some strings from Pedulla last week and we'll see how those stack up. -Will

I wonder why Ken does'nt offer a set of Flatwounds.
Certainly there is a market for them.

[Fuzzbass]

I love Smith Tapercore steels!


I tried a few sets of Smith Burner nickels and liked 'em a lot. But I prefer the sound of SS strings so I stick with the Tapercores.

[phat5]

I've been trying out all sorts of strings this year (nickel and steel rounds, flat wounds)but I keep coming back to the Burners

[Vittorio]

How about the tension? Is it possible to achieve very low action (as with D'Addario Pro Steels, for example)?

[Mr. Foxen]

I haven't found them in the UK, but I had a mate bring some back from America, the Metal Masters, heavy ones, an I loved them, they stay in the worn in but still bright spot for ages.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Vittorio - I use Ken Smith Slap Masters on my Fretted and Fretless 6 string Ken Smith basses... They are pretty low tension, but not floppy at all... Really great strings...

I have also used the Rock Master / Metal Master gauges, they go up in tension respectively...

[mmbongo]

Dang, how are people finding these 10 year old threads to revive??

[Vittorio]

Slapinfunk: You know what? On my BSR5P I can't go that much low with DR Hi-beam, which are strings that I love (tonally) but they definitely don't allow me to get the action that I like...
Wondering if those Smith could do the job... I was interested in the rock masters, exp. because they're more often available than the metal ones

mmbongo: just bumped out from Google research.....

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Vittorio

Slapinfunk: You know what? On my BSR5P I can't go that much low with DR Hi-beam, which are strings that I love (tonally) but they definitely don't allow me to get the action that I like...
Wandering if those Smith could do the job... I was interested in the rock masters, exp. because they're more often available than the metal ones

mmbongo: just bumped out from Google research.....

You might want to try DR LoRiders, they are designed to do what you are looking for. They are hex core, so higher tension than HiBeams, so you can lower them down to the fingerboard....hence the name

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by Vittorio

Slapinfunk: You know what? On my BSR5P I can't go that much low with DR Hi-beam, which are strings that I love (tonally) but they definitely don't allow me to get the action that I like...
Wandering if those Smith could do the job... I was interested in the rock masters, exp. because they're more often available than the metal ones

When it comes down to it... Ken Smith Slap Masters / Rock Masters / Metal Masters are the same strings, just different gauges... They are all Stainless Steel w/ Hex Cores (your Hi-Beams are Stainless Steel with Round core.

Example... The .035 G string in a Slap Masters set, will be the same .035 C in a Metal Master set...

Another string to look into are the Ken Smith Custom Balanced Taper Round Wounds... These are Stainless Steel w/ Hex Cores but have Tapered A and E strings (as well as a Tapered B).

I used to run Rock Masters and had the action really low... little more flexibility in the Custom Balanced Taper Core sets.

[Vittorio]

MMbongo:
Thanks for the reply! Onestly I've tried Lo-riders once on a G&L that I had.. and I didn't liked'em... too dark and lost in the mix...
I'm courious about those Smith because they're supposed to tonally "fit" Smith basses at best.

Slapinfunk:
Ok, I got it! Thanks a lot for your explanation. I'll try those Rockmasters, then!

[Emibass]

Signed

[T-MOST]

I use KS Masters on my EG5. They have a great toneespecially on Smiths. I have never used or wanted to try anything else with my Smith.