The Ken Smith Club

[smithplyr]

Originally Posted by jebmd

Finally got a chance to upload some images of my CR6F.

Sweet!!! Lace wood!!

[Cliff Bordwell]

Nice Lacewood top.

[jebmd]

Thanks! She sounds as good as she looks. Best fretless I've owned.

[ZuluFunk]

Can't see the pic...

[HypersoulRocks]

I think you couldn't open the thread because you have to be a supporting member.
If you are, forgive my error, I can't see your profile on my phone.

[ZuluFunk]

Just stopped by Ken Smith's shop. I've been there before, but it has been about six years. Today, I had to pick up one of my basses that I had taken to him to polish and dress the frets. Quick turn around and a nice clean job. This is a verrrry old Ken Smith but it plays better than any bass I have ever owned. Even Ken was marveling at the neck and what great shape it's in overall.
I also picked up a P.A.P.A. while I was there. That has the same circuitry as the modern Smiths and really brings a different flavor to this vintage passive bass. I also tried it out with my almost as old active BT-4, and my Wal MK-I. Great little box.
Ken was very helpful and took the time to re-do the set up himself after switching the saddles to get from 20mm to 19mm after he watched how I play. I'm much less delicate than most players and he was concerned that I'd be pulling the G string off the side. Also, 19mm is how he originally slotted this bass. It really did make a difference.
He has lots of great stories and didn't mind sharing a few. He definitely puts personal attention into the basses that carry his name. It was very cool to see some of the in-progress basses in various stages of completion along side some relics that he holds onto as well as some of the ancient double basses in the shop.

[ZuluFunk]

This bass.

[jebmd]

Great story and a great looking vintage Smith, thanks for sharing.

[nuwavedc]

Thought I'd share this http://www.smithbassforums.com/showt...?t=1117&page=2

I tried it on mine, didn't like it when using the outer coils, but the inner coils in sc mode are awesome.

[Robin Ruscio]

I'm a former ken smith collector. I think I owned 7 of them over about as many years. Great woods and workmanship.

Anyone here ever replace their pickups or dare I suggest move them to more traditional locations? I've been thinking of a 6 string again but I can't stand the pickup locations and design. Too bad ken won't move them on request for a custom order. Otherwise, his basses fit the bill for me.

[nuwavedc]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

I'm a former ken smith collector. I think I owned 7 of them over about as many years. Great woods and workmanship.

Anyone here ever replace their pickups or dare I suggest move them to more traditional locations? I've been thinking of a 6 string again but I can't stand the pickup locations and design. Too bad ken won't move them on request for a custom order. Otherwise, his basses fit the bill for me.

Yeah, it would be nice if he offered the option of more traditional spacing I agree. Smiths do what they do well, but I'd love to hear one with 60s or 70s spacing single coils.

[ZuluFunk]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

I'm a former ken smith collector. I think I owned 7 of them over about as many years. Great woods and workmanship.

Anyone here ever replace their pickups or dare I suggest move them to more traditional locations? I've been thinking of a 6 string again but I can't stand the pickup locations and design. Too bad ken won't move them on request for a custom order. Otherwise, his basses fit the bill for me.

He told me a story of how he replaced the pickups on a bass for Stanley Clarke. He had to make some major mods to accommodate the work. It included a huge block between the pickups and Stanley's signature.

Lots of stories with that bass.

[Robin Ruscio]

Originally Posted by nuwavedc

Yeah, it would be nice if he offered the option of more traditional spacing I agree. Smiths do what they do well, but I'd love to hear one with 60s or 70s spacing single coils.

I just noticed he just discontinued his J series this month.

[nuwavedc]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

I just noticed he just discontinued his J series this month.

A friend I play with has a bsrj it's a nice sounding bass, sound a lot like the modified std pickups I mentioned. Still not j like though IMO.

I wonder if he discontinued it because of the burner resurgence.

[Robin Ruscio]

Originally Posted by nuwavedc

A friend I play with has a bsrj it's a nice sounding bass, sound a lot like the modified std pickups I mentioned. Still not j like though IMO.

I wonder if he discontinued it because of the burner resurgence.

I had a 25th anniversary bolt on J from him. Agree it was nothing like a J bass, but it was a one piece flame maple body and was probably the lightest KS ever made!

Pretty but I didn't keep it long.

I'd be curious about a neck through with J's if anyone has a post. I've discovered I'm not a huge fan of too many layers of laminates or lots of maple outside of the neck, but maybe a walnut or mahogany oriented axe.

[Chaddycakes]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

I just noticed he just discontinued his J series this month.

What a shame. I have one of these and I'm on a break at a gig playing it as I
type this. Hi, robin! I was the guy who sent you the message from New Orleans from your blog about juggling multiple bands. Small world!

[bassvid75]

Originally Posted by ZuluFunk

Attachment 312003

This bass.

Stunning piece!

[iwearpumas]

Contrary to what people say, all Ken Smiths do NOT sound the same.

[carlis]

Originally Posted by iwearpumas

Contrary to what people say, all Ken Smiths do NOT sound the same.

No, they don't.

[iwearpumas]

Does anyone here also own a Fodera bass?