A Guide to Good Ken Smith Slap Tone

[DJ Bebop]

The "ping" is the thing!

Yes!
I just got a budget Harley Benton multi-scale after one of Dr. Cheese’s post on it (it was his fault )
Because of that “ping,” it exhibited. It is kinda Smith like

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I respect that for sure. Everything is a trade.

What I like about the Jazz bass is, that the d and g strings, when slapped, still have a lot of low end. They still function as bass notes. I don't know if that makes sense. Entire bass lines can be played that way a la Marcus. The ping loses some of that fatness and strength to me. I'm sure exceptions could be brought up!

I think the Ken Smith style slap tone is just as versatile, it’s just a different tone.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Da Maestro is serving up Ken Smith slap tone like I like it.

ok i have my 2001 Smith in my lap and I pretty much have the sound going from that video. It's quite simple - flat EQ on bass and balance between both pickups. Obviously rounds, I use Smith Tapers. Im going through a Capo preamp, and I boost the high and low a touch to 1 o clock. The EQs on this are shelving, but whatever preamp will work fine. The highs sit at 4k on the Capo, and thats a nice area for a slight boost. I run through a Purple Audio compressor, but it's not squashing the tone at all. Probably optional.

I have the same preamp he does, it's a 9 volt with no serial switching, but I doubt that matters either.

Thats basically it. You don't have to do anything except tweak your amp or preamp and it's done. Definitley don't cut the mids out, thats no good. In fact, just set the Smith with all knobs at detent.

 

[scubaduba]

Gotta get me a Smith.

 

[ole Jason]

Me too and these threads aren't helping haha I've wanted a six-string Smith for a long time

 

[Ritter667]

Why not optimize the perfect bass by scooping the mids to down to hell?

For me he had at boosting the lows slightly.

 

[hands5]

The "ping" is the thing!

The "ping" is the thing!

I think the Ken Smith style slap tone is just as versatile, it's just a different tone.

Agreed.. I just recently bought KS BSR 6 because I wanted something with a different tonal palette than my Sadowsky and Fenders .. btw this will be the 2nd KS that I’ve owned.

 

[hands5]

The "ping" is the thing!

The "ping" is the thing!

This is interesting. He pretty much turned off the mids, and in my mind, if you don't wants lots of mids, why play a Smith? Mids is what Smith do unless they have Jazz pickups.

Sounds good but not the Bass I would use on any late 70’s early 80’s Funk song , especially Con funk shun but if it’s working him good deal

 

[hands5]

ok i have my 2001 Smith in my lap and I pretty much have the sound going from that video. It's quite simple - flat EQ on bass and balance between both pickups. Obviously rounds, I use Smith Tapers. Im going through a Capo preamp, and I boost the high and low a touch to 1 o clock. The EQs on this are shelving, but whatever preamp will work fine. The highs sit at 4k on the Capo, and thats a nice area for a slight boost. I run through a Purple Audio compressor, but it's not squashing the tone at all. Probably optional.

I have the same preamp he does, it's a 9 volt with no serial switching, but I doubt that matters either.

Thats basically it. You don't have to do anything except tweak your amp or preamp and it's done. Definitley don't cut the mids out, thats no good. In fact, just set the Smith with all knobs at detent.

Actually when I play my Smith I’ll use my old Aguilar TH500 instead of my Epifani 900 because it sounds warmer and richer

 

[T. Brookins]

I must admit, as fun as the tight and polite modern position ping thing can be, I find the buttery tone when soloing the neck pickup— it is defined and never gets lost in the mix while still supportive and phat. It’s the sweet spot between the P and Music Man positions.

 

[bassartist]

I respect that for sure. Everything is a trade.

What I like about the Jazz bass is, that the d and g strings, when slapped, still have a lot of low end. They still function as bass notes. I don’t know if that makes sense. Entire bass lines can be played that way a la Marcus. The ping loses some of that fatness and strength to me. I’m sure exceptions could be brought up!

Great point. I have both KS and Jazz basses and I have posted before about the lack of fatness when popping the D and G strings on a Smith.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Da Maestro getting tone out of a Sadowsky Metro Express.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

I must admit, as fun as the tight and polite modern position ping thing can be, I find the buttery tone when soloing the neck pickup— it is defined and never gets lost in the mix while still supportive and phat. It’s the sweet spot between the P and Music Man positions.

You’re talking about the neck pickup on a smith?