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Anything else close to a Ken Smith 6?

AngelCrusher

AngelCrusher

Sep 12, 2004
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Mesa Boogie, Tech 21, Taylor
#1
I love the Ken Smith 6 strings. Mainly the tone and feel. The look is fine, but I prefer the modded Jazz bass looks if I had to be picky.

Anyway, the only bass I know that is kind of close to a Ken Smith is a Peavey Cirrus. Any other basses I should look into before plunking down 4-5k?

Obscure and mainstream suggestions equally welcome.
 
#4
AngelCrusher said:
I love the Ken Smith 6 strings. Mainly the tone and feel .... Any other basses I should look into before plunking down 4-5k?
Obscure and mainstream suggestions equally welcome.
Click to expand...
If you're in that ballpark and want a quality 6, you owe it to yourself to check out Roscoe.
I love mine. (And the 7, for that matter.)
 
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#6
The Cirrus seems to get mentioned a lot in comparison to Smiths it seems because some guys who aspire to play and own a Smith someday usually end up with something like a Cirrus because of the price differential (a coupl of handfuls of local church bassist I know fall directly into the category, although I've seen multiple post here suggesting the same....)...I think the Cirrus is a more than capable replacement for the most part, but nah, it ain't close to a Smith in feel or sonically...whether that means a hill of beans or not is up to you, but if you want the feel of a boutique 6 string that sounds awesome in the$4k-$5k neighborhood there's top notch options galore....The Pavel Aryel, The Ken Lawrence Brase 6 and of course there's the MTD 635.... Skjold, Roscoe, Nordstrand and Elrick all have 6 string monsters as well, and all become available from time to time in the classifieds here...excellent deals can be madehere, so that's where I would start...
 
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#7
AngelCrusher said:
I tried a Roscoe and it really didn't remind me of a Smith at all.

I'd rather not be in that ballpark to be honest. If I am, I'm going to drop it on a Ken.
Click to expand...

I kinda get ya now....if youre looking for something cheaper than a Smith that sounds and maybe feels like a Smith, then your answer is probably nothing...again, a Smith can be had in the classifieds for under $4k..seen it quite a bit...good luck on the hunt, except if you'd looking for a White Tiger Elite...then I wish you bad luck.....because I want to find it first...!!!
 
#8
Ace Of Bass said:
I kinda get ya now....if youre looking for something cheaper than a Smith that sounds and maybe feels like a Smith, then your answer is probably nothing...again, a Smith can be had in the classifieds for under $4k..seen it quite a bit...good luck onnthe
Click to expand...

Yeah I tend to agree. Figured I'd make a thread in case I was missing any good basses that fly under the radar.
 
#9
AngelCrusher said:
I tried a Roscoe and it really didn't remind me of a Smith at all.
Click to expand...
I'm not an endorser, just a fanboy ;-)
If you've tried 'em and didn't like it, that's cool...
There's 3 different styles but in the end they all feel like Roscoe. If you're looking for the neckthrough experience, you won't find it there.
Good luck with your search.
There's some nice production-level signature-edition Ibby's (e.g. Gerald Veasley, Adam Nitti) and the Norm Stockton MTD was very impressive as well.
 
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#10
CrUiSeR said:
Uhm , i am a big Peavey fan as well as Ken Smith, but I get a get a good laugh when the cirrus gets compared to a Ken Smith. IMO when this happens cirrus owners are just trying to flatter their self
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You are simply pumping yourself up about your choice because someone else spent a lot less money and bought a very nice bass that sounds similar to yours. Lots of great bassists have used Cirruses in lots of professional settings. The Cirrus, Ken Smith, and Sadowsky modern all have two big soapbar pickups in the same location, and get a similar sound. I owned a Smith. I have a Cirrus. I have played a ton of basses, and listened to lots of music in my time, and think they sound similar. If you think the Smith is a better bass, that's wonderful, but Cirrus owners like me feel that outside of resale value, a Smith has got nothing on a Cirrus.
 
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#11
[Don't woE="AngelCrusher, post: 17513246, member: 46806"]Yeah I tend to agree. Figured I'd make a thread in case I was missing any good basses that fly under the radar.[/QUOTE]

Dont worry...somebody's going to make a case for something interesting...how valid it will be, well...
 
#13
Dr. Cheese said:
You are simply pumping yourself up about your choice because someone else spent a lot less money and bought a very nice bass that sounds similar to yours. Lots of great bassists have used Cirruses in lots of professional settings. The Cirrus, Ken Smith, and Sadowsky modern all have two big soapbar pickups in the same location, and get a similar sound. I owned a Smith. I have a Cirrus. I have played a ton of basses, and listened to lots of music in my time, and think they sound similar. If you think the Smith is a better bass, that's wonderful, but Cirrus owners like me feel that outside of resale value, a Smith has got nothing on a Cirrus.
Click to expand...

Totally forgot about the Sadowskys Modern 5...!!..Very Smith-like tone actually... Was very impressed with the one I played, and might have been a Metro...plus, its got that body style you like..EDIT: Forgot you were looking for a 6...
 
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#14
IMO Smith 6 strings are simply awesome. Every element of the Smith's construction contributes to the tone, so I wouldn't put all my stock in just the pickup location (although that's definitely an important factor). A Cirrus is a great bass, but it isn't a Smith... at all; it's a different bass with a different sound and feel that's going to "do it" for some and not for others, just like anything else. The Smith preamp, pickups, sandwich construction, neck through etc. and most importantly, the attention to detail in putting it all together are what makes these instruments unique and an excellent value.

Used Smiths are selling at firesale prices lately- great time to get a deal. I own a Smith fretless, but wouldn't consider myself a Smith "fanboy"... I understand very clearly what I'm looking for in a bass as far as tonal capabilities go and I appreciate top-notch build quality and hand craftsmanship. I'm not constantly flipping/gassing/buying/selling basses- I have a few great basses that fit what I want/need in an instrument and consider them to be lifers. The Smith happens to deliver in spades for what I look for as a player.

I guess my point is that I don't believe there is another bass quite like a Smith, BUT there are probably lots of other basses that you would like as much or perhaps more than one. +1 on the Modulus 6, although I think most of those are 16.5mm spacing which is a little tight for some.
 
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#16
Check out Tune basses.
6ob_1__51216.1405349746.1280.1280.jpg

Or a Wolf bass.My WTHB-7W.They do make a six.
Snapshot_2015524 (2).jpg
 
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#18
Hmm, I said I was a fan of both, but really, a smith has nothing on cirrus? haha.
My personal fav peavey bass is the TLsix, is it better than a cirrus? To me it is. Is it better than a Smith? Hell no.
I am still waiting on the Ken Smith Jeff Berlin signature model:cool:
AngelCrusher, have you played a Pedulla MVP? It's available with Js and are the best feeling 5 and 6 string necks to me
 
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#19
Ace Of Bass said:
Totally forgot about the Sadowskys Modern 5...!!..Very Smith-like tone actually... Was very impressed with the one I played, and might have been a Metro...plus, its got that body style you like..EDIT: Forgot you were looking for a 6...
Click to expand...

Yes that is a awesome bass and i'd be all over it if they had a 6.

kuuuks said:
Yamaha TRBs with an Aguilar preamp.....closest thing to a smith so far to me......thx
Click to expand...

Ok, now that is rather interesting. Anywhere I can hear that combo?

Watchootognbout said:
Check out Tune basses.View attachment 643952
Or a Wolf bass.My WTHB-7W.They do make a six.View attachment 643955
Click to expand...

Very cool, I will check them out - thanks.
 
#20
CrUiSeR said:
Hmm, I said I was a fan of both, but really, a smith has nothing on cirrus? haha.
My personal fav peavey bass is the TLsix, is it better than a cirrus? To me it is. Is it better than a Smith? Hell no.
I am still waiting on the Ken Smith Jeff Berlin signature model:cool:
AngelCrusher, have you played a Pedulla MVP? It's available with Js and are the best feeling 5 and 6 string necks to me
Click to expand...

No I have not. Let me see if I can get my hands on one.

I agree about the Cirrus. I have one sitting right here, and it is an awesome bass. Really is one of my favorites, but it's not in the same league IMO.
 
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