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Can a Ken Smith Rock or do Metal?

#23
Bluestar said:
So, after a few hours nobody has a single example of one being used ! Would love to hear some audio or video.
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Regardless of whether anyone can think of a recording that happens to have a Ken Smith playing rock or metal, it doesn't prove that a Ken Smith can't do rock or metal. I've used an Alembic to play hard rock, funk, classic rock, progressive rock, jazz, country, and just about everything else under the sun. If you like Ken Smith basses and want to play rock and metal with one, I guarantee you can.
 
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#24
I played metal (originals) during the 90’s with a fretless Pedulla. I know that the genre is different from today’s “metal”, but I’m pretty certain that the audiences couldn’t care less what brand of bass you play or how much you spent for it.
Heck, most audiences wouldn’t even notice whether or not you play the “right” notes as long as you’re keeping the groove.
 
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#25
For the cost of a Ken Smith I figured all the owners would be lining up and saying hell yeah it can do rock and metal. And here is a video or here's an audio recording I just made the prove it. But yet it's crickets and other silence. Lol
 
#26
Mastodon2 said:
I can confirm that you can play metal on a Smith, it wouldn't be my first choice but it will do the job. As for looking weird, there's loads of people playing boutique basses in metal.
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Not just basses, look at Tosin Abasi’s guitars for example.
 
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#27
I was in a unique position when my dad died almost 30 years ago to have found an early Smith/Fodera (Ken got really mad when I implied Vinny built my bass) on West 48th st for $1000.

I played every type of music on that bass, including "metal". (I'm not a metal dude but I play what the BL calls for).
It was a 4 string and I became a dedicated 5 player otherwise I'd have never parted with her.
If you want a decent example of metal played on "non metal basses", peruse Charles Berthoud's videos on YouTube. I've seen him play metal on some of the boojiest basses ever made.
That Smith cut through a mix unlike any other bass I've ever owned...
 
#34
EdwardofHuncote said:
Hippie-grass. Think: Grateful Dead, covering bluegrass, being covered by New Grass Revival. It was so much fun. I was replaced by the guy I replaced.
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The weekly Friday night house jam I’ve been playing for several years on fretless BG is a lot like that. It’s looking to be porting to a more traditional thing with acoustic upright now, but I’m OK with relieving the newb upright player for a spell or two, and am looking around for a nice acoustic guitar to stay in the flow. I used to gig on guitar too, and kind of miss it, so all good.
 
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#38
Bluestar said:
For the cost of a Ken Smith I figured all the owners would be lining up and saying hell yeah it can do rock and metal. And here is a video or here's an audio recording I just made the prove it. But yet it's crickets and other silence. Lol
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I used my BSR6 in a rock cover band for about 6 months and regularly take it to our local open blues jams here. I get a lot of compliments and can literally dial in any tone. P bass, jazz bass and everything in between. I would say price point is the main stumbling block probably and the fact that covering up an exotic wood top with crazy finishes would be sacrilegious, but mine is a 1998 plain Jane solid ash body that has been well played. But it still sounds like a Smith. Carry on!
 
#39
No reason a KS can't do that style - how well is up for debate. An experienced ear can tell that the iconic Smith tone simply won't work with a wall of huge guitars and even bigger drums. It's voiced and intended for club dates, Fusion, and Jazz, and by association will work well in R+B and Urban Gospel where the Smith mark has found its home. The brand just never caught the imaginations of the players doing Hard Rock over the last few decades. I can't recall any popular and/or nationally known act where the bassist used a Smith, live or on record.

Boutique basses were not unheard or unseen in those times, but were rare. Smith, however, was strangely absent. Lots of MTV bands were big on product endorsement and manufacturers were big on being seen, because being seen on TV turns into sales. Ken Smith had little to no interest in that aspect of the business, but he can afford not to be.

These days, more boutiques are prevalent (i.e. Dingwall). It also has to be said that Ken simply wouldn't be receptive or kind to today's Heavy Rock practitioners if and when they attempted to engage with him. We laughed him off and refused to do business with him 25 years ago, but today's kids simply will not have that.
 
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#40
cxcxcx said:
No reason a KS can't do that style - the brand just never caught the imaginations of the players doing that stuff over the last few decades. I can't recall any popular and/or nationally known act where the bassist used a Smith, live or on record.

Boutique basses were not unheard or unseen in those times, but were rare. Smith, however, was strangely absent. Lots of MTV bands were big on product endorsement and manufacturers were big on being seen, because being seen on TV turns into sales. Ken Smith had little to no interest in that aspect of the business, but he can afford not to be.

These days, more boutiques are prevalent (i.e. Dingwall). It also has to be said that Ken simply wouldn't be receptive or kind to today's Heavy Rock practitioners if and when they attempted to engage with him. We laughed him off and refused to do business with him 25 years ago, but today's kids simply will not have that.
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I’ve spoken to Ken on two occasions. I’d read something to the effect that he was kind of a prickly guy, but that was far from my experience. He was kind, patient, and quite engaging. Dunno where he got that bad rap from, the internet spawns all sorts of unfortunate non-truths…
 

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