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Can a Ken Smith Rock or do Metal?
- Thread starter Bluestar
- Start date
Exactly. Remember that meme that floated around a few years ago as a mock article? "Metal bassist gets unprecedented $100 3 year contract". It was funny as hell! (And hella accurate)...
I use(d) a vintage Alembic Series I and a Custom fretless 5-string quite successfully with a newgrass/jamband. (not gigging anymore)
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Man I miss playing with those guys...
Well Jerry Garcia was a blue grass player, he and his bass player like boutique coffee shop guitars and basses and alembics have nice varnish and stain that blends well with traditional instruments finishes. If it was a neon green Dingwall or pointy Carvin, then yeah -- you may stand out a little
Agree. Only comments I’ve received from non-guitar folks on an instrument is when they are paint a pretty color. No comments on tone, beautiful wood grain, or “look” that fits the genre.
I did it! I knew that a bass player I loved used a smith at one time. The incredible Connor Green from Haken! He moved on to a few Zons and now plays a Dingwall custom. Very boutique pedalboard as well. FYI their new album is absolutely unreal!
Well done young Padawan. You now advance to level 137.
I have gotten many compliments over the years for my tone, playing, etc., from audience types and others at gigs.
My favorite one was the first Columbus Jazz Fest that Rare Blend did, in the early '00s. We were on in the evening, after several other bands had already played (the event started around 11am). When I walked on stage with my bass as we were setting up before soundcheck, the monitor engineer looked over at me and said, "Finally! A real bass!"
That was my FG July '73 4001. 
The tone is incredible and incredibly versatile... but agreed with previous posters that 1) the finish is so delicate (especially varnish non-lacquer models) and 2) they're so expensive, that unless you have ample discretionary $$ you're too paranoid to thrash out at metal shows. I have a beautiful BSR6MW but seldom take it out of its case for those reasons, and starting to wonder the point...
I have a $6000 Veilette bass (got it in trade ironically for a Ken Smith) that I play at acoustic gigs since it's what I would call a "hybrid". Musical instruments are meant to be played, played live, and played a lot...
I am about to get my custom Wal very soon. Bring on the sweat, dings and scratches. I will do my best but it will be going out with me. That will be more $$ than most Smiths. Security on a bass like that definitely needs to be considered but as for the rest that only adds to the instruments story. It is incredible what can be repaired but I can also respect your caution.
Beat me to it. Agreed. Fauna is stunning. I didn’t know how they’d top The Mountain but the bar was raised to the stratosphere with Fauna.
- Nov 27, 2003
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- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
All this talk about "Boutique basses shouldn't be played in thrash settings..."
Jason Newsted played Alembics with Metallica for years.
Likewise, Robert Rujilio used Tobias basses with Suicidal tendencies.
And err... how many current heavy genre bass players are using Warwicks these days?
Jeroen Paul Thesseling is a BEAST of a player, very technical but at the same time very melodic. Note how this song shifts from Death metal into Iron Maiden style seamlessly.
Jason Newsted played Alembics with Metallica for years.
Likewise, Robert Rujilio used Tobias basses with Suicidal tendencies.
And err... how many current heavy genre bass players are using Warwicks these days?
Jeroen Paul Thesseling is a BEAST of a player, very technical but at the same time very melodic. Note how this song shifts from Death metal into Iron Maiden style seamlessly.
I owned a couple of Smith’s, and I play rock, it does just fine.
Of course you can't use a Smith. Telecasters are for Country, P basses are for Motown and 12 string Hamers are for Surf Music.
Just seeing if the back row was paying attention.
"If you let them tell you what to play and what to write your whole career will be over by tomorrow night." - Quincy Jones
Just seeing if the back row was paying attention.
"If you let them tell you what to play and what to write your whole career will be over by tomorrow night." - Quincy Jones
I think Ken Smiths looking funny, period. Something about the body shape just looks awkward to me.
I played a Ken Smith BT with jazz bass style pickups in a New Wave / Punk band during the late 80's. It had a factory paint job-white It sounded great. I had a friend that worked at "The Guitar Trader" in Red Bank NJ. He told me they just took it in on trade and they wanted to get rid of it since it wasn't a "vintage piece". I think I paid $600 for it. Got a Brooklyn Spector the same way, close to the same price.
