• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ken Smith Basses?-Are they worth the$$??

#21
I have owned 5 different Smiths and none of them could touch either of my 2 pre Gibson Tobias basses. Craftsmanship is great but the tone is thin. I really did want to own and love a Ken Smith, but it didn't happen. Mike Tobias is now building me a 534.
Only you know what a bass is worth to you. Some will pay $6K for a Smith, not me. Some are happy with a MusicMan, not me. Rodneyat's Sadowsky is a badass bass also.
 
#22
I have 2 smiths I purchased brand new in 1996 / 1997 and love them....

I picked up 2 more in the last year... sold one of them since I got a good price for it...

but the 3 I currently own... I love and are my favorite basses to play...

they feel so natural to me, i do not feel limited on them at all... can move around
 
#23
gregwatts2008 said:
I have owned 5 different Smiths and none of them could touch either of my 2 pre Gibson Tobias basses. Craftsmanship is great but the tone is thin. I really did want to own and love a Ken Smith, but it didn't happen. Mike Tobias is now building me a 534.
Only you know what a bass is worth to you. Some will pay $6K for a Smith, not me. Some are happy with a MusicMan, not me. Rodneyat's Sadowsky is a badass bass also.
Click to expand...

I have played the pre-gibson Tobias basses and in my opinion the new Tobias basses don't compare to the pre-Gibson models. The original Tobias basses are just sweet.
 
#24
Smiths are definately worth the $$$ like the other high end basses out there. Again they have a unique voice so get familiar with it. Dont buy it (or any bass) because your friend likes it. I have a BSRGN5 and it's awsome! Someone said a Smiths tone is "thin"? thats crazy talk. My Smith is thick and rich but so clean without being muddy... maybe that what they are used to.(the mud). A Peavey Cirrus does have a Smith "like" tone and comes in at half the price you quoted (but it's still not a Smith!). So that makes it a nice alternative. All I can say is play one and make your own decision.
 
#26
I have this unique problem in that I love the look and feel of his basses--I think they are the sexiest, most classic looking bass guitars ever made, especially the older BT series, an instant classic--but as soon as I plug one in, I know it will be a situation where I have to adjust to the character of the bass, and I often find myself wanting more from it.

As a side note Ken is currently considering a change in his preamp where he may introduce a single coil ability to the switching arrangement, giving the bass a more "traditional" type tone. THAT has me interested.
 
#27
I have a love/hate relationship with the basses. Definitely one of the best playing/sounding instruments you can buy. It has a unique sound that works great for some things and doesn't cut it for others. A quality instrument... I have owned 4 and each has been an awesome instrument. If it is the sound you are looking for... get it you won't be dissapointed!!
 
#30
chris lykins said:
I have an older three knob CR and a newer 5 knobber BT6. While the 6 is the easiest six i have ever played the old three knob CR is punchy, unique magic! If you can find an old three knob go for it!
Click to expand...

I have a CR as well. It's a '94 CR4 3 knob. I've drooled over Smith basses for as long as I've been a bassist (over 20 years), but I could never afford one (or justify the cost). I remember sending away for a Smith brochure back in '84 that had Stanley Clarke on the cover. Even back then, the starting prices were well over $3000. I lucked out a couple of years ago and got my '94 CR4 for a steal. Now I can honestly say that it's one of the best basses I've ever played/owned and I can understand why people pay top dollar for a boutique bass. The difference in feel, build, and overall quality becomes immediately apparent, especially if you're coming from 20 years of playing a Fender J like me. I love my Jazz, but there's simply no comparison in terms of quality.
 
#32
Any bass that you want and are willing to pay for is worth it to you. Again, I have always wanted a Smith and am very blessed to have one. It's worth every penny to me!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:
 
#33
RoboChrist said:
I have this unique problem in that I love the look and feel of his basses--I think they are the sexiest, most classic looking bass guitars ever made, especially the older BT series, an instant classic--but as soon as I plug one in, I know it will be a situation where I have to adjust to the character of the bass, and I often find myself wanting more from it.

As a side note Ken is currently considering a change in his preamp where he may introduce a single coil ability to the switching arrangement, giving the bass a more "traditional" type tone. THAT has me interested.
Click to expand...

Yes, he was considering adding a switch to do a coil tap, but he decided not to. If you go to the Ken Smith forum you can find schematics for someone who actually did that. The guy's name is Roberto something. Anyway, here's Ken's response:

It almost seem like going backwards. Making a pickup to sound almost single coil in series humbucking and then cutting off one coil. These coils have less wire turns than a Fender J PU does and we use ceramic magnets as opposed to Alnico like in the Fenders.

Every time I listen to someone and try making a Bass to sound like a Fender I feel like someone is telling me to make my Fillet Mignon taste like a Happy Meal..

I don't think this 3-way is something we will be adding anytime soon. For me, the bass is fine without any switches at all. The Series gives you a bit more low end power and equally less highs. For now, its 2-way or no-way..
 
#34
4stringznuff said:
Hi Bass People..this is my first ever post here-just joined...I'm in Australia and i just got tld about Smith basses by a mate that played one in the USA and he said it was awesome..after we convert our dollar for one of these we're paying about$4500!..Can any players out there with experiance playing /owning one of these give me a bit of a review and opnion on value? or recommend any other basses of this kind that are cheaper?
cheers.
Click to expand...

I have played one before, the sound and playability of these things are worth the cash. However, if you do alot of looking around, you can find other basses that play and sound just as good for less, but this is only if you have alot of time on your hands. If you have the money, go ahead a splurge on a smith.
 
#37
A bass is worth only as much as you're wiling to pay for. I had one and no doubt beautifully made high quality instrument. Worth the 4.7k I paid for it? Yes as I did buy it. I got rid of it because of the ergonomics and the tone which wasn't for me. Plus where I come from, there aren't any to try out, so that's the down side to mail order.
 
#39
T-MOST said:
Smiths are definately worth the $$$ like the other high end basses out there. Again they have a unique voice so get familiar with it. Dont buy it (or any bass) because your friend likes it. I have a BSRGN5 and it's awsome! Someone said a Smiths tone is "thin"? thats crazy talk. My Smith is thick and rich but so clean without being muddy... maybe that what they are used to.(the mud). A Peavey Cirrus does have a Smith "like" tone and comes in at half the price you quoted (but it's still not a Smith!). So that makes it a nice alternative. All I can say is play one and make your own decision.
Click to expand...

Exactly! Buy a bass because your friend likes it? What are you going to do? Give it to him as a present?

Hey I own a Smith and even though I don't play it much these days I love it for what it does which is the Ken Smith thing. But I've got a BUNCH of high end basses that each brings something special to the table. So are they "worth it" as TB likes to ask? Well, hey, IF i MUST have that special "whatever" that a given bass provides then the cost is certainly WORTH IT TO ME!. If I don't want it, then why spend the money?

So if YOU had played a Smith and were blown away, well, great. It happens. Remember I own one. But if one of your mates just says he heard one and was blown away, well, I'd play one myself first. I have to REALLY be in love, before I start forking out boutique level cash.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back