Ken Smith wood questions

[Tom7]

I think that manufacturers posting sound samples is kind of silly. When I have someone play my MTD, they sound nothing like me playing my MTD. Sure, it'll get you in the ball park, maybe, but then a customer is going to expect to sound like that when they receive the bass. I'm sorry, I definitely am not going to sound like Adam Nitti.

Sean, I totally agree that the same bass can sound different just by having different people play it, however I disagree that posting sound files is silly.

As you say, "It will get you in the ball park."

That's what some of us are looking for, the ball park ... not our specific seat inside it.

This is especially true for those of us who live a bit more remote than you. You live in Maryland, and chances are you can drive to a store in your area that sells nice basses to try them out and see how they sound.

The nearest bass store to me is about 1,500 miles away. To put that in perspective, that would be like you driving to Oklahoma City to check out basses.

For you, the ball park may be silly, but not everyone is in your shoes. For some of us, it is a real help, you know?

Cheers!

 

[Tom7]

... My friends in Japan prefer Ken Smith's slap sound. However they prefer these combination mainly:
Tiger Maple Top & Back w/ Walnut Core
Tiger Maple Top & Back w/ Western Maple Core
Claro Walnut Top & Back w/ Walnut Core

Thank you, Hajime, this was very helpful and exactly the kind of information I have been looking for. Cheers!

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Sean, I totally agree that the same bass can sound different just by having different people play it, however I disagree that posting sound files is silly.

As you say, "It will get you in the ball park."

That's what some of us are looking for, the ball park ... not our specific seat inside it.

...

The nearest bass store to me is about 1,500 miles away. To put that in perspective, that would be like you driving to Oklahoma City to check out basses.

Unfortunately not everyone is as rational as you and I. Some people might hear the clips, receive the bass, and demand their money back because they don't sound like Adam Nitti. But yeah, I generally look to this forum and other sources (CDs, etc) to get a general idea of what a bass might sound like. The thing about that is I can't blame the manufacturer when I can't replicate the same sound...

We have a couple of guitar centers, Chuck Levins, and now Jive Sound, but to tell you the truth I rarely visit any. Chuck Levins gives me the creeps for some reason, and I haven't found an excuse to visit Jive yet. I buy most of my new stuff from sites (BC in particular) that offer a nice return policy. And yes, I've sent basses back before That being said, the majority of the stuff I buy is used from the TB classifieds

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Sean, I totally agree that the same bass can sound different just by having different people play it, however I disagree that posting sound files is silly.

As you say, "It will get you in the ball park."

That's what some of us are looking for, the ball park ... not our specific seat inside it.

I like the idea of sound clips, but I think the key is to have the same player doing all the clips and playing similar lines so that different instruments can be compared easily. You're not comparing the player and style, you're comparing the basses.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

This thread has gotten a little off topic to say the least.
My own 2 cents. Peavey makes good middle ground stuff. Their cheap basses are some of the best value for the dollar. Same for amps etc. But for quality basses a shop that only makes basses will beat a multinational that makes everything from amps to drums to guitars. (or in the case of Yamaha amps to basses to motorcycles to pianos) Sure there are economies of scale etc, but there is also something to be said for a place just small enough for one person to be able to hold it in their head. My day job is at a paper that used to be a local, but now is part of a national corporate chain. The quality diminishes with each level of management laid on top.
I'm sure that over at peavey the person who makes decsions about making the bassea and what wood to buy is several steps removed from the shop that makes them.

 

[waytoodeep03]

Is the difference in the tone of each type of grain more of an 80% difference or a hardly noticable 5-10% difference.

Also would this % difference be the case in aged, air dried wood (Smith) compared to wood used by any other luthier (Roscoe, Dingwall, Elrick etc)?

Can someone answer this please

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Can someone answer this please

I think you're talking more about shades of the same color. Hold up two shirts that are both Navy blue, they will still be slightly different than each other.

 

[Hajime]

Can someone answer this please

I think Sean is correct. From my experience with 300 Smith basses, all Smith basses are real Ken Smith Basses.
He uses Western Quilted Maple for Core recently, it has different feel toward typical Ken Smith Sound of Walnut or Tiger Maple. If you play a Smith with Western Maple, the bass has plently feel of Alder. And Alder wood sometimes makes floppy low-B, but it has perfect factor for Low-B as well. However, I understand it is a kind of Ken Smith sound.
Thus I can tell people if you would like to understand real sound of wood, play many Ken Smith Basses. I think all Smith Basses have Ken Smith Tone, but they show face of each wood's character perfectly.