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Post Ken Smith pics please!!!

#61
sethlow3 said:
wow this is an old thread I started a WHILE ago. I want to see a snazzy flame maple BSRM. mmmm.....
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How about a flame maple BSRP? Currently for sale ;)

It's a bit more broken in than many of the basses in this thread.

KenSmithBSR5P


http://photobucket.com/albums/v484/alphonsopuppetshow/KenSmithBSR5P/
 
#67
emjazz said:
I've not had the oportunity to play more than 1 or 2 Smith's but I'm interested in them because of their 34" scale lengths. Do you guys find the back pickup to be usable? It seems awefully close to the bridge to me.
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I just noticed no one had answered your question!

I think the back pickup is totally usable in many situations. One thing that helps is rolling off the treble a little when you use it. Depends on the bass and the rig, I suppose. When I record it, I leave it wide open because some of the highs get rolled off during the process.

I felt like the treble from the back pickup was a bit over the top on the first Smith I owned. Even though it had been well broken-in and played for nearly a decade before I bought it, it was still bright and snappy. It had an ebony FB, mahogany core and a walnut top and back. The Smith I now own is more mellow with a morado FB, mahog core and koa top and back so I'll readily use the back pickup on that one. It had also been played a ton for fifteen years before I ever got it (by Chuck Rainey!). Two of my friends have recent Black Tiger 6's and those are both really bright. They both have maple cores and ebony FB's so that makes sense, I guess. I could see how those would fall into your comparison of what may or may not be "usable".

While I very rarely solo the back pickup, I think it's totally usable on a more mellow Smith. I think it is highly dependent upon the woods, the music, the rig and your willingness to maybe have to cut some highs in addition to fiddling with the balance knob.
 
#68
I tend to roll my blend knob on all of my Smiths a little towards the bridge pup. I like the added articulation that i get from that setting.
But i also like the added warmth that keeping the neck pup on gives my tone. I tend to crank up the bass and mids and keep the treble at about 2 o'clock.


Side note : My new Smith 5ver will be ready in a day or two so i'll post pics if i'm allowed..

specs:
3 piece maple neck
flamed maple body
Crotch walnut top
chrome hardware
matching walnut headstock.


also, do not discount the passive smith sound... I can get a very Jaco like tone from the bridge pup in passive mode.
 
#71
VintageBT6Lover said:
... The last time I saw a price on one of his four-string bridges it was around USD$80. A new set of tuners are at least that much so you're looking at $200 easy just for the parts.
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Thanks for the info. I guess I'll keep my gold hardware for now :D
 
#78
Mario Lewis said:
Ken tells me that this is a BSR6 Elite G with a Morado Top & Back. It's got a gloss finish and the two dip switches for the pups (series or parallel)... All I know is that it's as funky as used diapers...

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Inside with flash:

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Mario, your Kensmith is sweet! I bet it holds down the preacher chords in church.
 
#79
Thanks....It is rather nice, the action is stoopid low, and pair it up with the Epifani Quest I just got and my pair of Epi 112 NYC's and pair of 110 NYC's and I'm quite the happy camper... I keep saying I want a 5 string - a Lakland or something... but not really....
 

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