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Smith or Spector

Spector or Ken Smith

  • Spector

    Votes: 96 47.5%

  • Ken Smith

    Votes: 106 52.5%
  • Total voters
    202
J

-Ju-

Mar 6, 2006
61
0
#1
Hello

I am looking for a growly bass with a lot of mids, a good B, very punchy with a good slap sound!
I am used to playing funk and rock.
What would you choose between a Smith Black Tiger 6 and a Spector NS6?

Do the Smith 6 owners find it comfortable to slap?
 
#6
I've owned a Spector Eruo 5 with EMGs and a Ken Smith Burner 5 with Smith Js and the Ken Smith's low B and slap tones were nothing short of amazing. The Spector wasn't bad but it was definitely outclassed. I know the basses you are looking at are higher end 6 string versions of what I had but that's all the input I have from having owned both. The Spector didn't even growl well, the Warwick LX5 I replaced it with was better all the way around (lower weight, better balance, stiffer neck, more growl, snappier slap sound, just better in every way but it cost more). Obviously I voted for the Ken Smith.
 
#9
Personally I would choose a KSD over a spector anyday but the service from Brooklyn Gear in terms of supply and new stock has not been very good. It is self evident from the number of bass guitarist complaining about spares, poor service and the general lack of stock which is of merchantable quality as the law says her in the United Kingdom. I just hope that they will sort out their act.:help:
 
#10
smoothjazz said:
Personally I would choose a KSD over a spector anyday but the service from Brooklyn Gear in terms of supply and new stock has not been very good. It is self evident from the number of bass guitarist complaining about spares, poor service and the general lack of stock which is of merchantable quality as the law says her in the United Kingdom. I just hope that they will sort out their act.:help:
Click to expand...


So, is it Brooklyn Gear's service or the KSD bass that is the problem? Or... both?
 
#16
-Ju- said:
Hello

I am looking for a growly bass with a lot of mids, a good B, very punchy with a good slap sound!
I am used to playing funk and rock.
What would you choose between a Smith Black Tiger 6 and a Spector NS6?

Do the Smith 6 owners find it comfortable to slap?
Click to expand...

I have a Smith Black Tiger 5 and your description fits it perfectly. I haven't played a Spector in a long time though, so I won't vote.
 
#18
I've owned both the NS5 and BSR5, both are two completely different animals, both have great slap sounds.
The Spector can get grittier, but the Smith can get woodier.

The killer for me was the 35" and the long reach of the NS5. Because the way the bridge is placed so far away from the end of the body, and then goes 35" from there...after a year I realized my wrist and fingers really didn't like it. I wished they stayed 34" like they originally did in the early 90's, or at least put the bridge more near the edge of the body, like the NS2/NS4.
Comfort is where the Smith shined.
 
#19
I dunno about Smith's but based on their reputation, you probably can't go wrong with one. On the other hand, I DO know about Spectors and you can't go wrong with them either (the Euro/NSRFM line is quite possibly the best value in the world of bass).
 
#20
I generally prefer Spectors over Smiths (there's something about the Spector body and neck style that I find VERY comfortable) but to be fair about it, I have had far more chances to play Spectors than Smiths. AND to be ever MORE fair, I've never played a 6er by Smith.
 

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