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The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

#321
nostatic said:
I typically run the neck pickup parallel, bridge in series. That fattens up the bridge sound a bit and makes for a good volume balance between the two pickups. Since I don't use the 50/50 position much and tend not to like a very scooped tone, it works for me. But if I want a more "classic" Smith slap tone, easy to flick the switch.

Having worked through my initial setup and getting acclimated, I'm reminded of the reasons I like Smith basses. The tone is on the compressed/focused side which helps it cut, and I can just fiddle with the blend knob and get a bunch of tones I like.

6-string goodness

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Nice.
 
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#323
California sun on bubinga. Had my first gig with this bass on Saturday. Never played a KS before, for some strange reason. Anyway, the low mids ware hitting me like a punch to my chest and gut....just the way I like it :)

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#327
zortation said:
Anyone know what wood combo would give the most "neutral" Smith tone, is there is such a thing?
Click to expand...
Wow. That's a loaded question. I'm hoping Ken answers that.

In my mind, everyone has "a perfect tone" in their head, and if you tell a pro like Ken what you are after, he can match up the woods to give it to you.

As far as the "Smith tone" part, it would be hard to find a combination that Ken would put together that didn't have that distinctive tone. Also, there is so much versatility available in just the knob settings, that you can get as neutral or in your face as you wish. And that's before even touching the internal dip switches to tailor the preamp ranges.

Today, I made my first run at urban gospel. Of course I used my Smith, because even a novice like me can make their pops sound good on a Smith. Don't know how it was in the house, but it sounded real nice to me.
 
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#328
deepender said:
Wow. That's a loaded question. I'm hoping Ken answers that.

In my mind, everyone has "a perfect tone" in their head, and if you tell a pro like Ken what you are after, he can match up the woods to give it to you.

As far as the "Smith tone" part, it would be hard to find a combination that Ken would put together that didn't have that distinctive tone. Also, there is so much versatility available in just the knob settings, that you can get as neutral or in your face as you wish. And that's before even touching the internal dip switches to tailor the preamp ranges.

Today, I made my first run at urban gospel. Of course I used my Smith, because even a novice like me can make their pops sound good on a Smith. Don't know how it was in the house, but it sounded real nice to me.
Click to expand...

You know, talking to Ken about it would seem like the best thing to do. :)

I would guess it would be a maple top/back and mahogany core, but that is just a guess. :)
 
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#330
I know, I've been on this thread a lot since I got my KS BSR. But I can't say enough about how much I'm digging that "Ken Smith" sound. I took possession of it on a Friday afternoon, and promptly took it to this Casino gig that evening. Just so happens a videographer from the Casino was there so here is the video of the very first time I ever played a KS bass. Obviously not studio quality sound, but you get the idea. I was a bit concerned how the KS neck-through design would respond to slapping vs. my bolt on neck basses, but I am very pleased with it. Not as in-your-face percussive wise but I'm really liking it. I would describe it as slightly "compressed" and refined compared to my Dingwall Z3 bolt on. The other thing that literally shocked me was how good the B string is on this bass. I've been playing a 37" B on my Z3, which is unmatched in terms of punch and sustain, but this B is by far the best I've ever played on a 34" scale bass.

 
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#331
Bassheart365 said:
I know, I've been on this threat quite a bit since I got my KS BSR. But I can't say enough about how much I'm digging that "Ken Smith" sound. I took possession of it on a Friday afternoon, and promptly took it to this Casino gig that evening. Just so happens a videographer from the Casino was there so here is the video of the very first time I ever played a KS bass. Obviously not studio quality sound, but you get the idea. I was a bit concerned how the KS neck-through design would respond to slapping vs. my bolt on neck basses, but I am very pleased with it. Not as in-your-face percussive wise but I'm really liking it. I would describe it as slightly "compressed" and refined compared to my Dingwall Z3 bolt on. The other thing that literally shocked me was how good the B string is on this bass. I've been playing a 37" B on my Z3, which is unmatched in terms of punch and sustain, but this B is by far the best I've ever played on a 34" scale bass.

Click to expand...

Nice.
 
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#335
Bassheart365 said:
I continue to be amazed by this impeccably crafted instrument My first Ken Smith bass. Bubinga over a mahogany body. Soon to be joined by an elite six string View attachment 3129516
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@Bassheart365. The wireless unit on your BSR. What model is it?
and assuming your Smith is active, are you happy with it? Looking
at a new wireless kit. Tks
 
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#336
I don't own one yet but I hope to eventually get one. While I'm in the dreaming/planning process, maybe I can ask the following.

I prefer a BSR6. Within the neck-thru models, what are the major differences between the MS, GN and Black/White Tiger? (I'm excluded the Elite models, as those prices will be way over my head.)
 
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#337
TolerancEJ said:
I don't own one yet but I hope to eventually get one. While I'm in the dreaming/planning process, maybe I can ask the following.

I prefer a BSR6. Within the neck-thru models, what are the major differences between the MS, GN and Black/White Tiger? (I'm excluded the Elite models, as those prices will be way over my head.)
Click to expand...

MS Pro is 3-piece neck (no shedua, just maple), and the body wings are solid rather than laminate. 9v system w/o switches standard

GN is 5-piece neck, laminate body wings, and various body wood combinations (I've had walnut over alder, current BSR6 is shedua over mahogany). 18v system w/switches standard.

BT/WT is same as the GN except the body is either walnut over maple (Black Tiger) or maple over walnut (White Tiger)
 
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#338
nostatic said:
MS Pro is 3-piece neck (no shedua, just maple), and the body wings are solid rather than laminate. 9v system w/o switches standard

GN is 5-piece neck, laminate body wings, and various body wood combinations (I've had walnut over alder, current BSR6 is shedua over mahogany). 18v system w/switches standard.

BT/WT is same as the GN except the body is either walnut over maple (Black Tiger) or maple over walnut (White Tiger)
Click to expand...
Thank you very much!
 
#339
bassmike2010 said:
@Bassheart365. The wireless unit on your BSR. What model is it?
and assuming your Smith is active, are you happy with it? Looking
at a new wireless kit. Tks
Click to expand...
Yes, it's a Nux B2. Fairly new product. It's fantastic. I can't hear hear any degradation of sound of tone vs. my cables. I'm using it in the video above. Before that I had the much more expensive Shure GLX-D, which consisted of a very heavy pedal board receiver and a fairly heavy transmitter that I had to put on my bass strap. I much prefer the Nux B2. I liked it so much that I bought two. I got them on Reverb:

Nux B2 Digital Wireless Guitar/Bass System; 2.4 GHz
 
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#340
Bassheart365 said:
Yes, it's a Nux B2. Fairly new product. It's fantastic. I can't hear hear any degradation of sound of tone vs. my cables. I'm using it in the video above. Before that I had the much more expensive Shure GLX-D, which consisted of a very heavy pedal board receiver and a fairly heavy transmitter that I had to put on my bass strap. I much prefer the Nux B2. I liked it so much that I bought two. I got them on Reverb:

Nux B2 Digital Wireless Guitar/Bass System; 2.4 GHz
Click to expand...

That might be the best route. I've been using a Samsung AP1B (for bass)
for several years with one as a backup. Last couple gigs transmitter on/off
switch caused static intermittently. May just need contact spray but these
are hard to find otherwise. B2 reviews are better than XVive. Especially
after talking w Nancy (XVive) I'm hesitant to use it w active basses.
She sd they're working on a bass/ active model. Don't mind paying a premium
if latency, construction, ease of use (no boxy receiver), tonal clarity is good.
The AP1B has switches for 15db pad on the transmitter and a shape(contour)
on the receiver awa output control. The tone I get is clearer and stronger
than the Monster cable so I'm spoiled. Thanks for the info.
 

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