The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

[GM60466]

Let me in! I just purchased a Ken Smith Design Deluxe

 

[deepender]

View attachment 3700158
Let me in! I just purchased a Ken Smith Design Deluxe

Congrats.

Enjoy.

 

[deepender]

View attachment 3700158
Let me in! I just purchased a Ken Smith Design Deluxe

So how is that Deluxe working out for you?

 

[embass99]

Good day folks! Hope everyone’s doing alright! I got a question for all you guys, I’m looking to buy a 6 string Black Tiger Elite and I saw on their website that it comes with semi gloss poly mix finish. I also saw on some fb posts by Ken that an option for matte and high gloss poly mix are available.Does that mean that the Hand Rubbed Dutch Varnish over Stradivari oil finish is no longer available???How would you compare the semi gloss poly mix to the dutch varnish over stradivari oil?

 

[deepender]

The poly would not require the special wax.

 

[deepender]

Now, I know that my Black Tiger sounds great without anything else, but I have run it with a touch of compression.

Is it my imagination, or is there already a bit of compression in the electronics?

It sounds like additional compression squashes the sound some.

 

[iwearpumas]

I wonder how the new Ken Smith basses (brubaker) compare to previous generations.

 

[Nenor]

 

[MMiller28]

I dig it

 

[deepender]

I wonder how the new Ken Smith basses (brubaker) compare to previous generations.

I’ve seen pics.

Very nice color variations.

 

[mikkoantt]

Hi from Finland
I just got this BT 6 from 1990. Its in all original condition with original teardrop hardshell case also. Condition is very good and sound and playability is to die for. Anybody knows are these lacquered or oiled/waxed?
- Mikko

 

[deepender]

View attachment 3835311 View attachment 3835312
Hi from Finland
I just got this BT 6 from 1990. Its in all original condition with original teardrop hardshell case also. Condition is very good and sound and playability is to die for. Anybody knows are these lacquered or oiled/waxed?
- Mikko

Ken used a special combination finish.

He sells a polish on his web site that is recommended for those finishes.

 

[Reedt2000]

The Smith wax works great and is affordable to buy online.

 

[5 string player]

Here is my beloved 2002 BSR5GNT the sound is growing on me everyday I play her

 

[deepender]

View attachment 3875438 View attachment 3875439
Here is my beloved 2002 BSR5GNT the sound is growing on me everyday I play her

It is addictive.

 

[akabane]

I just realised I never entered the club!
Got my beautiful BSR6TN (from 2004) last year!

Specs from the previous owner:

• Neck: 5-piece Laminated Aged Hardrock Maple & Bubinga with Graphite-Inlaid Bars
• Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony with MOP Top & Side Dots & matching Macassar Ebony Headstock Overlay
• Body Shape: BSR shape
• Body Wings: 3-piece, Bookmatched Rare Figured Black Walnut Top, Walnut Back & Tiger Maple Core
• The owner visited Ken's shop to pick out the woods for this bass. Justin spent a day looking through tops and picked out this one. According to Ken Smith, this top was rated 4+ and just missed a 5A rating which would have put it in queue for a Black Tiger Elite model. Get a near-5A top with no upcharge!
• Finish: Wax/Stradivari Oil
• Hardware: Gold with Dunlop "Flush Mount" Straploks
• Pickups: Smith Custom Bass Humbucking Pickups
• Electronics: Smith B.M.T. 3-band 18-volt EQ Circuit with adjustable DIP Frequency switches for Bass, Mid & Treble with Pickup Blend and Master Volume Control + Series/Parallel Switches

She SINGS!

 

[xnewyorka]

I just realised I never entered the club!
Got my beautiful BSR6TN (from 2004) last year!

Specs from the previous owner:

• Neck: 5-piece Laminated Aged Hardrock Maple & Bubinga with Graphite-Inlaid Bars
• Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony with MOP Top & Side Dots & matching Macassar Ebony Headstock Overlay
• Body Shape: BSR shape
• Body Wings: 3-piece, Bookmatched Rare Figured Black Walnut Top, Walnut Back & Tiger Maple Core
• The owner visited Ken's shop to pick out the woods for this bass. Justin spent a day looking through tops and picked out this one. According to Ken Smith, this top was rated 4+ and just missed a 5A rating which would have put it in queue for a Black Tiger Elite model. Get a near-5A top with no upcharge!
• Finish: Wax/Stradivari Oil
• Hardware: Gold with Dunlop "Flush Mount" Straploks
• Pickups: Smith Custom Bass Humbucking Pickups
• Electronics: Smith B.M.T. 3-band 18-volt EQ Circuit with adjustable DIP Frequency switches for Bass, Mid & Treble with Pickup Blend and Master Volume Control + Series/Parallel Switches

She SINGS!

That sure is gorgeous! Congrats!
I have a very similar one from 1993. It is very telling how virtually nothing has changed across the years with those. Once he arrived at perfection, it's a winning formula that just keeps on repeating, no need to change a thing!
(Continue to) Enjoy!

 

[mikkoantt]

I just realised I never entered the club!
Got my beautiful BSR6TN (from 2004) last year!

Specs from the previous owner:

• Neck: 5-piece Laminated Aged Hardrock Maple & Bubinga with Graphite-Inlaid Bars
• Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony with MOP Top & Side Dots & matching Macassar Ebony Headstock Overlay
• Body Shape: BSR shape
• Body Wings: 3-piece, Bookmatched Rare Figured Black Walnut Top, Walnut Back & Tiger Maple Core
• The owner visited Ken's shop to pick out the woods for this bass. Justin spent a day looking through tops and picked out this one. According to Ken Smith, this top was rated 4+ and just missed a 5A rating which would have put it in queue for a Black Tiger Elite model. Get a near-5A top with no upcharge!
• Finish: Wax/Stradivari Oil
• Hardware: Gold with Dunlop "Flush Mount" Straploks
• Pickups: Smith Custom Bass Humbucking Pickups
• Electronics: Smith B.M.T. 3-band 18-volt EQ Circuit with adjustable DIP Frequency switches for Bass, Mid & Treble with Pickup Blend and Master Volume Control + Series/Parallel Switches

She SINGS!

Beautifull top
- Mikko

 

[deepender]

I just realised I never entered the club!
Got my beautiful BSR6TN (from 2004) last year!

Specs from the previous owner:

• Neck: 5-piece Laminated Aged Hardrock Maple & Bubinga with Graphite-Inlaid Bars
• Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony with MOP Top & Side Dots & matching Macassar Ebony Headstock Overlay
• Body Shape: BSR shape
• Body Wings: 3-piece, Bookmatched Rare Figured Black Walnut Top, Walnut Back & Tiger Maple Core
• The owner visited Ken's shop to pick out the woods for this bass. Justin spent a day looking through tops and picked out this one. According to Ken Smith, this top was rated 4+ and just missed a 5A rating which would have put it in queue for a Black Tiger Elite model. Get a near-5A top with no upcharge!
• Finish: Wax/Stradivari Oil
• Hardware: Gold with Dunlop "Flush Mount" Straploks
• Pickups: Smith Custom Bass Humbucking Pickups
• Electronics: Smith B.M.T. 3-band 18-volt EQ Circuit with adjustable DIP Frequency switches for Bass, Mid & Treble with Pickup Blend and Master Volume Control + Series/Parallel Switches

She SINGS!

Nice.

Enjoy.

 

[Jrob121212]

I recently picked up this 1990 BT6. Amazing feel and tone. And for a 30 year old bass it is in really good condition.