Can someone help me understand the model codes on these basses. It has always confused me. I understand the body style BSR vs BT that's about it.
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Current models, in general,
GN / WT / NT / EG / MS are all neck-through. The MS is 3 piece neck w/morado board. The rest are 5 piece with ebony board.
They differ by body lamination, finish and wood rating.
The M / MW / P / PE are all bolt-on's.
Search Ken's forums to dig in, there's a lot more into it...
GN / WT / NT / EG / MS are all neck-through. The MS is 3 piece neck w/morado board. The rest are 5 piece with ebony board.
They differ by body lamination, finish and wood rating.
The M / MW / P / PE are all bolt-on's.
Search Ken's forums to dig in, there's a lot more into it...
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Do these letters stand for something?
I was reading in Ken's forum it said the GN is 3 piece with an oil finish the EG is 5 piece laquer finish. Does he have a definition page somewhere?
I was reading in Ken's forum it said the GN is 3 piece with an oil finish the EG is 5 piece laquer finish. Does he have a definition page somewhere?
Somewhere on his web site is a price list / options page. That's your best bet in figuring out the different models.
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The abbreviations have morphed a bit over time as far as I can tell.
M is maple
MW is maple walnut
CR is Chuck Rainey
EG is Elite G - gloss lacquer finish and 5-piece body wings
MS is...not sure. It is a neck-through with 3-piece maple neck
GN is...not sure but may be graphite neck (internal graphite bars). It is a neck-through with 5-piece neck and 3-piece body wings
The abbreviations have morphed a bit over time as far as I can tell.
M is maple
MW is maple walnut
CR is Chuck Rainey
EG is Elite G - gloss lacquer finish and 5-piece body wings
MS is...not sure. It is a neck-through with 3-piece maple neck
GN is...not sure but may be graphite neck (internal graphite bars). It is a neck-through with 5-piece neck and 3-piece body wings
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Ken's nomenclature is really confusing. nostatic's explanation is the best that I've seen...
A few others:
P is pro - bolt on 3-piece neck with 3-piece body wings
V is vintage (on CR5V, etc)
PE is pro elite (bolt-on with 3-piece neck and gloss lacquer finish)
VE is vintage elite (bolt-on 3-piece neck with gloss lacquer finish)
CR and BT are the same body shape, with BT being a neck-through and CR being a bolt-on
BSR is the newer body shape with longer top horn (either neck-through or bolt-on)
Basically you have a couple of main choices/factors:
bolt-on vs neck-through
body shape (BT/CR or BSR)
neck construction (3-piece maple, 5-piece maple/shedua-etc, 7-piece)
body wings (solid, 3-piece, 5-piece, 7-piece)
finish (oil/varnish satin or lacquer gloss)
coil tap (optional on some models)
The current basses all have internal DIP switches and 18V preamp. Older models may be 9V, no DIP switches, and even older ones are 2-band eq. As far as I can tell.
P is pro - bolt on 3-piece neck with 3-piece body wings
V is vintage (on CR5V, etc)
PE is pro elite (bolt-on with 3-piece neck and gloss lacquer finish)
VE is vintage elite (bolt-on 3-piece neck with gloss lacquer finish)
CR and BT are the same body shape, with BT being a neck-through and CR being a bolt-on
BSR is the newer body shape with longer top horn (either neck-through or bolt-on)
Basically you have a couple of main choices/factors:
bolt-on vs neck-through
body shape (BT/CR or BSR)
neck construction (3-piece maple, 5-piece maple/shedua-etc, 7-piece)
body wings (solid, 3-piece, 5-piece, 7-piece)
finish (oil/varnish satin or lacquer gloss)
coil tap (optional on some models)
The current basses all have internal DIP switches and 18V preamp. Older models may be 9V, no DIP switches, and even older ones are 2-band eq. As far as I can tell.
Speaking of Ken Smith... Here is an awesome BT if anyone is looking:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ken-smith-bt5-elite.1108925/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/ken-smith-bt5-elite.1108925/
nostatic,
Two corrections: GN models come standard with the serial/parallel switches.
PE is the bolt-on equivalent to EG - five piece body wings, five piece neck and gloss lacquer finish.
BTW, CR meant originally Crunch Resonator. It was designed before Chuck Rainy got his first Smith bass... by Ken Smith himself on his forums.
I think it was the first attempt to go bolt-on, with the BT body shape, before introducing the newer BSR body.
Two corrections: GN models come standard with the serial/parallel switches.
PE is the bolt-on equivalent to EG - five piece body wings, five piece neck and gloss lacquer finish.
BTW, CR meant originally Crunch Resonator. It was designed before Chuck Rainy got his first Smith bass... by Ken Smith himself on his forums.
I think it was the first attempt to go bolt-on, with the BT body shape, before introducing the newer BSR body.
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Thanks guys it helps but still confusing a bit.
And the link Joel provided the neck is the entire center of the bass is that just old design or an option?
And the link Joel provided the neck is the entire center of the bass is that just old design or an option?
On a neck through it is the entire length - for any of the models (that are neck-through). Also the body wings are the same size on every bass, so between a 4 to 5 to 6, the overall width of the bass increases with the neck width.
It's the old neck through design which is not used anymore. With the new design they can decide - after cutting the neck - which side of it is better for the fingerboard.
I think it's true to say, about any builder, that part of the design is to create a better instrument while other aspects are for more efficient building process, saving time and materials.
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Yeah I wrote a long post thinking I figured it out only to realize I did not.
The GN seems to have a varnish finish 3 piece wings 5 piece optional
Where as the EG is a 5 piece wing with the option of 7 piece wing or neck with lacquer finish and exhibition grade options
BSR body vs BT body.
I'm not sure I want to figure out any more...
Seems that both of these have graphite bars in the neck
The GN seems to have a varnish finish 3 piece wings 5 piece optional
Where as the EG is a 5 piece wing with the option of 7 piece wing or neck with lacquer finish and exhibition grade options
BSR body vs BT body.
I'm not sure I want to figure out any more...
Seems that both of these have graphite bars in the neck
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Very nicely played basschanges! I really like Patitucci's instructional stuff.
On another note, if you have some time we just released a few songs with my jazz/soul band, all recorded with my Ken Smith Burner. Hope you like it!
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A new beast in the house, ordered direct from Ken. Walnut over alder (Ken doesn't have or use much alder - I wanted a bit less weight). This thing punches like mad. First gig tomorrow but having cycled through a lot of nice instruments over the past few years, this one will likely be a perfect fit. Very focused tone. 9.3 lbs of fun.
