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The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

#1,001
Nakoatron said:
Group question time

how does everyone set their bass preamp?

where do you set the onboard gain control in the eq compartment?

what’s your fav series, parallel or a blend of both?
Click to expand...
Big question!
I usually stay series, because that’s how my Worship Leader likes it. Onboard dip switches, I think, are the way they set them at the factory. Don’t remember. I use all kinds of settings on the controls. But normally I’m on the detents with a touch more bass.
 
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#1,004
26E9689C-A769-46DD-911E-877A1D914A2D.jpeg
Anyone just strap their bass on and lose track of time? I feel like the more I play this thing the more I want to play it.
 
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#1,010
Greetings Smith'ers. Would one or more of you be willing to post measurements of the pickup locations? I think I'm close on my calculations using photos and photoshop, but I'd like a little more real data if you're willing. I'm spec'ing a custom bass from another builder since Smith's are outside of my price range, but I'd like to use the Smith location or a close approximation since it will be a 35" scale.

I expect something close to the following measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of pickup (mounting screw):
  • Neck: ~29.5" (~750mm)
  • Bridge: ~32.5" (~825mm)
And I promise not just to be a taker, I will post some frequency plots and figures about the DIP switch settings in the PAPA preamp soon. Quite the curves on that thing.

Thanks in advance,
Matthew
 
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#1,011
Take it from the top...

The accentuated ping of a Smith. Here is the treble control "mapped out." Even at detente, there is around a 2-3dB very broad bell boost around 5.5K in the default DIP switch settings. The DIP switch settings move the treble bell around from roughly:
  • Lowest (Sw5=on, Sw6=on) ~4.2K
  • Low/Original (Sw5=off, Sw6=on) ~4.5K
  • High/Default (Sw5=on, Sw6=off) ~5.5K
  • Highest (Sw5=off, Sw6=off) ~7K
It's a very broad bell at the top end rather than a shelf. Very reminiscent of a Pultec high end boost. At the end I show a full cut at the default DIP switch settings to show that it functions more less as a gentle low-pass filter. I really like the design of this EQ.

PAPA-Treble Settings.png
 
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#1,012
About that mid section...

Again the PAPA stays broad in the curves, even though one is listed as "narrow" in the documentation. I included full boost and full cut here, but I may revisit if needed. As you can see (and hear) this will take a bunch of meat out quickly used alone <insert dramatic foreshadowing music here>.

Switches 3 and 4 – Middle frequencies; bell type EQ:
• Lowest, normal Q: 3=On, 4=On (Original) ~400Hz
• Medium, narrow Q: 3=Off, 4=On ~560Hz
• Medium, wide Q: 3=On, 4=Off (Default) ~560Hz but very broad
• Highest, normal Q: 3=Off, 4=Off ~800Hz

PAPA-Mid Settings.png
 
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#1,013
All about that bass...

Shelving EQs are more interesting to describe, some folks use the tail frequencies (Pultec 20/30/60/100) and some define the corner frequencies. However you want to label it, the bottom end on this preamp gets huge. There is no hi-pass filter to be found and so headroom on the receiving amp or compressor may take a pounding. I won't put any frequency labels on these settings to avoid confusion, but the "Bass Original" setting is very close to a Pultec EQP1A @ 60Hz and the current default setting is around 100Hz on the Pultec.

Set flat, it remains neutral. But even the slightest boost starts moving a lot of frequencies up in gain. As you can see, the shelf, like the Pultec, runs all the way up through the mids and beyond 1K. This is very different from something like a Tone Hammer or even the Mesa D-800+ though the "Deep" switch helps.


PAPA-Bass Settings.png
 
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#1,014
And the last little bit...

So, you grabbed that Black Tiger by the tail, dimed the bass and treble and just broke off the mid control pushing it through the floor and slapped out "Let The Praise Begin." And then you said "Whoa" and started backing off a few things. Here are a few examples with the DIP switches in the default position.
  • Bass and Treble full, mid full cut (note how the mid cut tames that huge bass shelf)
  • Bass and Treble full, mid flat
  • Bass @ 40%, Treble @ 30%, mid flat
  • My normal'ish - Bass 30-40%, treble at 10%-20%, mids flat.
Hopefully this little journey takes a bit of the mystique off of the Ken Smith BMT preamp. It has a well thought out EQ section and provides a lot of control. I like broad curves and this little box fits very well. I would enjoy a little taming on the bottom, but I get it. Enjoy!

PAPA-VariousSettingsDefaultDIP.png
 
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#1,016
You're welcome. I enjoy playing with various eq's, finding out what I like and don't like, then figuring out why I think that. I think Ken did a great job spec'ing this out. Even though I have a Pope Flexcore in my Stambaugh, I switch back and forth between that and the PAPA for a primary EQ. I love the broad curves.
 
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#1,017
GMSweet said:
You're welcome. I enjoy playing with various eq's, finding out what I like and don't like, then figuring out why I think that. I think Ken did a great job spec'ing this out. Even though I have a Pope Flexcore in my Stambaugh, I switch back and forth between that and the PAPA for a primary EQ. I love the broad curves.
Click to expand...
The legendary “Smith sound”.
 
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