The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

[bassJapan]

Hello all:

You all already know the sob story. GAS, or in this case, BAS has caught up with me and some of my favorites have to go in order to remain solvent. Since you all already know the instrument - wanted to place it right here for feedback and or to drive interest.

For sale Ken Smith Burner Deluxe 4 with OHSC

Extremely nice specimen of a 90s era Ken Smith (made in Japan with US/Canadian parts)

• bassJapan (+21 /0 /-0)
• Jun 13, 2025
• Updated Aug 16, 2025
• Views: 770
• Comments: 8
• Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars
• burner ken smith 4 ken smith burner

$2,450.00

4 watching

 

[deepender]

Hello all:

You all already know the sob story. GAS, or in this case, BAS has caught up with me and some of my favorites have to go in order to remain solvent. Since you all already know the instrument - wanted to place it right here for feedback and or to drive interest.

For sale Ken Smith Burner Deluxe 4 with OHSC

Extremely nice specimen of a 90s era Ken Smith (made in Japan with US/Canadian parts)

• bassJapan (+21 /0 /-0)
• Jun 13, 2025
• Updated Aug 16, 2025
• Views: 770
• Comments: 8
• Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars
• burner ken smith 4 ken smith burner

$2,450.00

4 watching

Never played a Burner. I think they have a nice faithful following.

 

[Chris Chong]

A little slap n pop.

 

[revlimitbounce]

Hey all:

I've been keeping a lookout for a Smith for a while now. Had one back in college (CT; Hartt School of Music) in the late '80s and should never have sold it.

As I'm getting out of the shower and drying off Thursday morning, up pops an ad on my phone for one, just then posted for sale here in Arizona. Bought it that afternoon on the way to a gig. Used it at the gig (where the Governor of Arizona was present!), then used it again last night at another gig at The M.I.M. here in Phoenix (a great-sounding theater with superb sound staff). Pretty much a home run.

It's a 1988 BT5, three-knob (which is actually 5...). Top and back are walnut with a mahogany core & maple stripes. The neck is maple & bubinga with an ebony fretboard.

I think it's a thinner body than normal, which is great for me because my old one from college (an '84 or '85?) weighed as much as a Buick. It's a tiny bit neck-heavy, but not overly so.

It's in great shape with only minor dings here and there, and a couple of tiny cracks in the lacquer finish (this isn't an oil finish bass). The only problem with it is the barrel jack; it seems to be pretty worn and crinkles when jostled, though it never did this on either of its first two gigs with me. I'll just pop a new one in.

Happy boy here.

 

[deepender]

Hey all:

I've been keeping a lookout for a Smith for a while now. Had one back in college (CT; Hartt School of Music) in the late '80s and should never have sold it.

As I'm getting out of the shower and drying off Thursday morning, up pops an ad on my phone for one, just then posted for sale here in Arizona. Bought it that afternoon on the way to a gig. Used it at the gig (where the Governor of Arizona was present!), then used it again last night at another gig at The M.I.M. here in Phoenix (a great-sounding theater with superb sound staff). Pretty much a home run.

It's a 1988 BT5, three-knob (which is actually 5...). Top and back are walnut with a mahogany core & maple stripes. The neck is maple & bubinga with an ebony fretboard.

I think it's a thinner body than normal, which is great for me because my old one from college (an '84 or '85?) weighed as much as a Buick. It's a tiny bit neck-heavy, but not overly so.

It's in great shape with only minor dings here and there, and a couple of tiny cracks in the lacquer finish (this isn't an oil finish bass). The only problem with it is the barrel jack; it seems to be pretty worn and crinkles when jostled, though it never did this on either of its first two gigs with me. I'll just pop a new one in.

Happy boy here.

Nice

 

[Nenor]

Anyone here with a new Smith with the 3way switches? I'd like to get some views on the single mode option.

 

[Element Zero]

A little slap n pop.

Nice playing. Great tone. Awesome shirt.

 

[Element Zero]

@Chris Chong it’s criminal how little your channel has. Really excellent playing. Tunes I’ve never heard but fantastic examples of my favorite type of bass playing.

 

[Chris Chong]

@Chris Chong it’s criminal how little your channel has. Really excellent playing. Tunes I’ve never heard but fantastic examples of my favorite type of bass playing.

Thanks

 

[Element Zero]

Any KS owners here from central-ish California that would be willing to meet up somewhere that a reputable and respectful TalkBass member could check out your 5 or 6 string?

I can’t shake the sound I think a Smith would provide, but the biggest ? is how the neck feels and no where in California (that I’ve found) has one.

A shot in the dark.

 

[deepender]

Any KS owners here from central-ish California that would be willing to meet up somewhere that a reputable and respectful TalkBass member could check out your 5 or 6 string?

I can’t shake the sound I think a Smith would provide, but the biggest ? is how the neck feels and no where in California (that I’ve found) has one.

A shot in the dark.

I found this.
Give them a call. I don’t know it they have a store or just online presence.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.google.com

Home Page - Bass Southwest Bass Guitars

Your source for high-end basses and sound equipment. Bass Southwest is home to some of the finest made basses in the world. The Bass Southwest mission is to offer the best hand-crafted, high-end basses made by the world’s most experienced luthiers.Bass Southwest is a proud dealer of the...

basssouthwest.com

 

[Element Zero]

I found this.
Give them a call. I don’t know it they have a store or just online presence.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.google.com

Home Page - Bass Southwest Bass Guitars

Your source for high-end basses and sound equipment. Bass Southwest is home to some of the finest made basses in the world. The Bass Southwest mission is to offer the best hand-crafted, high-end basses made by the world’s most experienced luthiers.Bass Southwest is a proud dealer of the...

basssouthwest.com

Thanks! Can’t find a phone number for them only a Facebook messenger. I’ll ask my wife since she has Facebook to message them and see if they have a physical store.

 

[otto B]

I placed my 1998 Ken Smith BSR5EG for sale if anyone is interested.

For sale 1998 Ken Smith BSR5EG (Elite)

For sale is this amazing Ken Smith Elite BSR5EG quilted top and back with 5-piece mahogany core. The bass is in great condition, it has some marks and light dings but nothing big. I just clean the fretboard and polish the frets and install a brand-new input jack. It comes with the KS hard case...

• otto B (+313 /0 /-0)
• Jul 19, 2025
• Updated Aug 14, 2025
• Views: 944
• Reaction score: 5
• Questions: 1
• Comments: 3
• Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars

$7,800.00

4 watching

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Question: I have a Smith that is going through batteries; it is a 18v preamp. What has been your battery life? Im not getting 50 hours.

 

[deepender]

First, a question.
Are you leaving the cable plugged into the bass? That keeps the preamp circuit active and drains the battery. Now to answer your question; I change batteries once a year, with no sign of weakening.

 

[Walk The Dogs]

Question: I have a Smith that is going through batteries; it is a 18v preamp. What has been your battery life? Im not getting 50 hours.

Most active basses activate their preamps when you plug in the bass. Unplugging the cable is the only way to prevent the preamp from gobbling up your battery juice.

I've always thought it regrettable that bass builders don't accommodate those of us who like to keep our basses plugged into our amps and audio interfaces for those flash moments of inspirational brilliance when you want to hear it *now*. You know, just a little battery cut-off switch, but whatever. I have a couple of passive basses for that.

 

[31HZ]

I don't play my Smith very much; that being said, the batteries in it are over 5 years old, and recently tested over 80% capacity remaining on a ZTS battery tester.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

I left it plugged in twice overnight. New batteries, less than a month old. Energizers. The jack is fine- i checked the batteries after the first two weeks before brain farting, and there was no discernible draw; they came in @ 9.59 volts, same as their value upon installation. Conservative estimate of the time(s) left plugged in would be ~36 hours. Twice in the past two weeks- my sessions both times were interrupted by unforeseen circumstances, its not as if this is a common practice for me. The first time i left it plugged in, i got a disturbing lengthy phone call- 2 hours, the second time, the discharge to our dishwasher created an audible splashy mess all over the kitchen.
In both instances, the wife turned off the light i was using to play in the living room during these disturbances. I was temporarily overwhelmed, and with the lights off, i failed to see the bass was still plugged in when i turned the amp off. Mea culpa.

 

[Nenor]

the batteries in it are over 5 years old

I'd highly recommend changing the batteries at least once every two years, regardless capacity. Leaving them for so long might start licking. I bought a mint 2009 BT4 few years back and the signal would drop down and come back up. Took some time to realize that was the reason. I had to replace both battery clips with the (black/red) wire which was eaten from within.

 

[seafoamgreenjb]

I left it plugged in twice overnight. New batteries, less than a month old. Energizers. The jack is fine- i checked the batteries after the first two weeks before brain farting, and there was no discernible draw; they came in @ 9.59 volts, same as their value upon installation. Conservative estimate of the time(s) left plugged in would be ~36 hours. Twice in the past two weeks- my sessions both times were interrupted by unforeseen circumstances, its not as if this is a common practice for me. The first time i left it plugged in, i got a disturbing lengthy phone call- 2 hours, the second time, the discharge to our dishwasher created an audible splashy mess all over the kitchen.
In both instances, the wife turned off the light i was using to play in the living room during these disturbances. I was temporarily overwhelmed, and with the lights off, i failed to see the bass was still plugged in when i turned the amp off. Mea culpa.

You can check the current flow with a multimeter. Just set it to mA, disconnect one battery pole (either positive or negative) and put the multimeter between the other battery pole and the connector.