The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Anybody have a five string black or white tiger they’d consider selling?

Music Go Round has a black tiger 5.

Used Ken Smith 5TN-Black Tiger Figured Walnut 2001 Bass Guitar 5-String 40051-S000119102

Used Ken Smith 5TN-BLACK TIGER FIGURED WALNUT 2001 Bass Guitar Wood 5-String Cockeysville MD

musicgoround.com

 

[Chris Chong]

Traded my KS HF (and D-Roc5) for my friend’s fodera YY5S.

Instantly regretted the trade. Thankfully my friend is ok to reverse the trade.

 

[scubaduba]

Music Go Round has a black tiger 5.

Used Ken Smith 5TN-Black Tiger Figured Walnut 2001 Bass Guitar 5-String 40051-S000119102

Used Ken Smith 5TN-BLACK TIGER FIGURED WALNUT 2001 Bass Guitar Wood 5-String Cockeysville MD

musicgoround.com

Ouch. That’s Elite pricing there.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Ouch. That’s Elite pricing there.

Trades, negotiations? Asking price doesn’t always equal selling price.

 

[greenbass]

Amazing Exhibition Macassar Ebony available

For sale Bass close ad

No longer available not sure how to delete the ad

• greenbass (+24 /0 /-0)
• Apr 17, 2026
• Updated Jun 7, 2026
• Views: 1K
• Reaction score: 9
• Comments: 5
• Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars
• fodera ken smith pavel roscoe

$1,234.00

13 watching

 

[Nenor]

Seeking advice. I own a 91 Burner 4 standard, all original with the old Japanese pre amp. Fingerboard is Indian rosewood (before they changed to morado). I don't fancy the sound and blame mostly the pre amp, although, running passive, the pickups are very weak too. Not sure if the thing went old and weak over time or that's the way it always been. I thought about letting it go but I love the way it feels and plays. Anyone upgraded an old Burner and happy with the results?

 

[Chris Chong]

Had a 91 burner. I don’t rmb it being weak. Isit the battery?

 

[Nenor]

Had a 91 burner. I don’t rmb it being weak. Isit the battery?

Battery is fine. The pickups have low output when preamp is off and the sound is dull, with or without the preamp. I used to own a 96 deluxe Burner, ash body, US circuit and morado board. That one sounded wonderful.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Hello everyone ... can I be part of the club?
This is my Ken Smith BSR EG5
View attachment 3163090 View attachment 3163092 View attachment 3163096

Super happy to be back in the club. ‘11 bsr wte

View attachment 4907486

This might be interesting, but I measured and the center of the pickups for the smith are in the same positions as the streamer stage two. I always thought they were in the same neighborhood sound wise

 

[deepender]

Anybody have a five string black or white tiger they’d consider selling?

Good luck with that.
The Tigers are keepers.

 

[deepender]

Seeking advice. I own a 91 Burner 4 standard, all original with the old Japanese pre amp. Fingerboard is Indian rosewood (before they changed to morado). I don't fancy the sound and blame mostly the pre amp, although, running passive, the pickups are very weak too. Not sure if the thing went old and weak over time or that's the way it always been. I thought about letting it go but I love the way it feels and plays. Anyone upgraded an old Burner and happy with the results?

Not sure if the burners have them, but there might be dip switches inside to tailor the preamp tone.

 

[Nenor]

Not sure if the burners have them, but there might be dip switches inside to tailor the preamp tone.

DIP switches came with the 18V circuit in early~mid 2000's. This Burner is an early one, it doesn't even have the old 9V US circuit. It's the mij preamp.

 

[deepender]

DIP switches came with the 18V circuit in early~mid 2000's. This Burner is an early one, it doesn't even have the old 9V US circuit. It's the mij preamp.

So clarify for me (and I apologize if you’ve already explained this, I can be dense); were you previously pleased with the tone and something changed? Were you previously pleased with the tone and although nothing changed you don’t like what you hear right now? Do you just not like the way it sounds?

 

[Nenor]

So clarify for me (and I apologize if you’ve already explained this, I can be dense); were you previously pleased with the tone and something changed? Were you previously pleased with the tone and although nothing changed you don’t like what you hear right now? Do you just not like the way it sounds?

I've had this bass since 2017. It plays and feels great. The sound is fine but nothing special. Sometimes, depending on room size and type it gets lost in the mix. I used to own another Burner, 94, ash body & morado board which had that creamy/buttery beautiful tone. That one also had the U.S. preamp. It didn't play that great so I sold it. I wish I could recreate that tone with the one I have now.

 

[deepender]

I've had this bass since 2017. It plays and feels great. The sound is fine but nothing special. Sometimes, depending on room size and type it gets lost in the mix. I used to own another Burner, 94, ash body & morado board which had that creamy/buttery beautiful tone. That one also had the U.S. preamp. It didn't play that great so I sold it. I wish I could recreate that tone with the one I have now.

Here’s where I would go from there:
First I’d put some brighter strings on and play them for a while, experimenting with pickup height during the trial period. If that brings no joy, I’d go right for a new preamp. There are a lot of preamp demonstration videos online. I’d find the one that is closest to that sound I’m seeking and go for it, with the realization that it won’t sound exactly like the video. But I probably would not give up on the bass unless I found some serious problem with the basic structure of the bass. YMMV

 

[scubaduba]

Good luck with that.
The Tigers are keepers.

Still hoping to find one.

 

[arszon]

Hey all
I’ve noticed there’s been consistent interest in Ken Smith BSR5EG/Elite models, and I’m considering offering up my 2002 BSR5EG.
It has a highly figured Macassar ebony top, a 5-piece body with a walnut core and walnut back, and very low action. It is very clean, well cared for, and includes the original Ken Smith form-fitted rectangular hard case, also in great condition.

I may consider a partial trade, with substantial cash on top.
Please message me if you’re interested, we can talk