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The Ken Smith Club, Part 2

#121
peterpalmieri said:
It took me 11 months and giving up another bass that I really love but I am very excited to have this bass on it's way to me....

View attachment 688322 View attachment 688324
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2 months in on my BSRG6GN, it's pretty old 1998. Walnut, Mahogony weighs right around 11lbs. a little beat up or played in..

I hesitate to say this but I've been playing for 27 years now and this bass just does it for me. I'll solo the front pickup in series mode when I want to groove and drop back to both pickups in parallel mode for a more articulate tone. I've pretty much settled on playing passive unless the room really does something funky that needs dealing with. I sold my Fodera with the intent of a custom order but at this point I've lost interest and I haven't really even picked up my two other basses that are wonderful instruments. I ran a vocal rehearsal last night and after we were done I realized I was so focused on the music and important stuff that I really didn't give any thought to the bass, it just did it's thing.

I haven't been this content in a long while...
 
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#125
Got a '93 Chuck Rainey signature this week. Puh, this bass is just awesome...

IMG_20151118_175221_zps7fnsnofq.jpg
 
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#126
peterpalmieri said:
Can anyone comment on using a Mono M80 Vertigo with a BSR6? Other alternatives if you have them...
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Not a good fit for a 6 string. I have two Vertigo's, 4 and 5 string Smith's and owned a 6 string Smith in the past. The neck support piece in the Vertigo is firm and shaped for a 4 string neck width. It is OK with my 5 but the 6 string neck was way too wide.
The standard M80 has a different neck support which will accommodate any neck width.
I also have the latest Protec Contego version which is not as expensive and still very nice.
 
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#129
peterpalmieri said:
2 months in on my BSRG6GN, it's pretty old 1998. Walnut, Mahogony weighs right around 11lbs. a little beat up or played in..

I hesitate to say this but I've been playing for 27 years now and this bass just does it for me. I'll solo the front pickup in series mode when I want to groove and drop back to both pickups in parallel mode for a more articulate tone. I've pretty much settled on playing passive unless the room really does something funky that needs dealing with. I sold my Fodera with the intent of a custom order but at this point I've lost interest and I haven't really even picked up my two other basses that are wonderful instruments. I ran a vocal rehearsal last night and after we were done I realized I was so focused on the music and important stuff that I really didn't give any thought to the bass, it just did it's thing.

I haven't been this content in a long while...
Click to expand...

I couldn't deal with an 11 lb bass - my shoulder was unhappy after 2 set standing with my 9.5 lb BSR5GN. That said, the rest of this I pretty much agree with. I do have a fretted Fodera 5 on the way that may give it a run for its money, but the fretless BSR5GN isn't going anywhere. And I suspect that I'll likely keep the fretted Smith as well as it will be a different beast from the Fodera.

For me the money setting on the fretted Smith is full neck pickup. It is like a P-bass with a very bad attitude. I like other tones as you sweep the mix knob (and there are many flavors unlike pretty much every other bass). But probably 85% of the time I'm on the neck pup.
 
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#135
nostatic said:
Those are really thin gauge. I'm running Smith nickel 125-40 right now and like them. I thought about running TI flats which aren't cheap either. Flats would be a bit easier on the fingerboard, but the rounds have a nice zing.
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I had no idea there was a part two Ken Smith club thread... Congrats on your Smiths! I have fretted and fretless twin 6ers...

I currently have TI flats on my fretless and they growl like crazy. Definitely worth a try. I believe you are in LA right? Come by and play it!
 
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#136
Nenor said:
Not a good fit for a 6 string. I have two Vertigo's, 4 and 5 string Smith's and owned a 6 string Smith in the past. The neck support piece in the Vertigo is firm and shaped for a 4 string neck width. It is OK with my 5 but the 6 string neck was way too wide.
The standard M80 has a different neck support which will accommodate any neck width.
I also have the latest Protec Contego version which is not as expensive and still very nice.
Click to expand...

Any idea if the craddle on the sleeve works? I have a protec Contego already and would love a top loading bag
 

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