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The Ken Smith Club

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#221
Pics Here:

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3 Piece Hard Maple Bolt–On Neck w/ graphite rods
34” scale Gabon Ebony Lined Fretless Fingerboard
Body: Flame Maple Top/Back w/ Mahogany Core
Smith Lacquer finish
Smith Pickups and 9 volt Preamp w/ 3 Band Eq.
Weight: 11 lbs.
Playability: Superb, as every Smith I’ve owned has been.
With the TI Jazz flats installed I can go from “Jaco-burp” to
an “upright” sound with both pickups on with just a shift in
right hand position. It’s my favorite fretless of the past 30 years.
 
#222
Number update!!!

1 - Vision
2 - Bass Viking
3 - Jules Forcella
4 - 123eraniod
5 - bottomzone
6 - gsdito
7 - Ari
8 - SLaPiNFuNK
9 - CTbass&birdsong
10 - greenbass
11 - PaulErik
12 - Reuben
13 - mrbassman_de
14 - Jaycephas
15 - wolldav
16 - T-MOST
17 - Fretlessboy
18 - rodneyat
19 - Just Thumpin'
20 - Halftooth
21 - metalstorm
22 - black.rose1402
23 - dustdbass
24 - nalapit13
25 - Danny R.
26 - azwhofan
27 - pedulla-2007
28 - kraigg007
29 - Phil Smith
30 - BIGREDSIX
31 - Alaska Bass
32 - tidnab
33 - eaflyaway
34 - Big Bottom
35 - Vakmere
36 - kerrycares
37 - jebmd
38 - Sean Baumann
39 - Hollywars
40 - Shelly
41 - JOEP054
42 - BSR6P-Bob
 
#225
I do have one of his 20th anniversary models with a flamed redwood top in a 4 string version which I understand is pretty rare which is my favorite 4 string bass.
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Indeed - only THREE 20th Aniversary Flamed Redwoods were ever built as a 4-string ! Congratulations !

I look for a 20th Aniversary 5 since many years and I never had the chance to get one. Only One time years ago there was one offered at ebay for a moon price... auction ended before I could press the BIN button...
 
#226
mrbassman_de said:
Indeed - only THREE 20th Aniversary Flamed Redwoods were ever built as a 4-string ! Congratulations !

I look for a 20th Aniversary 5 since many years and I never had the chance to get one. Only One time years ago there was one offered at ebay for a moon price... auction ended before I could press the BIN button...
Click to expand...

I have never seen another 4 string 20th but I was always under the impression that he made 6 of each model (4,5,6) although I am usually wrong about such things.

There was a 6 string not to long ago on Ebay that I am not sure if the owner sold or not. That was the only time I had ever seen another 20th model listed ever.

The model while not only beautiful has the most unbelievable note articulation I have ever heard on a bass. A truly singing quality to it.

Keep looking and one day karma will prevail. Peace.
 
#228
JOEP054 said:
Mine isn't the "Fusion Elite" model but it was special ordered with the 7 piece body and neck option. I originally purchased one of these without the upgraded neck option and loved it so much that I bought another with the upgrades. The attachment is of the original purchase.

I do believe the "Fusion Elite" model is Ken's 25th anniversary model but I may be wrong on that. I do have one of his 20th anniversary models with a flamed redwood top in a 4 string version which I understand is pretty rare which is my favorite 4 string bass.

Love all my Smiths with the stable currently holding 6 of them, two 4 stringers and four 6 stringers at the moment, but I am always on the hunt for another good one.:rollno: Would love to land a sixer with an ebony top!!
Click to expand...

well, the 7 piece neck and body will make anything an Elite model if you ask me!

Great instruments man...

I'm back down to 2 smiths... my 96 BMTE6G, and 97 BSRE6G fretless
 
#230
recently acquired , my new (to me) Ken Smith Black Tiger Elite 5 strings built in 2003

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I literally got it yesterday yesterday and left this morning for a business trip that took me a thousand miles away from it and the ability to play it more until next Wed
 
#235
SLaPiNFuNK said:
BT Black Tiger... nice...

did you want glossy finish like that?
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well, the story is that somebody offered me as trade for my Jerzy Drozd fretless that I wans't playing mych these days... I didn't therefore select really anything, nor I was really looking actively (i had some GAS for it though) for a Ken Smith but when I bumped into this and I could play it (drove 150 miles just to test it), then I decided to take it....
 
#236
pmaraziti said:
recently acquired , my new (to me) Ken Smith Black Tiger Elite 5 strings built in 2003

Link Removed

Link Removed

I literally got it yesterday yesterday and left this morning for a business trip that took me a thousand miles away from it and the ability to play it more until next Wed
Click to expand...


By the way, what's the reccommendation for strings? What Ken Smith strings model and any experience with other manufaturer on the Ken Smith?
 
#237
pmaraziti said:
Indeed it's nice... but what do you mean with ORIGINAL body shape...did it change over time?
Click to expand...

Ken makes two body shapes for this model. It's either a BSR "TNE" which is the updated body shape or a BT "TNVE" which is the orignal "vintage" body shape. I'm not sure when exactly he offered the BSR shape but I think it was in the mid to late 90s.

Supposedly the BSR has better standing balance while the BT has better sitting balance as per Ken's website descriptions.

I can't be sure from your pictures which is why I asked, but I thought it was the vintage body shape which I have never seen in the Black Tiger Elite model before. Either way, she is a beauty. Enjoy. Peace.
 
#238
Hey pmaraziti,

String choice depends on many things. Listed below, in no particular order, a few of my priorities but it's up to you to prioritize and make your decision as to which best suits most of your neeeds.

Music style
Finger noise
Fret wear
Fretboard wear
String feel
In some cases, your amp

For my needs, after trying a few different brands, I've settled on Smith Compressors (med. with .125 taper "B"). I play finger-style with some thumb/palm mute and don't use a pick or slap/pop. I'm playing in three projects, doing it all. The strings are very easy on the frets and board, are not too "zingy" and are easy on the fingers. The tone is even and as punchy as I need, just not crisp in the higher registers.
When the bass came to me, it had DR Sunbeams installed and a couple of sets of Smith RockMasters (40-120) in the case as a bunus. I put a set on for a trial run and took then off right away. I'm just not a "stainless" kind of guy.

Anyone want to buy them?

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to F/S items.

I hope this helps you.

Regarsd, Kirk
 
#239
JOEP054 said:
Ken makes two body shapes for this model. It's either a BSR "TNE" which is the updated body shape or a BT "TNVE" which is the orignal "vintage" body shape. I'm not sure when exactly he offered the BSR shape but I think it was in the mid to late 90s.

Supposedly the BSR has better standing balance while the BT has better sitting balance as per Ken's website descriptions.

I can't be sure from your pictures which is why I asked, but I thought it was the vintage body shape which I have never seen in the Black Tiger Elite model before. Either way, she is a beauty. Enjoy. Peace.
Click to expand...


Oh , yeah, I understood something different (specifically that the "vintage" body type changed shape over time). Indeed mine is an original vintage. I knew about the standing vs. sitting difference, but when I strapped on and stood up, it was not uncomfortable to me.

I'm really looking forward to going back home to play it today! :hyper:
 
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