What a bummer!

[LifeIsBass]

I couldn't control my GAS anymore so last week I ordered a Ken Smith BSR6M from Bass Central last night. Got it yesterday. Sent it back today.

I was really dissappointed. It's a great bass, no doubt. Craftsmanship was excellent. Easiest 6'er I've ever played. It just wasn't for me. This really surprised me because I've been listening to every Smith clip I could get my hands on for the last month and loved the tone I heard.

This one just seemed too warm and too smooth. You could get some of that typical doinky, almost honky, fret-clicky Smith tone if you really dug in hard, but I don't want to have to play that hard all the time. The bottom end seemed boomy and undefined. Slap tone was pretty thin. I was really hoping for a really clear, sweet tone on the hi end and a growly, tight, defined, and responsive tone on the low end. This bass just didn't deliver the goods I needed.

I tried everything I could think of. I set it up just like I like it, tried 3 different set of strings, and even played with the dip switches on the pre. Still, no cigar.

I just couldn't justify keeping it when I probably would hardly ever play it. I just wonder if it was this particular bass or whether I'm just not made for Smiths.

I will say the guys at Bass Central were great to deal with. Highly recommended. Unfortunately I'm going to lose some bucks on this due to shipping costs and a restocking fee.


Oh well, you win some and lose some...

Back to the drawing board...

Here's a pic of the bass:

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I suspect you sent it back too soon. It takes more than a day to really get your sound out of a new bass. A week would been more like it.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

If it doesn't speak to you, it doesn't speak to you. I've had that happen. It sounds perfect in your head, but you get it, and well, it doesn't sound perfect.

Sorry, LIB!

 

[ctbass]

Sorry for the dumb question - did you change out the battery?

 

[LifeIsBass]

I suspect you sent it back too soon. It takes more than a day to really get your sound out of a new bass. A week would been more like it.

Well, Bass Central only has a 48 hr. trial, so I didn't have long.
I don't know, I tried everything I could think of and it just didn't do it for me. In contrast, I fell in love with my Warwick Streamer Stage II and Corvette Proline as soon as I plugged them in.

 

[LifeIsBass]

Sorry for the dumb question - did you change out the battery?

No, it's not a dumb question. Yes, I put 2 brand new batteries in it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Well, Bass Central only has a 48 hr. trial, so I didn't have long.
I don't know, I tried everything I could think of and it just didn't do it for me. In contrast, I fell in love with my Warwick Streamer Stage II and Corvette Proline as soon as I plugged them in.

I understand. There is no law that says any of us has to like any given bass.

 

[SteveC]

I fell in love with my Warwick Streamer Stage II and Corvette Proline as soon as I plugged them in.

There's your answer. I've had Smith and Warwick basses. I think they are very different. If you have 2 Warwicks, seems to me you found your sound.

 

[LifeIsBass]

There's your answer. I've had Smith and Warwick basses. I think they are very different. If you have 2 Warwicks, seems to me you found your sound.

Yeah, Warwicks are my sound. I just wanted something a little different to add to my arsenal, something with just a little different flavor. I need something very articulate, responsive, modern, and clear. Something with a tight, focused, growly low end but with an extremely clear and sweet top end. I'm thinking now I may try Zon or Modulus or maybe both. I've heard a lot of clips of those basses that I have liked. Hmmm, this sounds familiar...