What happened to Ken Smith basses?

[sloasdaylight]

all my conklin 7's are 34" scale length, and my ritter 7 is a 35", as are both my conklin 8's. i see no appreciable difference in the quality of the low b string between them. in my experience, the rigidity of the neck is a much bigger factor than that 1" in scale length in determining the quality of the low b (or lower - many of my conklins have at least a low F# on them).

^

 

[spade2you]

I don't think we'll ever officially solve the debate as ears and technique do a lot of it. I mean, I've heard plenty of farty basses that the user think sound amazing. In the land of detuning metal, I can't say how many people I've heard tuning to B or C with a standard 105.

Still, even with Conklin headquarters, Mike thinks 35" makes a difference. Bill doesn't. Mine is 35" scale and sounds phenominal!

I have my first 34" scale 6er coming my way soon.......

 

[denchiq]

Do you honestly believe a jazz pickup configured Burner to be a good representation of the basses that Ken Smith builds?

well I only objected to the B-string post with no reference to pickups

 

[kamakiriad7]

Cuz hi-fi and fancy is basically out of style. Tradition is in.

I can't imagine living in another time period when hi-fi and fancy are in. Must be awesome!

 

[Fretlessboy]

they are all
i play for years now

 

[darkstorm]

I tried a couple, uncomfortable necks. The five and six string ones I tried had the widest necks of any 5 or 6 string Ive tried. Not desireable basses to me playability wise.

 

[Fretlessboy]

I think they are real comfortable to me. Thank god there are lots of choices

 

[One Drop]

Number 174 is for sale near here. It's a very early fiver (I sent pictures to Ken to ask about it). I'm generally not a fan of 5 string basses, or this modern style of bass in general, but I must admit it was a killer instrument to play, and the tone was very clean and round all the way up the neck, amazing played fingerstyle. The guy at the shop got some amazing slap tones from it as well, I was very impressed.

Very cool basses.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

not all that long ago (~10 years?), Ken Smith basses were *it* - - these days, I haven't seen them in stores, on stage or hardly any mention on TB...

I know they had a very distinct sound... it is that this has just gone out of fashion?

I think you're mistaken. Plenty people still play Smith basses. They're quite popular actually.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I think you're mistaken. Plenty people still play Smith basses. They're quite popular actually.

OP SanDiegoHarry was banned years ago.
12 year old Zombie thread.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

OP SanDiegoHarry was banned years ago.
12 year old Zombie thread.

My buddy Jay had a really nice Smith four string. Was a real looker. Anyway, yeah zombiethread.

 

[chadds]

Are Zombies good for metal?

 

[Lownote38]

Are Zombies good for metal?

Totally!

 

[Lenny JG]

I do like the Smith string sets and would love a smith bass.

 

[B-Mac]

Ken Smith is still making basses in Perkasie, PA

 

[Polfuste]

Hey that is not the older zombie: we've had the JPJ topic yesterday. Dead in 2015 but OP was 2006 ! Multi-zombie thread !

 

[B-Mac]

Lazarus!

Pick up thy Bass and Amp and walk to thy gig!

 

[gwangi]

Ken Smith is still making basses in Perkasie, PA

Actually Ken Smith basses are made in Baltimore, MD thru the Brubaker Guitar factory and then shipped to Ken Smith for set-up and install electronic's.

 

[B-Mac]

Interesting

Home - Ken Smith Basses

Ken Smith Basses, Ltd.
420 Race Street
Perkasie, PA 18944


Always learn something new here on TB.

I guess Ken's lying about 100% made in Perkasie shop. Really interesting. I did not know that. I wonder how he gets away with that? Hmmm? Very interesting.

--------------------------------------
From website

About
Building the World’s Greatest 100% Handmade Basses since 1978
Multi-String Electric Bass Pioneer Ken Smith has developed or introduced many of the innovations used on today’s basses which are now industry standards. Some of these include Printed Circuit Board Electronics, Graphite Inlaid Neck, Detented Balance and EQ controls, Low ‘B’ Design .128 and .130, and Taper Core Bass Strings. Ken Smith hand picks the wood for every bass from our in-house lumberyard, which features over 20 species of aged tonewoods. Visitors to the factory are awestruck by what is probably the largest collection and variety of acclimated musical-grade woods in the world. Inspired by the techniques of 16th – 19th Century European stringed instrument makers, Smith Basses are a marriage of Old World Tradition and Modern Innovation. Ken Smith supervises the production of each bass and still does the final set-up.

All Smith Basses are 100% handmade in USA at our shop in Perkasie, PA

• Highest Quality & Playable Handmade Basses since 1979
• All Woods are selected by Ken Smith for every Bass
• In-house Exotic Wood Lumberyard with over 20 species of Aged Exotic Tonewoods
• Final set-up of every Bass is still done by Ken Smith
• From beginning to end, Ken is supervising the making of your Bass every step of the way
• Where can I buy Smith Basses?

To Purchase a Smith Bass, please feel free to Contact us via e-mail or phone so we can direct you to the best source.

All About Ken Smith Basses
Did you know that Ken Smith is a Modern Bass Pioneer? He has pioneered, developed, and introduced many of the features used on today’s Basses that are now industry standards.

 

[Geri O]

Interesting

Home - Ken Smith Basses
View attachment 4808549
View attachment 4808551

Ken Smith Basses, Ltd.
420 Race Street
Perkasie, PA 18944


Always learn something new here on TB.

I guess Ken's lying about 100% made in Perkasie shop. Really interesting. I did not know that. I wonder how he gets away with that? Hmmm? Very interesting.

“Lying” is probably not accurate. More likely, due to the website needing updates.