Why do people not like Ken Smith basses.

[Jason Wilson]

Everybody has their opinion and their own likes, and that is cool. Otherwise we would all have the same grear, the same bass sound & play the same music. So, appreciate everyones differences, it's what keeps us in gigs.

I am waiting on my new Ken Smith to be made (hopefully this month). I love their sound, they have a lovely growl to them. With their new pre-amp, dip switches etc, there are more tonal possibilites than some older models (more bottom end etc).
So, I guess I like them

Bottom line, don't really go off what anyone says on here because they are only other peoples opinions. They also might be playing a bass that feels like a boat oar and the sound of a wet towel hitting the floor.
Pick one up (or a few) and try them for yourself. It really is the only way to know if you do or don't like them. Also, make sure it has new strings on and through a similar amp to what you are using to get the best idea.

If you like it, then sweet, it is for you. If not, you obviously have no taste & should give up....KIDDING!!!! Keep trying basses till you find the one that makes you smile and touches you in your special place.

 

[smcd]

Many of the complaints here are about the Burner series basses. Again - those are not real Smith basses.

 

[Modulus1906]

I don't like them because I don't have any.

Although, to be honest, the four string bodies look quite large and silly. I've never seen one in person, so this might not be true.

Agreed, I've always though that the size of the Smith bodies should be relative to the number of strings they have to keep the bodies from looking like a dog you're giving a bath, and you wet his entire body down and leave his head and face dry, making it seem like the dog's head was too heavy for his body. I did this as a kid when I would give our family dog a bath, and it was hilarious.

 

[datsaxguy]

My buddy has one, the feel and craftsmanship is amazing. The tone is not my thing. I see why others love them.

 

[scubaduba]

I love 'em when I look at them. Then I buy one... and can't connect with it. Done this three times now. Probably no more. There's something mystic about them... I totally see why people dig them. Just not for me.

 

[zortation]

I'd like to see a BSR J Elite G model

 

[roadkill2309]

I don't tend to like the body shapes and I think the headstock is lousy to look at. I find that the web site is bush-league and just plain frustrating when I'm trying to find a model to like, too.

No complaints about the sound at all; in fact, I like what I've heard. But really? A *lot* of basses sound superb these days.

 

[zortation]

I don't tend to like the body shapes and I think the headstock is lousy to look at. I find that the web site is bush-league and just plain frustrating when I'm trying to find a model to like, too.

I think his headstock is one of the best ones out there, and the fact that his website is a joke doesn't phase me. Look at Alembic's website!

 

[petrus61]

. I have no idea why anyone would call it a "backyard build", that is just ridiculous to me, but to each his own.

Sorry, I should have clarified that it was the shape that came off as backyard, amateurish and unbalanced...not the build quality.

 

[dedpool1052]

i've only ever played one Smith, and it was an older fretless 5 that had come in used at GC. one of the employees was checking it out and said "you've got to check this thing out!". even though i dont dig the looks of it, i tried it anyway. it had the lowest action i have ever encountered. extremely effortless on the fretting hand. i did have to put a considerably amount of effort into lightening my touch though because it was so low. the neck was pretty nice, it reminded me of an alembic. maybe it was just the old 2-band preamp or the mesa rig it was plugged into, but the sound really didnt "wow" me. the build quality, neck and ability to achieve such low action did though. so i would say "they're cool, but not for me."

 

[Brad Johnson]

I've owned one Smith, a BSR-5J, played a ton of other ones, have a 95 six string here that I set up for a friend. Absolutely nothing wrong with the basses, just not a tone, mainly when slapped, that I don't prefer.

Personally I never concern myself with what others don't like about an instrument... way to often I find that I love the same thing they said they didn't, then I'll get one, set it up, let them check it out and they no longer dislike it.


In short, some people have legit issues with instruments but most are just plain fickle IME.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I think his headstock is one of the best ones out there, and the fact that his website is a joke doesn't phase me. Look at Alembic's website!

I never play websites so they don't bother me either.

 

[roadkill2309]

... and the fact that his website is a joke doesn't phase me. Look at Alembic's website!

Oh man, so true. I'm not a fan of Alembic for essentially the same reasons as I'm not into Smiths, though.

I never play websites so they don't bother me either.

A maker's site is usually the first step I take to clear the usual TB consumerist fog around a bass I've never seriously looked at. For a one-man show, I could see cutting a corner or two on the marketing side, but for bigger players, it's an amateur touch that I can't reward with my money. We live in a world full of exquisite basses, so anything at all that puts me off will make me go to the next guy.

I think that the general look of the basses is a bigger factor here, though. A p155-poor online presence is just another strike rather than a bona fide deciding factor.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Oh man, so true. I'm not a fan of Alembic for essentially the same reasons as I'm not into Smiths, though.

I'll take this as a serious statement.

A maker's site is usually the first step I take to clear the usual TB consumerist fog around a bass I've never seriously looked at. For a one-man show, I could see cutting a corner or two on the marketing side, but for bigger players, it's an amateur touch that I can't reward with my money. We live in a world full of exquisite basses, so anything at all that puts me off will make me go to the next guy.

I think that the general look of the basses is a bigger factor here, though. A p155-poor online presence is just another strike rather than a bona fide deciding factor.

Like I said, I don't play websites so I honestly couldn't care less. If the builder is making a great product a sweet website won't change that. It won't help if I don't like the product either.

Just different priorities. Then again I've never been the usual TB consumerist... never really saw the point. People here get attached to lots of things that in the long run don't really matter. A website is a complete non-factor as to whether or not I'm not going to "reward anyone with my money". That'll be up to the instrument and the builder's rep if there is one. I guess that's because I'm used to dealing with people and products from before websites existed.

 

[chadds]

LOL "I don't play websites"!!!!

Talking to a builder is amazing!
Many times they want to know specifics of your experience. This only enhances the breed.

 

[zortation]

There was a guy who posted a Smith mod in the pickups forum that he did to isolate either the inner or outer coils (your choice) to approximate j-ish bass tones. The two double throw switches found on newer Smiths would be replaced by triples, so that the coil selection would be changed from just series/parallel to series/single/parallel... Presumably this would allow you to still use the other controls as they are.... He said the results were amazing, like a high end j-bass.

I'll try and find a link to it...

 

[zortation]

Here it is, a very interesting read for those who lust after traditional tones on a Smith...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/smith-users-cool-modification-146428/

 

[smcd]

Here it is, a very interesting read for those who lust after traditional tones on a Smith...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/smith-users-cool-modification-146428/

The link within that link that should lead to the modification doesn't bring up the actual modification, just a web site that sells diagrams.

 

[zortation]

The link within that link that should lead to the modification doesn't bring up the actual modification, just a web site that sells diagrams.

Couldn't open the page. No matter, I'm sure there are diagraims on the innerwebs that show how to coil tap for series/single/parallel, it's a very common mod.

It's probably something I would be hesitant to attempt myself.

 

[roadkill2309]

I'll take this as a serious statement.

Like I said, I don't play websites so I honestly couldn't care less. If the builder is making a great product a sweet website won't change that. It won't help if I don't like the product either.

Just different priorities. Then again I've never been the usual TB consumerist... never really saw the point. People here get attached to lots of things that in the long run don't really matter. A website is a complete non-factor as to whether or not I'm not going to "reward anyone with my money". That'll be up to the instrument and the builder's rep if there is one. I guess that's because I'm used to dealing with people and products from before websites existed.

I believe you across the board. But I'm not finished building my toolbox, even though I've slowly been working on it for 25 years now; So I'm still actively looking up potential purchases, and I don't want to have three basses from the same builder sitting in my music room. I don't get to go to NAMM, I don't know a bunch of luthiers personally, and I'm not willing to make a purchasing decision based solely on TB opinions. I also find that too many magazines are too busy trying to keep advertisers happy to give a real, hard-hitting review of anything, and most importantly, I don't live in a city with an exquisite selection of high-end basses. So a manufacturer's website is usually my first stop, post-TB.

We no longer live in a world where a website doesn't matter. A *lot* of people use bass makers' websites to get info. Look, if there was only one Ken Smith or Mike Tobias-level maker, things would be different. Today, we have so many totally top-notch basses to choose from that if I don't like the pointy butt of a Smith or an Alembic's body, I'm not taking a dive by opting for another über bass.

I don't see a good (not necessarily flashy or overly slick) site as a flourish on top of a great product; I see it as my first serious interface with that product's maker when I'm exploring a possible new bass.