What would you do? (Custom Builds)

[Tom Albano]

What would be your ideal build today for your new Smith bass? What wood combos would you use knowing what you know now? What type of music are you playing?

I have not had much experience with Smith basses at this point, I am working on getting my second right now..... BUT........

Ideally, I would have a downsized CR body (Im 5'6) Rosewood top/ Mahogany core/maple neck with ebony laminates/Ebony board/Soaps.
At least thats the fare for right now....

I think you see where Im going? post your favorite builds here!
as well I would love to hear your Wish Lists?

On my wish list would be to bring back the brass control plates found on the very early Smith basses, maybe using 1/4 inch and a XLR outs as well.

- Tom

[Ken Smith]

What would be your ideal build today for your new Smith bass? What wood combos would you use knowing what you know now? What type of music are you playing?

I have not had much experience with Smith basses at this point, I am working on getting my second right now..... BUT........

Ideally, I would have a downsized CR body (Im 5'6) Rosewood top/ Mahogany core/maple neck with ebony laminates/Ebony board/Soaps.
At least thats the fare for right now....

I think you see where Im going? post your favorite builds here!
as well I would love to hear your Wish Lists?

On my wish list would be to bring back the brass control plates found on the very early Smith basses, maybe using 1/4 inch and a XLR outs as well.

- Tom

What species of Rosewood? The only Rosewood we have used or offered in the past 25 years+ has been Cocobolo.

[Tom Albano]

Well this is '"ideally".... I know Im going to get tripped up but the rosewood I had in mind was like this

http://redmodernfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/illums-bolighus-rosewood-table-3.jpg

I guess it looks like Cocobolo, (Honestly I did not know cocobolo was a rosewood)
but still in my mind I always loved the darker, tighter, straight patterns that rosewood seemed to show off so well ... of course I cant find exactly what I mean right now but something like...
http://car-lab.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/a5-215_l_rose20wood-20web.jpg

[Tom Albano]

Looks like what I mean is indian rosewood
http://www.woodnwires.ca/wood/samples/East%20Indian%20Rosewood.jpg

http://www.mangore.net/indian-rosewood-guitar-custom-bellucci01.jpg

[Tim Bishop]

....I always loved the darker, tighter, straight patterns that rosewood seemed to show off so well Have you considered an Ebony top?

[Tim Bishop]

Looks like what I mean is indian rosewood
http://www.woodnwires.ca/wood/samples/East%20Indian%20Rosewood.jpg

http://www.mangore.net/indian-rosewood-guitar-custom-bellucci01.jpg How bout this?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/neckthru/elite/bsr5egebony.htm

[Tom Albano]

Have you considered an Ebony top?

Oh, yes I have I love Ebony. Just so you guys know, Im not planning on ordering a custom I just want to see what other people are thinking...
Ebony is one of my all time favorite woods as far as looks go, Very Exotic.

[Tim Bishop]

Looks like what I mean is indian rosewood
http://www.woodnwires.ca/wood/samples/East%20Indian%20Rosewood.jpg

http://www.mangore.net/indian-rosewood-guitar-custom-bellucci01.jpg Or maybe?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/neckthru/6eg(morado).html

[Tom Albano]

Or maybe?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/neckthru/6eg(morado).html

LOL ... what can I say these are too sweet for sure.


Does the top wood have any effect on tone?

- T

[Tim Bishop]

Looks like what I mean is indian rosewood
http://www.woodnwires.ca/wood/samples/East%20Indian%20Rosewood.jpg

http://www.mangore.net/indian-rosewood-guitar-custom-bellucci01.jpg Or, how bout this....

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/neckthru/6eg_zebrawood.htm

[Tom Albano]

Or, how bout this....

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/neckthru/6eg_zebrawood.htm

Narrow it whats your fav? :)

[Tim Bishop]

....Does the top wood have any effect on tone?

- TAll woods used contribute to overall tone. Ken uses and has a great proven and seasoned stock of woods. All you need to decide is what combination you want.

[Tom Albano]

All woods used contribute to overall tone. Ken uses and has a great proven and seasoned stock of woods. All you need to decide is what combination you want.

Alot of builders use nice tops only for aethstetic reasons, just wondering if the tops contribute in a significant way to the Smith tone.....

[Tim Bishop]

Narrow it whats your fav? :)Too hard to pick one. Among my favorites would be Cocobolo top and back, Tiger Maple or Walnut Core; Zebrawood Top and Back with Mahogany or Walnut Core, any of the Black Tiger or Black Tiger Elite wood choices; Bubinga Top and Back with Tiger Maple Core; Tiger Maple or Quilt Maple Top and Back with Walnut or Mahogany Core; etc.

.....See, I told you it was too hard to pick. :)

[Tim Bishop]

Alot of builders use nice tops only for aethstetic reasons....Yes they do, and I would stay away from those. ;)

[Tom Albano]

Too hard to pick one. Among my favorites would be Cocobolo top and back, Tiger Maple or Walnut Core; Zebrawood Top and Back with Mahogany or Walnut Core, any of the Black Tiger or Black Tiger Elite wood choices; Bubinga Top and Back with Tiger Maple Core; Tiger Maple or Quilt Maple Top and Back with Walnut or Mahogany Core; etc.

.....See, I told you it was too hard to pick. :)

I hear you, I know.... when I think of nice tone, I seem to keep coming back to walnut body with ebony board, one of the nicest sounding basses Ive owned had that combo, maybe it was the electronics.... Im not sure, the bass as a total had such an incredible tone, BUT I have owned more than one bass with a mahogany body and ebony fretboard and Im never disappointed, so I see that as a kind of standard for me generally I guess.
There are just too many variables

[Tim Bishop]

....just wondering if the tops contribute in a significant way to the Smith tone.....Significant? I wouldn't say significant; more like fine tunes the overall tone you want to achieve.

[Tim Bishop]

...I seem to keep coming back to walnut body with ebony board...Well, for me, an Ebony FB is a must, period.

[Tom Albano]

Yes they do, and I would stay away from those. ;)

these days I am pretty much through with experimental wood combos, after my last time out I was going to just buy Fender for the rest of my life, LOL ... But, I remember Smith basses from Waaaaay back in the day when i first started playing, seeing the ads/reviews in Bass player wanting one so badly.

[Tim Bishop]

....one of the nicest sounding basses Ive owned had that combo, maybe it was the electronics.... Im not sure...Always play your bass unplugged first to see just what the woods sound like or contribute to the overall sound. If you are happy with that, plug it in, play it, and then see what the electronics do for ya. ;)

[Tom Albano]

Always play your bass unplugged first to see just what the woods sound like or contribute to the overall sound. If you are happy with that, plug it in, play it, and then see what the electronics do for ya. ;)

Ive heard that plenty, Im currently looking at 2 Smith basses in my price range and I wont get to try them out before I buy, they dont have ebony boards! :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ken-Smith-BSR5JD-Bass-20th-Anniversary-Edition_W0QQitemZ170408763437QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGu itar?hash=item27ad27602d#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

or this

http://photos.integritybassandguitar.com/GalleryThumbnails.aspx?gallery=77205

I like the simplicity of this bass....

[Tim Bishop]

these days I am pretty much through with experimental wood combos, after my last time out I was going to just buy Fender for the rest of my life, LOL ... But, I remember Smith basses from Waaaaay back in the day when i first started playing, seeing the ads/reviews in Bass player wanting one so badly.Yeah, experimenting can be costly and leave you realizing your "dream bass" didn't play or sound nearly as good as it looked. :(

[Tim Bishop]

Ive heard that plenty, Im currently looking at 2 Smith basses in my price range and I wont get to try them out before I buy, they dont have ebony boards! :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ken-Smith-BSR5JD-Bass-20th-Anniversary-Edition_W0QQitemZ170408763437QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGu itar?hash=item27ad27602d#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

Looks more like Walnut laminate in that neck.

[Tom Albano]

Yeah, experimenting can be costly and leave you realizing your "dream bass" didn't play or sound nearly as good as it looked. :(

Im basically looking to keep this next purchase. not resell at a loss on ebay or wherever, I just went through a bad spell where I bought the wrong bass for me and it was a costly mistake....

[Tom Albano]

Looks more like Walnut laminate in that neck.

seller lists it as mahogany, I think it is also .... looks nice.

[Tim Bishop]

....they dont have ebony boards! :)

I personally don't like Pau Ferro FB's. But that's me. To each his own. For me it's Ebony. :rolleyes:

[Tim Bishop]

seller lists it as mahogany, I think it is also .... looks nice.Mahogany Neck Lam? Based on the pic, I think the seller is wrong.

[Tom Albano]

I personally don't like Pau Ferro FB's. But that's me. To each his own. For me it's Ebony. :rolleyes:

I like the ebony snap or the tightness of tone it brings, but I have had Pau ferro boards before, pulled this from the Alembic site

"Pau Ferro translates to "iron wood" from Portuguese, so you know the stuff is tough. It's nearly as hard as Ebony, but it has a slightly sticky feel because of the higher resin content of the wood.
If you are looking for a "no-brainer" growly sound for fretless, Pau Ferro is your wood. It's not as versatile as Ebony, but if your tone doesn't require that flexibility, you may be better off with the automatic growl of Pau Ferro.
Care for Pau Ferro is the same as that for Ebony."

[Tom Albano]

Mahogany Neck Lam? Based on the pic, I think the seller is wrong.

Smith site lists it as mahogany also
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/bsrj/20thbsrj(bolt-on).html

[Tim Bishop]

Im basically looking to keep this next purchase. not resell at a loss on ebay or wherever, I just went through a bad spell where I bought the wrong bass for me and it was a costly mistake....Just be patient, know what you want and be smart about what you pay, particularly on eBay!

[Tim Bishop]

Smith site lists it as mahogany also
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/bsrj/20thbsrj(bolt-on).html Oh well, again, based on the eBay pic, does not look like Mahogany to me.

[Tom Albano]

Just be patient, know what you want and be smart about what you pay, particularly on eBay!

Good advice, today more than ever ebay can be a pit of lies and nonsense. I try to stay away generally but Im not seeing what i want anywhere else.

yes patience! :)

[Tim Bishop]

Good advice, today more than ever ebay can be a pit of lies and nonsense. I try to stay away generally but Im not seeing what i want anywhere else.

yes patience! :)Well, if you know what you can spend, you have half the battle solved. Keep your eye on the Used Smith Basses section of this Forum. You may find that a Forum Member has what you are seeking.

[Tim Bishop]

....ebay can be a pit of lies and nonsense....Yep. You gotta know who you are dealing with; that's for sure.

[Tom Albano]

Yep. You gotta know who you are dealing with; that's for sure.

it has deteriorated so much in the last couple of years, I am in contact with the seller if the deal goes through... since we live so close to each other he will literally bring the bass to me, that instills a bit of confidence. but still ebay has become mostly uncertainty.

[Tim Bishop]

....I am in contact with the seller if the deal goes through... since we live so close to each other he will literally bring the bass to me, that instills a bit of confidence.....That's nice! :) Hopefully he's a stand-up guy. I'm pretty cautious these days. I'd try and find out more about this person (i.e. where he works, lives, etc.) before I'd invite a perfect stranger to my home. Most likely it's all good, but better safe than sorry later; if you know what I mean.

[Tom Albano]

That's nice! :) Hopefully he's a stand-up guy. I'm pretty cautious these days. I'd try and find out more about this person (i.e. where he works, lives, etc.) before I'd invite a perfect stranger to my home. Most likely it's all good, but better safe than sorry later; if you know what I mean.

totally!
I would never have someone from ebay I dont know just come over to my house like that...If I get the bass Ill meet him locally, Not in my house :)

[Tim Bishop]

totally!
I would never have someone from ebay I dont know just come over to my house like that...If I get the bass Ill meet him locally, Not in my house :)I've done a few deals like that in my time and have met some really great folks that have become those that have stayed in touch over the years. But then there are those situations where, when in doubt, I'll be packin :eek:, if you know what I mean, lol!

[Tom Albano]

I've done a few deals like that in my time and have met some really great folks that have become those that have stayed in touch over the years. But then there are those situations where, when in doubt, I'll be packin :eek:, if you know what I mean, lol!

LOL, I know you need to be careful.... the lengths I go through, Im not a people person I dont like meeting people like this, BUT the bass! the BASSSSSS

:)

[Tim Bishop]

LOL, I know you need to be careful.... the lengths I go through, Im not a people person I dont like meeting people like this, BUT the bass! the BASSSSSS

:)Lol! Exactly! :D:)

[Ken Smith]

Well this is '"ideally".... I know Im going to get tripped up but the rosewood I had in mind was like this

http://redmodernfurniture.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/illums-bolighus-rosewood-table-3.jpg

I guess it looks like Cocobolo, (Honestly I did not know cocobolo was a rosewood)
but still in my mind I always loved the darker, tighter, straight patterns that rosewood seemed to show off so well ... of course I cant find exactly what I mean right now but something like...
http://car-lab.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/a5-215_l_rose20wood-20web.jpg

If you want a Smith bass then you need to order it in the woods we use and have aged and acclimated. http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/woodpagecontents.html

Read the website a little and then come back with questions.

[Tom Albano]

If you want a Smith bass then you need to order it in the woods we use and have ages and acclimated. http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/woodpagecontents.html

Read the website a little and then come back with questions.

Hi Ken I was just getting at "ideals" Im not intending on ordering a custom right now I just wanted to get a feel as to what people liked.

I have gone over your site. Im not questioning what you use at all!

- T

[Ken Smith]

Ive heard that plenty, Im currently looking at 2 Smith basses in my price range and I wont get to try them out before I buy, they dont have ebony boards! :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ken-Smith-BSR5JD-Bass-20th-Anniversary-Edition_W0QQitemZ170408763437QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGu itar?hash=item27ad27602d#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

or this

http://photos.integritybassandguitar.com/GalleryThumbnails.aspx?gallery=77205

I like the simplicity of this bass....

That was about the only time we used Mahogany in the neck and made about 50 basses or so like that.
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/bsrj/20thbsrj%28bolt-on%29.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models/serialnumbers/bsrjserial.html

In the early 1980s, I made one or two 5pc necks with mahogany as the thinner feature wood. I don't know if I made any others but if I did, it was a thin center of 1/4" or so. Maybe a few at most if at all. That was over 25 years ago and can't remember.

Mahogany is stable but not so flexible as Maple or Shedua like we use now. Walnut is another dark stable wood but not so flexible. Neck wood need to give a little so they don't split or crack if they take a hit. Maple is about the best wood I have found for neck materials.

[Ken Smith]

Hi Ken I was just getting at "ideals" Im not intending on ordering a custom right now I just wanted to get a feel as to what people liked.

I have gone over your site. Im not questioning what you use at all!

- T

I was only trying to help and guide you in the right direction..

Geezz.. you and Tim.. 3 pages here in like 3 hours.. lol.. Maybe you two should exchange phone numbers.. less typing. lol

[Tom Albano]

I was only trying to help and guide you in the right direction..

Geezz.. you and Tim.. 3 pages here in like 3 hours.. lol.. Maybe you two should exchange phone numbers.. less typing. lol

Totally, I of course appreciate your input!
LOL, Tim and I are now friends my first on the forum list.

- T