After 3 years of not having a Smith, I again own one/ Oh Happy days!

[Roy Diza]

I just picked this up today via trade. I had to sacrifice my beloved F****a Emp Elite 5, which has lived in my closet for the past year. I'll miss that beauty, but I miss having a Smith more. In addition, I had three other nice basses added to the trade plus a real cool amp, which I won't mention. I have to say it was win/win on both sides of the trade. Here it is, 2002 BSREG 5:

http://www.swmedicalresources.com/test/ken_smith/DSC_0032.JPG

[Bob Faulkner]

very nice!

[Roy Diza]

Need your opinion fellow KS forum members. I'm thinking about getting another Smith. It's an older one built in 1994. It appears to be a BT model with the older head stock. Here's a pic. Can you guys tell me what exact model this is? and will this be different enough from my BSREG5 to justify owning one?

[Tim Bishop]

....Can you guys tell me what exact model this is? ....It looks like a 'BT' model with the 2-Band Pre. Can't tell you much more as the pic doesn't show enough detail.

[Tim Bishop]

....and will this be different enough from my BSREG5 to justify owning one?One thing for sure, the 'BT' models, with the shorter upper horn, will not balance as well on a strap as the BSR's. Another thing that is different: The 2-Band EQ on that 'BT' includes Treble and Bass Tone Controls (no Mid), so, most likely the 'BT' will sound a bit warmer than your 'BSR'. The 'BSR' Pre has Bass, Mid, and Treble Tone Controls. Personally, I have both and love them both for different reasons.

[Roy Diza]

Tim, thanks time for posting. I decided to back out. The seller was not too cooperative. I asked him what the woods were, and the model, then answered me that he had no idea. Could you tell what wood the fingerboard is? It looks to be morado and not ebony which would mean it's not an elite model. He also refused to provide additional pics. Too weird, great price though at $2,600.00.

[Tim Bishop]

Tim, thanks time for posting. I decided to back out. The seller was not too cooperative. I asked him what the woods were, and the model, then answered me that he had no idea. Could you tell what wood the fingerboard is? It looks to be morado and not ebony which would mean it's not an elite model. He also refused to provide additional pics. Too weird, great price though at $2,600.00.Given the sellers response and lack of knowledge of the bass, I'd back out too. Wise decision. While the fingerboard does look like a light redish color in the pic, it could very well be Pau Ferro (I don't think Ken had begun making the Elite (EG) models in '94). The top looks like it could be morado based on the pic and looks like a BT5G to me.

A few years ago I had two virtually identical BT5G's. One a '92 and one a '94. Both zebra top and back, mahogany core w/walnut laminate. The only difference was one had a Pau Ferro fretboard and the other had a very nice figured ebony fretboard. I kept the '92 with the ebony fretboard.

[Roy Diza]

What do you think of the price $2,600? Is that pretty good?

Given the sellers response and lack of knowledge of the bass, I'd back out too. Wise decision. While the fingerboard does look like a light redish color in the pic, it could very well be Pau Ferro (I don't think Ken had begun making the Elite (EG) models in '94). The top looks like it could be morado based on the pic and looks like a BT5G to me.

A couple of years ago I had 2 virtually identical BT5G's. One a '92 and one a '94. Both zebra top and back, mahogany core w/walnut laminate. The only difference was one had a Pau Ferro fretboard and the other had a very nice figured ebony fretboard. I kept the '92 with the ebony fretboard.

[Tim Bishop]

What do you think of the price $2,600? Is that pretty good?Possibly. No way to know without knowing more about the bass or actually seeing it in hand.

[Roy Diza]

Tim,

The guy finally posted some additional pics. Could you tell what the wood is used on the fingerboard, or maybe Ken can also chime in on his thoughts. This guy maybe legit, hmm:


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR5GN/3m73od3ld5O55Z65X5b56dcc4ab86b9cb1fc7.jpghttp://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR5GN/3kd3m93pb5V25O65U4b56d6dd5c612662100d.jpg (http://www.smithbassforums.com/http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR5GN/3n93k13l45Y05W25R2b567a0665b3fdc31607.jpg)


"] ("http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR5GN/3n93k13l45Y05W25R2b567a0665b3fdc31607.jpg[/IMG)http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR5GN/3n93k13l45Y05W25R2b567a0665b3fdc31607.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR5GN/3nd3m03o65V15O15U0b56b833d3488caa127f.jpg

[Tim Bishop]

Well, the pics aren't that good, however, the fingerboard does look more like ebony in these pics (chances are good that it is ebony but I couldn't tell you for certain). Maybe Ken can better determine from the SN (if he can read it from the pic that is). If the pics were better and we could zoom in on the detail, it would be much easier to determine. These pics are simply not that good.

[Roy Diza]

These must be phone pics. The guy selling must not have a home PC, since he can only update his CL listing at his work. I can dechipher the sn to:

56412394E3

[Ken Smith]

These must be phone pics. The guy selling must not have a home PC, since he can only update his CL listing at his work. I can dechipher the sn to:

56412394E3

Number is 5G 4123 94 FS(?figured Shedua?)

Fingerboard is Ebony; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/ebony.html

[Roy Diza]

Thanks Ken for the feed back. You're the guru of boutique basses :)

[Roy Diza]

When it rain it pours, check out my newly aquired 1997 BSR6 Bolt-on. It has the are upgraded 5 piece neck. It's almost indentical to the one I sold 6 years ago, minus the tiger maple. That one had quilt. Here's some pics. I can't get enough of these basses:

[Roy Diza]

Here's my newly aquired fretless 6 to compliment my BSR5EG fretted. Now, I'm really in Smith Bass heaven. :)


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/004.jpg (http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/004.jpg)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/003.jpg (http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/003.jpg)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/002.jpg (http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/002.jpg)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Smith%20Close%20up/006.jpg

[Roy Diza]

I just had to post some pics of my babies. I no longer have my 5 string, but have two sixes,,, I'm totally in heaven. Here's some pics. Enjoy!

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/005-1.jpg

[Roy Diza]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/003-1.jpg

[Roy Diza]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/006-1.jpg

[Roy Diza]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/011.jpg

[Roy Diza]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/009.jpg

[Roy Diza]

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/012.jpg

[Ronen Tat]

Beautiful!
If you ever want to sell the fretless drop me a note...

[Roy Diza]

It's going to be awhile I'm afraid. It's such a super awesome fretless.


Beautiful!
If you ever want to sell the fretless drop me a note...

[Roy Diza]

Hello Ken,

Could you tell what grade of walnut top my bass has? Is there a rule of thumb in grading the quality of wood?

Thanks,
Roy

http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n502/azidbass/003-1.jpg

[Ken Smith]

Hello Ken,

Could you tell what grade of walnut top my bass has? Is there a rule of thumb in grading the quality of wood?

Thanks,
Roy

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/crotchwalnut.html

Black Walnut grades on my scale; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/walnutgrades.htm

Claro Walnut samples; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/clarowalnut.html

The bass shown is a Claro variety I believe and within the standard grade for that model. The picture looks to be a 3a or so.

[Roy Diza]

Thanks Ken. You are the true Guru of woods :)

IHMO your 3A grade woods equals to other builder's 5A grade woods because you set your standards so high.

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/crotchwalnut.html

Black Walnut grades on my scale; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/walnutgrades.htm

Claro Walnut samples; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/clarowalnut.html

The bass shown is a Claro variety I believe and within the standard grade for that model. The picture looks to be a 3a or so.

[Roy Diza]

KS Obsession :)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR%20and%20BT/023_zps723807ab.jpg
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR%20and%20BT/020_zpsf3a73990.jpg)

[Roy Diza]

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/Bassconbeatz/Ken%20Smith%20BSR%20and%20BT/020_zpsf3a73990.jpg

[Allan Padmore]

Any difference in sound? Describe. Thanks.

[Roy Diza]

The BT Black Tiger is a bit more compressed sound and the Maple topped beauty a bit more open sounding.

Both are somewhat a ying yang of each other and l love both of them equally :)

Any difference in sound? Describe. Thanks.

[Roy Diza]

2014 and another Smith in the stable :)