 James Bowles
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Last Activity: 12-01-2022 03:58 PM
About Me
- About James Bowles
- Musical Background
- I started out playing guitar as a young person in elementary school. In those days they had actual music classes. I also had some private lessons for a little while. I always was in some band growing up. I started playing bass in the early 80's and was introduced to Gospel music. My first recording was with Gospel artist Myrna Summers (Uncloudy Day) album title. I was introduced to Jazz and was playing with a combo by the name of Collaboration in the early 90's. Then I did weekend road trips with a contemporary gospel Artist Kevin Levar and one sound up until 2010. I am currently playing in my home church. I will continue to play until my fingers give out.
- Location
- Upper Marlboro Maryland
- Additional Information
- I purchased my first Ken Smith in 93. It's the KSBT5 custom. The way I found out about Ken Smith Basses was an act of GOD. I was playing my EB Music man 5 string back in the 90's at a gig on a Friday night in a local church with Myrna Summers. The next day I visited Chuck Levin’s Washington Music center to get some supplies and there was another musician at the same gig, and he liked the tones of my MM. He was at the music store the same time as me explaining to a salesperson about the sound and wanted to know if they had a bass that sounded like mine. He did not know what model I was playing. The salesperson took out a Ken Smith from the showcase where all the expensive basses were kept and let the customer play it to hear what the Ken Smith sounded like. I heard the awesome sound of the KS bass in another part of the store and walked over to see what it was. The guy recognized me from the gig, and I told him what I was playing but I was interested in the KS BT custom 5 that he was test driving. I came back to the store later that same week and bought that KSBT5 custom. This has been my go-to favorite for many years. It’s still my favorite bass but in my latter years the weight of the bass was causing my shoulder and neck some issues when I had to stand up and play it for hours on end. When I was on the road for a short time with Kevin Levar and one sound, every bass player that saw and heard my bass wanted to buy it from me. I was on a gig in Miami with Kevin Levar and there was another group there and the bass player for that group was Melvin Lee Davis. I was backstage cleaning my bass and he walked over and said I see you brought the real deal, then he said that he had visited your shop and ordered a 7 string which he loves. Keep up the good work. I love my KSBT Custom and will not sell it. I would say it’s a Family heirloom. I love all types of music. I played guitar since I was in early grade school to High School. Started playing bass in the early 80's and
- Your Gear
- KSBT5 custom, Warrior signature 5, Marcus Miller Sire 5, Fender Squire 4 string Jazz bass, Fender Strat, Martin DC electric acoustic. I like Eden amps and cabinets, I also like Aguilar heads, SWR heads and cabinets. my instruments are setup with a low profile on my KSBT5 I use Smith TCL strings.
- Why you joined Ken's Corner
- I was surfing the Internet and I saw some Ken Smith posts and I liked them. Excellent learning posts on his Luthier experience and the folks that work with him.