What would you do? (Custom Builds)
 

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

Rosewood top?
 

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

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-con...od-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/uplo...wood-20web.jpg

Looks like what I mean is indian rosewood
http://www.woodnwires.ca/wood/sample...20Rosewood.jpg

http://www.mangore.net/indian-rosewo...bellucci01.jpg

How bout ebony?
 

Have you considered an Ebony top?

How bout.....
 

How bout this?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models...sr5egebony.htm

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.

Or....
 

Or maybe?

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models...g(morado).html

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


Does the top wood have any effect on tone?

- T

Or....
 

Or, how bout this....

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models..._zebrawood.htm

Narrow it whats your fav? :)

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.....

Fav? Lol!
 

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. :)

Aethstetic?
 

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

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

Significant?
 

Significant? I wouldn't say significant; more like fine tunes the overall tone you want to achieve.

Well...
 

Well, for me, an Ebony FB is a must, period.

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.

Electronics?
 

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...#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

or this

http://photos.integritybassandguitar...?gallery=77205

I like the simplicity of this bass....

Yeah....
 

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

Looks more like Walnut laminate in that neck.

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....

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

Ebony FB's...
 

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

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

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."

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

Yes......
 

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

Oh well....
 

Oh well, again, based on the eBay pic, does not look like Mahogany to me.

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! :)

Here.....
 

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.

Yep.....
 

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.

That could work out nicely...
 

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 :)

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

:)

Lol!
 

Lol! Exactly! :D:)