Gospel Players Corner
 

One thing I know for a fact is that Ken Smith Basses are among the most commonly played axes in Gospel music today. If you watch or are blessed to participate in any of the numerous Gospel concerts of late you will undoubtedly see a Ken Smith Bass. So I'm reaching out to my fellow Gospel music bottom lovers to show your axes, post a bit about the person, group or choir that has influenced your style of playing, as well as the type of Gospel music you play. (example: Praise & worship, Traditional)

I agree Albert. Our fellow bass players are finding there is nothing like a Smith! I have traveled all over the country playing at some very large venues. I have been blessed to have had and have the opportunity to play with some of the biggest names in Contemporary Christian Music. My heart, however, is with the Praise & Worship music as we know it today. There is simply nothing like going to the Throne of a Holy Spirit lead Praise & Worship experience. I can easily say this because I've played on both sides of the fence. Know what I mean?

Most of my influences came from too many names to mention. All from the Secular side and many from the 70's. Off the top of my head: James Jamerson (Motown/Funk Brothers), Roco Prestia (Tower Of Power), Pete Cetera (Chicago), Dave Hope (Kansas), Stanley Clarke, Jeff Berlin, David Margin (Santana), Jimmy Sloas, on and on I could go, but I would be up for the next week trying to ID all of them. A ton of talent out there and my thanks to all those who contributed.

One of these days I will try to post some of my photo's. My collection is extensive, so, it would take much time. I'll work towards that as I free up more time.

Great Thread Albert!

In His grasp,

Tim B.

I'll Be There Soon!
 

Gentlemen,

I wholeheartedly concur with both of you!

I am an excusive Gospel & Praise Music bass player now, as I am the bass player for our church band (known affectionately as "The "E" Street Band"), and the Senior Pastor of our church! I agree, in that I have never played anything quite like a Ken Smith.

I am patiently (yeah, right!) awaiting the completion and delivery of my very first Ken Smith Bass!!! It's a BSR 5 MW Cocobolo over Tiger Maple beauty. It has a 3-piece neck, 3-band EQ, Morado fingerboard, with a Cocobolo headstock. :D

Our 10th Church Anniversary is March 25th, and I'm hoping I will have it by then. In the meantime, I'll mostly read your posts until the Lord blesses me with mine, then I'll jump in with both feet!

Blessings to you.


www.TrueLightSA.com

Tim, thank you for sharing you experiences and your influences, I'm most definitely not as experienced as you, but you inspire me through your post to stay in the shed and to define my style of expressing the music inside of me through my "Smith" bass. I hope to see a thread up soon that contains tips that bless us with knowledge such as yours when it comes to developing bass lines and feeling the groove. Great post Tim and don't be a stranger in this thread.

Ronson, I'm excited for you and you chose great wood choices! Can't wait to hear what you think about it!

My Pleasure Albert. I am glad you started this thread. Wish I would have thought of it!

Stay in the pocket on this side of heaven!

Tim B.

Hello Ron, I totally understand where your coming from, receiving your first "Smith" bass is a monumental event. I also am waiting for Ken to repair the neck on my CR6 six string bass, I can hardly wait to get it back. But I hope you receive your new "Smith" prior to your church anniversary, and knowing Ken he will do everything he can to ensure that happens.

Thank you, Tim!

You sound like a pretty experienced player, so I look forward to reading your stuff in the future. God bless you real good! :)

Thanks Ronson. I look forward to hearing your report on your new bass!

Ron make sure you post some shots of the new axe once you receive it, I'd love to see it and I'm sure the rest of the "Smith" lovers will too.

New Smith on the way!
 

The 25th. is getting closer!

I've got my newest compadres Albert & Tim rooting for me (and you), so I'm looking for my first Ken Smith Bass very soon! :D




www.TrueLightSA.com

Will......
 

Hey! What about Albert and Me? Can I have the Smith? :D

As you well know, Tim, when we take leave of this world, it's understood that we'l leave the way we came...naked, and with no material possesions.

However, my brother, concerning my new Ken Smith? I'll have to leave you and Al someting else, cuz...

I'm going to try to haul it in with me!!!!! :rolleyes: LOL!!

Too funny! Just make sure the box is big enough!

You guys are off the chain, but I can understand once you get a "Smith Bass" its kind of hard to let go of it. Ron, Tim, we got to hook up sometime soon to fellowship, trade chops and grow.
Al :D

Off the chain....
 

The last of the 10 Commandments is "Thou Shall Not Covet".

The last of the 10 Commandments paraphrased: Thou Shall Not Covet (unless it's a Smith Bass). Surely our omniscient God meant it to be this way! :D

LoL, you are so crazy Tim, Lord forgive him for he knows not what he's said. Besides I got first dibs on the Bass, age before chops. LOL.:D

And besides you and Ronson are both from Texas you have to have mercy on us boys up here in NY.;)

The Order To Follow...
 

To My Newest Ken Smith Buds (Al & Tim)

There are at least two (2) things you must observe, and govern yourselves by:

1. I haven't received my Ken Smith yet (any day now).

2. I ain't dead yet!


Please, please wait until I "check out," then quibble over my bass, OK? LOL!!! :rolleyes:

Our not yet dearly departed Ronson......
 

Now, ya'll know I'm just trying to be a good steward by planning ahead! :D

Ronson, there's nothing wrong with having a plan in place, besides we dont want you to have to wait in state like Brother James Brown until its decided upon which one of us Tim or I receive the axe. LOL:p

Our not yet dearly departed Ronson......
 

Na, won't be a problem. If the will is probated in Texas and since I live in Texas, the Smith would have to go to me. :cool:

Ya know, I'm happy to have new Ken Smith compadres and all, but...That's just WRONG!! :p

Our not yet dearly departed Ronson......
 

Now Ronson, you know we're just playing with ya. :)

Come on now, Tim...Don't change horses now, just so you can keep me from hauling that baqss in the box with me! I'm up to your tricks!! :D

Tryin' to sweet talk me out of my bass...I ain't havin' it!!

Our not yet dearly departed Ronson......
 

But Ronson, we live so close and there are so many horses which to choose! ;)

Blessings Upon You and Your New Axe
 

Ronson, I'm sure my brother Tim is in agreement with me as I state from the heart Gods blessing upon you and your new "Smith". I pray you minister in music so that others will come into the fold. I believe you will minister to those within the walls of your congregation and without. Be faithful in your calling and allow whats in your heart and mind to flow through the "Smith". Gods annointing upon you my brother. :cool:

Oh yeah!
 

You bet! I am in total agreement!!

Of course you're right, Al! I appreciate the blessing form both you and Tim, and I hope we can all continue to rib & tease each other, as well as share valuable & edifying info with each other for a long time to come!

Blessings to ya'll (that's "Texas talk" to you, Al! ;) )

So tell me.....
 

So, what two Smith basses will be your choice down the road?

That's the question I'll be spending the next few months exploring, Tim. I started a thread in the "Woods & Components" section concerning a couple of the questions I'm beginning to toss around, so please go and contribute to my "enlightenment" when you get the chance.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a six-string (I don't own one, but have one on a long-term loan from a good friend/church member of mine), and some type of fretless, which I've always been intrigued with...:confused:

Future Smiths
 

I'm sorry, I see I didn't ask a clear question, however, I did respond to your new Thread.

Anyway......

What I meant to ask, and assuming you would go with the "neck-thru" models, was which model you are leaning towards (i.e. BSRGN, BSREG, The Elites, Black Tiger, etc..) :rolleyes:

Tim, thanks for responding to my thread! I'm takin' all the info in...

And, right now, I'm leaning toward the Elites!! :D

Now you're talkin.....
 

That's a great direction to lean! :D

Ok, ok I guess I got to get ribbed a bit because I live in the Big Apple, but I'm not from the Big Apple, my roots are planted in Swainsboro Georgia by the way of Garfield GA, my father and mother were born and raised in GA, but later moved to NJ, that's when I came into the picture. I'm actually a NJ boy, I was raised up in a Pentecostal church in NJ . I moved to NY about 3 years ago when I met and married my lovely wife. The things you do for love.:p

A great story, Al. Blessings to you and your family.

So, you're actually a "Southerner" under the guise of a New Yorker, eh? That's good enough for me! :cool:

Yeah but....
 

Yeah, but keep in mind I still live closer!;)

Ronson, today is the 16 of March, have gotten word that your axe is on the way:confused:

Al, I'm going to call Don in a litttle bit and check the status. I was in rehearsal last night and I was imagining having my Smith through these two particular songs (Apostle Donald R. Alford praise tunes).

Man, I am almost giddy with anticipation! :D