Im no good at reading things on my cell phone... sorry I missed that...

Either way, I am going to want one...

curious to see how it will come out and actually really look forward to using it...

I do wonder how marketing it to others than the bass playing crowd.... there are many bass players out there that know and respect the ken smith name... but getting it to guitarists etc is going to be the challenge...

Just let us know when we can start buying!

Latest?
 

Ken, what's the latest on availability of these units?

well..
 

The first sample batch are still in progress. When I have them in my hands, I will announce it.

Done>>
 

The Smith P.A.P.A. Is done.:cool: I have the first two units on my desk. I have a small sample batch coming in a few more days and then we will start producing them for the market.

The unit is $449. list. The Street price which is a discounted price will be published shortly. It will be a similar net price to just the Smith 18v circuit with Jack and Knobs but this Unit had much much more.;)

Pic?
 

Ken, do you have a picture of the unit you can share with us at this time?

a what??
 

Tim, if I had a Picture, it would be here in the Thread and on my Website. I need my Son Mike to build the Webpage on it and help me get this promoted.

Soon I hope..

Trust me, everyone will love it..

No doubt in my mind. :)

The Smith PAPA (like Papa Johns)... Thats awesome!

Put me down for one...

PM me or email me when one is available and I'll give you a call to order.

ok
 

call me tomorrow,,

Will do... Ill call you in 5 hours (8am) KIDDING!

Im on the east coast rite now (miami fl), Guess your a night owl too...

Talk to you tomorrow... or rather, later today.

and of course when I get it, I will post up a demo of it... That is if you don't mind ;)

Show the difference with my Smiths and Fenders...

sure..
 

Not at all. Please post your findings and some pics as well. I have a few available left from the first batch so don't wait too long. I will only be there in the morning so just leave your info with my assistant.

The list is $449. but I have made up a suggested Street Price up for $359. plus shipping. Dealers can charge what they like. There are only 10 units available in total at the moment and most are sold already. I will have more (the first full production run) in about 2 months or so. Batteries, headphones or power adapters are not included. This is usual from what I have been told.

We might have the 24v/DC adapter and the 12v car adapter available in the future as ad-ons but the headphones you can pick up in a store. You need the smaller input jack, not the 1/4". Some come with both so that's the best to get I guess.

I figure I'll be calling around 10am...

(page coming soon)
 

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/papa/IMG_2499_tn.jpg http://www.kensmithbasses.com/papa/IMG_2512_tn.jpg
P.A.P.A. ™
The Smith Pre-Amp/Practice Amp
For all Amplified Musical Instruments:
Featuring the New Smith 18v 3-Band EQ System powered by 9v batteries or adapter. The Pre-Amp includes our DIP system, Active/Passive By-Pass Foot Switch, separate Volume Controls for Pre-Amp and Practice Amp features and more..

Looks great! Good choice of color...

Can't wait for mine to come... I am camped outside my apartment waiting for UPS...

My review will follow!

Ill demo it with:

BMT6EG
BSR6EG Frettless
73 P-Bass
Jaco Relic Frettless Jazz

camped out?
 

Shipping to Cali by UPS takes about a week. We just shipped it day before yesterday. Stay warm out there on the camp site. I hear it gets chilly at night..;)

Page up..
 

The P.A.P.A. page just went up. It is not yet complete but will be in a few days or so. At least for now, you can see the various applications the unit can do.. http://www.kensmithbasses.com/papa/

It links directly from the Button on the Home page as well as from the 'What's New' section.

I got it in the mail today...



Construction is great! Knobs feel good...

I won't get a chance to play with it till this weekend, so so far, it is a nice piece of desk candy in my editing bay :)

I really like that the headphone jack is mini jack rather than a 1/4" becaise I always loose my adapters!

This makes me wish I still had my sennheiser hd600's... but my hd280's should do just fine...

PAPA in action..
 

Tonight for the first time ever, I used my own PAPA on a gig. It was an outdoor park venue in Philly with a 5-pc combo. The leader emailed me yesterday and said to save schlepping I could leave my amp home and just go through the sound system. I brought the PAPA so I could EQ it to my liking and boost or cut volume or EQ if need be between tunes. I worked out great. I tested it in the office with the bass I was bringing but was surprised how great it sounded live, outdoors and without an amp near me. :cool:

By the way, I left the DIP settings on the normal default which is how they are set in the Smith basses. It works just fine with a 3/4 Czech bass thru a portable sound system. They all said the bass sounded good and there was plenty of it as well. ;)

My fingers don't hurt hardly at all after 2 sets in a park without an amp.. :)

PAPA at Guitar Con
 

At this weeks show in NJ I ran into Jazz Guitarist Frank DiBussolo who was scheduled to do a solo Show each afternoon. When I read on-line that he was scheduled to play I called him before driving down to let him know I would be there with Bass in hand. We had done a few gigs together before getting busy with the local Orchestra work about 5-6 years ago.

Well, there was a sound system set-up on the small stage so I used my PAPA, plugged it into the system (Frank did as well) and EQ'd the bass as needed and just played. The Bass sounded great on stage and according to the audience as well.

Because I had the PAPA and a nice set of head phones, I didn't bother bringing an Amp for the show to demo the Smith basses either. I knew that the PAPA could work just as well if I needed to demo the Basses on display.

The last concert I played I had my 3/4 old Bohemian bass. This time I brought the 7/8 Mittenwald which I have used for some Jazz tunes within a Classical Concert but never thru the PAPA.

I have to tell you that the more I use this PAPA, the more I see how valuable it can be. The EQ is clean and pure sounding.

I had a borrowed AMP in the booth each day but plugged into the sound system direct with the PAPA, the Amp was not missed at all!

When it got loud from all the Guitars blasting their licks, I used the headphones to practice my orchestra music which I had brought along as well. I felt almost like I was in another place..;)