My first Smith
 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...202/Smith6.jpg

Played this one at NAMM and fell in love. I TRIED to forget it, but ultimately realized I had to get it. I've been wanting a Smith for about 30 years, so I guess I waited long enough.

I'm very happy with it. I've gone through several 6 strings over the last few years, trying different string spacings, pickups placements, woods, etc. Nothing has really worked for me, even some really nice ones. With each bass, I thought I was refining my idea of what I wanted, and frankly - this particular Smith did not "fit" a lot of those ideas. I was sure I didn't want a neck-through, or maple, or pickups placed close together toward the bridge... I thought I wanted narrower string spacing.... Well, it's funny how all these prerequisites went out the window when I played the Smith. The bass just has it. The soloing voice is incredibly clear and authoritative - it has the presence of a saxophone. Every note is right there, no weak spots, no resonant peaks. The lower register is well defined and tight, and the series/parallel switches give the instrument a real variety of tones. And the playability is amazing - I can easily play stuff that I struggled for on other basses, the feel is just right for me. It really inspires me to play, I'm actually practicing again. Maybe this will be the year I turn pro.... lol!


It's a real pleasure to finally own one of these basses, you can really see, feel, and hear the quality. Problem is... now I want more of them.

Nice.....
 

Hey Ed, I can totally relate to your post. I've been playing Smith's about 13 years now and even though, like yourself, I have experimented with some success, I always come back to the feel and tone of my Smith.

Use to have a Smith 6 exactly like the one in your pic. It was a sweet bass, no doubt. Now days, I'm not playing 6's as much.

Congrats on your new Smith, I have no doubt it will yield much satisfaction for years to come.

Beautiful bass! Congrats.

+1

I know the feeling.
My first was a BSR6GN too.
Congrats!

Smith for Life
 

I have tried different Bass guitar's but Ken Smith Basses are made to where they take your playing to another level.

+1 to the sentiments expressed above. Makes me happy, Ed, to see a player of your caliber find his Excalibur.

congratulations! she's a beauty
 

Wow! I hope to join the "kens club" later this year! Lol

Nice bass!

Nice bass!
 

Congrats Ed!

I just found a nice used Smith 5 bolt-on this week after being Smith-less for about 5 years. I immediately remembered how incredible his instruments are, and how picking one up just makes me want to play.

As far as I'm concerned, Ken has done something singular in the electric bass world by designing a truly unique electric bass that has its own voice, and yet fits sonically into pretty much everything.

Have fun! Post a vid if you get the urge!

It's the little things... like putting the screws for the truss rod cover in between the strings so you can access them without popping the string out of the nut! What a simple thing that 90% of all bass builders miss. Thanks Ken.

Congratulations, Ed, and welcome to the Smith family! :D

:eek:AAAHHHHH!!
Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously, fantastic bass. Many happy gigs with it.

I got my first Smith about 11 or twelve years ago. It's a BSR5J and have used it almost exclusively for recording and touring and just last week (Thursday March 10th to be exact) I finally got my hands on a BSR6EG and haven't put it down since I got it home. I don't have any pics on this computer right now but that'll change.