Body sizes?

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

....Anyway I am around 5'6 the BSR 5 string size is great I have no issues at all with it (and I am sensitive to that kind of thing) it seems like the 6 stringers I see in photos are BIG. again I know its hard to tell from pics.....
anyway ...

Well, you won't know until you put one in your hands and play it. I would encourage you to do that, if you can. Don't be fooled by pics. Again the Smith BSR6 may have a slightly wider fretboard at the nut and bridge, with the string spacing at 18mm (like the 5), you'd be surprised just how comfortable it is to play.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Well, you won't know until you put one in your hands and play it. I would encourage you to do that, if you can. Don't be fooled by pics. Again the Smith BSR6 may have a slightly wider fretboard at the nut and bridge, with the string spacing at 18mm (like the 5), you'd be surprised just how comfortable it is to play.

if its only a matter of the fretboard being wider that would be ideal for me, Im concerned about the body being wider, I really like the 5 strings. I can take a look at Sam Ash in NYC they sometimes have Smith basses hanging on the wall

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

if its only a matter of the fretboard being wider that would be ideal for me, Im concerned about the body being wider, I really like the 5 strings...

Well, again, until you put one in your hands and play it, you won't know.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

...I can take a look at Sam Ash in NYC they sometimes have Smith basses hanging on the wall

Well, the only potential problem with that is this: If you do find one to "test drive", you may have to deal with a really bad set-up and/or dead strings due to many customers playing it. The ideal situation would be to locate the bass and "test drive" that bass where it is set-up for you and your playing style. On the other hand, if you are familiar with set-ups and know what to look for, you could find something nice, take it home, slap some fresh strings on it and set it up for you and be good to go!

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Well, the only potential problem with that is this: If you do find one to "test drive", you may have to deal with a really bad set-up and/or dead strings due to many customers playing it. The ideal situation would be to locate the bass and "test drive" that bass where it is set-up for you and your playing style. On the other hand, if you are familiar with set-ups and know what to look for, you could find something nice, take it home, slap some fresh strings on it and set it up for you and be good to go!

I hear what you are saying....Ive been playing for a long time, I set-up my own basses usually, I solder from time to time. Even if the bass has a horrible setup as long as there are no major issues I think I would be able to tell overall how the bass and I would get along.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

I hear what you are saying....Ive been playing for a long time, I set-up my own basses usually, I solder from time to time. Even if the bass has a horrible setup as long as there are no major issues I think I would be able to tell overall how the bass and I would get along.

That's a good thing!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

if its only a matter of the fretboard being wider that would be ideal for me, Im concerned about the body being wider, I really like the 5 strings. I can take a look at Sam Ash in NYC they sometimes have Smith basses hanging on the wall

It has been YEARS since we sold 'anything' to Sam Ash. I doubt any of the basses of ours there is New. If by chance it is, it is old with dead or replaced strings and out of set-up as we know it.