Smith Basses

[Martin Duarte]

Hi,

Your reply was exactly why I bought a Ken Smith over the other countless options in the market. There are very good luthiers going around, but many don't cover many of the aspects you mentioned.

Thanks again,

Martin

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Martin Duarte

Hi,

Your reply was exactly why I bought a Ken Smith over the other countless options in the market. There are very good luthiers going around, but many don't cover many of the aspects you mentioned.

Thanks again,

Martin

Martin, just FYI: When you initiate a reply, like "Ken's response" that you are replying to, always click on the "Quote" button first of that initial respondent. That way, everyone will know what your reply is related to. Make sense?

[Michael Harrison Jr.]

Was looking at the website Ken, gotta say I've fallen in love with that (BSR)4TNE fretless. That is an amazing looking bass. If I ever get to a point where I can really afford to get into the handmade bass market...that is at the top of my list right now.

[Björn Wictor]

Here's an un-educated question...
What does the different model abbreviations (BSR, BT, CR etc.) stand for?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Björn Wictor

Here's an un-educated question...
What does the different model abbreviations (BSR, BT, CR etc.) stand for?

I will go last..

[Björn Wictor]

Oh, the suspense!

[Tim Bishop]

Ok, I'll start....

BMT - Bass, Midrange, Treble.
CR - Chuck Rainey.

[Keiichi Miyamoto]

BT; Bass and Treble
CR; Chuck Rainey
BMT; Bass, Mid, and Treble
BSR; Body Shape Revised
Fusion; Fusion of BSR and BMT

Maybe...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Keiichi Miyamoto

BT; Bass and Treble
CR; Chuck Rainey
BMT; Bass, Mid, and Treble
BSR; Body Shape Revised
Fusion; Fusion of BSR and BMT

Maybe...

VERY very close.. As I recall, the BSR and the CR had slightly different names from what you've posted.

On the CR, Chuck Rainey's name was NEVER used in any form of marketing, advertisement or catalog. As a matter of fact, the first group of 28 Basses and the only group made were designed and completed before Chuck and I ever spoke about it. The 'C.R.' initials actually has another name but was only mentioned 'in-house'. When we mentioned the Chuck Rainey name there after we had to tell the Dealers who Chuck Rainey was. Some Bass players knew him but most didn't including the Dealers who seemed to need most of the educating. It was after Chuck was named a Smith Endorser that several other companies started approaching him. I guess they figured that if I thought he was worth endorsing then they would go after him as well. This has happened with us with other Smith players that were approached by companies but usually unsuccessfully on their part. The Necks and Bodies were made as universal fit like a production. The only problem was that some Necks would only fit 'some' of the Bodies. I had to personally match up the Fits back in the NYC Office/Shop where all the Set-ups were done until mid-1995 when we moved the entire operation out to PA.

CR = Crunch Resonator ... CR is so much easier to say and if Chuck Rainey was playing one (2 actually) then why not 'dub' it the Chuck Rainey model? Actually, he had nothing to do with the inception of the Smith Bolt-on Bass. The first initials thought of were actually B.T.B.O.. meaning B.T. (Bass Treble like the BT model) Bolt-On.. B.T. Bolt-On..

The BSR is also close. Body Shape Re-designed. 'Revised' is a possibility but just not the 'exact' word we chose.

Something tells me you had some help with your answers.

Good Job either way..

[Jason Mendelson]

Very creative

As long as they are still the best basses made they can be called what ever you want

But BMT is my favorite flavor, Bit Meaty and Tasty!

But when it comes down to it they are cool names...

[Keiichi Miyamoto]

Mr.Ken Smith >Something tells me you had some help with your answers.

Yes.Yes.Yes.
A friend of mine. He helps me all the things regarding Smith Bass.
And He supports many many bass players in Japan. Many, many.
:-)

[Jens Westerinen]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

VERY very close.. As I recall, the BSR and the CR had slightly different names from what you've posted.

On the CR, Chuck Rainey's name was NEVER used in any form of marketing, advertisement or catalog. As a matter of fact, the first group of 28 Basses and the only group made were designed and completed before Chuck and I ever spoke about it. The 'C.R.' initials actually has another name but was only mentioned 'in-house'. When we mentioned the Chuck Rainey name there after we had to tell the Dealers who Chuck Rainey was. Some Bass players knew him but most didn't including the Dealers who seemed to need most of the educating. It was after Chuck was named a Smith Endorser than several other companies started approaching him. I guess the figured that if I thought he was worth endorsing then they would go after him as well. This has happened with us with other Smith players that were approached by companies but usually unsuccessfully on their part. The Necks and Bodies were made as universal fit like a production. The only problem was that some Necks would only fit 'some' of the Bodies. I had to personally match up the Fits back in the NYC Office/Shop where all the Set-ups were done until mid-1995 when we moved the entire operation out to PA.

CR = Crunch Resonator ... CR is so much easier to say and if Chuck Rainey was playing one (2 actually) then why not 'dub' it the Chuck Rainey model? Actually, he had nothing to do with the inception of the Smith Bolt-on Bass. The first initials thought of were actually B.T.B.O.. meaning B.T. (Bass Treble like the BT model) Bolt-On.. B.T. Bolt-On..

The BSR is also close. Body Shape Re-designed. 'Revised' is a possibility but just not the 'exact' word we chose.

Something tells me you had some help with your answers.

Good Job either way..

When did the first BSR leave your shop, Ken? What year?
Saw a BSR that claimed to have been made -95 but never seen one that old.