My very first Ken Smith just arrived via ebay. :)

[Ken Smith]

As soon as you plug the Bass in, you are draining the Battery. Unplug it when you are not playing it so make the battery last longer. Bypassing the circuit means only bypassing the battery powered preamp EQ section.

From 1993 on, the circuit used was the 4/5 knob BT/BMT Preamp. The Burners had only 4 knobs with Bass and Treble. The USA Smith Basses had the 5th knob midrange control as an option or standard depending on the model. Around 1996-1997 the 5knob became standard on all USA Smith Basses but the Burner and the BSR'B' Burner still only had 4-knobs.

The pickups in the 4 and 5 string models were Japan made J-pickups with the Bridge width on both positions.