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  #1  
Old 03-04-2011, 01:16 AM
Ed Friedland Ed Friedland is offline
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Default My first Smith



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.
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  #2  
Old 03-04-2011, 02:09 AM
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Tim Bishop Tim Bishop is offline
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Thumbs up 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.
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  #3  
Old 03-04-2011, 04:40 AM
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Ronen Tat Ronen Tat is offline
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Beautiful bass! Congrats.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Bishop View Post
Hey Ed, I can totally relate to your post.
+1
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Old 03-04-2011, 04:43 AM
Jens Westerinen Jens Westerinen is offline
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I know the feeling.
My first was a BSR6GN too.
Congrats!
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Old 03-04-2011, 09:47 AM
James Due James Due is offline
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Thumbs up 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.
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Old 03-04-2011, 09:48 PM
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Chris Fox Chris Fox is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Friedland View Post
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. 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.

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.
+1 to the sentiments expressed above. Makes me happy, Ed, to see a player of your caliber find his Excalibur.
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Old 03-05-2011, 12:06 AM
ramon ramos ramon ramos is offline
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Talking congratulations! she's a beauty

ken smith basses are hands down the epidome of world class old world tradition by master luthier K. Smith. again a say congrats.
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  #8  
Old 03-08-2011, 08:31 AM
Alex Christopher Alex Christopher is offline
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Wow! I hope to join the "kens club" later this year! Lol

Nice bass!
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  #9  
Old 03-09-2011, 11:26 PM
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Will Kelly Will Kelly is offline
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Default 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!
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Old 03-11-2011, 01:19 AM
Ed Friedland Ed Friedland is offline
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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.
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Old 03-11-2011, 10:48 PM
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Keith Copeland Keith Copeland is offline
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Congratulations, Ed, and welcome to the Smith family!
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  #12  
Old 03-13-2011, 10:55 AM
Scott Pope Scott Pope is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Friedland View Post
The soloing voice...has the presence of a saxophone.
AAAHHHHH!!
Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously, fantastic bass. Many happy gigs with it.
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  #13  
Old 03-16-2011, 12:46 AM
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Nick Foster Nick Foster is offline
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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.
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