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Old 04-20-2011, 09:18 PM
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Default After 3 years of not having a Smith, I again own one/ Oh Happy days!

I just picked this up today via trade. I had to sacrifice my beloved F****a Emp Elite 5, which has lived in my closet for the past year. I'll miss that beauty, but I miss having a Smith more. In addition, I had three other nice basses added to the trade plus a real cool amp, which I won't mention. I have to say it was win/win on both sides of the trade. Here it is, 2002 BSREG 5:

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Old 04-28-2011, 11:59 AM
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very nice!
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Proud original owner of a 2001 Ken Smith BSR4EG lined fretless.

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Old 05-05-2011, 12:39 AM
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Need your opinion fellow KS forum members. I'm thinking about getting another Smith. It's an older one built in 1994. It appears to be a BT model with the older head stock. Here's a pic. Can you guys tell me what exact model this is? and will this be different enough from my BSREG5 to justify owning one?
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Old 05-05-2011, 01:04 PM
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Default Exact model?

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Originally Posted by Roy Diza View Post
....Can you guys tell me what exact model this is? ....
It looks like a 'BT' model with the 2-Band Pre. Can't tell you much more as the pic doesn't show enough detail.
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Old 05-05-2011, 01:08 PM
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Default Different enough?

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Originally Posted by Roy Diza View Post
....and will this be different enough from my BSREG5 to justify owning one?
One thing for sure, the 'BT' models, with the shorter upper horn, will not balance as well on a strap as the BSR's. Another thing that is different: The 2-Band EQ on that 'BT' includes Treble and Bass Tone Controls (no Mid), so, most likely the 'BT' will sound a bit warmer than your 'BSR'. The 'BSR' Pre has Bass, Mid, and Treble Tone Controls. Personally, I have both and love them both for different reasons.
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Old 05-06-2011, 12:47 AM
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Tim, thanks time for posting. I decided to back out. The seller was not too cooperative. I asked him what the woods were, and the model, then answered me that he had no idea. Could you tell what wood the fingerboard is? It looks to be morado and not ebony which would mean it's not an elite model. He also refused to provide additional pics. Too weird, great price though at $2,600.00.
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Old 05-06-2011, 01:03 AM
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Thumbs up Probably best.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy Diza View Post
Tim, thanks time for posting. I decided to back out. The seller was not too cooperative. I asked him what the woods were, and the model, then answered me that he had no idea. Could you tell what wood the fingerboard is? It looks to be morado and not ebony which would mean it's not an elite model. He also refused to provide additional pics. Too weird, great price though at $2,600.00.
Given the sellers response and lack of knowledge of the bass, I'd back out too. Wise decision. While the fingerboard does look like a light redish color in the pic, it could very well be Pau Ferro (I don't think Ken had begun making the Elite (EG) models in '94). The top looks like it could be morado based on the pic and looks like a BT5G to me.

A few years ago I had two virtually identical BT5G's. One a '92 and one a '94. Both zebra top and back, mahogany core w/walnut laminate. The only difference was one had a Pau Ferro fretboard and the other had a very nice figured ebony fretboard. I kept the '92 with the ebony fretboard.
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Old 05-06-2011, 01:40 AM
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What do you think of the price $2,600? Is that pretty good?

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Originally Posted by Tim Bishop View Post
Given the sellers response and lack of knowledge of the bass, I'd back out too. Wise decision. While the fingerboard does look like a light redish color in the pic, it could very well be Pau Ferro (I don't think Ken had begun making the Elite (EG) models in '94). The top looks like it could be morado based on the pic and looks like a BT5G to me.

A couple of years ago I had 2 virtually identical BT5G's. One a '92 and one a '94. Both zebra top and back, mahogany core w/walnut laminate. The only difference was one had a Pau Ferro fretboard and the other had a very nice figured ebony fretboard. I kept the '92 with the ebony fretboard.
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Old 05-06-2011, 01:43 AM
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Question The price?

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Originally Posted by Roy Diza View Post
What do you think of the price $2,600? Is that pretty good?
Possibly. No way to know without knowing more about the bass or actually seeing it in hand.
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Old 05-08-2011, 10:26 AM
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Tim,

The guy finally posted some additional pics. Could you tell what the wood is used on the fingerboard, or maybe Ken can also chime in on his thoughts. This guy maybe legit, hmm:








Last edited by Roy Diza; 05-08-2011 at 10:37 AM.
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Old 05-08-2011, 10:51 AM
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Question Well...

Well, the pics aren't that good, however, the fingerboard does look more like ebony in these pics (chances are good that it is ebony but I couldn't tell you for certain). Maybe Ken can better determine from the SN (if he can read it from the pic that is). If the pics were better and we could zoom in on the detail, it would be much easier to determine. These pics are simply not that good.
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Old 05-08-2011, 11:13 AM
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These must be phone pics. The guy selling must not have a home PC, since he can only update his CL listing at his work. I can dechipher the sn to:

56412394E3
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Old 05-08-2011, 04:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy Diza View Post
These must be phone pics. The guy selling must not have a home PC, since he can only update his CL listing at his work. I can dechipher the sn to:

56412394E3
Number is 5G 4123 94 FS(?figured Shedua?)

Fingerboard is Ebony; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/woodpages/ebony.html
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Old 05-26-2011, 12:52 AM
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Thanks Ken for the feed back. You're the guru of boutique basses
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Old 05-26-2011, 01:09 AM
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When it rain it pours, check out my newly aquired 1997 BSR6 Bolt-on. It has the are upgraded 5 piece neck. It's almost indentical to the one I sold 6 years ago, minus the tiger maple. That one had quilt. Here's some pics. I can't get enough of these basses:
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Old 08-03-2011, 12:09 AM
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Here's my newly aquired fretless 6 to compliment my BSR5EG fretted. Now, I'm really in Smith Bass heaven.








  #17  
Old 11-30-2011, 10:41 PM
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Default Six String Heaven/ Ken Smith Fretless BSR6MW Tiger Maple & Fretted BSR6EG Walnut

I just had to post some pics of my babies. I no longer have my 5 string, but have two sixes,,, I'm totally in heaven. Here's some pics. Enjoy!

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Old 11-30-2011, 10:42 PM
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Old 11-30-2011, 10:42 PM
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Old 11-30-2011, 10:43 PM
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