What would you do? (Custom Builds)

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Always play your bass unplugged first to see just what the woods sound like or contribute to the overall sound. If you are happy with that, plug it in, play it, and then see what the electronics do for ya.

Ive heard that plenty, Im currently looking at 2 Smith basses in my price range and I wont get to try them out before I buy, they dont have ebony boards!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ken-Smith-BSR5JD...#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

or this

http://photos.integritybassandguitar...?gallery=77205

I like the simplicity of this bass....

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

these days I am pretty much through with experimental wood combos, after my last time out I was going to just buy Fender for the rest of my life, LOL ... But, I remember Smith basses from Waaaaay back in the day when i first started playing, seeing the ads/reviews in Bass player wanting one so badly.

Yeah, experimenting can be costly and leave you realizing your "dream bass" didn't play or sound nearly as good as it looked.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Ive heard that plenty, Im currently looking at 2 Smith basses in my price range and I wont get to try them out before I buy, they dont have ebony boards!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ken-Smith-BSR5JD...#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

Looks more like Walnut laminate in that neck.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Yeah, experimenting can be costly and leave you realizing your "dream bass" didn't play or sound nearly as good as it looked.

Im basically looking to keep this next purchase. not resell at a loss on ebay or wherever, I just went through a bad spell where I bought the wrong bass for me and it was a costly mistake....

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Looks more like Walnut laminate in that neck.

seller lists it as mahogany, I think it is also .... looks nice.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

....they dont have ebony boards!

I personally don't like Pau Ferro FB's. But that's me. To each his own. For me it's Ebony.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

seller lists it as mahogany, I think it is also .... looks nice.

Mahogany Neck Lam? Based on the pic, I think the seller is wrong.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

I personally don't like Pau Ferro FB's. But that's me. To each his own. For me it's Ebony.

I like the ebony snap or the tightness of tone it brings, but I have had Pau ferro boards before, pulled this from the Alembic site

"Pau Ferro translates to "iron wood" from Portuguese, so you know the stuff is tough. It's nearly as hard as Ebony, but it has a slightly sticky feel because of the higher resin content of the wood.
If you are looking for a "no-brainer" growly sound for fretless, Pau Ferro is your wood. It's not as versatile as Ebony, but if your tone doesn't require that flexibility, you may be better off with the automatic growl of Pau Ferro.
Care for Pau Ferro is the same as that for Ebony."

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Mahogany Neck Lam? Based on the pic, I think the seller is wrong.

Smith site lists it as mahogany also
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models...(bolt-on).html

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Im basically looking to keep this next purchase. not resell at a loss on ebay or wherever, I just went through a bad spell where I bought the wrong bass for me and it was a costly mistake....

Just be patient, know what you want and be smart about what you pay, particularly on eBay!

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Smith site lists it as mahogany also
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models...(bolt-on).html

Oh well, again, based on the eBay pic, does not look like Mahogany to me.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Just be patient, know what you want and be smart about what you pay, particularly on eBay!

Good advice, today more than ever ebay can be a pit of lies and nonsense. I try to stay away generally but Im not seeing what i want anywhere else.

yes patience!

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Good advice, today more than ever ebay can be a pit of lies and nonsense. I try to stay away generally but Im not seeing what i want anywhere else.

yes patience!

Well, if you know what you can spend, you have half the battle solved. Keep your eye on the Used Smith Basses section of this Forum. You may find that a Forum Member has what you are seeking.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

....ebay can be a pit of lies and nonsense....

Yep. You gotta know who you are dealing with; that's for sure.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Yep. You gotta know who you are dealing with; that's for sure.

it has deteriorated so much in the last couple of years, I am in contact with the seller if the deal goes through... since we live so close to each other he will literally bring the bass to me, that instills a bit of confidence. but still ebay has become mostly uncertainty.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

....I am in contact with the seller if the deal goes through... since we live so close to each other he will literally bring the bass to me, that instills a bit of confidence.....

That's nice! Hopefully he's a stand-up guy. I'm pretty cautious these days. I'd try and find out more about this person (i.e. where he works, lives, etc.) before I'd invite a perfect stranger to my home. Most likely it's all good, but better safe than sorry later; if you know what I mean.

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

That's nice! Hopefully he's a stand-up guy. I'm pretty cautious these days. I'd try and find out more about this person (i.e. where he works, lives, etc.) before I'd invite a perfect stranger to my home. Most likely it's all good, but better safe than sorry later; if you know what I mean.

totally!
I would never have someone from ebay I dont know just come over to my house like that...If I get the bass Ill meet him locally, Not in my house

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

totally!
I would never have someone from ebay I dont know just come over to my house like that...If I get the bass Ill meet him locally, Not in my house

I've done a few deals like that in my time and have met some really great folks that have become those that have stayed in touch over the years. But then there are those situations where, when in doubt, I'll be packin , if you know what I mean, lol!

[Tom Albano]

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

I've done a few deals like that in my time and have met some really great folks that have become those that have stayed in touch over the years. But then there are those situations where, when in doubt, I'll be packin , if you know what I mean, lol!

LOL, I know you need to be careful.... the lengths I go through, Im not a people person I dont like meeting people like this, BUT the bass! the BASSSSSS

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

LOL, I know you need to be careful.... the lengths I go through, Im not a people person I dont like meeting people like this, BUT the bass! the BASSSSSS

Lol! Exactly!