That Smith Sound! || Ken Smith 6-String Bass Demo/Review

[@soundslikeben]

Note: pic at 0:37 is not Joel Smith. Is jenkx11: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJmri2t8bJWCmc0 Thought it was a pic of Joel I remembered from around 2003, but it was not. Apologies to Joel and family and jenkx11. I'll research better next time.

[@catboyzee]

Its all good. FYI Joel never played a Ken Smith bass. He's used a 1970s Fender Jazz bass, a Musicman Stingray, a 1980s Squier J Bass, an early F bass 5 string, then finally was given a 6 string MTD by Michael Tobias himself. He is/was the Godfather of Gospel bass playing and drumming. Respect and RIP.

[@jenkx11]

Yeah, I shouldn't be in the same vid as Fred Hammond. lol :-)

[@catboyzee]

Agreed. 0:37 isn't Joel. In fact, Joel never owned or played a Ken Smith during his career. He played Jazz Basses, a Music Man Stingray, a F Bass 5 string, and finally an MTD 6 string bass. Respect and RIP.

[@LEVALmusic]

Great video. I have the same bass. For passive pull out the volume knob

[@Bassic778]

Yup, there is nothing like a Ken Smith!!! Killer tone and fantastic playability!

[@matthewsolina4920]

I love the carved volute on Smith basses. Such a cool touch.

[@CJ709824]

Man this was great! I appreciate this well recorded video very much man! Thanks very much for also being so descriptive of this incredible bass! I'm recently being turned on to the Ken Smith sound and this was a perfect video for that. Thanks again!

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks, Myron. Much appreciated!

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Anthony Jackson's earliest work with the Thompson six string must be on "The Wiz" and in particular "What would I do if I could feel?" where you hear that deep rumble of the low B string the clearest.

[@ericward8010]

I met Anthony with the Thompson 6- 36" scale, tuned to A. Wound up on one side of an album, with him on the other side within 6 months.

[@bustabass9025]

Love my Smith six string. It has a sound that stands alone when it comes to the versatility offered by the electric bass. Will never part with mine. I thank God for the ability to play and appreciate what this bass is capable of.

[@Mariodupree]

I purchased my 2009 BSR 6GN new in 2012. LOVE IT! It will be with me for life.

[@soundslikeben]

One of the things that stands out to me about Ken Smith basses is that they feel like instruments that are meant to be played for 100 years or more.

[@Mariodupree]

@@soundslikeben Agreed!

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Ken Smith 👌🏿👌🏿 One day 🤞🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤

[@johnnydswing]

Great playing 👏👏

[@PrincessBalamb]

Great video and playing! Hats off for having that awesome Cowboy Bebop picture. :)

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks, PB! I like your channel

[@PrincessBalamb]

@@soundslikeben You're welcome and thank you! :-)

[@lawrencehagstrom8847]

I own a BSRM5 5-string Ken Smith and it has a swamp ash body with 3-piece maple neck; I love it!

[@Kunstdesfechtens]

I played a Ken Smith 6 string at Avenue Guitars in Edmonton years ago, maybe 2003. It sounded like a fine classical guitar down an octave. It was the finest instrument I’ve ever played. The only things that come close are my Steve Bailey 6 string fretless and my Signature guitars Excalibre which I also converted to fretless back in in ‘90 in Halifax. Long story not so short, I played that KS for a half hour, thinking it was only 10-15 minutes, trotting out by Bach cello suites and some solo jazz stuff. It made me sound so good I discovered I had quite the audience when I looked up. It was Ken’s doing, not mine. Should have bought it, but I didn’t have 5k lying around, go fig. :) You are fortunate to have such a beautiful instrument. 👍👍👍

[@soundslikeben]

I agree about the classical connection on the Smiths. I always tell people they seem like they’re meant to last 100 years.

[@Kunstdesfechtens]

@@soundslikeben At least! When I win the lottery I'll get him to make me two 7 strings: one fretted and one fretless. and I shall achieve Nirvana. Or something. :)

[@jamessmith-zk4co]

Great video. Someday I'll own a Ken Smith bass.

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks for watching! They are amazingly well-built instruments.

[@leobassii]

Nice sound Brother... thanks for sharing your insight!

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks, Leo!

[@ShortFuseFighting]

30 years i been dreaming of owning one of these....

[@thescatman5029]

That's a nice Keep Forgetting track!

[@billysia9106]

Ben, at 5:35 - the rhythm/melody here - is this an existing song?! It is wonderful. Would love to hear more of this song, or more in this style/genre! Awesome video. Thanks for sharing!

[@soundslikeben]

Hi Beelee, thanks for watching! It is an arrangement of I Keep Forgettin’ by Michael McDonald.

[@billysia9106]

@@soundslikeben I'm going to check that out right away. Thanks again Ben!

[@soundslikeben]

The genre is commonly referred to as Yacht Rock. There are some excellent rhythm sections in this music. Check out Yacht Rock Radio on Pandora or Spotify.

[@taz3759]

If you pull the volume knob for passive. Good review! I love Smith Basses.

[@soundslikeben]

They make a great bass. Played some of the new ones at NAMM this year and they are just as amazing.

[@jpined14]

Cool video. I have a 98 CR5V in quilted maple/mahogany core. It has a very similar wood color/texture to yours and some other 98s in maple I’ve seen. Interesting

[@soundslikeben]

Nice. Thanks for watching!

[@Hi-xs7wm]

Nice video !

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I a very similar bolt on Ken Smith, it had darker top wood. On that bass, I could pull up the volume pot and bypass the preamp.

[@soundslikeben]

Yes, I found out about that feature after I sold the bass. Good safety in case the battery dies.

[@carlitoscuba16]

Nothing sounds like a Kent Smith and with a K.S all you got it’s a K.S. Sound …. But definitely one of the king brand for Basses I Personally own 2 although Fodera it’s my Favorite Bass

[@soundslikeben]

Fodera’s are great too.

[@c.i.dangelo4515]

How about Phil Lesh adopting a Smith as his main axe in 89/90?

[@soundslikeben]

Good callout. I was not aware of that.

[@ulis3082]

You mention, that a Smith is activ only with no passiv option. That´s wrong. It has a push-pull Volume Pot that switches from aktiv to passiv. I hadn´t the oportunity to play a bolt on Smith so perhaps it could be in this case. But regular Smith´s (owned 4 5er and still have 2) and a Burner Feraud 5er do have this active-passive Switch. But without this little lapse it is a great vid. Thanks for that.

[@soundslikeben]

Yes. I stated that incorrectly. Learned after I made the video it is pull for passive.

[@MyTEEsharp1]

Not sure Joel Smith (RIP) played KS, Jimmy Neuble played KS!

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks, MyTEEsharp1. I grabbed the wrong pic. Was going to cut it once I found out about the mistake, but I want to leave the sentiment up because the Ken Smith gospel influence is hugely important.

[@Ramaun61]

Is the fretboard wide

[@soundslikeben]

Standard bridge spacing on a Smith is 18mm. I believe they still offer a wide version (19mm), but I prefer narrower spacing.

[@lakingscup]

I wouldn’t even know what to do with a 6 strang! 🤦🏻‍♂️ But I lo v e the Ken Smith sound.

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks for watching ,BP. Smith fivers are fantastic too.

[@Kuuuks]

Great video but that picture was not Joel Smith....May he RIP..

[@soundslikeben]

Wait, what?! I thought for sure that was him! I was sure that was the pic I remembered from days when I was back in Dallas. Edit... just went back. You are correct. #embarrassed. Sorry! Put a note in the comments and thanks for the catch.

[@bsdguy]

Jimmy Nubell put the Smith out there for the church cats. Joel was on a Tobias and before that a Stingray.

[@ChezzOnBass]

Wait...Fred Hammond is a bass player too?

[@soundslikeben]

Yes indeed. Definitely check him out.

[@aguirreignacio]

Can you by any chance measure the center of the pickups from the nut?

[@soundslikeben]

Hi Ignacio, I don't have the bass anymore, but I made an estimation in Photoshop. The middle of the neck pickup is between 29.09 and 29.25 inches from the nut. The middle of the bridge pickup is between 32 and 32.09 inches from the nut. Keep in mind this is just an estimate.

[@aguirreignacio]

@@soundslikeben Thanks anyway! So sad that you don´t have it anymore! I hope you got something cool for replacement! BTW I tell you my story... I´ve been playing for 25 years and some 5 years ago I built my own bass. It´s got now a humbucker at around 29.9in and I wanted to add one in the range of 32 inches. It already sounds quite "Smitish" but I think it will get brighter.

[@TheGaboni809]

How heavy is this bass? I want to get one ?

[@soundslikeben]

It’s a 6 string with a big body, so I would say it is on the heavier side. Don’t have a working scale at the moment, but 10ish seems about right.

[@Groovemyster]

I'm not sure on the 6 string, but I have a 5 Black Tiger Elite and it's just under 5kgs. So there is a bit of weight to them, but that does help with the sound.

[@bengroovesgh]

I love 6 string bass but for a ken smith it will take me forever to afford😥😥😥

[@skybassoyad711]

sana meron na sa phil yan

[@soundslikeben]

salamat sa panonood ng aking video!

[@barryjackson4680]

Joel Smith never used a Ken Smith Bass

[@soundslikeben]

Correct. My mistake. See pinned comment.

[@JustBrewing]

That wasn’t Joel Smith...

[@soundslikeben]

Correct. Kuuuks first alerted me that I used the wrong photo.

[@joe700700]

Nothing comes close to a ken smith slap tone...

[@soundslikeben]

It’s true. They really have their own voice.

[@i.n.c.fromthetopropes3465]

Keep Forgetting rhythm section was on Point but guess its kinda tough to recreate the vocal on a bass *Shrug* Still Dope Vid

[@soundslikeben]

Thanks!

[@mikeh66]

You forgot Bill Dickens!

[@soundslikeben]

I always knew him as a Conklin player, but thanks for educating me!

[@mikeh66]

@@soundslikeben : He made an instructional video back in the 80's He's playing a VERY early Smith bass.

[@soundslikeben]

@@mikeh66 Oh wow. Thanks for the tip. I have been having so much fun with instructional videos from the 80s since putting together the holiday gift guide. I'll have to get hold of that one.

[@eknight101]

Imma get me a fake one off of ebay and gut the electronics. The real thing costs too much.

[@bogusawnowoszycki7939]

video sound level is to low....

[@catzdollz9810]

Volume wayyyyyyy too low! Cant hear what your playing!

[@BoogieBMWE34]

all in all this non ordinary instrument doesnt have atrractive slap sound at all.

[@soundslikeben]

Agree to disagree

[@SevanStick]

This is the typical sound that disappears in the mix.

[@shawnhung6191]

ㄥ