Building the World’s Greatest
100% Handmade Basses since 1978


            Multi-String Electric Bass Pioneer Ken Smith has developed or introduced many of the innovations used on today’s basses which are now industry standards.  Some of these include Printed Circuit Board Electronics, Graphite Inlaid Neck, Detented Balance and EQ controls, Low ‘B’ Design .128 and .130, and Taper Core Bass Strings.  Ken Smith hand picks the wood for every bass from our in-house lumberyard, which features over 20 species of aged tonewoods.  Visitors to the factory are awestruck by what is probably the largest collection and variety of acclimated musical-grade woods in the world.  Inspired by the techniques of 16th - 19th Century European stringed instrument makers, Smith Basses are a marriage of Old World Tradition and Modern Innovation.  Ken Smith supervises the production of each bass and still does the final set-up.


Features and Specifications for All Smith Basses
(See Model for Additional Features and Options)

  • "NEW" Smith B.M.T. 3 Band Active EQ 18-volt Circuit with Internal 4-way adjustable frequency DIP switches for each band or the NEW re-designed Smith B.M.T. 3 Band Eq 9-Volt Circuit standard on the M, MW and P Bolt-on models as well as the MS Neck-Thru

  • World Famous Smith Custom Bass Humbucking Soapbar Pickups

  • Fully Shielded Pickup & Control Cavities

  • Aged Hardrock Maple Necks (5 pc. With Exotic Features on Neck-Thru Models, and 1(new M model), 3 pc. MW and P models) or 5pc. (PE model) Laminated on Bolt-Ons)

  • Long Scale, 34" (Best Low 'B' in the Business!) 24 frets

  • Fingerboards:  Quartersawn Macassar Ebony or Morado (Pau Ferro)

  • Mother of Pearl or Abalone Inlays

  • Smith Custom Reflex Truss Rod

  • Angled Back Headstock reinforced with Smith Coat of Arms carving on back

  • Matching Wood Headstock Overlay

  • Smith Custom Tuning Gears

  • Scalloped Brass Nut, Individually Hand-Fit

  • Smith QSR (Quick String Release) Bridge machined from Solid Brass

  • Classic Smith Hand-Rubbed Dutch Varnish over Stradivari Gold Oil Finish

  • Catalyzed Lacquer Finish (Hand-Buffed) on Elite Models only

  • All Smith Basses are Set-Up with Smith Custom Balanced Taper Core Medium
    Bass Strings

  • 5-String Models are Standard with Low 'B'
  • 6-String Models are Standard with Low 'B' and High 'C'
  • Fretless & Lefty Models also available

  • NOTE: 'SMITH' Original Hardware , Pickups & Electronics are now available for sale as 'After Market' Components. Click here for details.


ACCESSORIES

            All Smith Basses come with Smith Hardshell Case, Smith Genuine Leather Strap with Sheepskin Shoulder Pad with Dunlop Straploks Installed (Dual Design, Flush Mount on Neck-Thru Models Only), Smith Classic Wax or Smith Pro Formula Polish, Smith Lint-Free Polish Cloth, Wrench Kit for Adjustments, and Original Warranty.


String Spacing & Fingerboard Width


4 String Models
String Spacing: Nut: 10mm (13/32") Bridge: 19mm (3/4")
Fingerboard Width: Nut: 1  9/16"     24th Fret: 2  1/2"
5-String Models
String Spacing: Nut: 9mm (23/64") Bridge: 18mm (23/32")
Fingerboard Width: Nut: 1  3/4"     24th Fret: 3"
6-String Models
String Spacing: Nut: 9mm (23/64") Bridge: 18mm (23/32")
Fingerboard Width: Nut: 2  1/8"     24th Fret: 3  5/8"
7-String Models
String Spacing: Nut: 9mm (23/64") Bridge: 18mm (23/32")
Fingerboard Width: Nut: 2  7/16"     24th Fret: 4  1/4"

The BSR Body Shape has longer horns for the
optimum strap balance favored by stage musicians.


The CR & BT (Vintage) Body Shape is designed for
comfortable lap balance favored by studio musicians.

Basses, Models, Features Smith Bass and Guitar Strings

Copyright © 1998-2015  Ken Smith Basses, LTD.
(All rights reserved)
ALL PRICES AND SPECS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE