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Author Topic: Ken Smith or MTD  (Read 7026 times)

Offline Back2Bassics

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Ken Smith or MTD
« on: July 24, 2012, 01:48:18 AM »
Anyone who plays one, Id like feedback on them. I'm looking to purchase a 6 string and considering those two
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Offline DWBass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2012, 10:06:15 AM »
Both very nice instruments. Depends on the sound you want and the string spacing. I believe the Smith string spacing is tighter than the MTD but you can probably get what you want.
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Offline ssabass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2012, 10:23:44 PM »
MTD, hands down. I don't like the slap sound of the Ken Smiths, but I love the finger style tone. But the MTD, has the best of both worlds. I have played both.
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Offline datbottom

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2013, 01:21:12 PM »
Smith!!!!!! Hands Down!!!! Now I must admit that I've never played an MTD but I do own a Smith. The sound and growl is like no other. I love the fact that you can listen to any song and pick out a Ken Smith. Its sound cannot be denied. I once had the same question....there were a few deciding factors for me. 1. Ken Smith is known and almost associated exclusively as the bass on gospel music. 2. The Ken Smiths unique sound... 3. Smith in surperior to the MTD in terms of hardware, craftmanship, sound and resale value. Plus....almost all of the top gospel cats have a Ken Smith. They may no longer play it for what ever reason...endorsements..etc.  All of this is just my opinion. Ken Smiths are the real deal. If and when you try one make sure you are plugged into a legit rig.
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Offline Back2Bassics

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2013, 12:15:04 AM »
Thanks datbottom, I have an MTD now, maybe in the near future when I'm looking for a new axe, I'll go towards a Ken Smith, but a of right now, the tone on this MTD is second to none. Slapping, chording, fingerstyle; everything sounds amazing on it. But your right about that Ken Smith tone. Nothing like that Fred Hammond Ken Smith growl with a Ken Smith
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Offline ssabass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2013, 05:57:46 PM »
Very good choice. The MTD, blows away the Ken Smith away. I'm just not sold on the Ken Smith slap tone. I have played a few of them & I have heard plenty of them via youtube & I'm just not impressed with their slap tone. Now the Smith's are beautiful basses & their finger tone, may be the best in the business. But their slap tone is light in the pants. As a matter of fact I will go out on the limb & it stinks!
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Slappersgotoheaven

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2013, 02:33:51 PM »
Having recently owned an MTD, and really not feel it.......I sold it to buy another Lakland. But, last week I was on vacation and the house band of the resort was playing a Ken Smith BSR6....all I could say after their set was WOW......I have tried Smith's, but never really took the time to learn the tweaks to get that growl, but after talking with him and hearing that bass I will be shopping for one really soon.
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Offline DWBass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2013, 03:31:33 PM »
The Smiths have a distinct slap tone which is part of the preamps design. It is different. (The Peavey Cirrus has the same distinct sound.) Mid scooped and set at an undisclosed and secret setpoint as per Ken Smith. MTD has a better all around sound using specially designed for MTD Bartolini pups and pres.
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Offline browntree

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2013, 10:16:30 AM »
I would agree with most of the comments about MTD.  I own one and love it.  It's so versatile, that I can get pretty much any tone I want.  I really like the slap and pop sound of the Ken Smith, but that's about it.  So in deciding, I went with the MTD because of the diversity of tone.  It's easy to contact Tobias if you need to too.
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Offline SavnBass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2013, 02:42:00 PM »
 :o Pictures?  ;)

Which MTD did you get.. ? Was it one of the Korean ones of a U.S. made one.. ? I just got a KZ5 about a month ago.. I love it.. The best bass I have ever owned as far as feel and tone..



... and it is a little lighter than my Jazz. It seems kind of trebly though which actually works out great with my head which has more natural low end to it.. 
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Offline browntree

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2013, 02:43:27 PM »
I got the US made one, custom made in NY. MTD-535.
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Offline browntree

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2013, 02:49:01 PM »
I meant to ask SavnBass, what kind of pickups are in the KZ5?  The 535 has custom Bartolinis. There aren't as aggressive as say Nordstrands, but they really do bring out the natural tones of the wood.  They are pretty balanced and articulate the mids well. 
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Offline hands5

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2014, 09:50:39 AM »
Quote from: DWBass on May 09, 2013, 03:31:33 PM
The Smiths have a distinct slap tone which is part of the preamps design. It is different. (The Peavey Cirrus has the same distinct sound.) Mid scooped and set at an undisclosed and secret setpoint as per Ken Smith. MTD has a better all around sound using specially designed for MTD Bartolini pups and pres.
  Don't mean to derail the thread but I just got a Peavey Grind 6 ( used of course ) that sounds like both of them . I've owned both MTD's and a Ken Smith basses and a Tobias Classic ( I should've kept that one ) and all of them were great in their own concept but my ears changed so off they went, and I just played my Jazz Basses but recently I wanted something with a different tone but didn't want to spend a ton of money so I went to a music around the corner from were I live and saw the Peavey hanging there on the rack used. I took it down and hooked it up thru a 350 Fender "rumble" combo  and was stunned on how good this thing sound and played so I  bought it...It won't be my main bass but for the price it'll do for now
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Offline SavnBass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2014, 09:35:21 PM »
Quote from: browntree on June 25, 2013, 02:43:27 PM
I got the US made one, custom made in NY. MTD-535.

That is on myGAS list..  :) The pups in the Kz are Tobias designed I believe.. but they sound good. The Kingstons are pretty good basses. I have an Heir too but I am stashing my pennies for a 535.
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Offline stix_clgi

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2014, 10:41:13 AM »
Man, I think this is a super tough choice! I'd never played a US MTD until two weeks ago. I actually played #37, a 535-21. It had a swamp ash body, wenge neck/fretboard, original Bartolini pups and electronics......it was a BEAST. Really thick and syrupy tone with no dead spots anywhere on the fretboard. Build was super solid, even after all those years (#37 was built in the 90's I believe, I don't remember the exact date on the neck).

That being said, Smiths are among the first, and most unique sounding boutique instruments. Like above, you always know a Smith when you hear one, doesn't matter the genre of music. A particular album comes to mind that really exhibits that sound to me, well two really....Hezekiah Walker's Live at Morehouse College - Reggie Young on bass (remember "I Will Go in Jesus' Name?" - dat's my JAM lol) and Purpose by Design- Fred Hammond on bass. I personally love the fingerstyle and slap tone, though as you can see the slap sound is pretty polarizing...either you like it or you don't.

Basically, you're comparing apples to oranges. I'll go out on a limb and say you may find the MTD to be a bit more versatile....Smiths will ALWAYS sound like a Smith. Its a great position to be in, and you'd be happy with either bass I think.
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Offline jpeeze

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #15 on: January 20, 2014, 09:26:15 PM »

One good thing I hear about MTD bass is the older they get better they sound. I love my 534 it's a BEAST!!! I have own about five of them and they all sounded different but was always clean and clear, what ever tone you want Mike can give it to you. I have never own a Smith but after playing MTD I have nerver wanted to own anything else. MTD FOR LIFE ;D



Quote from: stix_clgi on January 14, 2014, 10:41:13 AM
Man, I think this is a super tough choice! I'd never played a US MTD until two weeks ago. I actually played #37, a 535-21. It had a swamp ash body, wenge neck/fretboard, original Bartolini pups and electronics......it was a BEAST. Really thick and syrupy tone with no dead spots anywhere on the fretboard. Build was super solid, even after all those years (#37 was built in the 90's I believe, I don't remember the exact date on the neck).

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Offline stix_clgi

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #16 on: January 27, 2014, 01:43:52 PM »
Quote from: jpeeze on January 20, 2014, 09:26:15 PM
One good thing I hear about MTD bass is the older they get better they sound. I love my 534 it's a BEAST!!! I have own about five of them and they all sounded different but was always clean and clear, what ever tone you want Mike can give it to you. I have never own a Smith but after playing MTD I have nerver wanted to own anything else. MTD FOR LIFE ;D

After playing #37, I'm a willing believer...I fell in love with that bass, just not with the price! They still wanted $2900 for that thing....
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Offline bradleymoorer

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #17 on: January 27, 2014, 04:23:27 PM »
you know I gotta say that, for the money i don't think you can go wrong with Darryl Jones with J-retro pre-amps! once I heard it I had to have it, so of course I am saving up as we speak! Anyway look up this bass when you get a chance!

John East J-RETRO 01 Description & Sound Demo (Retros P-1)


This is on a fender but you get the idea, it's a jazz bass and sounds so good!

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Offline SavnBass

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Re: Ken Smith or MTD
« Reply #18 on: January 31, 2014, 10:17:33 PM »
I have a J with a U Retro.. they are nice.
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