1992 Ken Smith BT6 Fretless -Melvin Davis-
It all started with an offer that came our way—from Jon Smith, Ken Smith’s son. You can find the full details at the URL below, so please take a look.
*Ken Smith’s account of the history and his meeting with his son Jon
As a result, our shop established a direct connection with Ken Smith. Because we are a shop he trusts, we were able to acquire the very Bass once played by Melvin Lee Davis himself—the man who used Ken Smith’s Basses as his lifelong instruments.
Melvin Lee Davis is a bassist whose name is known to virtually every bassist.
Born in Orange County, California, in 1960, he began playing the violin at age 4, the saxophone at age 6, and the bass in high school. At age 16, he was discovered by Buddy Miles and based himself in New York, building his career by collaborating with a wide variety of musicians. With his overflowing talent, he co-produced the theme for “Soul Train,”and served as music director for the Grammy Award-winning Chaka Khan. Regardless of musical genre, his creativity and wide-ranging versatility have earned him the reputation of a true genius.
As for my impressions of the BT6 Fretless -Melvin Davis- Bass featured here, I think it’s better to let him speak for himself rather than me. Honestly, it goes without saying that it sounds great when he plays it, and the sound alone speaks volumes.Even without delving into the Bass’s materials or specifications, the fact that you can experience both the instrument—which embodies his philosophy that “genres are labels imposed by the industry; it’s all just music”—and the history he has cultivated with it will undoubtedly become a lifelong source of joy for anyone who owns this instrument.
I’d like to thank Jon Smith and Melvin Davis for giving me this opportunity.
TC-GAKKI
Matsui