ElektronikBassWho will go down as inventors in the Of course, the elecBassOf course, everyone knows the name of Leo Fender, who created the first model of electric guitar, the Precision Bass.

There is no need to explain how revolutionary the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass were. In the 70's, more than 10 years after their introduction, the electricBasselectric guitars had entered a period of development after the Fender monopoly.

In 1972, the first active for Jack CasadyBassRick Turner (Alembic), who built the

Ned Steinberger, inventor of the headless graphite neck

Steinberger and the compact modernBassStewart Spector, inventor of the Compact Modern

Ken Smith, who developed the revolutionary through-neck construction and tapered strings that are now commonplace

1972
Alembic is founded by Rick Turner, Ron Wickersham and Bob Matthews
First active for Jack Casady and Stanley ClarkBasswas produced.

1975
5-stringBassA year before the introduction of the 6-string, Carl Tompson produced a 6-string for Anthony Jackson.BassHowever, it did not become a mainstay instrument because of the narrow pitch between the strings, which made it difficult to play.
Anthony then spent some time developing the "Career Girl," a '70s Jazz Bass body with a '70s Precision Bass neck, and the "Career GirlBassHe mainly used the "Career Girl".

1976
PRS' first 5-string for Tony BangBassThe same time, Alembic made a 5-string for Jimmie Johnson.BassThe slight difference between the two was that Alembic delivered the first 5-stringBassThe slight difference made Alembic the first brand to bring a 5-string to the market.

1977
Stuart Spector welcomed Vinnie Fodera as his first employee.

1978
Ken Smith left Spector to start his own Ken Smith Workshop.

1980
Vinnie Fodera moves from Spector to Ken Smith.

1981
Six years after the first 6-string appeared, 4-string career girlBassAnthony Jackson, who had been using the 4-string "Career Girl" as his mainBassagain.
Ken Smith, who had been working with theBasswas named Contrabass Guitar.

1983
Vinnie Fodera and Joey Lauricella, who was in charge of marketing for Ken Smith, teamed up to start Fodera Guitars.
(He also worked in the Ken Smith workshop until about 1986.)

This chronology shows that the modern electricBassis largely shaped by the events and inventions listed here.
I am particularly fond of the builder and brand "Ken Smith".

Ken Smith has been building double basses and electric guitars since before he founded his workshop.Bassand made his living by writing commercials and radio jingles.
He was also skilled at repairing and modifying the instruments of the musicians around him, and many artists in New York City turned to him for help.

Ken himself was initially aBassbrand, but he did create the firstBassThis led him to start his own workshop in New York in 1978. Since then, his clients have included top-notch jazz and fusion bassists such as Anthony Jackson, John Patitucci, Felix Pastorius, and Melvin Davis.

He started his own workshop and later began playing electricBassHe has since established his own workshop and has created a number of inventions that would later have a major impact on the electric guitar world. Let's take a look at some of his major achievements

1978
First to use a locking pin as an electricBassto the electric

1979
Developed a printed circuit board circuit, which is now commonplace.

Graphite is used for the first time to reinforce the neck.

Pickup balancer is developed and EQ control with center click is introduced.

1981
Wide neck 6-stringBassis commercialized.

1983
Invention of tapered core strings.

Then, we received a mysterious email with a picture.

"Are you at all interested in purchasing a vintage Ken Smith?"

The photo we received was of a currentSmithBassand its aspect undeniably raises suspicions. TheBasshead is very sharp, with a metal plate attached, and the bridge isBadasswas attached to the bridge.

"Made during Vinny Fodera time with Ken Smith.
Original bridge, Ken used Badass bridge at the time.Bass is in great shape, truss rod works the same. Very little wood oxidation, almost none.Bass is Bass is currently in Ken Smith shop.

Well, that's awesome.BassI understand that this is a tremendous offer.
NowSmiths store right now, it is probably under maintenance.

"I am offering to your shop because a friend of mine that was visiting your shop a few years ago, maybe in 2018 or 2019 said you had Anthony Jackson Ken Smith 6 string. so I thought of you for vintage basses."

Before in our store,Contrabass GuitarA prototype of the "Contrabass Guitar" has arrived in Japan and has been sold.
Based on this history, we assume that this offer was made with confidence in our store, but it is necessary to be cautious when dealing from overseas.
Therefore, as we proceeded with questions, the other party suggested that we talk via video chat.

This was because it was thought that by actually seeing their faces, hearing their voices, and confirming their true identities, we would be able to gain a sense of security. Humble for an American.

"want me to ask Ken Smith to join as well?"
"Sorry. How do you know each other?"
"He is my father"

"What?"
The sender's name isJon Smithbut he is actuallyKen SmithI had no idea that he was actually the son of Ken Smith.
It is strange that I myselfKen Smith BSR5I just got a Ken Smith BSR5Ken Smithat the height of my love for Ken Smith. We immediately set up a video chat,Jonand we were able to talk to Jon.

Now, we will touch on the important point of this event, the instrument that was offered.

Therefore, below is a photo of the instrument, as well as its historyJonThe following is a description of the history of the instrument, along with photos of the instrument, in the words of Jon

JonAfter we introduced ourselves, he told me his own story.

"I bought a four string Ken Smith burner.
I know the burners are kind of popular, right?
So I messaged it was like guitar center. So I was like, hey, I'm interested in this place.
And I thought it was, like, very nice, very great condition."

How nice of him.USA Smithbut a Japanese-madeBurnerHe told me that he had a Japanese-made Burner, not a
When I heard this story, I secretly wondered if it was a rebellion against my father.

Then,JonwasKen SmithHe showed me around his workshop.
There is aKen SmithBassand photos of famous musicians with their Ken SmithBassand the photos of famous musicians with their Ken Smiths and the ones in the process of making them. What a precious experience! If I lived in the U.S., I would like to visit the workshop immediately.

After the tour was over, I was finally offered the main subject of the day!BassThe topic of the day was "The first time I had a chance to see a piece of artwork.

【SPEC】
BODY：Flamed Maple / Mahogany or Rosewood
NECK：Flamed Maple / Mahogany 5P
FINGERBOARD：Ebony
SCALE：34"
NUT WIDTH：37mm
P.U：Ken Smith Original Humbucker
PRE-AMP：Ken Smith Original 9V
CONTROL：2Vol / 2Band EQ / PU SW / Phase SW / Pre-Amp SW
WEIGHT：4.45kg
CASE : Hardshell Case

"So now, let me show you the bass.
At this point, do you see how there's no serial number on the fingerboard?

That's because it's so early. Let me show you the rest.
These pickups are modern pickups, but originally, they had the older Bill Lawrence pickups.

Here is the original bridge he used to use.
He used it until he made his own bridges.

Well, it is true that in recent yearsSmithI can see that the appearance is completely different from that of Smith in recent years.
I had seen it in pictures, but when I saw it in person, I felt it more.

"This is how you know it's the Vinny Fodera era because of this back here, you know? Do you see that?
Look at the wooden back plate. It's the original back plate, made of Rosewood."

"So, for example, when he looked up number 64, it was actually made after number 94 because the plates already had the numbers.

So when he started making the new circuit, he still had the old circuit that he was trying to get rid of. The bigger number could be older, up until maybe almost 200."

"So, can you see the space from here to here? You get a feel for the size, right? On this one, it's narrower, right? He said, "Hey Ken, can you move the back pickup away from the bridge and closer to the neck? The original pickups were Bill Lawrence pickups."

"RG 4. That was the name of the model.

Now, I think there was a batch where he may have used Bartolini on four or five basses. basses."

"Vinny worked with my dad under a contract, I think, until 1986 or 1987. So this bass was made when Fodera was working for my dad."

In between92made in 1949 are rounded.BT6remains sharp, but it is gradually rounding out.

About sound impression. The currentSmithBassThe sound is not too clean, and has a playfulness that is more suited to pop, rock, and funk than to jazz.

Also,BassAlthough we rarely see phase switches in the82year BT4In the BT4, the phase switch can be turned on to thin out the low frequencies and maximize the "kero-kero-kero" feel that is synonymous with the Smith sound, which is exactly what we hear in today'sSmithBassThis is the very foundation of today's Smith sound.

Fendertype.BassIn,4/5/6Although the sound changes greatly with the strings,SmithBassHowever, the difference is infinitesimally small on the Smith,4Because we want the sound of the strings4The fact that you don't have to make the compromise of choosing strings because you want the sound of the strings is also a very great point.