Ken Smith Design KSD 704 Jazz Bass Active (occasion)

Ken Smith is a well-known studio professional in New York City and a world-class guitar builder. He developed the Proto-J series in response to the wishes of many professional bassists from around the world. Ken has incorporated many details from his handmade USA bass guitars into this design, which is recognizable and familiar to many bassists.

I was really raving about this bass. It isn't the first time I've held a Ken Smith in my hands, but when you're promised one to be sent to you for a while to test, you can't wait for the doorbell to ring and the courier to hand you the package. Although very attractive, there is a high risk that when you surf to the Ken Smith site, you will start drooling at all that beauty. Until recently, unfortunately, it was a brand reserved only for the wealthy among us (and yes, I definitely mean financially). Eventually, even at Ken Smith, they realized that not everyone just happens to have a large sum of money sitting in their bank account to buy an expensive, handmade bass guitar. Following in the footsteps of several other brands, this prestigious brand has also launched a budget range. KSD (or Ken Smith Design) is now an affordable alternative for most of us. Where are the days when my jaw dropped during John Patitucci's instructional video, when he was rocking out on his Ken Smith 6-string, or when Anthony Jackson and Michel Camilo conjured breathtaking Montunos from his Ken Smith?

BUILD

As you can see in the photos, this KSD 704 is an almost exact replica of a Fender Jazz Bass from the 70s, whereas the KSD 604 is inspired more by a Jazz Bass from the 60s. To make the range complete, you also have the choice of a fretless or 5-string option. Why change much about a simple and good design that has been a success story for so long? The biggest difference lies in the fact that this KSD features an onboard BT active circuit that can be switched on or off using a push/pull button. The choice of materials was also kept classic: an ash body with a natural finish, and a bolted 21-fret maple neck with a matching fingerboard. There is nothing to fault regarding the finish of this bass; I could not find any sloppiness anywhere. The body is fitted with a black pickguard with the control knobs next to it. The die-cast bridge is very simple, but very easy to adjust. The tuning mechanisms also remind us of the source of inspiration from yesteryear, but I cannot really determine what brand they are (probably in-house made). A compartment for the battery to power the electronic circuit was placed on the back of the body. The inlay on the fingerboard consists of the typical rectangular pearl inlays, with the familiar dotted black position markers on the side of the neck. On this KSD, we find the jack input on the side at the bottom. The truss rod is accessible from the top of the neck, at the level of the headstock, and the famous J(x2) setup was chosen for the pickups, or two peg pickups with one placed close to the bridge. The headstock is also inspired by the Jazz Bass, where the G and D strings are held under tension by a rounded tension plate. It is precisely for this reason that many manufacturers opt to place the tuning pegs side by side, so that tension is maintained without having to resort to this system.

POSSIBILITIES

To start with, we have the volume control, which, as I mentioned earlier in this article, can also be used to switch the active circuit on or off (active/passive). Secondly, there is the balance knob between the two J pickups, with a click position in the middle indicating that the two pickups are balanced. You can then start from here to let the front or rear pickup stand out more and adjust to your own taste, while Jaco fans will opt for the typical bridge or rear pickup. Personally, I like this system with a single control knob, which I find clearer and less cumbersome. I also appreciate the system on the last control knob. The treble and bass were placed one above the other (bass at the bottom, treble at the top). The control options were therefore handled in a modern way, which appeals to me personally. Thumbs up!

SOUND

Pow, there it goes! The first test is a long one. I start slapping this beast a bit – in case you hadn't noticed, this bass is identical to Mister Marcus Miller's Jazz Bass (which, by the way, also hails from the funky seventies) – and sounds just like it right from the first notes! If that's not a compliment! My old slap tricks, which had been buried under a bit of dust, are gradually all coming back to the surface… Thanks to the choice of materials for the body, neck, and fingerboard, and the J pickup combination, we get the typical growling Jazz Bass sound. Thanks to the active circuit, you can still count on a solid, contemporary sound with balls. The KSD sounds beautifully defined with a nice low end underneath.

PLAYABILITY

With this KSD, I was ready to go in no time; there was no need for adjustments or withdrawal symptoms. The fact that the instrument was set up by Ken Smith probably plays a part in that as well. While the finger space may be slightly larger than I am used to, I experience no problems with it. The string action is perfectly set up, and it is also one of the first times I haven't had to adjust the action of a new bass. Just like the tuning pegs, the strings on it are from the house, and they have a nice growl. Reachability up to the 21st fret is optimal thanks to a good cutaway. The bass hangs nicely balanced while playing. In short, it is a joy to play.

BUDGET

And now for the reveal you’ve undoubtedly been waiting for: how much does it cost? Many may know the brand from its custom-made boutique bass guitars, and will therefore expect a hefty price tag. Well, I have good news for you, because I was a bit surprised by the price myself. Drumroll. €1,095.00 including VAT. In my opinion, this is a competitive price for an instrument like this. Of course, the manufacturing process in Korea has something to do with it, but for me, the mission to launch a budget series worthy of the Ken Smith name has succeeded!

Specs:

KSD-704

34″ scale

Features:

Natural Finish over Ash Body

Bound Maple Fingerboard w/ Block Inlay

Vintage “J” Pickups w/ Active BT Circuit

Heavy Die Cast Bridge