The history of Ken Smith basses is the story of innovation, craftsmanship, incredible players, and some of the most distinctive high-end bass guitars ever made. In this video, I take a look at the history of @KenSmithBasses from Ken Smith's beginnings as a professional bassist in New York City in the 1970s to the handmade boutique instruments being built today in Pennsylvania. We'll explore the early Ken Smith basses associated with the Spector shop, Smith's work with builders including Vinnie Fodera, and some of the innovations that helped define the modern 5-string and 6-string bass. We'll also look at Smith's early use of PCB electronics, graphite neck reinforcement, detented EQ controls, wide-neck 5-string and 6-string basses, and taper core strings. Along the way, we'll talk about some of the legendary bass players associated with Ken Smith, including Stanley Clarke, Anthony Jackson, John Patitucci, Phil Lesh, Marcus Miller, Gerald Albright, Wayman Tisdale, and Freddie Washington. I'll also take a close look at my 2020 Ken Smith Black Tiger BSR 5TNE, including its neck-through construction, 5-piece maple and shedua neck, graphite reinforcement, ebony fingerboard, brass hardware, Smith pickups and 18V preamp. And, of course, we'll listen to what this beautiful 5-string bass sounds like. I've owned and played Ken Smith basses for decades, and the sound of John Patitucci's Smith basses on the early Chick Corea Elektric Band recordings was a major reason I bought my first one back in 1992. Whether you're a longtime Ken Smith player, a fan of boutique bass guitars, a collector, or simply interested in the history of the electric bass, I hope you'll enjoy this look at one of the most influential names in high-end bass building. 🎸 KEN SMITH BASSES: Visit KenSmithBasses.com for current instruments and availability. What do you think about Ken Smith basses? Do you own one, or is there a particular Smith player or recording that made you fall in love with them? Let me know in the comments! 👍 Like the video if you enjoyed it 🔔 Subscribe for more bass history, gear reviews and bass demos Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveporterband Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Tone Example 0:44 NYC Collaborations 2:53 Innovations 4:04 Notable Players 5:35 Tone Examples 10:15 Smith Basses Today #kensmith #bassplayer #documentary

Is your bass harder to play in the lower register than it should be? The problem may not be your bridge or neck relief. Your bass nut could simply be too high. In this video, I walk through how I file and adjust a bass guitar nut to improve action and playability across the lower frets. I'll explain how the nut, neck relief and bridge height all work together, demonstrate the proper nut filing technique, and share a few important tips to help avoid filing too much material away. In this video, you'll learn about: 🎸 How a high nut affects bass action and playability 🎸 Why bridge adjustments don't fix high action near the first few frets 🎸 How neck relief, nut height and bridge saddle height work together 🎸 Choosing the proper nut files for your bass strings 🎸 Why rounded nut files are important 🎸 Proper nut slot angle for good sustain and intonation 🎸 How to check nut height using the first and third fret method 🎸 Why you should make small adjustments and check your work frequently 🎸 How proper nut filing can make your bass feel like a completely different instrument For this setup, I'm adjusting a 5-string bass with a .130 low B string and setting it up for standard tuning, a medium playing touch and low, comfortable action. ⚠️ Important: Filing a bass nut requires patience and care. Removing too much material can cause buzzing and may require replacing the nut, so always make small adjustments and check your progress. A properly filed nut can make a huge difference in how easily your bass plays, especially in what I like to call the "money" area of the fretboard. 😄 If you enjoy bass guitar setup tips, gear reviews, bass demos and everything low end, please LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment with your favorite bass setup tips! Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveporterband Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Intro 0:45 Tools Needed 1:33 Illustrated Techniques 2:26 Nut Filing Example 6:30 How Nut Filing Affects Action 7:27 Final Thoughts #BassGuitar #BassSetup #BassGuitarSetup #BassNut #NutFiling #BassMaintenance #BassGuitarRepair #BassAction #BassGuitarTips #BassPlayer #FiveStringBass #DIYBassSetup

This new Ibanez Mode 5-string packs an impressive amount of tonal flexibility into a bass around the $1,000 price range. In this short clip, I’m putting the Delta S5J pickups, active EQ and Hexa Mid system through their paces. There are A LOT of tonal options packed into this bass! Want to hear the full demo and see all of the specs, controls and features? Check out the full Ibanez MDM1005 review! https://youtu.be/-DGTUPm83FQ What do you think of the new Ibanez Mode? 🎸 #bassguitar #Ibanez #bassplayer #bassreview #gearreview #ibanezbass

The @IbanezOfficial Mode MDM1005 5-string bass is packed with features and tonal options. In this review and demo, I take a close look at the MDM1005 in Pearl White, including its Delta S5J pickups, 3-band active EQ, Hexa Mid system, roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets and Mono Rail bridge. Is the new Ibanez Mode MDM1005 one of the best 5-string basses around $1,000? Let’s take a look at the specs, playability, build quality and, most importantly, hear how it sounds. 🎸 IBANEZ MDM1005 FEATURES• Alder body• Roasted maple neck• Rosewood fingerboard• 24 medium jumbo stainless steel frets• 12" fingerboard radius• 1.77" nut width• Delta S5J single-coil pickups• 3-band active EQ• Hexa Mid system with multiple selectable frequencies• Passive/active operation• Ibanez Mono Rail bridge• 18mm string spacing• Ibanez Aero Light machine heads In this video, I demo the Ibanez Mode MDM1005 in passive mode, active bass and treble controls, and all of the available Hexa Mid settings to show just how much tonal flexibility this bass offers. The large lower cutaway provides excellent upper-fret access, while the comfortable neck and lightweight alder body make this bass extremely playable. 🎵 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL If you're interested in the Ibanez Mode MDM1005 or any other music gear, please consider using my Sweetwater affiliate link. Your purchase helps support the channel at no additional cost to you. Thanks! 👉 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/7436740/789347/11319 What do you think of the new Ibanez Mode basses? Would you choose the MDM1005 for your next 5-string? Let me know in the comments! 👍 Like this video if you enjoyed it 🔔 Subscribe for more bass reviews, bass demos and music gear videos https://www.instagram.com/daveporterband Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Specs 2:10 Hexa Mid System 3:45 Tone Examples 9:00 Playability 11:30 Final Thoughts #Ibanez #BassGuitar #Bassplayer

Want to get your bass playing its absolute best without paying for a professional setup? In this video, I'll show you how to perform a complete bass guitar setup in about 10 minutes using just a few simple tools. We'll cover: • How to check and adjust neck relief (truss rod) • Setting string action for comfortable playability • Adjusting bridge saddle height • Setting intonation for perfect tuning across the fretboard Whether you've just bought a new bass or your favorite instrument isn't playing quite right, these simple adjustments can make a huge difference in tone, comfort, and playability. I'll also share the action measurements I personally use and explain how to tailor your setup to your own playing style. If you found this video helpful, please give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and leave a comment with your favorite setup tips or questions. 🎸 Subscribe for more bass gear reviews, setup guides, tone tips, and bass demos. Follow me @daveporterband on Insta and Facebook! Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Intro 1:07 Neck Relief 2:22 Action or Bridge Saddle Adjustment 5:27 Intonation #BassSetup #BassGuitar #BassGuitarSetup #BassLesson #BassTips #TrussRod #BassAction #BassIntonation #IbanezBass #BassPlayer

👍 Please support this channel and shop Sweetwater with this link: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aNPN6N The Ernie Ball Music Man Big Al 5 String is one of the most unique basses the company has ever produced. With its unmistakable Albert Lee-inspired body shape, three single-coil pickups, and incredibly versatile electronics, the Big Al has become something of a cult classic since production ended in 2015. In this video, I take a deep dive into this rare bass, explore its history and features, and demonstrate all eight pickup combinations so you can hear exactly what makes the Big Al so special. You'll hear each setting both direct and through the Neural DSP Darkglass Ultra plugin for a more realistic amp tone comparison. Whether you're a longtime Music Man fan, considering a used Big Al, or just love discovering unusual basses, this video will show why this overlooked instrument deserves another look. In this video: • History of the Music Man Big Al • 5-string model overview • Active/passive electronics explained • 4-band EQ and control layout • All 8 pickup combinations demonstrated • Clean DI and amp-sim tone comparisons • My favorite pickup settings • Buying tips for the used market If you enjoyed this video, please Like, Subscribe, and ring the notification bell so you won't miss future bass demos, reviews, and comparisons. Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveporterband Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Big Al Bass History 1:22 Controls and Preamp 1:58 Tone Examples 6:47 Final Thoughts #MusicMan #BigAl #BassGuitar #BassDemo #BassReview #ErnieBallMusicMan #FiveStringBass #BassTone #NeuralDSP #Darkglass #StingRay #BassPlayer #BassGear

👇 Sweetwater Affiliate Link: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aNPN6N Can one analog pedal replace an entire bass rig? In this video, I'm putting the @Tech21nyc SansAmp XB Driver through its paces to see what makes it one of the most versatile bass preamps and DI pedals available. I'll walk through every feature, including: 🎸 Clean and Drive channels 🎸 Blend (Mix) mode 🎸 Independent crossover filters 🎸 Analog FET compressor 🎸 Sweepable midrange EQ 🎸 Bite and Pre/Post switches 🎸 DI outputs and routing options 🎸 Plenty of real-world sound demos If you enjoyed this review, please consider: 👍 Like the video 🔔 Subscribe for more bass gear reviews, demos, and performance videos 💬 Leave a comment and let me know what you think of the SansAmp Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveporterband Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Intro 1:00 Controls 3:03 Clean Tone Examples 3:36 Drive Tone Examples 4:44 Mix Mode with Crossover 10:35 Back Panel Ins and Outs 11:19 Final thoughts #bassplayer #sansamp #bassguitar

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Xvive-AC58-Wireless-Charging-Electric/dp/B0FQTPTG2D Sweetwater: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AC58--xvive-ac58-wireless-guitar-system-gray Guitar Center: https://www.guitarcenter.com/XVive/ AMS: https://www.americanmusical.com/c/brands/xvive-audio In this video, I put the Xvive A58 5.8GHz Wireless Guitar System head-to-head against a $90 Mogami Gold instrument cable to find out. Listen closely to the audio examples and see if you can hear a difference before I reveal which is which. The Xvive A58 delivers 24-bit/48kHz digital audio, ultra-low latency (less than 5ms), a 100-foot operating range, and up to 5 hours of battery life. I also take a look at the BCA58 charging case, which makes it easy to keep the transmitter and receiver charged and ready for gigs, rehearsals, and studio sessions. Whether you're looking to eliminate cable clutter on stage or streamline your studio workflow, the A58 offers a simple and affordable wireless solution for bassists and guitarists alike. What do you think? Can you hear a difference between the Xvive A58 and the Mogami Gold cable? If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe! Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveporterband Website: https://daveporterband.com Timecodes 0:00 Intro 0:34 Specs 1:20 Wired vs wireless: reveal 2:12 Closing thoughts #Xvive #BassGear #BassReview #BassPlayer #BassGuitar #Mogami #WirelessSystem #BassDemo #GearReview #BassTone #BassChannel #BassistsOfYouTube