I was not a 6-string bass player before I played the Ken Smith BSR Elite. I was a 4-string player who occasionally used a 5-string when the music required it. Then someone put this instrument in my hands and I spent three hours with it without noticing time was passing.
That doesn’t happen often. I want to tell you what it was like.
What Is the Ken Smith BSR Elite?
Ken Smith has been building high-end custom basses in the USA since the late 1970s. His instruments are in the hands of players like Anthony Jackson, who was influential in developing the extended-range bass concept. The BSR Elite is a standard production model from his workshop — “standard” in the sense that it’s listed in the catalogue, not custom-ordered, but that doesn’t mean it’s a compromised instrument.
The 2007 BSR Elite 6-string I had access to featured a maple body with a figured top, a multi-laminate neck-through construction, and Ken Smith’s own pickups with his proprietary electronics. At the time these were selling for $3,500–$4,500 new. It’s a serious instrument for serious players.
My First Hour With a 6-String
The honest answer is that the first hour was disorienting. Not because the bass was hard to play — the neck is actually very comfortable and the string spacing is generous enough that you don’t feel cramped. It was disorienting because suddenly I had access to a low B and a high C simultaneously, and I kept accidentally touching strings I wasn’t intending to.
Right-hand muting technique on a 6-string is a completely different skill to 4-string playing. You have to be more deliberate about every note. That sounds like a disadvantage but it’s actually a practice tool — when I went back to my 4-string after those hours on the Ken Smith, my right-hand technique felt cleaner and more intentional.
By the second hour, I had adjusted. By the third hour, I was starting to understand why players like Anthony Jackson and John Patitucci swear by extended-range instruments.
The Build Quality
Ken Smith instruments are built to a standard that most production bass companies can’t match. The neck-through construction means there is no joint between the neck and body — the wood continues from the headstock through to the strap button. This affects sustain, resonance, and the way the instrument responds acoustically.
The figured maple top on the body was genuinely beautiful — not in a “I paid extra for the fancy wood” way, but in the sense that the natural figure in the grain was selected to complement the overall aesthetic of the instrument. Ken Smith pays attention to these things.
Hardware was excellent. Bridge saddles were well-machined and adjusted cleanly. Tuners held pitch without any slip over an extended session. These are details that matter more than people think when you’re working on intonation and technique.
The Tone
This is where the Ken Smith BSR Elite earns its reputation. The proprietary pickups and electronics have a character that I’d describe as clear and full — not scooped in the traditional active-bass way, but genuinely transparent in a way that lets the acoustic character of the instrument come through.
The low B on a 6-string can be a problem on cheaper instruments. It often sounds flabby, indistinct, not tight enough to be musical. On the Ken Smith it was firm and focused. You could play actual melodies down there rather than just using it as an occasional rumble.
The high C extended the range in the other direction into genuine guitar territory. I spent time playing chord inversions and melodic lines up there that I simply couldn’t have played on a 4-string, and it was genuinely musical — not just a novelty.
Who Is This Bass For?
The honest answer is: working professionals who need extended range. Session players. Players who work in jazz, fusion, or high-end function band environments where covering both low-end fundamentals and melodic lines in the same set is expected.
For a player who is still developing their 4-string technique, a 6-string bass will slow you down more than it helps you. The extended range is only useful if you have the technique to manage it. Get the fundamentals solid first, then explore extended range.
If you’re ready for it, the Ken Smith BSR Elite is one of the best ways to enter that world. It’s not an entry-level instrument, but it’s not unreasonably priced for what it delivers either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 6-string bass good for beginners?
No. A 6-string bass is significantly harder to play cleanly than a 4 or 5-string. The extra strings require more advanced right-hand muting technique and stronger fretboard knowledge. I’d recommend getting comfortable on a 4-string first, then moving to a 5-string, before considering a 6-string.
How much do Ken Smith basses cost?
New Ken Smith BSR models typically run $2,800–$4,500 depending on specifications. Custom orders can exceed $5,000. Used examples in good condition are generally $1,800–$3,000. They hold their value well.
What string spacing does the Ken Smith BSR Elite 6-string have?
The Ken Smith BSR Elite 6-string typically has 17–17.5mm string spacing at the bridge, which is considered comfortable for a 6-string bass. This is wider than many extended-range instruments and makes slap technique and two-handed tapping more accessible.
What is neck-through construction and why does it matter?
Neck-through construction means the neck is a single piece of wood that runs through the full length of the body rather than being bolted or glued on. This increases sustain, improves upper-fret access, and creates more consistent resonance across the full range. High-end bass manufacturers like Ken Smith use it exclusively.
Related Posts
The Ken Smith BSR Elite 6-string is where you stop talking about bass as a rhythm instrument and start treating it as a full harmonic instrument. Six strings forces a fundamental rethinking of how you approach the neck — not just more low notes, but a full extended range in both directions that changes how you think about chord voicings, walking lines, and solo work.
Ken Smith’s construction philosophy prioritizes balance and resonance over specification. The through-neck design on the BSR Elite gives you sustain characteristics that bolt-on instruments can’t match. Notes bloom through their full decay rather than cutting off, which matters enormously in solo contexts.
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