my take on all three builders.. please note...I forgot to mention the single and dual coil tap on the Fodera as well as it being a bolt on.....& the neckthrough on the tobias
This is only the 3rd video I've ever commented on since the beginning of CZcams. I thoroughly enjoyed your earnestness in your words. And you spoke the truth about all 3 basses. Keep at it, and stay cool. 👏
Hey Johnny, just wanted to say, love your vids and you make my day genuenly better and you're the only one who can do that. God bless you and please continue doing what you do with the same energy.
This review is a true representation of a bass enthusiasm. We heard your passion and we felt what you were feeling, its like I can imagine what a ken smith is now. Wish there were more reviewers like you. 🙏
Just as Johnny Long said, when you see a Ken Smith, you already know it is going to be an amazing playing experience! That's just the way it is. Not only that, you know the tone will be there. Ken Smith basses (at least the ones with the exposed pole soapbar pickups) have 100% consistent tone 100% of the time. In my personal experience, these basses will sound killer even while playing through a crappy-sounding amp!
Too many great builders out there but Tobias, Fodera, and Ken Smith proved themselves. My favorites are F Bass, NYBW, & BassMods. But Mike’s MTD line is crazy awesome!😳👍🏾
I don't understand the hype with Fodera. I have never like the way they sound (Victor Wooten not included). The Ken Smith and Tobias have a much better sound.
goooood stuff as always, my man -- would ya consider making a vid walking us through your setup process? show us how to take a bass that doesn't play quite how we'd like, and get it to where it kisses our fingertips and tucks em in at night? cheers!
All three are monster Basses along with Brubaker and even Ibanez has a few basses that are surprisly inexpensive but the sound is amazing, appreciate all your tutorials Johnny Lee Long and a heads up on my Gibson Ripper with the broken headstock, was told that I need to take it to a Luthier, if Im saying it correctly, any hoo which should be able to mend the head stock back on. Will keep you posted cause its a great vintage instrument and I dont want to part from it.....Shada Kaka to ya and tell Hooty woodsup with him!!😂😂😂
Thanks for the videos Johnny! If you want to hear just how good an early Tobias can sound, listen to Mel Brown doing his thang on Nelson Rangell‘s Destiny album. I don’t know if a bass can sound any better than that!
One detail about the Tobias, I believe he was the first to shape the cross section as an aeroplane wing, which the thin side on the treble. That makes the instrument play by itself, I only play 4 strings but I have a 6 string basic and is a dream.
One week back in 2020 I purchessed four basses three Cort and one Conklin.The Conklin blew the other three into the weeds instantly a 1996 fretless seven string.Love at first sight.I sold two Corts and kept one six string from 1997.It also is a fine bass,but what do I play cconstantly ? Conklin. :>)
My future collection right there just without the fodera... I have 1 which is a 2002 Ken Smith BSR5GNT just waiting to find a pre-Gibson Tobias 5 string
Wow, what a threesome. I said threesome! Awesome video! When I started playing bass, my teacher introduced me to Infectious Grooves. Robert Trujillo was playing a Tobias at the time. Not long after, I found a 90's Killer B for sale and luckily I got it. It has been through a lot of shows and punishment over the years, but I still have it and will never get rid of it. Tobias+MTD is my favourite.
Smiths has one of the best finger style tones, but there slap tone doesn’t do it for me, To light in the pants. Pre Gibson Tobias is the real deal. Fodera just cost to damn much money, lol, great tone though.
I'm Glad You Heard About The New Iteration Of Ken Smith BT Basses (Not To Be Confused With A Snuffy Smiff Bass 🤪). They're Going For, I Think, $6,100.00 For A 5 String. My Brother In Law SWEARS By His Ken Smith's. He Has 4 Of Them!!! Can't Beat Old School!!!
I have never heard an MTD that can touch an old-school Tobias! It's not even close in my opinion. There is nothing on earth like a Ken Smith! I still think that Foderas, which I'm sure very nice basses, are WAAAAY over-priced! Even if I could afford a Fodera, I still wouldn't buy one.
My funk soul brother...your enthusiasm and love for bass is beyond contagious!
You are truly ..
THE
BASS AMBASSADOR!!
Much love my brother!!
Beautiful basses! I feel an Alembic would also fit in nicely in that group!
Those pre Gibson Tobias basses are something else.
All of these Basses stem from the Bugatti of Modern active system Basses. ALEMBIC baby!!!!!!!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾💯💯
That the lost beautiful Tobias I've ever seen. Amazing
Tobias & ken smith sound really great but the fodera... i dont know man..
But the winner here is this bass player, shaddakakkaa! 😎
It's just so nice to see and hear them like this. Thank you.
This is only the 3rd video I've ever commented on since the beginning of CZcams. I thoroughly enjoyed your earnestness in your words. And you spoke the truth about all 3 basses. Keep at it, and stay cool. 👏
Hey Johnny, just wanted to say, love your vids and you make my day genuenly better and you're the only one who can do that. God bless you and please continue doing what you do with the same energy.
That Tobias is so beautiful!!
Man, this was such a fun video to watch.. loved it!
I totally love your excitement for basses :-)
This review is a true representation of a bass enthusiasm. We heard your passion and we felt what you were feeling, its like I can imagine what a ken smith is now.
Wish there were more reviewers like you. 🙏
The Tobias is something else. Nice video. Thank you.
Great video
That tobias looking sesy
Love those bases!!!
i have owned 4 string tobias for 20 yrs and love it
Smiths rule the world. The midrange bite is just unique.
OUTSTANDING!
It makes me happy to see you made this video! It's the truth! I own all three also, can't go wrong with any of them.
YOU are amazing !!!
Thank You So Much I watched this Vid and Bought a cheaper Tobias Killer B and it has changed my playing bigtime 25 percent Better overnight
Just as Johnny Long said, when you see a Ken Smith, you already know it is going to be an amazing playing experience! That's just the way it is. Not only that, you know the tone will be there. Ken Smith basses (at least the ones with the exposed pole soapbar pickups) have 100% consistent tone 100% of the time. In my personal experience, these basses will sound killer even while playing through a crappy-sounding amp!
Ken Smith is another level
respect to the 3 bass builders. For me Smith all the way...
Ooooh-Weeee! JLL is stepping like a real boss in that outfit! Stand back and let him through!
This guy is the best I love this guy
Cats don't know about Tyler Basses... They are right there with these three. We like what we like
whoooooooo bass candy, thanks Johnny
Too many great builders out there but Tobias, Fodera, and Ken Smith proved themselves. My favorites are F Bass, NYBW, & BassMods. But Mike’s MTD line is crazy awesome!😳👍🏾
Fodera.
Definitely 😍😍😍
Thank you for sharing! Man, I'd love to play at least ONE of those instruments one day!
Don't forget Roger Sadowsky
Tobias sound is Amazing!!!
That AJ Fodera though.... Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Love my Fodera………
I don't understand the hype with Fodera. I have never like the way they sound (Victor Wooten not included). The Ken Smith and Tobias have a much better sound.
three unbelievable basses
goooood stuff as always, my man -- would ya consider making a vid walking us through your setup process? show us how to take a bass that doesn't play quite how we'd like, and get it to where it kisses our fingertips and tucks em in at night? cheers!
Shaddakakaa
When ate we getting a video on all of your basses finally at last!!
The sound of that Fodera!!!!!!
I want a smitty like that sooooo baaaddd!!!.that's cool u mentioned F bass
Ken Smith all day!
Three bass manufacturing giants! Have a 1994 five string F-Bass with white binding....only five string I've owned!
I own an ALEMBIC Epic. How do feel it stacks up with these three buuilders?
Just as amazing
@@LONGCASTLE777 Hi friend. Are you by any chance on soundbetter.com?
Edit: I just realized that may have came off like a spam post, lol
Nice suite😃😃
Smith all the way baby...
All three are monster Basses along with Brubaker and even Ibanez has a few basses that are surprisly inexpensive but the sound is amazing, appreciate all your tutorials Johnny Lee Long and a heads up on my Gibson Ripper with the broken headstock, was told that I need to take it to a Luthier, if Im saying it correctly, any hoo which should be able to mend the head stock back on. Will keep you posted cause its a great vintage instrument and I dont want to part from it.....Shada Kaka to ya and tell Hooty woodsup with him!!😂😂😂
yooooo brotha your in dreamland i hate i missed this live
Thanks for the videos Johnny! If you want to hear just how good an early Tobias can sound, listen to Mel Brown doing his thang on Nelson Rangell‘s Destiny album. I don’t know if a bass can sound any better than that!
I liked the sound of Tobias
Johnny Lee looks like Marshall Jones of the Ohio Players.
One detail about the Tobias, I believe he was the first to shape the cross section as an aeroplane wing, which the thin side on the treble. That makes the instrument play by itself, I only play 4 strings but I have a 6 string basic and is a dream.
One week back in 2020 I purchessed four basses three Cort and one Conklin.The Conklin blew the other three into the weeds instantly a 1996 fretless seven string.Love at first sight.I sold two Corts and kept one six string from 1997.It also is a fine bass,but what do I play cconstantly ? Conklin. :>)
FODERA is nasty on the thump & pluck
👍👍👍👍👍
Man!!!!
My future collection right there just without the fodera... I have 1 which is a 2002 Ken Smith BSR5GNT just waiting to find a pre-Gibson Tobias 5 string
Smith💪🏾
Hello Bass man what's the fingerboard on the Tobias bass,and do you know the serial number of that bass and what year is it?
i really love Smith's sound. thank you
Ahh man wanted to him them in the hobo depot an swr La12 the one with no horn in it 😁😁😁🎸🎶
U forgot to mention Spector!
Where can I get that Smith from?
Johnny I love all the bases but I'm going to tell you that Tobias smokes everything you got on that video God bless you
Hey, Johnny, Ken Smith brought back the bt
Fodera for me. I have a 2008 and 2014 Yin Yang Deluxe.
Carl Thompson has a few things to say about this.
Tobías
No Sadowsky’s?
The smith good the tobias good the fodera good but the suit tops all of them
MAY-YONES...LOL!
I’m a RICKENBACKER guy (with thomastik infeld flatwounds)
Alembic
Wow, what a threesome. I said threesome! Awesome video! When I started playing bass, my teacher introduced me to Infectious Grooves. Robert Trujillo was playing a Tobias at the time. Not long after, I found a 90's Killer B for sale and luckily I got it. It has been through a lot of shows and punishment over the years, but I still have it and will never get rid of it. Tobias+MTD is my favourite.
But this is not a pre Gibson real Tobias? Looks so shiny and has wrong Knobs.
Smiths has one of the best finger style tones, but there slap tone doesn’t do it for me, To light in the pants. Pre Gibson Tobias is the real deal. Fodera just cost to damn much money, lol, great tone though.
I'm Glad You Heard About The New Iteration Of Ken Smith BT Basses (Not To Be Confused With A Snuffy Smiff Bass 🤪). They're Going For, I Think, $6,100.00 For A 5 String. My Brother In Law SWEARS By His Ken Smith's. He Has 4 Of Them!!! Can't Beat Old School!!!
Fodera sounds like in different level, I mean…..lower…
Dear Johnny lee long can you please post your Facebook contact see i can contact you and get a quote for some work, on several ibanez basses
Whats your email?
Facebook/Johnny lee long
Bootjak7@yahoo.com
I think dollar for dollar Warwick is the best bass manufacturer. Their 2500$ basses sound better than even fodera's 10 grand basses.
I have never heard an MTD that can touch an old-school Tobias! It's not even close in my opinion. There is nothing on earth like a Ken Smith! I still think that Foderas, which I'm sure very nice basses, are WAAAAY over-priced! Even if I could afford a Fodera, I still wouldn't buy one.
I've owned 2 Smiths they great basses. I wish I would have kept one of them.