Kala Solid body UBass vs Ashbory?

phatbass · #1 08-01-2011, 02:56 AM

As a happy Ashbory owner, I was just wondering if people who've played both could say what the differences are sonically, etc., between the Ashbory and the UBass? Which would you prefer and why?

Just curious...

bgmww · #2 08-01-2011, 10:54 AM

i love the concept and i guess i'm gonna get one in the future.
Love Kala's shape, and hate it in the Ashbory.... But.. come on ! U$ 1299 for a Kala ? NO WAY ! I will get an Ashbory without much thinking.

cnltb · #3 08-01-2011, 11:03 AM

I love my ashbory and find the ubass just a little silly.
Soundwise they are VERY similar but the ubass just doesn't have the cool like the ash does and at that price for the kala, it's an absolute no-brainer I think.

Akami · #4 07-13-2012, 01:42 AM

Now that there are a few more Kala's out there what are the preferences between them and the Ashbory?

mongo2 · #5 07-13-2012, 04:28 AM

I recently tried a solidbody Kala to possibly replace my Ashbory. I felt that the Kala didn't cop the "upright" vibe a well as the Ashbory but the Kala had frets which was nice.

I passed on the Kala for now.

slaerts · #6 07-13-2012, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgmww

i love the concept and i guess i'm gonna get one in the future.
Love Kala's shape, and hate it in the Ashbory.... But.. come on ! U$ 1299 for a Kala ? NO WAY ! I will get an Ashbory without much thinking.

Thats a little out of context. You've quoted the list price of the most expensive model. The solid body subs are in the $350-$425 range, but still expensive compared to the ashbory's $270 price tag. The ahsbory is only fretless. Fretless is not everybodies cup of tea.The kala is fretted and fretless. I much prefer a fretted acoustic kala to the solid bodied ones. I couldn't get comfy with the ashbory's lack of a body.

3234718 · #7 07-13-2012, 05:52 AM

Have you tried the acoustic ubass? $400-$500 bucks is much more reasonable than $1200+ for the american made solid ubass, and they both sound very similar.

CJAtheBassman · #8 03-14-2013, 06:35 PM

I haven't played either instrument, but from what I can tell, apart from the difference in appearance, the U-Bass is fretted (but there are fretless versions available) and the Ashbory is fretless. Personally, I probably would prefer the U-Bass because it has frets (even though both are ukulele scale, I, knowing myself, would most likely not have the patience to learn fretless)

mongo2 · #9 03-14-2013, 07:43 PM

I'm still passing on the Kala.

CamMcIntyre · #10 03-14-2013, 08:17 PM

I want to try a fretted Kala Rumbler...I think they are supposed to go for about $300. I don't need one by any stretch, but the way they look amuses me. It also seems like something that I could leave at my girlfriends house to plunk around on while she studies for the LSAT.

BTW, I also own an Ashbory. I think I've played 10-12 gigs with it since I bought it back in the late 90's. It is a fun bass to mess around on, but the only times that I have used it where either to get a synthy tone (loads of effects) or to simulate a DB. That was before I started to play DB though.

Bongolation · #11 03-14-2013, 08:34 PM

The Ashbory's got some problems I couldn't get past, though there may have been some fixes by now.

One, there's a known problem with low output, which is a nuisance.

Two, the G string problems are notorious. Either the original G breaks constantly, or you get a replacement from Tavener which doesn't, but it's way too small in diameter so it buzzes and sounds nasty.

Other than that, it's a fun device.

If there's a solution to these problems, let me know.

I have nothing on the UBass.

User "scotch" should have some input.

jhob · #12 03-28-2013, 09:40 AM

There is a solution to the string problem now: nylon aquila thunderguts

I've just bought a second-hand ashbory with the silicone strings and plan to replace them at some point with the aquila thunderguts.

3234718 · #13 03-28-2013, 09:41 AM

Depending on your finger chemistry, these may or may not be unplayably sticky. Others love them, I couldn't play them.

1stnamebassist · #14 03-28-2013, 10:09 AM

I use the Silver Rumblers on my fretless acoustic Ubass. The E and A strings are a bit sticky, but a dab of talc on the strings and fingers remedies the problem. I played some classic rock and blues with some friends the other day. Everbody loved it. Did a Church gig last week and the Ubass was a hit. Its definitely not a toy by any stretch! Tried a fretted solid body and it played and sounded fine. Have no experience with the Ashbory however.

jdepriest · #15 03-28-2013, 01:26 PM

I tried a Ashbory about a year ago and HATED it. The feel, the look, the tone just sucked and wasn't "me". It sounded like a bass guitar toy. Then I played an acoustic Ubass and within a few minutes I had it sounding like my upright. My wife surprised me with a Cali 5-string solid body fretless for Christmas and it's awesome. I've used it on several gigs when I didn't want to take my fully carved upright. Then in February I was one of the winners on Kala's web site and won a 4 string fretless spruce top acoustic. It's really good also. The tone is not as good as the solid body , espisally the E, but it's still a good substitute for the upright when needed.

jburtonca · #16 03-28-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stnamebassist

I use the Silver Rumblers on my fretless acoustic Ubass. The E and A strings are a bit sticky, but a dab of talc on the strings and fingers remedies the problem. I played some classic rock and blues with some friends the other day. Everbody loved it. Did a Church gig last week and the Ubass was a hit. Its definitely not a toy by any stretch! Tried a fretted solid body and it played and sounded fine. Have no experience with the Ashbory however.

I did the talc thing on my Ashbory for a while, but now I use a mineral oil soaked sponge in a small Lock & Lock container for my Ashbory and mahogany U-Bass. It works better and is not messy like talc. I think GHS Fast Fret contains a solid form of mineral oil so I suppose you could try that also. Check my posts for info. I should point out that I only use the mineral oil on the Aquila and black Kala strings. I would not advise using it on the Ashbory silicone strings.

chadds · #17 03-28-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

The Ashbory's got some problems I couldn't get past, though there may have been some fixes by now.

One, there's a known problem with low output, which is a nuisance.

Two, the G string problems are notorious. Either the original G breaks constantly, or you get a replacement from Tavener which doesn't, but it's way too small in diameter so it buzzes and sounds nasty.

Other than that, it's a fun device.

If there's a solution to these problems, let me know.

I have nothing on the UBass.

User "scotch" should have some input.

Do you have an original Guild Ashbory or a DeArmond?

There is no output issue with the DeArmonds. If its a Guild it could be failing at the input jack an internal pre component or the piezo. The new bridges don't retrofit easily and I didn't want to modify mine. I have gigged them steadily since the '90s so I picked up the DeArmond.

The original padded bag is responsible for the G string breakage. Though some have had breakage outside of the case when I switched to Viola cases, no breakage in twenty years. Your finger nails could be a culprit. The dreaded finding it broken in the case is a tug by the internal lining of the gig bag on the G string.

I agree your body chemistry will determine which strings feel tacky.
I like the Pahoehoes in the short scale for Ashbory size. Once broken in they can be nice. Your touch has to vary as the string formulations vary. One may sound uprightish to you and plasticky to me.

I love the Ashbory. I play it in one group exclusively. It's fun watching audience members craning their necks to find the instrument that sounds like a dog house. At least three peeps show up to ask questions between sets.

The fundamental it delivers is ridiculous.