Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3

**smperry** · #1 03-22-2012, 09:55 PM

Continued from: Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2 - TalkBass Forums

bryanspkr · #2 03-23-2012, 02:18 AM

I'm looking forward to your review Tim!
Since you ordered direct from Italy, I am also curious about how much you paid for the strings.

Jjango · #3 03-23-2012, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

We don't have a look. Unless Old is a look.

That's sig-worthy stuff!

caeman · #4 03-23-2012, 06:01 AM

Hello megathread part 3!

**TimWatson** · #5 03-23-2012, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanspkr

I'm looking forward to your review Tim!
Since you ordered direct from Italy, I am also curious about how much you paid for the strings.

I didn't order from Italy. I ordered from an online retailer. They didn't come through and ended up refunding me. Mimmo got wind of this and made it right very swiftly, and was indignant about the whole thing. He really cares about his customers.

GBassNorth · #6 03-23-2012, 06:30 AM

Oh, Mega 3....
I'm in.

Was looking at some of the last posts in thread 2 and saw this one from Chad

"Honestly, the U-Bass sounds just plain weird above the 7th fret. There less than zero sustain. The notes just don't sound good at all."

That is weird. Mine sounds fine all the way to the 12th and a little beyond. I have adjusted my playing style to avoid the G string when possible since it just sounds out of balance (vol, sustain, timbre) with the rest of the strings. Of course this causes a lot of left hand movement up and down the board on the D string but it just sounds better and more balanced to me.
I understand there may be some updated string sets on the newer Ubass hollowbodys with a thicker G and D, so that might solve the problem. But for now I don't see a need to restring, in fact I think mine are breaking in very nicely. They sound warmer and smoother than original and are holding their tuning with no problems.

**TimWatson** · #7 03-23-2012, 06:47 AM

+1
The stock strings sounds great after broken in. Mine have opened up and sound great all the way up the board. I am an upright player and I like thump. With the right technique and gear/settings you can get great tone in any range.

plankspanker13 · #8 03-23-2012, 08:15 AM

I'll reiterate an opinion from the last page of Megathread #2: IF they make a fretless SUB model, it will sell like hotcakes, and make the U-bass a must-have for the multi-instrument player, and fretless novices.

caeman · #9 03-23-2012, 08:18 AM

Go out and buy some cheap piece of junk bass and defret it as a practice run.

I am happy with my Gretsch G2202 for the now, but I must admit I am curious to try a solid body SUB.

**TimWatson** · #10 03-23-2012, 08:22 AM

My fretless Cali 5 is great, but I still generally prefer the sound and feel of the fretless Hog. Soon it will be wearing white strings and I may like it more :-)

TheEmptyCell · #11 03-23-2012, 09:01 AM

After playing my U-bass for the last several weeks with the Thunderguts I'm noticing that my E string isn't really in tune except when played open. I haven't checked against my tuner, but it seems to be sharp at every fret.

Can anyone comment on the intonation of their fretted U-bass? Could it be that my E string is twisted or something, causing this issue? Or is it just the nature of the fretted beast? All my other strings are spot on.

scotch · #12 03-23-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell

After playing my U-bass for the last several weeks with the Thunderguts I'm noticing that my E string isn't really in tune except when played open. I haven't checked against my tuner, but it seems to be sharp at every fret.

Can anyone comment on the intonation of their fretted U-bass? Could it be that my E string is twisted or something, causing this issue? Or is it just the nature of the fretted beast? All my other strings are spot on.

I've played 4 or 5 fretted U-Basses so far. Some seem to intonate better than others, regardless of string type. I suspect quality control is pretty inconsistent as far as bridge location!

TheEmptyCell · #13 03-23-2012, 09:19 AM

I was afraid of that. Is the bridge saddle one piece, or can individual saddles be replaced? I'm thinking if I could get the right material, I could try and file a new one for better intonation on the E.

**smperry** · #14 03-23-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

I'll reiterate an opinion from the last page of Megathread #2: IF they make a fretless SUB model, it will sell like hotcakes, and make the U-bass a must-have for the multi-instrument player, and fretless novices.

I have *no* idea of the market whatsoever, but for me, fretted ones are much more appealing. It's harder to play in tune on such a small scale. If you've ever been to an elementary school orchestra concert you know what I'm talking about.

TheEmptyCell · #15 03-23-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

I have *no* idea of the market whatsoever, but for me, fretted ones are much more appealing. It's harder to play in tune on such a small scale. If you've ever been to an elementary school orchestra concert you know what I'm talking about.

I'm with you there. I'm sure with practice intonation comes pretty easily, but I love my fretted, even with intonation issues.

caeman · #16 03-23-2012, 09:27 AM

I am used to playing fiddles and mandolins. Very short scales are only slightly harder than normal scales. For that matter, because your fingers have to travel less distance from note to note, one can adapt very quickly and be just as accurate. I prefer the fretless nature of the fiddle to the mandolin's frets. They never seem to be in the right place.

One of the things I enjoy with the U-Bass is that my left doesn't have to move very far. Getting from note to note is more motion-efficient than with a normal scale bass.

scotch · #17 03-23-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell

I was afraid of that. Is the bridge saddle one piece, or can individual saddles be replaced? I'm thinking if I could get the right material, I could try and file a new one for better intonation on the E.

Its a single piece with the piezo mounted in the unit.

**smperry** · #18 03-23-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

I am used to playing fiddles and mandolins. Very short scales are only slightly harder than normal scales. For that matter, because your fingers have to travel less distance from note to note, one can adapt very quickly and be just as accurate. I prefer the fretless nature of the fiddle to the mandolin's frets. They never seem to be in the right place.

One of the things I enjoy with the U-Bass is that my left doesn't have to move very far. Getting from note to note is more motion-efficient than with a normal scale bass.

Okay that makes a lot of sense. My basses are all 34.5" scale, and I've also dabbled on upright. It's easier for me to play those instruments in tune than say, a short scale Rob Allen fretless that I tried. But, the scale here is so low that your hand doesn't even need to move much, so I can see how there could be a point at which it's easier to play in tune. Gotcha!

caeman · #19 03-23-2012, 09:53 AM

As with any instrument, it just takes practice.

**smperry** · #20 03-23-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

As with any instrument, it just takes practice.

Of course. I'm happy with my long scales, but I am thinking about one of these instruments for my kids, who have taken an interest in bass.