Kala UBass Megathread, Part 5

[jburtonca]

I wanna be the first kid on my block to rock those Aquila Thunder-Reds on my mahogany!

Jeff

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by jburtonca

I wanna be the first kid on my block to rock those Aquila Thunder-Reds on my mahogany!

Jeff

Me, too. Can't wait to see what they feel and sound like.

Our friends at Aquila are Not sitting idle!

[CaballoViejo]

Glad to hear it, guys!

After my experiences with TGs and SRs, I'm quite happy to sit back and let others be the guinea pigs, especially at $50 a set.

But then, perhaps I could attempt to wangle myself a free 'review' set by becoming an AHkwila cheerleader?

[cycler]

I'd love to own one to play out but don't have the time/ resources to re-invent the wheel. THe work Bob has done for you looks and sounds great. Is there a developing consensus of fretted versus fretless ? Any downside to the Rumbler if only playing amplified ?

I think my best bet is to pick one up and send it to Nebraska for Bob's tune up.

[1stnamebassist]

Has anyone seen or heard the new u-basses with the built-in preamp? I'm holding off on purchasing a u-bass until I hear some reviews. I checked with a local dealer and he wasn't even aware of them coming out at all!

[3234718]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXJXQ_C1ifk
This is the only sound clip I've found. It's of the new rumbler. Horrendous audio, so it's basically a useless sample.

Here's another of what looks like the new mahogany. Also horrific audio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chYyFlwr2QA

[SBassman]

The new UBasses are supposed to be available in a few weeks or so.

None of us will know until we get our hands on them, but one would expect they'd sound similar to existing models.

Despite the insane amount of poorly recorded audio out in the wild, these basses sound incredible.

[CaballoViejo]

Originally Posted by 3234718

Here's another of what looks like the new mahogany.

Doesn't look like it to me: white saddle, no binding...

[imperialbari]

Originally Posted by 3234718

Here's another of what looks like the new mahogany. Also horrific audio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chYyFlwr2QA

Looks exactly like mine bought in November 2012:

Tortoise binding. No preamp.

Klaus

[CaballoViejo]

It has binding? Ha! That's what I get for watching it on my phone!

[1stnamebassist]

Thanks! I'll be waiting!

[yeelaberbin]

Originally Posted by simplegroove

Hi, everyone! I'm studying in another country soon and was just wondering if I'll be able to bring the kala ubass together with its hard foam case inside the plane during the airplane flight. I know that it's marketed as passing all airline regulation rules and guidelines. But it does look pretty large (when it's inside its hard foam case) for a hand-carry and was wondering if anyone has done this on a flight already.

Thank you!

I'm interested too, if some of you have experiences to share about it!
With the name of the airline

[Kuroth]

Hi.. I just got my H-Bass delivered today but when I hook it up to my Amp No sound... There is not a on off button is there?

I have the Acoustic-electric bass Spruce Top one..

Got it mainly for my 8 year old Girl and she is interested in my bass but of course she is too small for it..


Thanks!
__________________

[Kuroth]

I kind of pressed down on the Pickup and then all the sudden it started working and has been working ever since.. So I guess maybe the pickup got loose or something during shipping...

There is not battery in these correct?

Seems kind of hard to keep in perfect tune.. I get it there and then it stays right around the Sweet spot but never 100% right on.. But sounds ok..

The A sting.. I get some Fret Buzz on some of the positions on the A string.. Anyone else get that and is there a Fix.. I pressed the A sting with my thumb on the nut and that seemed to help some..

Overall sweet sound from it.. I like it..

[imperialbari]

If you have the Pahoehoe strings they stretch like crazy, when you start tuning them up from new. I am a little reluctant about pulling them to speed the stretching, because intonation goes haywire, if they are not stretched evenly.

As for the fret buzz: if the UBass is set up properly, the most likely reason for the buzz is wrong placement of the fretting fingers. If the finger touches the fret, the buzz is likely to happen.

I practice on a fretted as well as on a fretless. If one places ones fretting fingers, where they should be on the fretless, then the same finger placement will cause a buzz on the fretted.

Klaus

[Kuroth]

Hi thanks for the info... So there is no battery in them correct.?. And there is no truss rod adjustment correct? What kind of adjustments can I do to set it up?

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by Kuroth

I kind of pressed down on the Pickup and then all the sudden it started working and has been working ever since.. So I guess maybe the pickup got loose or something during shipping...

There is not battery in these correct?

Seems kind of hard to keep in perfect tune.. I get it there and then it stays right around the Sweet spot but never 100% right on.. But sounds ok..

The A sting.. I get some Fret Buzz on some of the positions on the A string.. Anyone else get that and is there a Fix.. I pressed the A sting with my thumb on the nut and that seemed to help some..

Overall sweet sound from it.. I like it..

Enough people have had initial issues that were later easily solved with a fresh set of strings, that, you may want to go for that. If things aren't better, at least you already have a spare on hand.

The stock strings are going to stretch for quite some time. It's normal, and it will later stabilize.

There is not a battery in the existing acoustics. Does anyone out there know precisely what the pickup wiring is like? I have never had one in hand. It might be modular where ends match with a plug instead of soldering, and if that was true, it would make sense trying to take it apart and back together again. If no one has the facts on that, consider calling Kala Monday. They will absolutely do what it takes to get your bass Perfect. They're a great bunch.

Some but not all have a truss rod. Look into the top of the sound hole.

Please keep us posted. There's always this getting things set phase, but after that, the fun will multiply big time.

[Kuroth]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Enough people have had initial issues that were later easily solved with a fresh set of strings, that, you may want to go for that. If things aren't better, at least you already have a spare on hand.

The stock strings are going to stretch for quite some time. It's normal, and it will later stabilize.

There is not a battery in the existing acoustics. Does anyone out there know precisely what the pickup wiring is like? I have never had one in hand. It might be modular where ends match with a plug instead of soldering, and if that was true, it would make sense trying to take it apart and back together again. If no one has the facts on that, consider calling Kala Monday. They will absolutely do what it takes to get your bass Perfect. They're a great bunch.

Some but not all have a truss rod. Look into the top of the sound hole.

Please keep us posted. There's always this getting things set phase, but after that, the fun will multiply big time.

Thank you for the Info.. I really love this little bass already.. Has a sweet floor bass type tone.. Funky and Sweet..

[CaballoViejo]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Does anyone out there know precisely what the pickup wiring is like? I have never had one in hand.

No plugs - they're hard-wired.

[olitoon]

Originally Posted by SBassman

There is not a battery in the existing acoustics.

All recent models are active. Passive ones are from last year. (I ordered a Mahogany last December and it already had the Shadow pickup / preamp)