Are bass ukuleles "legit"?

[InternetAlias]

Really depends on what you are playing. Funk with snappy slappy tone? Nope. Metal with zingy grindy clang? Nope. Fusion jazz that requires extremely fast articulation and note clarity? Nope.

Otherwise, for most purposes, it will do fine.

 

[Tommy V]

i play tenor uke, but have never laid hands on a ubass... after seeing some of the videos here, i'm gonna check one out.

 

[Keger Jupit]

Yes. All instruments matter.

 

[Tad]

I played a couple in the store and was pleasantly surprised.

I’m thinking about buying one for when I have to travel. They say that you can count one in the gigbag as a carry-on.

Taking A UBass and my Dean Bass in a Box pocket amp or my Tascam Bass Trainer would be easier than taking a full size bass. And it would sure beat not being able to play for a week or two.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Your thoughts?

I’ve seen a couple little acoustic duos and trios with a bass player playing a kala. The YouTube videos do not do justice to how fat those little monsters sound coming out of a decent PA system. The only reason I don’t have one is the only consistent gigging band I play with is a metal band now.

 

[bassrique]

I’ve seen a couple little acoustic duos and trios with a bass player playing a kala. The YouTube videos do not do justice to how far those little monsters sound coming out of a decent PA system. The only reason I don’t have one is the only consistent gigging band I play with is a metal band now.

I saw a vid like that. Is there also one with a 5-string U bass?

 

[buldog5151bass]

They are just as "legit" as the bass guitar. Four (or more) strings recreating the string bass, but then becoming their own animal.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

You ever played a cigar box uke? Darn good fun.

Sure have, but it was used more as a percussion instrument...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Can rubber bands on a cigar box get the nice amplified tone that the u-basses get?

The first time I picked up one of the Kalas I thought the fat rubbery strings felt bizarre under my fingers, but then the salesman plugged it into an amp, and...it just works.

Actually now that you mention it, I did not use an amp....humm. Guess I have to try again.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

If it served the music that would be legit too. We have a few cigar box players around here. For about a year I gigged an electric upright I made using a large cigar box and another EUB I made using a small washtub.

True, but 100% of the music I play would not call for one of those. It would be interesting to hear someone playing La Freak or Uptown Funk on one of those...

 

[Nephilymbass]

I saw a vid like that. Is there also one with a 5-string U bass?

What I was meaning was they sound better in person at a gig going through pa than in any of the demo videos ive seen online of them. I think this because what makes them sound so good is the nice big bottom end they have and that’s not really translated well in the videos

 

[zubrycky]

Of course they're legit. Why wouldn't they be? They're as legit as any other instrument in the bass range.

I second that.

 

[mongo2]

True, but 100% of the music I play would not call for one of those. It would be interesting to hear someone playing La Freak or Uptown Funk on one of those...

LOL. We actually did Uptown Funk and I used my Kala for a couple of rehearsals. I don't try to cop specific tones so it worked fine for me and no one had any objections.

 

[zubrycky]

After seeing this interesting thread, I can picture in my mind a 50's version of TB with this question: Are electric basses "legit"?

 

[Liam Wald]

Although the bass and the ukulele did give birth to this unlikely spawn, the were never actually married. Consequently the bass ukulele is strictly illegitimate and as such is considered a bastard child by the holy church.

 

[thehindteet]

no they're fake and the union will have you arrested if you're caught with one at a gig. I'm replying to this from minimum security prison on a 7 week sentence.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

LOL. We actually did Uptown Funk and I used my Kala for a couple of rehearsals. I don't try to cop specific tones so it worked fine for me and no one had any objections.

That must have Ben a riot! Thanks....

 

[mongo2]

That must have Ben a riot! Thanks....

You're welcome.

 

[40Hz]

Of course they're legit. Why wouldn't they be? They're as legit as any other instrument in the bass range.

This.

I’m not personally wild about them. But they serve their purpose. And in the hands of a skilled player, just like everything else, they can sound as good as anything else.

If it serves the song, it’s legit IMO.

 

[2F/2F]

What the hell is "legit" and why would you care about it? Play one if you want to play one. Don't if you don't.