Are bass ukuleles "legit"?

[TrustRod]

Curious, what do the rubber bands do?

Hold the wires out of the way until I finish things

 

[mongo2]

Hold the wires out of the way until I finish things

Cool...and clever.

 

[Duffer1]

Please post updates as you develop your great idea.

Photo is of last years model.
Currently trying a Beard National cone rather than Dobro in the same body.
Harsher and louder......

 

[Duffer1]

Please post updates as you develop your great idea.

It’s a work in progress - started off with a 1/2 size guitar neck and ply box like a cigar box guitar and worked on making my own neck etc.....

 

[Chickenwheels]

I posted earlier about wanting to get a U bass.
Anyway, I’ve tried a few now. Fun to play, but all the ones I looked at were really inconsistent tone/string volume wise. They also didn’t feel like they were quality instruments for live performance work (to me). I had hoped to get something cheap and fun but I think it’ll take a little more cash and time to get something I’d be happy with.
I’ll keep looking!

 

[seilerbird]

She doesn't appear to be using the standard "rubbery/sloppy" strings (at least all the ones I've seen are black). I'm guessing the strings she is using are significantly firmer/higher tension which enables her to be so articulate on a U-bass. I'd be surprised if anyone could play like that with the stock rubbery strings that were on the one I played.

Nope, those are the standard rubbery/sloppy strings I have on my Hadean. The rubbery/sloppy feeling lasts less than a week and by then you will have learned how to play them. It takes a different technique than metal strings.

It does sound surprisingly like a double bass especially for such a small instrument, but isn't that down to her technique as much as the instrument itself? It seems to me like the tone could only ever be a fairly superficial approximation of the woody goodness that you almost automatically get with a double bass.

It is the instrument and it does sound very much like a DB. It is not meant to do solo bowed recitals with but in a band setting it sounds exactly like a DB.

Legitimacy is probably like nearly every other question about music, really it just comes down to an individual taste thing, so whatever floats your goat dude.

I love mine. I stopped playing my Hofner as soon as I bought it. It sure is legit.

 

[Duffer1]

I posted earlier about wanting to get a U bass.
Anyway, I’ve tried a few now. Fun to play, but all the ones I looked at were really inconsistent tone/string volume wise. They also didn’t feel like they were quality instruments for live performance work (to me). I had hoped to get something cheap and fun but I think it’ll take a little more cash and time to get something I’d be happy with.
I’ll keep looking!

If you get the chance try the Kala metal wound on nylon strings. They are different - not necessarily better.....

 

[JCobbs]

That's an Ortega that Donna Lee is playing, with Thundergut strings. I love the little lizard laser cuts around the sound hole. I've been very satisfied with mine. Nice to know it's capable of that kind if playing, even if it'll never get there while I own it.

I always go back and watch this if I ever doubt my U bass! Problem is it then makes me doubt my ability