Flats on a U-Bass

[el murdoque]

My U-Bass (Kala Journeyman) is currently strung with Kala Roundwound Strings.
I tried the Thunderguts and did not like them a lot, and then discovered that Kala also does flats. The price for a set is rather hefty and the reviews I found online are mixed. People often complain about the price and about intonation further up the neck.
So I was wondering if there is some other brand one might consider but either my Google-Fu is not strong enough or Kala is the only choice. Anyone here happy with flats on their U-Basses?

 

[JonathanSV]

Interested in this also, as I have the cheapest model with the black thick pu strings, and I like flats...

 

[el murdoque]

I think I read somewhere that LaBella does flats for U-Bass, but I could not find them on their website. I wrote them a mail, though. I guess I'll have a reply on Monday.

 

[iiipopes]

I have had good experience with the tone, consistency, longetivity, tuning stability, and blend with the other ukuleles in the group I play with, Uke66, using the Kala Silver Rumblers. They have better density and resistance to roll under the fingers than do the stock strings, but still retain the ukulele vibe.

Link to the Kala U-Bass strings page:
U•BASS® Strings – Kala Brand Music Co.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I have a GoldTone Micro which is like a Kala but with a 23" scale length. I put a set of TI Jazz Flats on it (had to cut a lot off them) and it is killer. Expensive but worth it. A sound guy told me it was the best bass sound he'd ever come across.

 

[el murdoque]

I did cough up the $$$ and ordered a set of Kala/Galli Flatwounds. So far, I only got around to install the E string. Result 1: The slots in the nut are too narrow. Remedied with a file.

Result 2: The intonation is way off. Fretting the E string in the 5th fret is a lot closer to G# than to A.

How does one set the Intonation on a U-Bass?
Is this normal?

 

[el murdoque]

update:
I installed all the strings. A, D and G are just fine.
The E string is about 50 cents flat on every fretted note when I tune the open string to E.
When I tune the string so the fretted A is exactly A, all the fretted notes fit, but the open E string is about 50 cents sharp. This feels wrong. I have no experience with such problems on acoustic instruments.

 

[iiipopes]

Check your nut. The distance between the leading edge of the nut and the first fret should be exactly double the distance from the center of the 12th fret to the 13th fret. Mine was off and caused the instrument to go flat in the upper frets. My luthier repositioned the nut and all is good.

 

[Jeremias Paul]

I have a GoldTone Micro which is like a Kala but with a 23" scale length. I put a set of TI Jazz Flats on it (had to cut a lot off them) and it is killer. Expensive but worth it. A sound guy told me it was the best bass sound he'd ever come across.

Hi, do you have the solid body Gold Tone?