They're the stock shortbass strings. Look on youtube for the shortbass and you'll see them. Supposed to be a copper infused rubber/plastic composite? Something like that, though I may have just made that up. It's early.
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IIRC, it's kind of a Thundergut string with copper oxide added, which makes them heavier at the same gauge -> thinner at the same frequency / scale. I haven't played them, but I assume they are between the Thunderguts and standard bass guitar strings.
I really really wish Aquila would sell the strings. I know they exist. I've seen video of them. SBassman has a set of them on his shortbass. I want to give my money to Aquila in exchange for these strings. Please Aquila. Please?
I do know what the Red Thundergut strings are but we have been waiting since April for them as well as the fretless ShortBass One. Vaporware is what it is called in the computer business and that is why I ordered the GT MicroBass. It will be here on 12/3/13 I hope, it is coming ground and with the weather in the Midwest it is probably a crap shoot.
It would be nice to know the tension on the Thunder Guts, I have been told by Road Toad Music that the tension on all 4 of the Pahohoes on a Kala UBass is only 40 lbs total.
A buddy of mine who's a much better bass player just played the micro. It's got a pretty awesome slap tone. The slap is all thump without any really note definition but the pop...well...really pops. Very cool.
I wonder about the battery life. I've had bad experiences with those CR2032 batteries in ukulele preamps and one thing I really like about my Kala U-Bass is the battery-free passive pickup. I would probably pick up a Gold Tone bass if it wasn't for the fact that it relies on two CR2032 batteries to function.
- Steve
- Steve
In anticipation I just order 2 ea 5 packs of CR2032 batteries from Amazon for a whopping $4.00 with free shipping.
That's a good question. May of 2013, apparently. Hey, wait just a darn second......
I can't speak for Aquila. I know it is still the intention.
When? I have no idea.
From what I heard, felt, and saw when I did have them in my hands - they will be well worth the wait.
Has anyone tried restringing the existing strings? My a is coming down to the post so I wanna cut some off and restring. My only concern is that it may not hold and then I'll be stuck with no a. I've restrung ubasses dozens of times but never used the actual hole in the post like you're apparently supposed to with the micro.
I'm also considering going hybrid and using pahoehoe's for the e and a. The squeak and stickyness is only really an issue on the fatter strings.
The Gold Tone MicroBass is very easy to restring. Go ahead and chop off a little, put the string as far down into the post as it goes, and wind it back up. It will hold easily.
Can you share your experience with these batteries in more detail? My bandmate's Ibanez uke has them. Should we worry?
They just don't seem to last very long. They didn't in the Kala ukes my daughter and I owned and at least once a month I have to loan my MiSi equipped uke to someone at my open mic who shows up with a dead CR2032 in their instrument.
- Steve
hey - I can't keep track of these things
Is this Gold Tone the same as the 'ShortBass 1'?
and, does anyone know anything about the ShortBass 14?? I think the 27" scale might be just right but I can't find anything except vague references to it 'coming out soon'?
Is this Gold Tone the same as the 'ShortBass 1'?
and, does anyone know anything about the ShortBass 14?? I think the 27" scale might be just right but I can't find anything except vague references to it 'coming out soon'?
The shortbass is made by aquila, which is the company that makes thundergut strings. The microbass is made by gold tone, and uses aquila thunderguts. Gold tone makes mostly banjos. As for the differences btw shortbass models, one is slightly longer than the other.
Nothing against aquila, but they had a chance to corner the 23"+ petrochemically strung bass market. I wish them well, but gold tone has my business. Once they come out with the solid body, they'll have more of my business.
Nothing against aquila, but they had a chance to corner the 23"+ petrochemically strung bass market. I wish them well, but gold tone has my business. Once they come out with the solid body, they'll have more of my business.
