Gold Tone MicroBass Talk

[katysax]

About the Short Bass One: I have one. It cost me about $550 with shipping from Britain - it was a store demo. I don't think they are making them now. I have seen a few on Craigslist selling for $400-500. I don't think they were ever actually sold in the US but a few people like me bought them from Europe.

How loud is it? I don't have the Goldtone UBass I do have the Kala one and I have played the Goldtone. The Shortbass is louder, a bit. It isn't really loud enough except in very limited situations. It is also pretty crudely made with very badly finished frets. I use it mostly for practice without having to plug in. But it didn't work where I needed it to. I was playing bass where I could not use an amp. I ended up using a Luna acoustic ubass with strings the same as the bottom four strings of an acoustic guitar. With the sound being a little bit higher in pitch and using a pick I could be heard acoustically. I also found that a standard acoustic bass guitar with steel strings was louder than the Short Bass One. In the end I got tired of not being amped and figure that if I can't use at least my Double Four my bass isn't wanted.

You would not be able to hear a ShortBass One around a campfire with a couple of guitars. You could probably hear it with two acoustic guitars in a bathroom.

 

[selowitch]

You would not be able to hear a ShortBass One around a campfire with a couple of guitars. You could probably hear it with two acoustic guitars in a bathroom.

Seems to me the GoldTone MicroBass is the better bet, and I personally would go for the fretless 25"-scale one.

 

[Tim Grant]

I played the GT MB-25 for one set last night. I saw someone was recording. I'll try to get a hold of a copy and post it if it doesn't suck too much. The stage/ band placement was awkward. The stage was Reagan's inaugural float/ stage. So it was long but not very deep. The rhythm section was on one side and the horns and singers were stretched across the side. No monitors except for vocals. It did not work well for hearing each other. Anyway, one thing I noticed that I'm not sure anyone mentioned. Do not rely on the tuner to mute for longer than a minute or two. The tuner mode switches off after a couple of minutes and your bass will go live again. I had plenty of time to tune between each song because the band leader had to walk across the stage each time to relay messages regarding the next song. All in all the bass worked nicely. It is not a replacement for an upright but, it is closer than my Fender Jazz with flats and foam under the bridge and/ or the thumb technique.

 

[Hallic]

I play my GT microbass 25 fl daily. Before i got it, i ordered the shortbass one 14-fl model. I ordered directly from aquila, it was then 600 euros(quite expensive[they are now just under 450 euro when buying from shops]). The bass they sent me had several problems: dents on the body's top, rough edges on the fingerboard and headstock. The was a rattling sound(lose pickup wire). And after a week the bridge started to tilt. Because of all these things i asked for a return.
When contacting aquila they stated they could guarantee that the replacement bass would be flawless. The production quality wasnt too great...
However, i did really liked the tone it did! It was then that i went to look further and got a Goldtone microbass.

Regarding loudness of the Shortbass One: I also played with people to test it. It could keep playing together in a room with a regular ukulele. When playing with a steel string guitar it would get lost when the guitar player would strum hard.

 

[selowitch]

I play my GT microbass 25 fl daily.

How is the unplugged volume when playing with others (e.g., a guitarist)?

 

[TheDominoKid]

What's up guys?! Just got in a Gold Tone MicroBass 25FL yesterday and so far I'm loving it...but those strings honk every-so-often when I'm amped up.

From what I can gather I should either get some powder (billiards bag) or nose grease/fast fret... Any other solutions?

I actually like the strings that came on the bass except for that one little side effect. I'm also really going for that upright tone and would hate to lose that.

Anyone ever upgrade the preamp in one of these?

Thanks!

 

[KohanMike]

I never liked the white Aquila Thundergut strings, way too noisy and I find it ridicules to have to carry and apply powder to them. I much prefer the Road Toad Pahoehoe black strings, which in my opinion have a better upright tone, stay very smooth, but do take a long time to settle in. I have them on five of my bass ukes. I also have a set of Aquila Thunder Reds on on my custom fretless acoustic that 1stnamebassist suggested to apply powder only once, which I did, and so far they have been good.

I also replaced the preamp with a Joyo I bought from China. I didn't like that when I was playing, the preamp faced sideways, so I got one that faced me.

 

[TheDominoKid]

I never liked the white Aquila Thundergut strings, way too noisy and I find it ridicules to have to carry and apply powder to them. I much prefer the Road Toad Pahoehoe black strings, which in my opinion have a better upright tone, stay very smooth, but do take a long time to settle in. I have them on five of my bass ukes. I also have a set of Aquila Thunder Reds on on my custom fretless acoustic that 1stnamebassist suggested to apply powder only once, which I did, and so far they have been good.

I also replaced the preamp with a Joyo I bought from China. I didn't like that when I was playing, the preamp faced sideways, so I got one that faced me.

View attachment 1022429

I'm not sure the Road Toads would fit on the 25" scale--no?

 

[Gorn]

I'm not sure the Road Toads would fit on the 25" scale--no?

They'll fit. But you can order a longer set directly from road toad to make installation easier.

 

[1stnamebassist]

I never liked the white Aquila Thundergut strings, way too noisy and I find it ridicules to have to carry and apply powder to them. I much prefer the Road Toad Pahoehoe black strings, which in my opinion have a better upright tone, stay very smooth, but do take a long time to settle in. I have them on five of my bass ukes. I also have a set of Aquila Thunder Reds on on my custom fretless acoustic that 1stnamebassist suggested to apply powder only once, which I did, and so far they have been good.
^^^ Yeah what he said!! I would go with the parhoehoes or thunder reds. I believe if you go to roadtoad they have longer strings, plus they are a few inches longer than what the scale length that's posted. Not sure about the reds but they are great if long enough. The sound is between the whites and paehoehoes and much less sticky. Enjoy your new bass!

View attachment 1022429

 

[TheDominoKid]

They'll fit. But you can order a longer set directly from road toad to make installation easier.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[TheDominoKid]

Thanks for the insight. I'm going to play the ones on there for a bit but will most likely switch em out... I also want make sure the bass is good to go and nothing else is wrong.

 

[warx]

My GT 25 FL L-H is arriving tomorrow. Looking at the other poly string options to try (specifically for the 25"). I understand these all fit without modifications other than modifying the warranty...

• Reds $46 (!) one length only - but I understand will stretch to 25".
  
  
• Silver Rumblers $25. one length but will fit.
  
  
• Pahoehoe $24 - both short and long fit 25".
  Need the std tension (not the low tension) correct?
  Are the different models (black, yellow, red, Dread) just different color?

 

[1stnamebassist]

I found Reds for 25.00 online. Great string just shop around. Paehoehoes are my second favorite. Take a long time to break in and stay in tune. Silver Rumblers are a no go for me. All the strings are very different. As far as paehoehoes colors they are all the same.

 

[warx]

Oh - Thanks - searched more and found that and ordered a set. For Pahoehoes I presume I need the regular(medium) tension set not the low-tension.

My mbass arrived today! Actually very playable with the white Thunderguts (except the 3rd string is a bit sticky). Tone-wise pleasantly surprised! Definitely get the acoustic upright sound once you get on the 1st and 2nd strings past the fifth fret-marker if you dig in. Prolly more in the range of the sound box of the 25" version. Playing up over the fingerboard saves some string noise and allows some treble left in there. Overall very happy for a new sound in the quiver.

 

[warx]

I am looking at my GT 25" FL neck. It has some bow-up relief. For my fretless BG I normally go flat as I can get it. On the BG it's easy to adjust saddle height and positions of course. I am trying to adjust the GT truss. First, the instructions seem to be reversed. The two-way truss pulls the neck straight and lowers the action clock-wise - not the other way as is written.
Anyways, I have it pretty straight now and the action is still pretty decent - did not really change much - the allen wrench no longer fits under the 1st string. No real buzz anywhere. Still no growl though. My question is with these poly strings I wonder if it's even possible? I did get my set of Thunder Reds to try later also and have both a set of Pahoehoes and Rumblers coming for a complete test. Although still liking the Guts - perhaps i've got greasy fingers.

 

[banditcosmo]

I am looking at my GT 25" FL neck. It has some bow-up relief. For my fretless BG I normally go flat as I can get it. On the BG it's easy to adjust saddle height and positions of course. I am trying to adjust the GT truss. First, the instructions seem to be reversed. The two-way truss pulls the neck straight and lowers the action clock-wise - not the other way as is written.
Anyways, I have it pretty straight now and the action is still pretty decent - did not really change much - the allen wrench no longer fits under the 1st string. No real buzz anywhere. Still no growl though. My question is with these poly strings I wonder if it's even possible? I did get my set of Thunder Reds to try later also and have both a set of Pahoehoes and Rumblers coming for a complete test. Although still liking the Guts - perhaps i've got greasy fingers.

I posted this earlier in this thread, Gold Tone has a new set of strings for these made by LaBella called Silverback Silver wrapped nylon strings. They run $29.95 and may be worth trying out. I may try a set myself.
MicroBass LaBella 'Silverback' Strings | Gold Tone Folk Instruments

 

[TheDominoKid]

I posted this earlier in this thread, Gold Tone has a new set of strings for these made by LaBella called Silverback Silver wrapped nylon strings. They run $29.95 and may be worth trying out. I may try a set myself.
MicroBass LaBella 'Silverback' Strings | Gold Tone Folk Instruments

I feel like the steel strings will take away the upright thump--am I wrong?

 

[warx]

I feel like the steel strings will take away the upright thump--am I wrong?

I believe so - not from first hand experience but from samples I've heard. I don't really think they're strings I would use on this - I'd probably reach for my regular fretless instead.

 

[KohanMike]

It seems to me that those strings are the same as Kala sells. I used them on a solid body uke and an acoustic fretless, but I found them to have a lot of finger noise and easy to rattle and they definitely don't have that stand up sound.