I believe there is a market for both sizes as there is a market for soprano, concert, tenor and baritone ukuleles and even within each group you can get different scale lengths.
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I believe there is a market for both sizes as there is a market for soprano, concert, tenor and baritone ukuleles and even within each group you can get different scale lengths.
It's interesting. The ubass is marketed primarily for its portability, that also sounds good because of the unique strings. More bass, less space and all that. But over the past few years it seems as though more and more people are playing these basses for their sound. Personally, I'd greatly prefer a full scale bass strung with petrochemical strings. Either an acoustic or a solidbody with piezo. That's why I prefer the micro. It's that much closer to a full scale, or at least shortscale.
I'm playing these basses for their sound, but i also like their portability.
I can play everywhere i go, what i can't do with my double bass
I just ordered the standard tension pahoehoes for 22-24" scale. I'm gonna try changing out the E and A and leave the thundergut D and G. If it doesn't work, I don't see how I'll be able to re-install the thundergut E and A, so I may have to get a whole new set from gold tone. We'll see what happens.
Get in touch with me if you have any problems putting the TGuts back on. There's no reason why you wouldn't be able to. I have removed and reinstalled TGuts many times.
Will do. I have high hopes for the pahoehoe's. Thundergut squeak is only annoying on the E and A, and the pahoehoe E and A's don't take 6 months to reach stability.
I'll try. I have the irig thingamajig and an ipad so I'm sure it's possible. I just have to find the irig.
I have to get set with better recording equipment.
I did some recordings several months ago with a cheap Behringer interface - and I got exactly what I paid for.
Gonna have to spring for a Zoom recorder at some point.
I did some recordings several months ago with a cheap Behringer interface - and I got exactly what I paid for.
Gonna have to spring for a Zoom recorder at some point.
I had high hopes for the 24 1/2" scale, parlor-guitar-sized Michael Kelly Sojourn 4 "travel" bass. I thought its size and scale length were perfect:
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Alas, no replacement strings were ever offered for it. I would have really liked to have seen a fretless version with synthetic or tapewound strings.
The GoldTone Micro gets pretty close in scale length. I'm hoping it'll work well with nice, slick pahoehoe strings.
I think that instrument had/has significant potential. But companies have to do more than fling instruments onto the market.
They didn't support it in any way.
They bring an instrument to market and provide no ability for string replacement.
Write to them about it, and there's no response.
The instrument itself was a good build. Marketed and supported, it would have sold.
I had the sojourn. Excellent, really excellent quality instrument.
Not only were there no other options for strings, but if you happen to break one, then you're stuck with the three string bass.
Not only were there no other options for strings, but if you happen to break one, then you're stuck with the three string bass.
Just as an FIY the standard acoustic UBass string set is call out as a Scale of 20" to 21". The actual measurement is:
E: 25 3/4"
A: 25 3/4"
D: 24 3/4"
G: 22 1/4"
All 4 strings have crimp rings and heat shrink, the E string has a washer.
E: 25 3/4"
A: 25 3/4"
D: 24 3/4"
G: 22 1/4"
All 4 strings have crimp rings and heat shrink, the E string has a washer.
That's annoying. The long set I'm waiting for must be like 28". I'd have to cut off the ends to feed through the bridge, so maybe I'll still need the extra length anyway.
Actually I'll most likely need the extra length to tie a knot in the string.
Pahoehoe's came in. I put the e and a on. It went easily enough, though the a is gonna need to be restrung another 2 times at least to leave enough room on the post for future tuning. I was hoping I could keep it hybrid, but I'm gonna have to change the d and g as well. The sound is just too uneven btw the pahoehoe's and the thunderguts.
I couldn't find the irig to record a sample, but here's pictures. Now I just have to do the d and g, and then wait several weeks before I can play the bass. It'll be worth it though.
I couldn't find the irig to record a sample, but here's pictures. Now I just have to do the d and g, and then wait several weeks before I can play the bass. It'll be worth it though.
Actually I'll hold off on the d and g for now. I'll see how it sounds through a real setup at the rehearsal studio I go to after my experienced musician buddy sets the eq.
