Kala U-Bass Owners

[SilboBaggins]

Hi tiny Low Enders. I just came into a used Kala mahogany U-Bass and I am enjoying it. I am on a 2-week road trip vacation and I couldn’t bring a bass and amp, but it is a cinch to fit the tiny U-Bass in the car. I love that it is acoustic so I don’t need an amp. It has a battery to work the on-board tuner. It has an internal pick up with a volume and a tone knob. It sounds great through an amp. Playing on the tiny fretboard takes getting used to, but I get to practice everyday while traveling.

I invite other U-Bass players to join this thread and to share how you use it, what you like about it, and all things u-Bass.

A question that I have is about the strings. Mine has these rubber strings that are over 10 years-old. They play in tune ok. They are sticky feeling and I’ve heard that Baby powder makes it easier to play. I’m thinking about changing the strings. I’ve seen metal flatwound strings for the U-bass advertised and I’m not sure that this instrument could handle the tension. I tried to contact Kala, but got nowhere. Anyone have an opinion?

 

[Daveypoo]

When I bought my Kala a few years ago, I ordered the flatwounds almost immediately. I prefer them as they feel and behave like regular flats (i.e. they don't roll under your fingers when you bend). They add a bit more tension but are designed for u-basses, so I'm sure that they would work just fine. These are the ones that I have - they're sold on the Kala website so I would imagine that they'd be fine for any Kala U-Bass. I have the least expensive U-Bass and they work great for me - had them on for the last 3 years or so.

Kala Flatwound U•BASS® 4-String Set by Gallistrings - Kala Brand Music Co.™

Chrome steel wrapped around a nylon core, the U•BASS® Flatwound 4-String Set by Gallistrings enables fast and stable intonation, bringing...

kalabrand.com

 

[Rocket Queen]

I invite other U-Bass players to join this thread and to share how you use it, what you like about it, and all things u-Bass.

Already a thing:

O

Thread 'Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7'

Dec 27, 2013

Continued from http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-6-a-964655/

• olitoon
• Replies: 2,447
• Forum: Basses [BG]

• 

 

[Number_6]

There are not many posts on U-Basses recently. I'm in the process of modifying mine, a Rumbler with Fishman piezo pickup, carving the neck for a 1.5" nut, re-fretting with mediums and I'm going to install a magnetic pickup. I read a post a few years ago, but do not recall if it was on TalkBass. He wrote he'd given up on the saddle piezo and was just using it as a tuner. Of course I'm using steel flat strings.

 

[KohanMike]

Already a thing:

O

Thread 'Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7'

Dec 27, 2013

Continued from http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-6-a-964655/

• olitoon
• Replies: 2,447
• Forum: Basses [BG]

• 

Yes, that thread has been going a good while. I only play bass uke, since mid 2014. I've had a variety, including a Kala Journeyman U-Bass, but out of the box, the A string rattled like crazy. I took it Sam Ash, an authorized Kala dealer, but the repair guy couldn't fix it. He even took out a new one they had, but it did the exact same thing.

I had to send it to Kala in Petaluma, CA after talking to a Kala manager at a NAMM show. They fixed it, but I ended up selling it because I found that the RondoMusic Hadean violin/Hofner knockoff could be modified, replacing the floating bridge/piezo with a high mass fully adjustable metal bridge, and neck mini humbucker. The pickup actually worked great with the Kala/Galli flatwounds I use.

BTW, the name U-Bass comes from when the founder of Kala, Mike Upton, made a deal to license the bass uke from Owen Holt of Road Toad Music, who originated it (and why there's a toad on the faceplate of a U-Bass). It does not stand for Ukulele Bass or Uke-Bass. Owen also developed the Pahoéhoé strings.

 

[Number_6]

I also have a fretless Kala U-Bass with the Shadow 6v piezo. Both that and and the Fishman IMO are problematic. I have shims under the saddle for some strings and it is acceptable now, but the D is still louder than the others. I see that Kala is blowing out the U-Basses with Fishman pickups and are using 6v Belcat piezo ones now. The magnetic pickup I have to try is an old DiMarzio Tele "rail" 14.5kΩ which can fit inside of the 3" sound hole and I expect will work with the soft core flats. The other option I'm considering is a Guild BISonic (6.4kΩ) but a Chris Novak BS-DS would no doubt work better.
I'll take a look at the Hondo ones.

 

[TheWanderer59]

I have a Kala U-Bass on the way. I purchased a Taylor gs mini bass about a month ago, and I am progressing so rapidly on it that I wanted an electric the same size. The 23.5 inch basses suit me the best.