I've never played a U-bass, and would never buy one. When I pick up a bass, I want a full scale string length. And, regarding ABG's, I want to wrap my arms around that jumbo body.
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Kala U-Bass vs. ABG
- Thread starter YosemiteSam
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- abg kala ovation samick bass u-bass
I have a Guild B30E that I've used for quite a few acoustic shows. It's an amazing instrument, but it's the size of a small apartment building so I thought maybe a Ubass would be the ticket for smaller venues.
Tried a few Kalas, but between the way too short scale, the strings and the constant tuning I never found one I was confident enough to play live. Most recently I picked up a Gold Tone Microbass with a 25" scale. I find it easier to play than the Kalas, seem to have gotten used to the rubber strings, but I still would rather wedge the Guild into a small space than play the rubber stringed wonder live. Two things hold me back:
1. I spend more time tuning these rubber stringed basses than all my other instruments combined. Even when it's in tune I'm not quite sure it's in tune so I'm constantly checking it. And then tuning it takes longer than a regular bass... you have to lift each string out the nut, turn the tuning key and then put the string back in to check it... repeat that about 20 times and you will eventually... finally... get it in tune. It can get a bit tedious just sitting on the couch in my living room tuning it, let alone while an audience is waiting, so thus far I haven't tried using it in front of actual people.
2. It sounds great on certain songs, it sounds OK on some songs, on some songs it just sounds downright terrible. Hey if your band plays the songs that a uke bass sounds great on, I say grab one. For example, I could play 'Fever' all day on my Microbass or any Ubass. Unfortunately my band doesn't play 'Fever'
. We do however play some songs where I actually had to stop playing the uke bass in the middle of the song because I could not stand the tone I was getting.
If you play acoustic gigs regularly and like it, I'd say get another acoustic bass. You seem to have played the crap out of the one you have so I don't see any reason why you wouldn't keep playing the crap out of the next one you buy. To me that would be money better spent than dicking around with a Ubass.
Tried a few Kalas, but between the way too short scale, the strings and the constant tuning I never found one I was confident enough to play live. Most recently I picked up a Gold Tone Microbass with a 25" scale. I find it easier to play than the Kalas, seem to have gotten used to the rubber strings, but I still would rather wedge the Guild into a small space than play the rubber stringed wonder live. Two things hold me back:
1. I spend more time tuning these rubber stringed basses than all my other instruments combined. Even when it's in tune I'm not quite sure it's in tune so I'm constantly checking it. And then tuning it takes longer than a regular bass... you have to lift each string out the nut, turn the tuning key and then put the string back in to check it... repeat that about 20 times and you will eventually... finally... get it in tune. It can get a bit tedious just sitting on the couch in my living room tuning it, let alone while an audience is waiting, so thus far I haven't tried using it in front of actual people.
2. It sounds great on certain songs, it sounds OK on some songs, on some songs it just sounds downright terrible. Hey if your band plays the songs that a uke bass sounds great on, I say grab one. For example, I could play 'Fever' all day on my Microbass or any Ubass. Unfortunately my band doesn't play 'Fever'
. We do however play some songs where I actually had to stop playing the uke bass in the middle of the song because I could not stand the tone I was getting.If you play acoustic gigs regularly and like it, I'd say get another acoustic bass. You seem to have played the crap out of the one you have so I don't see any reason why you wouldn't keep playing the crap out of the next one you buy. To me that would be money better spent than dicking around with a Ubass.
I play both BG and upright and I find the fretless UBass with Pahoehoes to be the closest thing in sound to an acoustic upright that I've played, with the exception of far more expensive options like the Yamaha Silent (upright) Basses. Bear in mind that the choice of amp will also make a big difference. I personally prefer going straight into a dedicated PA - as I also do when I play upright.
I bought an Ibanez AEB10 and ended up using it mostly for picking up around the house, traveling, etc. Have not had access to a U Bass but I did try a Gold Tone and really liked it. Thought it would do a much better job for what I use the Ibanez and the traveling part would be much better.
You're doing it wrong. Way wrong.
Lubricate the nut slots. Never lift the string out to tune. You'll never get it in tune that way.
