Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1

[AMJBASS]

My Mahogany Ubass came in yesterday. First impressions are pretty good. It is actually easier to play than I had anticipated considering the extremely short scale. The string spacing is good. I dig the sound. Similar to my Upright, but it has its own tone. Very bassy and deep. Hope to get it out on a few gigs soon...

 

[Tahoe_Ed]

Adrian where did you get your Mahogany from and when did you order it? Thanks!

 

[57pbass]

Nice pics so far
The Mighty Ubass club
#1 cb56
#2 Tijuana bass
#3 Showdown
#4 Tommy Hagen

I have one on order...hope to get it this month count me in the club

 

[rlanier]

Just got My Mahogany Ubass. Count me in the club. Glad I bought one. I also ordered a Schatten black box volume control for it.

 

[AMJBASS]

Adrian where did you get your Mahogany from and when did you order it? Thanks!

Sorry for the late reply... I ordered mine from Long and McQuade. They had one in stock at one of there stores and sent it to the store closest to me. Took about a week.

 

[AMJBASS]

I should mention that I have been playing my Kala through my Fishman BII preamp lately, and it makes a marked difference tonally. I know that Kala states you don't need a preamp with the bass, and while that may be true, with the high impedance input on the Fishman it really makes the bass sound a lot better. The highs don't have that click to them(more of a natural attack now), and the bass is more full sounding.

 

[Tahoe_Ed]

Adrian thanks for the info. I play mine through my SansAmp VT Bass. I like the sound. I haven't tried it clean through my GK MB210. I may have to do that. I play all my basses through the VT since it is mounted with my Line 6 G30.

 

[cb56]

I've been playing mine through my little Fender Rumble 30 and it sounds great. I kind of like the "click" or attack to the notes but I can see how some folks wouldn't. Sounds great through my Markbass LMII / Aguilar GS112x2 setup also.

 

[Ojeb]

Count me in. Picked one up in January, love it.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

I have a question or two for you guys: what is the string tension like? Do you have to play it real delicately to get your sound? I sing all the time & generally like higher tension strings, but I also like the idea of The U Bass. Also, is there a significant tone difference between the two models? Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[DeanT]

String tension is pretty tight considering the scale. It's not as tight as a 34" scale naturally. If you're used to steel strings, the UBass strings may feel a little "floppy" at first, but you'll get used to it quickly enough. You don't have to be gently with the strings if that's what you mean. They're rubber so they stretch and can take some punishment.

The tonal difference between the Mahogany and Spruce models is subtle. The Mahogany has a deep, dark, resonant sound. The Spruce models are a slight bit "brighter." It's barely noticeable acoustically. In a band situation you wont notice it at all.

 

[AMJBASS]

I have a question or two for you guys: what is the string tension like? Do you have to play it real delicately to get your sound? I sing all the time & generally like higher tension strings, but I also like the idea of The U Bass. Also, is there a significant tone difference between the two models? Thanks in advance for your replies.

They feel a little loose, but the entire feel of the string is so different than that of round wound electric strings its a difficult comparison. It is definitely more difficult to play fast lines on it, but the ubass isn't really meant for that...

 

[mwesth]

They feel a little loose, but the entire feel of the string is so different than that of round wound electric strings its a difficult comparison. It is definitely more difficult to play fast lines on it, but the ubass isn't really meant for that...

Not quite right:

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

I use flats. At one time I was sent an Ashbory as part of an endorsement deal. I just took it right up on stage & started playing it. It was quite difficult to play & sing because it was low tension rubber strings ,super small scale & fretless on top of everything else. Had to change all my fingerings on the fly.....whew! The U bass doesn't look like it's that weird to play & I like the sound. Now if they would make a 5 string, I'd be in for sure.

 

[DeanT]

Now if they would make a 5 string, I'd be in for sure.

Kala does make a 5-string UBass, but it's a solidbody.

 

[pathdoc2]

Yesterday I noticed the little door on the back of my Ubass has started to warp badly. Anyone else have this problem? Now the little door no longer lays flush.

 

[cb56]

#1 cb56
#2 Tijuana bass
#3 Showdown
#4 Tommy Hagen
#5 MingusBass
#6 CaballoViejo
#7 bassfiddlerman
#8 fourstringbliss
#9 Neon Scribe
#10 Baird6869
#11 mrspiffy
#12 AJ Brown
#13 ducati08
#14 adhus
#15 bad_andy
#16 DeanT
#17 mwesth
#18 bassguy675
#19 jsb22257
#20 Jack Clark
#21 MX21
#22 Downunderwonder
#23 elskeetro
#24 Bill Wright
#25 richnota
#26 LowDown Hal
#27 bullT
#28 Beaver Creek
#29 pathdoc2
#30 sublimestylee
#31 BassBot5000
#32 Tahoe_Ed
#33 57pbass
#34 rlanier
#35 Ojeb

 

[cb56]

Yesterday I noticed the little door on the back of my Ubass has started to warp badly. Anyone else have this problem? Now the little door no longer lays flush.

No, mine's fine after 8 months. Weird that it would warp since it's laminate wood.....

 

[mwesth]

No, mine's fine after 8 months. Weird that it would warp since it's laminate wood.....

Everything OK here as well, mine is 4 month old. Humidity?

 

[pathdoc2]

Yes, its been extremely cold in DFW and our home heating has reduced the humidity within our home. I've tried humidifiers but I just can't keep up.