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Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1

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#421
Tahoe_Ed said:
I ordered an extra set from RT when I ordered my Spruce Top. I will keep them in reserve. The originals are fine for now. I have had to restring to remove excessive turns on the tuner posts. I cut about an inch off each string. All is good now.
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So how long have you had yours on and how much playing time do they have ?

Do your E&A have the 'snap' of the D&G ?

Thanks, Mal
 
#422
Tahoe_Ed said:
I have had to restring to remove excessive turns on the tuner posts. I cut about an inch off each string. All is good now.
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I had to restring my Mahogany UBass when I got it. I didn't cut off the ends though, I just let them hang out. There's not that much extra anyway. My Hutch Hutchinson was perfect when I got it. No need to restring it.
 
#424
I've had mine for 4 or 5 months iirc. Time flies, could be longer. I play it 5 to ten hours a week.

I notice down at the bridge the strings are noticeably "thinned". It still needs a bit of tuning every time I play it. I wonder if the string is failing there at the bridge and they'll break off eventually.

Meantime it plays fine and the intonation is spot on to the lines (fretless).
 
#427
I wasn't really saying it wasn't a real bass, just trying to guess who it was being marketed to with a 20" scale length. I guess my assumption was based on a few bassists saying it was hard to adjust to the short scale length. A ukulele player wouldn't have any trouble adjusting, so I assumed it was originally for people who are used to playing ukuleles.

All I know is, I really really want one. It sounds awesome, looks awesome, and it's a BASS UKULELE. That's just win no matter how you look at it. Someday I'll join this club. =D
 
#428
Hey folks, I have a Kala ordered through Gollihur's. As Bob suggested I ordered a fretted model due to the 20" scale intonation problems; but I am a fretless guy and I was wondering what you frettless owners think of the intonation difficulties with the short scale? I could probably change my order. Thanks for the input.
 
#429
etoncrow said:
Hey folks, I have a Kala ordered through Gollihur's. As Bob suggested I ordered a fretted model due to the 20" scale intonation problems; but I am a fretless guy and I was wondering what you frettless owners think of the intonation difficulties with the short scale? I could probably change my order. Thanks for the input.
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I have the fretted U-Bass. I do, however, also own a fretless Ashbory. I've used the Ashbory with pretty great results (even a top 40 cut), but there are issues with these rubberized strings and intonation. It's more a function of the strings' propensity to stretch when you glissando. Granted, the U-Bass polyurethane strings are much less "stretchy" than the Ashbory silicon-rubber.

You definitely need to pay super-close attention not only to your fretting hand accuracy, but also being extra careful not to stretch or pull the string as well. The sub-fundamental richness of the tone also makes it more challenging to 'hear' the pitch accurately and quickly. Still, it's definitely do-able!
 
#431
#432
As of minutes ago, I have on order a fretted 'hog from Bananas Music; $499 including shipping; a gift from my lovely wife, for my 50th birthday next month. Very psyched to gig with this puppy, and looking forward to springing it on my bandmates. "Dude, I know you like short scale, but that's ridiculous!" I'll take a number, please.

Update, 3/20/11: I would have been nice if Bananas' website had disclosed that the 'hog Ubass is not currently in stock. I subsequently got an email saying that delivery would take 4 to 5 weeks. It doesn't surprise me, as it doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere. Sweetwater claims to be getting a shipment around 3/27. But I think I'll stick with Bananas, as the price seems to be a few bucks cheaper than anywhere else, and the shipping is free.

Update, later on 3/20/11: My wife thought I was crazy to wait so long for a few bucks' savings. So I cancelled the Bananas order and placed an order with Sweetwater.

Update, 3/22/11: Turns out Sweetwater's statement on its website that it would receive a shipment of Ubasses the week of 3/27 was, er, not accurate. I received a call yesterday from a very nice guy who explained that it's "unrealistic" to expect the Ubass to be in stock until about a month from now. The saga continues...
 
#433
SketchMan3 said:
That's a ukulele for you. Tune tune and tune away, lol.

Am I right in assuming this u-bass is designed mainly for ukulele players who want to play bass, rather than bass players who want a portable bass?
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Well the appearance is novel but the tone is big time bass! I'm definately a bass player not a Uke player. When I heard it at Namm last year - well it was the ONLY thing I left Namm lusting for (well there were the Dean girls... and maybe a slot in John Jorgensen's band but all that would have been transitory :D)
 
#435
It seems like an awful lot of the talk of intonation troubles on fretless is just speculation. There are some youtube videos showing them being played well and accurately. Besides, violin players have a much smaller scale length to deal with than a U-Bass and have no trouble with intonation (well, if they're any good :p). In my viola playing days I would play it like a guitar while waiting to begin rehearsal, and it was no harder play in tune on its side than under my chin.

I'm dying for Kala to officially release the solid body! Planning on buying a 5er and stringin her E-C, unless they make an announcement about the 6er they mentioned was in development (I have a feeling they may have just abandoned that idea). I might get scared away by the price though :hiding:
 
#437
LOL, no. I gave up on that show early in the first season after a particularly awkward romantic sequence between the lead girl and guy (forget their names) on the the gymnasium stage. His acting was just SO bad. Now I'm thinking I should have stuck with it!
 
#438
I had intonation problems with only the G string on my uBass; it would go sharper the higher up on the neck, especially after the 5th fret. Took it into the luthier and he suspected a string density problem. He tested by turning the string around and found that it would go flatter as he played up the neck. He replaced it with a new string from Kala and it fixed the problem.
 
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