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Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1

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#642
Jjango said:
Thanks for the info, Joe Nerve!
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Thanks Jjango! I think. Ya just scared me into pulling the trigger again (didn't want to miss one of the last in stock :) ). My first purchase at bassnw. It's a done deal.

Now, being a soon to be kala bass player... what's the string deal? Seems it would be the right thing to have an extra set around. Has anyone yet broken a string, and is it something one should be concerned about? A broken string could put this bass out of comission for quite some time if strings are as scarce and difficult to find in stock as they seem.
 
#643
The strings are easy to get. Just Strings has them. Just do an online search for "Pahoehoe strings" and you'll get tons of retailers.

They don't break that easily, but they do break. At least they're not like Ashbory strings that spontaneously break for no reason. They're very stable and last a long time.
 
#644
scotch said:
Make sure you think about a preamp before hitting the road with the U-Bass untested. Some amps & di's it works fine, but that high impedance pickup just doesn't like certain input stages.

Mine worked great through my amps at home and pedalboard- but at the first session I brought it to, I didn't bring my usual gear & was patched straight into a U5 - no bueno! There was a rather loud low-freq hum. It turns out it was a piezo impedance interface issue.

Just so you don't get "caught with yer pants down" so to speak!

A great, super-cheap pre that works great is an ART TubeMP. No hum, great tone & you can interface with pretty much anything.
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I use one of these simple buffers mounted in an Altoids tin. It sounds great, is small and portable, and works well with any piezo equipped bass. I use it with an upright, an ABG and the Ubass and it works very well with all of them.

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#645
Showdown said:
I use one of these simple buffers mounted in an Altoids tin. It sounds great, is small and portable, and works well with any piezo equipped bass. I use it with an upright, an ABG and the Ubass and it works very well with all of them.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Hmmm,... Very cool! This has me thinking...
 
#646
Joe Nerve said:
HeavyDuty - be careful what you wish for.
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th_banana.gif
 
#647
My Kala bass is exactly the same model type and looks as Tommy Hagen's. This is the first full day of ownership. I am having minor concerns but will allow time to tell. I do love this little creature although my expectations were a bit different. Thanks for this club, ill need some advice..
 
#648
My girl friend got me a solid body ubass last sat .I love it It is a kala and Road toad bass ash body. Did not take to long to get use to it as I also play
Ukulele also a kala. I also play upright bass. This ubass is awesome it plays and sounds great. Also records great.
 
#650
Wow!!!! I'm thrilled, and bummed. Help!??!

Just got the bass about an hour ago. I see it's addictive qualities as I haven't been able to put it down. Really does feel different, wasn't expecting the rubbery feel, and I love it. It's easy and fun to play and was immediately inspiring. I'm surprised that I can play pretty much anything on it, thought the tiny frets would be limiting but they're not.

The bummed part... the D string is not intonated right and it's off enough that it makes a difference. Almost a half step between the 12 fret harmonic and note. This sucks. I'm going away next week and bought this bass NOW specifically for that reason. I could have gotten the bass for less money at sweetwater (I have some credit waiting for me there), but bought it at bass nw so I could have it for the trip.

Is there a way that I can fix the intonation? The saddles look as though they're made to properly intonate it, so I'm hoping there's some hope... otherwise I'd appreciate your thoughts. While $414 isn't a fortune to spend for a bass, it's enough money for me to expect this instrument to be capable of a professional performance. This is noticably off once I get past the 5th fret.

Help?!?
 
#651
Joe Nerve said:
Wow!!!! I'm thrilled, and bummed. Help!??!

Just got the bass about an hour ago. I see it's addictive qualities as I haven't been able to put it down. Really does feel different, wasn't expecting the rubbery feel, and I love it. It's easy and fun to play and was immediately inspiring. I'm surprised that I can play pretty much anything on it, thought the tiny frets would be limiting but they're not.

The bummed part... the D string is not intonated right and it's off enough that it makes a difference. Almost a half step between the 12 fret harmonic and note. This sucks. I'm going away next week and bought this bass NOW specifically for that reason. I could have gotten the bass for less money at sweetwater (I have some credit waiting for me there), but bought it at bass nw so I could have it for the trip.

Is there a way that I can fix the intonation? The saddles look as though they're made to properly intonate it, so I'm hoping there's some hope... otherwise I'd appreciate your thoughts. While $414 isn't a fortune to spend for a bass, it's enough money for me to expect this instrument to be capable of a professional performance. This is noticably off once I get past the 5th fret.

Help?!?
Click to expand...

Hmmm,... that sux! Just to be safe, try removing and re-installing that string. Just to rule out any undue twisting of the string or odd saddle/nut contact.
 
#652
Good luck on curing the problem. Scotch's advice may just do the trick. As far as the polyurethane strings are concerned, I am still on 'a fence' with them. I had expected a mini version 'feel' of a standard size acoustic bass. Much like that of a good baritone ukulele compared to an acoustic guitar. I am guessing that it is quite impossible to change the strings to something more in-line with a standard feel. I may be selling my Kala , maybe not.
 
#653
Joe Nerve said:
The bummed part... the D string is not intonated right and it's off enough that it makes a difference. Almost a half step between the 12 fret harmonic and note. This sucks. I'm going away next week and bought this bass NOW specifically for that reason. I could have gotten the bass for less money at sweetwater (I have some credit waiting for me there), but bought it at bass nw so I could have it for the trip.

Is there a way that I can fix the intonation? The saddles look as though they're made to properly intonate it, so I'm hoping there's some hope... otherwise I'd appreciate your thoughts. While $414 isn't a fortune to spend for a bass, it's enough money for me to expect this instrument to be capable of a professional performance. This is noticably off once I get past the 5th fret.

Help?!?
Click to expand...

Since you just bought the bass, I would say that you have to give the strings a chance to settle down. Pahoehoe strings need time to settle in. Play them, stretch them and I bet it stays in tune better.
 
#654
DeanT said:
Since you just bought the bass, I would say that you have to give the strings a chance to settle down. Pahoehoe strings need time to settle in. Play them, stretch them and I bet it stays in tune better.
Click to expand...

Not a matter of staying in tune. It doesn't do that either, but I was expecting that and assume with stretching it will get better. The intonation is clearly out on this (A string too). The open D string buzzes also if I play it with any pressure. I'm pretty sure I got me a problem kala. Waiting on a callback from bass northwest to see what's going to be done about it.
 
#655
Joe Nerve said:
Not a matter of staying in tune. It doesn't do that either, but I was expecting that and assume with stretching it will get better. The intonation is clearly out on this (A string too). The open D string buzzes also if I play it with any pressure. I'm pretty sure I got me a problem kala. Waiting on a callback from bass northwest to see what's going to be done about it.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the nut isn't slotted haphazardly. I had to work on my U-Basses g slot a bit.
 
#658
As far as I can tell, the intonation on the acoustic U-Bass is not user-adjustable. The intonation on mine isn't great. The open strings stay in tune pretty well, but intonation along the fretboard is decidedly hit and miss. For some notes the misses are actually pretty big. I think that's just the nature of this particular beast.
 
#659
DeanT said:
I would contact Kala (they have very good customer service) and explain the problem. Both with the uBass and with Bass NW.

[email protected]

877-853-3853
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I did. They seemed really friendly and accomodating. They're going to call me back in about a half an hour.

Bass NW astounded me with their attitude, and as soon as this is resolved the whole story is going down in it's very own thread. I feel I need to say this here and now however. They told me the intonation was out on the others they had in stock, and for that reason they wouldn't do an exchange. This was after first telling me that they only had one or two others, and wanted to be able to sell them. I don't know which was true, but if anyone here is planning to buy a kala from them, know that they claim their intonation is out. And it will wind up costing you if you need to return it.
 
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