- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
yes. if that's for real, you got me.
although the price you paid might make me a tad less jealous.
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Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1
- Thread starter cb56
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yes. if that's for real, you got me.
although the price you paid might make me a tad less jealous.
yes. if that's for real, you got me.
although the price you paid might make me a tad less jealous.
I'm messing with everyone. That's a picture pasted into Windows Paint, with an Invert Colors.
Anyone log lots of time with the UBass without picking up a larger scale instrument for a while?
Freaky experience. I logged about a week on the Kala without
touching my other bass. Today I picked up my other bass. I expected, if anything, for it to feel *harder* than the UBass.
Not so. Just the opposite. It feels like I'm playing buttuh. I didn't expect that.
I guess the feel of the Kala strings and the slight extra work fretting differently are now creating a big contrast with a regular bass.
Weird.
Freaky experience. I logged about a week on the Kala without
touching my other bass. Today I picked up my other bass. I expected, if anything, for it to feel *harder* than the UBass.
Not so. Just the opposite. It feels like I'm playing buttuh. I didn't expect that.
I guess the feel of the Kala strings and the slight extra work fretting differently are now creating a big contrast with a regular bass.
Weird.
While this thread is on the topic of strings I'll ask my questions...
Is the "magic" of the U-Bass solely in the polyurethane strings or is there some frequency trickery going on in the electronics that shifts the pitch down an octave? It's hard to tell from youtube.
Is the "magic" of the U-Bass solely in the polyurethane strings or is there some frequency trickery going on in the electronics that shifts the pitch down an octave? It's hard to tell from youtube.
I use a Yamaha NE1 parametric EQ pedal (basically a shiftable mid-scoop) with my Ubass - works a treat to tame the piezo and finger noise. Set on Deep-4, it really beefs up the tone, while still retaining the woodiness. Also good to have the volume control there for quick muting. I highly recommend trying one out if you can track it down.
Never had a problem with feedback, and that's playing everywhere from outdoor festival stages to big, echoey country halls to loud pub rock gigs.
Good post.
You've done loud pub rock gigs with the acoustic UBass - and nothing in the sound hole?
Yep. The idea of feedback didn't even cross my mind the first few times I gigged with it, then I saw people discussing it here ... but since I never had a problem ... 
I use it mainly for acoustic sets, but also break it out for reggae tunes or songs where I want a more upright-ish tone (e.g. John Butler Trio, Living End). Never had any feedback dramas (yet). That's with me playing through either an EA Micro 500 & 2xBFM Jack 110s or the Micro & a Hartke 410 (backline), and keeping up with an enthusiastic drummer, a fender twin and a fender bassman --- to give you an idea of volume levels.
I use it mainly for acoustic sets, but also break it out for reggae tunes or songs where I want a more upright-ish tone (e.g. John Butler Trio, Living End). Never had any feedback dramas (yet). That's with me playing through either an EA Micro 500 & 2xBFM Jack 110s or the Micro & a Hartke 410 (backline), and keeping up with an enthusiastic drummer, a fender twin and a fender bassman --- to give you an idea of volume levels.
Good to hear.
I'm going to take it out on a gig soon. My wife has said "you're not playing that at a gig, are you?" but she hasn't heard the bass through good equipment yet. My kids aren't getting it, either - laughing at my "toy." Rookies. They'll soon be assimilated.
I'm going to take it out on a gig soon. My wife has said "you're not playing that at a gig, are you?" but she hasn't heard the bass through good equipment yet. My kids aren't getting it, either - laughing at my "toy." Rookies. They'll soon be assimilated.
I have tried the Aquilas. Short review- they simply suck. Great tone, that's it. Other than that, they stretch unevenly, intonation blows, and the zip ties (?!?) slip off at the bridge. Don't waste your cash on these, folks.
Ok, update. I emailed Aquila, relating my experience with both sets of strings (yes I tried them twice, thinking the first was just a bum set).
They answered me almost instantly and said the first batch was bad. I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
They are sending me 2 new sets of replacement strings. I hope it works out. Their customer service certainly leaves a good impression. I'll post the rests when I get them.
They answered me almost instantly and said the first batch was bad. I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
They are sending me 2 new sets of replacement strings. I hope it works out. Their customer service certainly leaves a good impression. I'll post the rests when I get them.
I haven't had a chance to try the strings yet because I am STILL waiting for my replacement U-Bass, but it's good to know that I'll have some recourse if mine turn out to be bad too. It's a new product, so hopefully it *is* just a quality control issue. That said, they really need to find something better than zip ties to anchor the ends!
Matt R. said:
I know I'm late to the party...what are these Aquila strings and how are they different?
I've got a mahogany fretless on backorder, so I'm eagerly awaiting the "order shipped" email. The retailer tells me they're meant to receive their shipment tomorrow. I've got my fingers crossed.
I'd love to try these fretless. After playing my fretted for some time now, I don't think I buy the notion that the fretted is much easier with these. You really have to be watching what you're doing with the fretted, or you get a honk note. That won't be happening with the fretless.
Love these basses. Wish I could afford the solid body.
Love these basses. Wish I could afford the solid body.
It sounds like you might not want to go to that party.
Well, not so fast. I got my 2 sets of replacement strings (from Italy, mind you) in 3 days. Wow.
I just strung the bass up and these strings are way more stable and sound great. I'll let them settle a while and get back to you all.
Party ain't over yet. There's still a little left in the keg.
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