Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1

[Downunderwonder]

Some of you mentioned ways to put a sound hole cover together.

I haven't had the time to experiment, and I'm tired of leaving this bass home for gigs. It's coming to a gig soon.

Anyone know where I can just Buy a sound hole cover that will fit?
Is this a standard size uke hole?

You haven't got the time to take some scissors to an old pizza box and add a bit of foam and double sided tape?

Two hole plug circles with a litttle clearance for foam wrap
One hole cover circle trimmed to fit neck
tape sandwich together
run strip of foam around lip of plug, self adhesive door seal or random foam double sided taped on.

you just saved enough to pay for the pizza

If you're any good you might get free pizza for life out of it by craftily centering the logo on the cover

 

[SBassman]

Might be fine for horsing around at home, but that's not fine for a gig. Sorry.

I have a scotch-inspired silicone lid on order and I'll be trimming that to use.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Got my Ubass a month ago, mahogany fretless. Can I get a number too, please?

Hey, i was here long before you and i still dont see my name on dat there list!

 

[bigchiz]

Read nearly all this thread yesterday. Got home and sure enough, there were too many wraps on the D & G strings. The wrap was down on the base nut of the tuning peg post. Restrung those two and ended up two inches of excess for each string. The G string is very taught now, and much thinner than the unstretched excess tip.

I've got the spruce, not the mahogany as mistyped earlier. The tenor ukulele is mahogany though.

Also had a problem with the 1/4 plug in coming loose. Took it to the music store, who has luthiers (Martin certified) and they provide free service for a year. When the guy tightened it he used a small screw driver in a hole on the outside to hold the center post still while tightening the nut.

Still can't put the instrument down. The wife was perturbed though saying "it's so out of tune!" Had been practicing whole tone scales for 20 minutes, no tonal center. lol...

 

[Downunderwonder]

Ya teached that G string a lesson! I bet it's no more taut than before though.

 

[Dave W]

I messed around with a fretted spruce model today. I thought it was pretty cool, and it sounded impressive for it's size. I hated the strings though, my fingers were basically sticking to them. Are the plastic ones all that are available for these?

I thought about getting one, but I'm not sure.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I'm sure either your hands were dirty or the strings were. The strings are what make it work, polyurethane rubber.

 

[butisitart]

I've only rarely experienced the "sticking strings". A bit of baby powder on my fingers seemed to clear up the problem.

 

[Dave W]

I'm sure either your hands were dirty or the strings were. The strings are what make it work, polyurethane rubber.

Neither...

They weren't actually sticky, they just felt "sticky" kinda like a gloss finish neck vs. a satin finish neck.

 

[SBassman]

I haven't experienced the sticky strings yet.

 

[SBassman]

Slides on this bass, on the fretted acoustic, are off the charts.
I had noticed it this morning for the first time.

You can get some amazing sounding slides out of this thing.
Slide sounds that there's no Way can come from a normal fretted bass. Incredible.

Hey - I have to operate on my A string today.
The other 3 are fine wrap wise, but my A is now out of real estate
on the tuner post, and it's time to re-wind it. I pretty much dread this part of the UBass experience, so say a prayer for me.

 

[butisitart]

Rewinding the strings is easy. Just watch the video from Kala and do what he shows.

 

[SBassman]

Rewinding the strings is easy. Just watch the video from Kala and do what he shows.

I really didn't find it easy at all. I have already re-wound the whole bass. It's not the winding part, it's the holding part while you're winding. It takes a whole lot of strength to pull the string enough and hold it steady while winding. I needed a second pair of hands holding the bass body for me while I did it. The strings were slipping out of my hands while trying to get the winding started.

It's probably easier with something like latex gloves on, but I don't have those.

I personally found the whole experience quite a gonad buster.

But it's worth it. Absolutely the most fun bass I have ever had the privilege of playing.

 

[Matt R.]

Slides on this bass, on the fretted acoustic, are off the charts.
I had noticed it this morning for the first time.

You can get some amazing sounding slides out of this thing.
Slide sounds that there's no Way can come from a normal fretted bass. Incredible.

Hey - I have to operate on my A string today.
The other 3 are fine wrap wise, but my A is now out of real estate
on the tuner post, and it's time to re-wind it. I pretty much dread this part of the UBass experience, so say a prayer for me.

Hahaha. You'll be fine, just pull the string more taut before you wrap it around the post. Good luck.

 

[scotch]

I'm using a small pair of vise-grips when re-stringing. Much better grip & control. You really have to clamp it down tight, though!

 

[SBassman]

I'm using a small pair of vise-grips when re-stringing. Much better grip & control. You really have to clamp it down tight, though!

Hmmm - good idea. Need to get a pair.

 

[SBassman]

Hey, U-Bass folk!

I think I've come up with a great "feedback buster" solution for the acoustic U-Bass!

I have an arena opening-slot gig this weekend & my client requested I use my U-Bass. I haven't used mine outside of studio conditions yet, so I'm concerned about potential for feedback (especially in a big, boomy arena environment!). I searched around the house for something to 'fashion' into a viable soundhole plug & came across these silicone travel mug tops. They come with ceramic travel cups from places like TJ Maxx, Target, etc... [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Inverted & trimmed, they fit almost perfectly! Now, I just need to find a black one (if available...).

I trimmed the edges so it doesn't interfere with the strings' large vibrating pattern. I admit I'm still experimenting with the "perfect trim", but it is working very well in home-tests! The soft silicone material doesn't harm the wood and is easy to manipulate while still holding its' shape. No noticeable change in the pickups' tone or volume- but it does cut down the instruments acoustic volume about 50% or so.

Boys and girls - scotch's solution is a Big Winner.

My silicone lid came in today. It needs to be trimmed so it's not in the way of the strings, but it goes into the soundhole very nicely - without any pressure on the top. Fantastic idea.

I bought a black one.

The guitar accessory companies should be making soundhole covers out of silicone.

 

[fretlessguy]

I recently got the spruce topped acoustic Kala U Bass, and a fretless one at that. Wonderful! Now have my eyes on one of the solidbody SUB bass. I'd like a number in the club also. Thanks!

 

[SBassman]

I recently got the spruce topped acoustic Kala U Bass, and a fretless one at that. Wonderful! Now have my eyes on one of the solidbody SUB bass. ...

That's what I'm driving towards, too. I have to have both - the acoustic and the solid body. These basses are just too much fun.
But - it will take quite a bit of time before I can get the solid body.
Gotta raise the funds.

But as Wayne said:
"Oh yes - it will be mine."

 

[Matt R.]

When funds allow, I may get another so I can de-fret it. They do sound great fretless.