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Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1

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#903
SBassman said:
I thought some of you might get a kick out of my band leader's initial response to me telling him I was going to be using the UBass at the next gig:

"I don't know about that.
We need a real bass for rock & roll don't we?
I know u like small instruments, but the sound is important.
**drummersname** isn't going to play soft, especially on NY Eve. You might want to bring along the other bass."

:D
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You may want to consider how far you are willing to go to make a point... While I completely agree that the U-Bass is a REAL bass and sounds phenomenal, but some folks CANNOT get past listening with their eyes, even after you've demonstrated it's awesomeness...

Though there were numerous long-running factors involved, it was a tiff about the way the U-Bass LOOKED that prompted my decision to leave a killer band (Note: I would have parted eventually)... I ran into this same prejudice last week, when I brought the U-Bass to a sub-gig as a backup for my upright (A role to which it is brilliantly suited!)... Bandleader says "Well, I HOPE it doesn't come to that... I'm still on the fence" :mad:

I play in a couple of situations where the Kala is welcomed and appreciated for the awesome instrument that it is and readily use it there. Curious that the instances where it is less welcome are the ones in which there is a defined 'focal-point' of the band and the U-Bass may draw attention away :D

Also, on the drummer not playing soft... My U-Bass has just about the hottest signal of any of my basses! Nothing subtle about it :D

-robert
 
#904
rllefebv said:
You may want to consider how far you are willing to go to make a point...
Click to expand...

Not trying to make a point. Just trying to enjoy the remainder of my musical life to the max. I Love this bass, and I have a ton of fun playing it.
My current bandmates will either enjoy it with me or find another bass player. I'm too old to have people tell me what bass to play.
Life is short. I'm playing it my way.
 
#905
SBassman said:
My current bandmates will either enjoy it with me or find another bass player. I'm too old to have people tell me what bass to play.
Click to expand...

I hear you five-by-five, and your response indicates exactly how far you are willing to go (if necessary)... Each situation is different. In my situation, I knew that the Kala wasn't the bass for every gig with this band, however, on the particular gig I was using it on, it was appropriate, IMO... Again, just the final straw in a series of instances that lead to my leaving this particular group at this particular time. Honestly, had this situation arisen 2 1/2 years ago when things were much more harmonious, I would've happily cased the Kala and pulled out the P...

Let's be honest here... The 'Nobody-Tells-Me-What-Bass-To-Play' stance is completely case-by-case and depends on many factors... In a group-owned-democracy situation where everyone is truly equal, you're on stronger footing... In a 'band leader' situation, (which, ironically, I had been pushing the leader towards for several years), you're kind of in a 'veto' situation, where one person carries more weight... In either case, yes, you have the final say in what bass you will ultimately play... You just may find yourself playing it alone :bassist: Your choice will depend quite a lot on the situation... Like it or not, the Kala is, and will be for some time, a novelty choice based solely on it's appearance, no matter how incredible it sounds...

Look at it another way... If you're in <Enter Your Dream Musical Situation> and <Dream Bandleader> says "Dude, ditch the Kala", are you really going to refuse? Even Bakithi Kumalo, currently rockin' the Kala with Paul Simon, is doing it at his behest (exclusively, actually)... Happily, Paul is one of those enlightened guys who is more interested in how his music sounds rather than how it looks :) I believe that if Paul were to say "lose it" Bakithi would...

FWIW, I'm on the same side as you... I LOVE my Kala and can't put it down... I'll continue to seek and carve out suitable situations where I can play it and have it appreciated, (That thrash-punk band starting up a few houses down is definitely NOT going to be it :D )... Still, for some time, most people's first reaction is going to be based on it's visual novelty, which, admittedly was part of it's attraction for me... The way it sounds quickly eclipsed all that!

-robert
 
#906
We're on the same page.

I said what I said because I'm only a weekend warrior.
If this was the way I made my living, of course I'd yield to whatever the leader - or paycheck writer :) - wanted.

In my case, this is just for weekend musical fun. In that world, I choose my equipment.
 
#907
Thanks to some generous family members this Christmas, I have enough to buy a U-Bass from MF. I am seriously loving the sound of the U-Bass in the many demo videos I have watched and find myself seriously tempted to place the order. I switched to short scale basses over a month ago to relieve shoulder pain that full-scale basses were causing.
 
#908
caeman said:
Thanks to some generous family members this Christmas, I have enough to buy a U-Bass from MF. I am seriously loving the sound of the U-Bass in the many demo videos I have watched and find myself seriously tempted to place the order. I switched to short scale basses over a month ago to relieve shoulder pain that full-scale basses were causing.
Click to expand...

Awesome!

Consider Sweetwater (not an employee or shill...)- way better after-the-sale service, free shipping, actual pictures of the specific instrument you are buying + they have always price matched for me. They have 4 or 5 in stock and a lot of solid bodies!
 
#909
That was going to be my second question. Solid or Hollow. Those hollow bodies look to weight next to nothing, but I cannot imagine the solid body version weighs terribly much more. The acoustic version looks like it would be easier to find a proper case, since it is based on the Bass Uke form-factor.

I mentioned MF because they have this little 15% discount going right now which drops the price to $351. I don't know if Sweetwater will match a special sales price like that.
 
#910
caeman said:
That was going to be my second question. Solid or Hollow. Those hollow bodies look to weight next to nothing, but I cannot imagine the solid body version weighs terribly much more. The acoustic version looks like it would be easier to find a proper case, since it is based on the Bass Uke form-factor.

I mentioned MF because they have this little 15% discount going right now which drops the price to $351. I don't know if Sweetwater will match a special sales price like that.
Click to expand...

I just bought a $340 di from them & they gave me 15% for just that reason!

Personally, I like the acoustic 'uke' waaaay more than the solidbody version. Possibly because I already have an Ashbory bass - but there's just a lot cooler aesthetic with the uke. Just my opinion!

As far as I know, all U-Basses come with either a gig bag or fitted foam case. I've been touring pretty hard with the gig bag for months - it's great (although the strap 'd' ring did come off in an airport shuttle incident, I hand stitched it back to good working order...). My uke bass has been getting jostled pretty good in overhead compartments, busses, shuttles, etc... it's even fallen out of a few parked cars. Still no damage!
 
#912
Let me echo the Sweetwater recommendation.
I have purchased from all the online stores, and today, I think
Sweetwater is the very best. Their service is second to none.

I bet you can get any legit price matched.

I only purchase from Sweetwater now.

Enjoy the UBass. You're gonna really enjoy it.
 
#917
Matt wound up having a very good experience with these strings after the replacements.

I have been given some additional information on these strings.
The original batches did indeed have defects, but the company is resolving them.
Apparently, much work has been done since the start of this.
The latest version of these strings has more mass on the G than the stock strings. This is something I have been noting since starting to play the UBass. There's definitely room for improvement on the G string, and it sounds like Aquila might be leading the way.

I am actually getting these strings within the next few days, and I'm going to give them a chance. I'm very excited about what I'm hearing. Stay tuned.

Frank
 
#918
scotch said:
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!
Click to expand...

I forgot to chime in and thank scotchConcepts again for this one.
I now have a mini pair of vise-grips in my Kala gig bag. Works great. Maybe they should put a pair in the bag for us when we buy the bass, just like the companies giving out allen wrenches. :)
 
#919
Hey Matt - it's been a while now. Care to share
a Thundergut / Aquila update?

I had the privilege of some dialog with Mimmo at Aquila.
I'm convinced a great deal has been done since the initial batches - so much so that I'm going to be getting my strings shortly.

Really looking forward to it.
 
#920
bullT said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I play it with my spanish band "Los Guacamola" all over Europa. It suits perfectly rumba and mexican music (rancheras).
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This looks like a really fun group... Kudos to a drummer who 'kits-down' to play! The Kala looks like a natural fit for the music and doesn't look too oddly proportioned on you... I have a somewhat, uh, 'different' bone structure than you and sometimes playing the Kala makes me look like a T-Rex playing a guitar!! A really fat T-Rex!!

Got any soundclips?

-robert
 
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