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Kala Ubass Megathread, Part 1

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#122
chuck3 said:
Interesting! Can someone please describe the electronics of the instrument? What kind of pickup (piezo in the bridge?)? Is it active or passive? Does it have controls? :confused:
Click to expand...
Passive. No onboard controls.

mrspiffy said:
When it arrives and I get it out, would it be advisable to take the strings off the tuners and just re-string it a la the above mentioned video?
Click to expand...
If the strings are properly installed there is no need for messing with them. Just check to make sure you don't have too many windings on the post. I think the post will break if the string winds down past the end of the spool and you keep winding. But watch the video a few times.

theschnitt said:
Two questions for the collective wisdom: the input jack is VERY snug. Like I'm afraid I'm going to rip it out of the wood when I unplug snug. Anyone else have this going on?
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The two i've used both have had a tight fit. No problems so far.
theschnitt said:
Second, do y'all keep a humidifier in your Ubass? I've never owned an "acoustic" guitar before, and it's hot and dry here in Tucson. Do you think it'd be wise to get one of those drop-in-the-soundhole humidifiers?
Click to expand...
Get a Hygrometer and stick it in your case. Should read between 45% and 55%. If it's lower, use a humidifier in the case.
 
#125
2010-07-22%2021.12.38.jpg


:hyper:

My wife was taking my kids to the doctor today, and it's been raining all day and Fedex was due to arrive any time between 8-6 today. Anyway, my kids were dragging their feet getting ready to go. As my wife was leaving the Fedex dude pulled up and delivered it!

Tuned up the strings like Mike Upton said and it's awesome!
 
#133
Here is a video about how to install a new tuner on the U_Bass 2


BTW according to the video, the Mahogany model is called U_bass 1 the spruce model is U-bass 2. Not sure what they call the acacia model (3, I'm guessing)

Also worth noting. The "2" stamped on the back of the headstock in the video isn't indicating that this is a U-bass 2. It's indicating that the bass he is working on is a factory 2nd (blem). Worth noting if you are still shopping for one of these.
 
#134
Just had the post on the D tuning machine shear clean off my new U-Bass 2 at a rock gig last night, the second day I owned the instrument. :eek: I was just trying to tune the D string up to pitch while plugged into a Korg tuner. I'd just played most of two sets with the uke and was getting great response from the crowd and my band mates, so I would recommend it as a gigging instrument. However, I am a bit concerned about these machines they're using in the headstock.

They're made of lightweight aluminum, probably as a concession to both strap balance and cost. When the post broke, the gear flew off the back of the headstock with the screw still threaded into it. We recovered the shaft dangling at the end of the string and when we flipped it over it was just cleanly snapped in half right where it joined the gear. It's almost like I wasn't winding the string any more but just adding torc to the screw and post. :confused: I bought it locally at Dietze Music on Center St. here in Omaha, and they're taking it up with Kala, which cover their instruments under a limited lifetime warranty. I've alway gotten good service from Dietze, so I'm confident I'll either end up with a working bass or a refund.

I will say that I played it almost constantly from the day I bought it to the gig the next night. As other have said here, it's very fun to play and super easy on the hands. The plugged in sound is big, musical and very gig worthy. While feedback under high sound pressure is an issue, you do need to be right in the path of a sound source to resonate the top enough to get feedback from the pickup in the bridge. Overall the audience and the band loved it once they got over the novelty of what it was. So I'll definitely look forward to getting mine back, but *seriously* stop cranking the tuners if you get more than three cranks without a change in the pitch of the string.
 
#136
bad_andy said:
Just had the post on the D tuning machine shear clean off my new U-Bass 2 at a rock gig last night, the second day I owned the instrument. :eek: I was just trying to tune the D string up to pitch while plugged into a Korg tuner. I'd just played most of two sets with the uke and was getting great response from the crowd and my band mates, so I would recommend it as a gigging instrument. However, I am a bit concerned about these machines they're using in the headstock.

They're made of lightweight aluminum, probably as a concession to both strap balance and cost. When the post broke, the gear flew off the back of the headstock with the screw still threaded into it. We recovered the shaft dangling at the end of the string and when we flipped it over it was just cleanly snapped in half right where it joined the gear. It's almost like I wasn't winding the string any more but just adding torc to the screw and post. :confused: I bought it locally at Dietze Music on Center St. here in Omaha, and they're taking it up with Kala, which cover their instruments under a limited lifetime warranty. I've alway gotten good service from Dietze, so I'm confident I'll either end up with a working bass or a refund.

I will say that I played it almost constantly from the day I bought it to the gig the next night. As other have said here, it's very fun to play and super easy on the hands. The plugged in sound is big, musical and very gig worthy. While feedback under high sound pressure is an issue, you do need to be right in the path of a sound source to resonate the top enough to get feedback from the pickup in the bridge. Overall the audience and the band loved it once they got over the novelty of what it was. So I'll definitely look forward to getting mine back, but *seriously* stop cranking the tuners if you get more than three cranks without a change in the pitch of the string.
Click to expand...

The same thing happened to me on the A string. It is from having too many windings around the post. At some point after the strings are stretched out you need to remove them and reinstall following the video previously posted. That is because the strings are so stretchy that by the time they are completely stretched there is already too many windings. Don't assume that because the strings were installed at the factory they will be ok. Once the wrapping reaches the bottom of the post take it off and redo it with less wraps.

I emailed Kala, and they responded quickly and are sending a new tuner. Their customer service is really good.
 
#140
Showdown said:
The same thing happened to me on the A string. It is from having too many windings around the post. At some point after the strings are stretched out you need to remove them and reinstall following the video previously posted. That is because the strings are so stretchy that by the time they are completely stretched there is already too many windings. Don't assume that because the strings were installed at the factory they will be ok. Once the wrapping reaches the bottom of the post take it off and redo it with less wraps.
Click to expand...
Yep, but I'd just like to point out that it's not exactly the "bottom of the post" you have to watch out for, but the flange at the bottom of the post. Make sure you don't allow the string to wrap around below the flange.

Showdown said:
I emailed Kala, and they responded quickly and are sending a new tuner. Their customer service is really good.
Click to expand...
It certainly is! Joy is a joy to deal with.
 
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