Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
- Status
I don't remember if this has been posted, so here it is.
Tal Wilkenfeld playing Kala U-Bass - YouTube
Tal Wilkenfeld playing Kala U-Bass - YouTube
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I know this must have been posted somewhere along the way, but I'm still not sure I'm getting it, and yes, I am starting to get some gas for a solid body. What exactly is the point of the solid body? I got the acoustic so I can travel with it, play it around the house, use it as a novelty on acoustic gigs, AND because I think it actually sounds pretty awesome. Don't let me forget the fun factor. But...
What is the point of a solid body? Not too sure how cool it looks on stage, and it almost seems as though a lot of sacrifices are being made (as opposed to using a regular bass) just for the novelty of it. None of this has any bearing on whether I buy one or not because I definitely need a 12 step program for my GAS, but can anyone shed some light on the reason behind the solid body? Aside from the fun factor and ability to pop it in an overhead, that's already been met by the acoustic.
And regarding the pricing thing, I don't regret the $400 I dropped on the acoustic. Although I'm pretty sure bassnw does.
What is the point of a solid body? Not too sure how cool it looks on stage, and it almost seems as though a lot of sacrifices are being made (as opposed to using a regular bass) just for the novelty of it. None of this has any bearing on whether I buy one or not because I definitely need a 12 step program for my GAS, but can anyone shed some light on the reason behind the solid body? Aside from the fun factor and ability to pop it in an overhead, that's already been met by the acoustic.
And regarding the pricing thing, I don't regret the $400 I dropped on the acoustic. Although I'm pretty sure bassnw does.
Some reasons for a solid body for me:
- I love small instruments. I'm comfortable with them. I never connected with having a 10 pound tree around my neck to play bass.
- I bet the tone of the solid bodies is similar yet tighter.
- You're getting way more on board tone options with the solid body, via the controls.
- I don't look at this as a novelty situation. First of all, I'm not a pro touring the country, so, in my weekend warrior hack world, I can do whatever I want. I think the tone of this bass can easily be morphed to fit - Anything. It's the perfect core tone that can be applied to most types of music. I intend to use this bass for Most of my next gigs.
- No feedback worries with the solid body. And it's a more rugged version for the wear and tear from gigging.
- I love small instruments. I'm comfortable with them. I never connected with having a 10 pound tree around my neck to play bass.
- I bet the tone of the solid bodies is similar yet tighter.
- You're getting way more on board tone options with the solid body, via the controls.
- I don't look at this as a novelty situation. First of all, I'm not a pro touring the country, so, in my weekend warrior hack world, I can do whatever I want.
I think the tone of this bass can easily be morphed to fit - Anything. It's the perfect core tone that can be applied to most types of music. I intend to use this bass for Most of my next gigs.- No feedback worries with the solid body. And it's a more rugged version for the wear and tear from gigging.
I guess that makes ours quite the bargain.
I wonder if those are strung with Kala's stock strings.
Looks like it.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,081
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
It should be ready this week.
I had so much fun with it today.
I do too much practice at ultra low volume level - because I often practice right in the living so I'm still hanging out with my family. Plus, they kinda like hearing the music. But I keep it low.
Today, when the house emptied out, I plugged into a GK MB112, and also plugged some excellent minus bass tracks into the 1/8" input. Turned her up, clicked on the GK Contour, and let it rip.
It sounded - Awesome.
I think it's easy to hear this bass flat without effects and think it's too bright. And, solo wise, it is. But I tell ya, this bass lays right into a mix of other instruments so beautifully - even without rolling off any of the highs.
I said this before, and nobody caught on. If you want to have some fun, play I Want You Back on this bass. If you want an excellent minus bass track for it, you can purchase one here:
Invalid Link Removed
You'll thank me later.
I do too much practice at ultra low volume level - because I often practice right in the living so I'm still hanging out with my family. Plus, they kinda like hearing the music. But I keep it low.
Today, when the house emptied out, I plugged into a GK MB112, and also plugged some excellent minus bass tracks into the 1/8" input. Turned her up, clicked on the GK Contour, and let it rip.
It sounded - Awesome.
I think it's easy to hear this bass flat without effects and think it's too bright. And, solo wise, it is. But I tell ya, this bass lays right into a mix of other instruments so beautifully - even without rolling off any of the highs.
I said this before, and nobody caught on. If you want to have some fun, play I Want You Back on this bass. If you want an excellent minus bass track for it, you can purchase one here:
Invalid Link Removed
You'll thank me later.
I'll field this one. Speaking only for myself, I've found that the benefits to the SUB version are several: adjustable volume, being able to roll in treble or bass boost as needed, no preamp required for amplification, more fretboard is better, better feedback resistance...
In short, you get the benefits you enjoy in the acoustic model plus some extra features. Attached below are some pictures a buddy took from a (well) paying private gig where I depended on my SUB for nearly five 45 minute sets of material. The only time I took it off was to switch to my acoustic spruce top U-Bass 2 for the acoustic numbers. (They hired us back on the spot for next year, FWIW.)
The bass performed well throughout the night, including a solo I got to play in the middle of "Funk 49".
I'm still getting used to the size, but I loved waking up this morning without feeling like I'd put my back through a prize fight. IMHO, the SUB is actually boomier than the acoustic, but having the option to roll back the volume or to roll in bass or treble has been great when switching between DI, different amps, etc. I'm now looking to upgrade to a set of Thunderguts to add some twang, string tension, and sustain.All in all, I'm still very happy with my purchase.
Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed
Excellent post. Thank you. And I forgot a big one you mentioned - more fretboard is better.
Less bass, more space ... but with the SUB, more fretboard is better.
Can you tell us more about the SUB? How was the build quality?
My most important question: does it have that chargeable battery like the higher end ones, or is it something more simple? [I would worry about a rechargeable battery crapping out on me during a gig.]
Thanks.
My most important question: does it have that chargeable battery like the higher end ones, or is it something more simple? [I would worry about a rechargeable battery crapping out on me during a gig.]
Thanks.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,081
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
caeman said:More fretboard? I am confused. There are frets after the 7th?
Not paying notes! ;-)
The SUB uses a coin-sized watch battery instead of the fast-charging capacitor of the California series U-Basses. The build quality is decent, but I did file the fret ends. I also cranked the action down with the adjustable bridge before gigging with it. As with any production instrument, consider a bit of setup from either yourself or your luthier or tech as part of the deal.
More fretboard is better, IMHO, but not essential. I've been gigging on the acoustic U-Bass 2 for more than a year and it worked fine, because as scotch pointed out, most of the notes I get payed to play live in the lower part of the neck.
But, I'll totally use the other notes if I can reach them. Case in point, there's a turnaround I like to do on the end of "Honky Tonk Women" that pivots over a G7 arpeggio. To me, it just sounds better an octave up as a little lick to slide up to before dropping the bass line back to Earth.
As with the acoustic, the SUB is quite a conversation piece. Last night, an attractive young woman in the audience motioned to me and wanted to know if I was playing a bass as she thought or if it was a mandolin as her friend was convinced. She did an end-zone dance when I told her she'd won the bet.
More fretboard is better, IMHO, but not essential. I've been gigging on the acoustic U-Bass 2 for more than a year and it worked fine, because as scotch pointed out, most of the notes I get payed to play live in the lower part of the neck.
But, I'll totally use the other notes if I can reach them. Case in point, there's a turnaround I like to do on the end of "Honky Tonk Women" that pivots over a G7 arpeggio. To me, it just sounds better an octave up as a little lick to slide up to before dropping the bass line back to Earth.
As with the acoustic, the SUB is quite a conversation piece. Last night, an attractive young woman in the audience motioned to me and wanted to know if I was playing a bass as she thought or if it was a mandolin as her friend was convinced. She did an end-zone dance when I told her she'd won the bet.
- Status
