Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2

[yeelaberbin]

I don't "build" that. It's à classical guitar which i've reduced the handle. I've also adapted the nut and the bridge to receive the Thunderguts.
My basic idea was to put a Ubass scaled handle on a guitar body for a full acoustic sound.

 

[caeman]

I should regarding the ADI21 that I do not get that same distortion when I run my resonator guitar with the blend (tube emulation) turned up, just my U-Bass. Maybe it is a bass thing with the ADI21.

 

[jbossolo]

Well, thanks to you gents I got me one of these babies (Acoustic Mahogany fretted), and after reading a bit ordered some Aquila Thunderguts. Put them on today, no issues (even for a "newbie" like me), initial impressions are very good. The sound is a lot more "crisp" and the strings feel less "rubbery". I have a feeling I'll be playing this bass A LOT!

 

[Holdsg]

Can't wait for my Thunderguts to arrive (SB today).

 

[SBassman]

As promised, I wrote to Kala to ask for a few words on what we were observing regarding rods in the necks.
Here is a response from Mike Upton at Kala:

Since it’s inception in 2007 the UBass has been a work in progress and gone through several updates/revisions. Since this is a unique instrument and the first of it’s kind we are looking to improve it as much as we can while keeping it’s primary function/purpose in tact. Because of some neck issues we were having we decided to try some sort of truss rod/stabilizer to keep the neck stable. The non-adjustable rod was introduced to stabilize the neck but it became apparent that we might as well make it adjustable shortly after we introduced the change; so hence the adjustable truss rod. ... Our desire is to make an instrument that continues to give Bassists a new voice and means of expression. - Mike Upton, Kala

 

[SBassman]

Our desire is to make an instrument that continues to give Bassists a new voice and means of expression. - Mike Upton, Kala

Mike, if you or any others at Kala ever reach this:

You have succeeded amazingly in giving bassists a new voice and means of expression - all in a micro size that seems to defy the laws of physics. You'll find lots of love here - we can't put our UBasses down.

My family now has multiple couch potato shots of me sleeping on the couch - with my acoustic UBass in my arms.

 

[GBassNorth]

I'm starting to wish I had a fretless acoustic.
The intonation on my fretted is good, but the more I play, the more I want it to be even better. And the only way to make it better is to get my ears to make it better. And the only way to do that - is to have a fretless.

Comments?

I agree, I have the fretted version and love it but like any strong addiction now I want more.... more control over exact notes, more ability to slide without notice, more mwaah and to top it all off I'm holding out for one really bad arse looking little beast, something that just screams "I've got demons".
I don't want a traditional hollowbody looking design, I want a hollowbody with pointy edges and a nasty headstock in a tiny package - think a flying V design or maybe an Entwistle type Spider in hollowbody or even better one of those discontinued German hand carved Warwick Vampyre type bodies. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Feed my addiction, give me some bad arse pics of what you'd like to see a hollow body Ubass look like, something with an attitude to match it's thunderous voice.

 

[RevRuss]

I've had my U Bass for about 2 weeks now and have not been able to play it as much as I'd like. I have recieved the Thunderguts but have not put them on as of yet....still want to give the stock strings a chance so I'll have a good comparison when I do change.

I started by plugging in straight to my amp....OK sound...
untill I read about some of you using a preamp.

I have K &K Pure pickups in 2 of my guitars and I have a K & K Pure XLR Preamp to use with them.

So, I plug up my U Bass into the XLR Preamp....WOW!
Now the tone is so "fat" and "rich" plus I have more control.

The K&K is a hot passive pickup which many of you have said the U Bass has a hot signal....so this preamp just might be the ticket!

Here is a little info I got from the K&K website on the XLR Pure Preamp.....

. The Pure XLR Preamp features +/-20 db bass, mid, and treble controls, plus an adjustable input gain control. Its simple and super-noiseless circuit provides unsurpassed clarity and power and the adjustable input gain allows you to dial in the precise amplification factor needed for your instrument.
Frequency response is 10-30,000Hz. The bass control is set to roll of at 100Hz, the midrange at 1.5kHz with extra large bandwidth and the treble are set at 10kHz. Input impedance is 1 meg. Output impedance on balanced XLR and 1/4" line out is 100 Ohm. The 1/4" line out can conveniently be used as a monitor out or for connection to a tuner.

Thanks for this thread.....
Russ

 

[war_n_peace]

I'm starting to wish I had a fretless acoustic.
The intonation on my fretted is good, but the more I play, the more I want it to be even better. And the only way to make it better is to get my ears to make it better. And the only way to do that - is to have a fretless.

Comments?

Take the 18 frets out! and fill in the fingerboard like Jaco did.
or take it to a luthier and have it converted to fretless. It's not that difficult.

 

[GBassNorth]

For those of you that haven't tried it yet, give the Sansamp VT pedal a try with the Ubass and plug in to your amp in the active port (vs passive). This bass is really responsive to minor preamp changes and is capable of carrying just about any tone and feel you can imagine.

 

[etoncrow]

For those of you that haven't tried it yet, give the Sansamp VT pedal a try with the Ubass and plug in to your amp in the active port (vs passive). This bass is really responsive to minor preamp changes and is capable of carrying just about any tone and feel you can imagine.

My normal set-up is bass--->VT Deluxe--->tuner--->Empress Parametric--->amp--->cabinet. This allows me to change out between basses easily; which include my Birdsongs, an Azola Bug Bass EUB and the Kala U-bass. The U-bass sounds amazing through this arrangement.

 

[J Posega]

My U-bass came in today. Played it at rehearsal after tuning... and tuning... and tuning. I have a set of Thunderguts coming, but I'm going to play the stock strings for a while. Gotta watch the tuning and restringing video.

 

[caeman]

It took mine about two weeks to stabilize.

 

[SBassman]

My U-bass came in today. Played it at rehearsal after tuning... and tuning... and tuning. I have a set of Thunderguts coming, but I'm going to play the stock strings for a while. Gotta watch the tuning and restringing video.

I'd say if today was day 1 in that UBass's life, it's not worthy of band play yet.

I would agree - about 2 weeks for those stock strings.
But - there's light at the end of the tunnel. It's more like - 1 to 2 days for the Thunderguts.

 

[jbossolo]

"It's more like - 1 to 2 days for the Thunderguts."

Indeed. Strung mine yesterday, E was in tune today, all others slightly off.
It's definitely worth the change.

 

[scotch]

Played a 20+ song set tonight playing primarily U-Bass: the Thunderguts didnt need to be tuned through the entire show. Impressive.

 

[J Posega]

Has anyone attached a thumb rest to an acoustic U-bass? I find myself missing having a pickup to rest on, and that my hand makes a lot of noise across the top as I fumble to anchor it while playing the E.

Also, does anyone here who's tried both actually prefer the Pahoehoe strings to the Thunderguts? I don't have my TG's yet, but I feel like taking the originals off the second they arrive, since the reviews are all so positive.

 

[caeman]

I have rested my thumb against the end of the fret board.

 

[J Posega]

I have rested my thumb against the end of the fret board.

Been trying that, but I like the attack I get playing just behind the sound hole... I think that's nearly where a P bass pickup is, adjusting for scale of course.

 

[3 fingered bass]

While I haven't actually tried the Thunderguts, I don't plan to, as I like the tone of the original strings. From what I have read and heard, the Thunderguts are a bit brighter and have more tension, neither of which I want.

Also, I have the Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum Bass Preamp ($150) and it works quite well with my Ubass2 FS. I had bought it for use with my Dean Pace Bass (EUB) but I hated the Dean, so the Dean Pace Bass is gone but I kept the Fishman...

Regarding a thumb rest, one easy solution would be to use double face tape and stick a Precision Bass style rest where ever you want it. That way no holes were drilled if you want it off later...