Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2

[SBassman]

sorry for the long-winded post, but that was my day yesterday can't wait to take this thing to rehearsal

Not long winded at all. Great post - you took us on an adventure.

About the nut - yeah, while we haven't had a word from Kala on that yet, I think a few of us would agree that
the strings stick in the nut occasionally. While tuning, it's wise to occasionally lift the string out of the slot and then
let it drop back in.

Petroleum jelly? That's a new one for me. Can anyone else comment? Is that a safe choice?

Glad you found the UBass - and this thread. Enjoy.

 

[SBassman]

There are various lubes sold for nut lubrication, but they cost a few bucks. I have been using this cheap stuff, available in any home/hardware store. It has helped:

Hillman Graphite Powdered Lubricant:

 

[gaijinking]

Hey Norcaldog,
Does yours have binding around the body like mine?

 

[NorCal Dog]

Hey Norcaldog,
Does yours have binding around the body like mine?

nope,, it was made in 11 04, it's just got the white ring around the soundhole

 

[BassfulOne]

There are various lubes sold for nut lubrication, but they cost a few bucks. I have been using this cheap stuff, available in any home/hardware store. It has helped:

Hillman Graphite Powdered Lubricant:

Hehe, you said "various."

 

[SBassman]

Hehe, you said "various."

I said other things in that post, too, that made me laugh while I typed, but I resisted the temptation to crack a joke.

 

[mikeybgoode]

ok that wonderful fed ext brought my new baby to me this morning, a fretted spruce top. im so excited... but im afraid of tuning it- it seems to get proper tune the strings(Kala's) have to be tight, or way loose. id hate to brake it right out of the box! how tight should they be?
Im sure this has been answered but i cant find the thread.. advice?

 

[Matt R.]

Tight? Just tune it.

 

[caeman]

The stock strings will end up stretching at least 4 inches by the time they stabilize.

 

[SBassman]

ok that wonderful fed ext brought my new baby to me this morning, a fretted spruce top. im so excited... but im afraid of tuning it- it seems to get proper tune the strings(Kala's) have to be tight, or way loose. id hate to brake it right out of the box! how tight should they be?
Im sure this has been answered but i cant find the thread.. advice?

If you haven't read the thread, you should. It has a Ton of information about stringing. Also watch Kala / Mike Upton's tuning video online.

The black rubber strings are very unlikely to break. The tuning posts are another story. You want to watch while tuning, ensuring the tuner is not binding up. You want no more than 3 wraps or so on the tuning posts. Otherwise, start over with the string and pull it more before starting to tune.

It's going to take some elbow grease to bring the bass alive, but it's worth the effort.

 

[caeman]

We need to write up a one-page, concise summary for new U-Bass owners. Asking people to read through 1-1/2 mega threads might be asking too much.

 

[SBassman]

I want to offer up some other comments on having a fretless, now that I have some hours under my belt.

I'm really loving it. For This bass, I think it's the sweet spot.
I'm not normally a fretless person. I don't own a fretless steel string, and I have no measurable fretless skills.

Still, having the fretless gives you Total control over this instrument. Let's face it - we're dealing with a very, very short scale, and intonation is not going to be perfect. With the fretless, your ears can bring you much closer. Plus, there is zero fret farting with the fretless.

Really, really enjoying the fretless.

Also, as far as the MWAH factor: yeah, there is not a Ton, but I do hear a Little. The tone Is a Little bit different from the fretted. And, the neck hasn't been adjusted yet. I'll bet that if I lower the action, I'll get another little bit of MWAH out of this baby.

Anybody out there with a fretless and an adjustable truss rod actually attempt to lower the action? What were the results?

 

[caeman]

One usually lowers the action by adjusting the nut or bridge. The truss rod is there to keep the neck flat-straight.

 

[J Posega]

I find the intonation on my A-G strings is just fine, maybe not perfect, but works for what I play. My E doesn't seem to be in tune at all when it's fretted, but it can kind of be masked when I plug in. I wonder if fretless would be better, or if the bridge can somehow be adjusted... They are technically 4 seperate saddles.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

+1 on the fretless! Since day 1, sight unseen, I had a hunch about the tone, intonation control of the fretless, and I was right. No fret farts until I get my solid fretted. It is still for sale now.

I never expected a mwah from this bass, nor do I want that. It is similar to an upright's dark attack and sustain.

I have replaced the bridge/pickup on my hollow, and I can assure you the action is not adjustable, unless you want to raise it, and you could put in a shim under the bridge.

 

[SBassman]

+1 on the fretless! Since day 1, sight unseen, I had a hunch about the tone, intonation control of the fretless, and I was right. No fret farts until I get my solid fretted. It is still for sale now.

I never expected a mwah from this bass, nor do I want that. It is similar to an upright's dark attack and sustain.

I have replaced the bridge/pickup on my hollow, and I can assure you the action is not adjustable, unless you want to raise it, and you could put in a shim under the bridge.

But weren't there shims underneath the bridge that I could potentially remove?

 

[3 fingered bass]

For those, new to this, that need the Kala re-string video...

Kala U-Bass strings - YouTube

 

[Timmy-Watts]

But weren't there shims underneath the bridge that I could potentially remove?

Mine did not have a shim. If you did use a shim, it would have to be really flat and just the right size so the piezo element would contact the entire surface of it. A loose contact pickup=really bad sound. I would not lower the strings anyways. With these type of stings you could unwittingly invent fretless fart.

 

[SBassman]

Mine did not have a shim. If you did use a shim, it would have to be really flat and just the right size so the piezo element would contact the entire surface of it. A loose contact pickup=really bad sound. I would not lower the strings anyways. With these type of stings you could unwittingly invent fretless fart.

Well, we don't want any of *That*. That would stink. Ho!

 

[kerryg]

I have replaced the bridge/pickup on my hollow, and I can assure you the action is not adjustable, unless you want to raise it, and you could put in a shim under the bridge.

Tim, was your replacement done to repair something, or did you upgrade your bridge and/or pickup?

Just one of those ideas that occurred to me as i play this more (I'm curious about putting an onboard preamp in my Ubass too).