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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2

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#662
Well in a way, the mahogany is a better instrument and even sounds a bit warmer and with a slightly better quality darker sound (at least between my two basses), but the spruce seems to have a little more upper bass hump. I feel it gets heard better and works better with a speaker that doesn't have this hump. By the way, the top range of what we percieve as bass is about 150Hz.
 
#663
I read bryandspkr's review and it inspired me to write my own.

Aquila strings are white and look ugly on a ubass, thunderguts look great. And caeman agrees. I choose thunderguts.

Pretty good, huh? :)

Anyone have an updated info on the steel strings? I searched last night but didn't find anything. I really want to give them a go on my electric. Slightly concerned that they may cause some serious action related problems. The action on ubass's work fine with rubber strings, but if my action were that high on any metal stringed bass it would not fly.

So, any news on them there strings?
 
#664
Aquilla makes the white thundergut. do you mean you like them because they are ugly?
Or did you mean the black ones are ugly.
My mother advised me to get an ugly woman. I won't give you the reasons.
She was beautiful so I guess she knew something.
 
#665
Joe Nerve said:
Anyone have an updated info on the steel strings? I searched last night but didn't find anything. I really want to give them a go on my electric. Slightly concerned that they may cause some serious action related problems. The action on ubass's work fine with rubber strings, but if my action were that high on any metal stringed bass it would not fly.

So, any news on them there strings?
Click to expand...

Are you talking about this?:
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I know...a Pepsi mention on a Coke page, but interesting. I'm surprised it took someone else this long to jump on the bandwagon.
 
#666
TimWatson said:
Are you talking about this?:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I know...a Pepsi mention on a Coke page, but interesting. I'm surprised it took someone else this long to jump on the bandwagon.
Click to expand...

I'm talking about the steel strings for the ubass. Not a different bass altogether. I'm done buying ukelele basses. :)

These strings. The ones in the video and on their brochure, that seem to still be nonexistent.

Pyramid Strings
PYR-RET
Silver-plated copper
wound on a nylon silk core
 
#668
bryanspkr said:
I was hesitant about posting this but I realise there are many players who have the Thundergut and prefer them. So just a personal opinion. Maybe it helps someone out there to decide if the strings might suit their own needs before spending some bread.
Click to expand...
Some interesting observations, there.

As a fretted U-Bass owner, I'd add that intonation is markedly better with the Aquila strings. Anything above the eighth fret was a no-go zone with the stocks but, after some settling in, playing at 12 and even 14 is not a problem. Of course, your review is based on your experience with the Aquilas on fretless Kala U-Basses; quite different beasts, altogether.

The high frequencies are easy to tame, if necessary (tip: trim those nails!) and although the tone is, as you say, more complex, I would not agree that it is ugly. Your comment that you "constantly feel out of tune" is interesting because that's what I used to feel with the stock Pahoehoe strings.

The stickiness is a slight issue. Did you receive a response regarding a suitable lubricant? I'm thinking FingerEase or perhaps the trick used by Ashbory players; talc.

This said, I would not say that I prefer the Aquilas over the stock strings; they each have their merits and shortcomings. It would seem, perhaps, that the 'perfect' string lies somewhere in between.
 
#672
bryanspkr said:
the point is that you can't hear the nails on the polys...
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Strongly disagree. I had to use a kind of fingerstyle for the polys; a combination of thumb, index and, sometimes, middle fingers to avoid the awful, thin 'clack-clack' whenever a nail came into play.

I should note that I speak primarily from a recording perspective, rather than live with a band through amps and speakers where the sound is at the mercy of the stage and room configuration.
 
#673
One point of interest. Given that all other things equal, The longer the string for a given fundamental, the more in tune the harmonics. It follows that the inverse is true. So the term inharmonicity. One explanation as to why a double bass string can sound so good. In fact, a good piano tuner will tune a short piano differently than a long one. There is also a "tone" only based on the length of the string independent of unit weight or diameter. Tone is a misnomer actually. I have heard it called the "Klangtone" I've read about it but I haven't found this particular description on the web. A short fat string (or a fat string played high) such as a kala u-bass string might sound better with little upper harmonic content.


Ah! it was Clang tone with a C
 
#677
bryanspkr said:
One point of interest. Given that all other things equal, The longer the string for a given fundamental, the less in tune the harmonics. It follows that the inverse is true. So the term inharmonicity. One explanation as to why a double bass string can sound so good. In fact, a good piano tuner will tune a short piano differently than a long one. There is also a "tone" only based on the length of the string independent of unit weight or diameter. Tone is a misnomer actually. I have heard it called the "Klangtone" I've read about it but I haven't found this particular description on the web. A short fat string (or a fat string played high) such as a kala u-bass string might sound better with little upper harmonic content.
Click to expand...

OOPS! , I meant the longer the string the more in tune the harmonics.
 
#678
bryanspkr said:
Are you talking about preamp klack or speaker klack? Or maybe string klack? Do you play very lightly?
Click to expand...
String klack. Yes; as light a touch with left and right hands as possible.
bryanspkr said:
Also do you use a combination of meat and nail at the same time? I actually cut my nails on an angle so all i do is angle my fingers to avoid the nails.
Click to expand...
Meat only, if at all possible. I've found that playing with the thumb only produces the sound I prefer, although it is severely limiting. Most suitable for simple stuff - country, etc. Standard nail trimming, here.
 
#679
this is a hell of an instrument. I really believe that it can be played on a high level. I do think that one has to learn how to be real precise and delicate in approach. And the amp is much more important than with most instruments. I think this style of instrument will develop an really come into it own one day. Wood and rubber may be the sound of the future!
 
#680
bryanspkr said:
this is a hell of an instrument. I really believe that it can be played on a high level. I do think that one has to learn how to be real precise and delicate in approach. And the amp is much more important than with most instruments. I think this style of instrument will develop an really come into it own one day. Wood and rubber may be the sound of the future!
Click to expand...

My spruce u-bass has been the only bass I've used at the synagogue since I bought it. Certainly not pro level, it really does the job.
 
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