Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2

[bryanspkr]

actually , I think they will then be more like the Kala polys in sound and feel then.

 

[scotch]

It's important to note the following when including the Ashbory bass in this discussion:

a) It's a different scale length

b) Stock Ashbory silicone-rubber strings were, at best, total crap in terms of durability and tuning stability.

So, yes, the Aquilas are a HUGE step up for it! Much more of an improvement then the Pahoehoe poly string on the U-Bass.

Honestly, as with the switch on the U-Bass, the inherent tone is very similar. However, there is increased output on the Ashbory (I attribute this to the significantly higher tension of the Thunderguts) as well as more treble extension.

Ashbory owners, who've had their instrument a while, know that you just can never predict when you will pull it out of the case with a broken 'D' or 'G' string! Those silicone-rubber strings felt cool, but just didn't stay in tune well or even hold their structural integrity when kept at pitch for weeks on end. I've had my Ashbory for over a decade & went through a boatload of strings! It was always a challenge in the studio keeping it in tune - even for just one song take at a time! Thankfully, they're all fretless!

I'm preparing for another tour - so I don't have time to record clips right away. Things sort-of slow down for me in April. I'll try to get some Ashbory clips up then. Honestly, it sounds like a bit less organic U-Bass. (After discovering the U-Bass, my Ashbory is pretty much retired!)

 

[scotch]

In other U-Bass news, I had the chance to play a spruce fretless U-Bass, a Mahogany U-Bass (fretted) and a couple of SUB basses today.

Yup. I'll be getting a fretless asap. The tone is virtually the same, but after playing fretless Ashbory for so long - it actually felt more natural to me. I don't have much trouble with fret 'clacking' with my fretted, but the fretless just sounds even more like an upright (go figure!). For the record, the fretless intonation at the fret lines seemed pretty far off to my ears. Even employing careful left hand fingering, it was really off above the 6th or 7th 'fret' position.

This is my second time playing a Mahogany & again - I honestly prefer the spruce. The spruce really is a little 'snappier' which complements the strings 'thud' well. Still, a cool bass! I'll be on the lookout for a Mahogany fretless to round out my collection, though. I just don't like 'snappy' from a fretless. (NOT a jaco-tone fan, sorry.)

The solidbody SUB basses sounded great, but felt weird to me. I think they lose all of the visual charm of the Uke-style. Different strokes for different folks!

 

[caeman]

An upright player in the crowd today noticed me playing the U-Bass and just had to see it. She liked it.

 

[bryanspkr]

Keep playing it. Eventually you will get it more in tune than the fretted. I'm sure after getting used to it, it will be hard to go back to frets.

 

[caeman]

As I think about this, I this U-Bass is the perfect starter bass for kids. The short spacing of the frets/fret lines is easy on small hands. The light weight of the hollow body is perfect for their smaller bodies, putting no weight on their developing shoulders.

 

[scotch]

Keep playing it. Eventually you will get it more in tune than the fretted. I'm sure after getting used to it, it will be hard to go back to frets.

I didn't have trouble playing in tune - just noting that the inlaid 'fretlines' aren't as accurate as most normal electric basses I've played. Naturally, using ones' ears is always the best way to play in tune! I'm not a big fan of fretlines for many reasons...

Looking forward to finding a decent fretless mahogany... the search is on!

 

[bryanspkr]

I didn't have trouble playing in tune - just noting that the inlaid 'fretlines' aren't as accurate as most normal electric basses I've played. Naturally, using ones' ears is always the best way to play in tune! I'm not a big fan of fretlines for many reasons...

Looking forward to finding a decent fretless mahogany... the search is on!

What bothers me is that the dots are in the wrong place for a lined board.

 

[scotch]

What bothers me is that the dots are in the wrong place for a lined board.

I noticed that too! Definitely weird!

 

[caeman]

Once you get used to playing it, you will find yourself looking at the fretboard less and less. I find that I can leave my thumb at the third fret line and easily reach up to the 7th fret line. I wasn't looking at my fret board as much this morning.

 

[bryanspkr]

I noticed that too! Definitely weird!

confusing. when I get a chance, I'm going to install some dots and get rid of the old ones

 

[Timmy-Watts]

What bothers me is that the dots are in the wrong place for a lined board.

That threw me off at first. But I perform standing up. At the angle it hangs I can only see the side dots. So I have gotten used to it. After a year, every time I play a fretted ubass it lasts about a minute. I REALLY favor fretless. Even after neglecting my Modulus fretless for months I took it to a gig and my intonation was a lot better than before, even on a 35" scale.

 

[SBassman]

What bothers me is that the dots are in the wrong place for a lined board.

It freaked me out for a while, but I'm over it now. I adjusted.

 

[SBassman]

...
So, yes, the Aquilas are a HUGE step up for it! Much more of an improvement then the Pahoehoe poly string on the U-Bass.
...
Honestly, it sounds like a bit less organic U-Bass. (After discovering the U-Bass, my Ashbory is pretty much retired!)

Why would it be retired? With Thunderguts, isn't it a viable alternative?

Did you find that the 3 less inches made a significant difference in being able to play in tune, or is it a viable, similar alternative?

 

[bryanspkr]

Its official. The thunderguts are coming off. I've been playing them for a while and my first impression still stands. I have 2 basses to A/B (acoustically and with amp) and if I was deaf, the Thunderguts would be an improvement. I was enjoying the playability stability and evenness of the T-guts acoustically actually. But its not enough. Also, on my particular bass at least, the res peak is right at E (160Hz). Higher, louder, and more wolfey than with the less tension Kalas. Unfortunately, not in the crack. In this case, some advantages are disadvantages. At least for me.

I had e-mailed Owen Holt a while back about a B string. He said he has a B that would work at this scale, so I think my 2nd bass will be BEAD (That would move the problem area up a 4th on the bass too). Easy conversion with a needle file. It would be great too if I could get a thicker D and G too, but so far impossible.

Anyone who lives within a throw of Amsterdam and would like 2 sets of Thunderguts? One slightly used.

 

[scotch]

Why would it be retired? With Thunderguts, isn't it a viable alternative?

Did you find that the 3 less inches made a significant difference in being able to play in tune, or is it a viable, similar alternative?

Retired because I think the U-Bass has a richer, more interesting tone. The U-Bass is much more ergonomic to play & looks cooler in my opinion. ...still, I'm not selling my Ashbory anytime soon. Too much history...

The different scale lengths didn't really make any difference in being able to play in tune. Playing in tune has everything to do with your ears & little to do with gear!

 

[scotch]

I'm still loving the Thunderguts myself. While I do miss the lower tension of the Pahoehoe strings, the stellar stability and greater range of tone of the Aquila option has won me over!

It was pretty cool doing a month long tour and hardly ever having to tune the instrument much more than a micro-turn! I had been on tour with the same act in in Nov/Dec & asked the foh engineer if I should go back to the other strings. He didn't hear any difference.

As bryanspkr has shown, the Thundergut may not be for everyone. But I think anyone looking for something a little different should give them a try!

 

[bryanspkr]

for many out there, they can be a big improvement.

 

[SBassman]

As I think about this, I this U-Bass is the perfect starter bass for kids. The short spacing of the frets/fret lines is easy on small hands. The light weight of the hollow body is perfect for their smaller bodies, putting no weight on their developing shoulders.

Excellent point.

 

[SBassman]

Interesting post from another forum about the UBass and Ashbory:

Ashbory bass with Ubass strings