Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2

[scotch]

Interesting post from another forum about the UBass and Ashbory:

Ashbory bass with Ubass strings

Interesting indeed!

Were Pahoehoe strings available in 2007?

Why do I get the impression that poster totally 'doesnt get' these instruments?

 

[caeman]

I thought the Ashbory used a silicone string. Nothing like the pahoehoedjdllelel strings.

 

[scotch]

I thought the Ashbory used a silicone string. Nothing like the pahoehoedjdllelel strings.

The stock strings are silicone-rubber. Whiteish-clear color.

 

[SBassman]

Someday, the stock strings on an Ashbory should be - Thunderguts.

Seriously - that Ashbory design has a Ton of history. Far preceding the UBass.

Before these string innovations, people enjoyed that bass, even though it tortured many with the instability and string breakage.
Most of those people would get an entirely new life out of that Ashbory bass design if they knew about Thunderguts.

That Ashbory design comes to market at a very low price point.
It makes me wonder why Fender didn't already put out a more conventional-looking derivative of that design - at a similar price point.

Imagine an Ashbory - with a 21 inch scale and a small but more conventional looking body shape and headstock - and a $325 dollar price point. [Today, Ashborys sell for as low as $230 new] I think people would be lining up for that.

 

[SBassman]

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[bryanspkr]

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If you aren't already, you should be a dealer for Aquilla.

 

[SBassman]

If you aren't already, you should be a dealer for Aquilla.

I'm not a dealer - but I really am passionate about what they do.
I really think their product makes a big difference to many.

I had an initial rough out of box experience with the UBass, and many have had similar experiences. Out of the box, you can't Help but be disappointed by the lack of string stability so many days later, even while having fun with the cool tone.

After that initial experience, I also was hesitant about the Thunderguts for a coupla reasons. Once I got over the initial hump and logged some serious time with the Thunderguts, it was a no brainer for me not to look back.

Nope, not a dealer, but in full disclosure, I have become a very big fan, and I do correspond with the company. Nope,
these days, I live a kinda oath-of-poverty situation, having traded a higher paying job to go work for a Northeast organization that is a charitable non-profit helping the poor and sick around the world.

 

[SBassman]

...
Why do I get the impression that poster totally 'doesnt get' these instruments?

Because the poster said:

I also think the Kala needs a cutaway, it's hard to play above the 12th fret.

 

[bryanspkr]

I'm not a dealer - but I really am passionate about what they do.
I really think their product makes a big difference to many.

I had an initial rough out of box experience with the UBass, and many have had similar experiences. Out of the box, you can't Help but be disappointed by the lack of string stability so many days later, even while having fun with the cool tone.

After that initial experience, I also was hesitant about the Thunderguts for a coupla reasons. Once I got over the initial hump and logged some serious time with the Thunderguts, it was a no brainer for me not to look back.

Nope, not a dealer, but in full disclosure, I have become a very big fan, and I do correspond with the company. Nope,
these days, I live a kinda oath-of-poverty situation, having traded a higher paying job to go work for a Northeast organization that is a charitable non-profit helping the poor and sick around the world.

Kudos. The world needs more people like you.

As far as the Kala basses, My Beef is with the Quality control. I may have been the first in Holland to have one and every time I would play somewhere, somebody would buy one. Almost all had loosening of the input, badly cut nuts, poorly fitted back panels, Splinters punched through the top holes or vibrations caused by too long strings inside the bass. A few with not enough oil on the boards. And one with a back bowed board. I fixed a lot of them. And showed everyone the non idiot proof tips for tuning and stringing. Its been a while since seeing one out of the box, so I am hoping they have tightened up these things a bit.

 

[caeman]

A cutaway hollowbody would steal away too much of what is already a small resonant body.

 

[bryanspkr]

A cutaway hollowbody would steal away too much of what is already a small resonant body.

I wonder if there would be much difference.
No problem reaching notes anyway. You can pivot off the thumb. Actually you can float your hand. I use a kind of 3 finger thumb position without the thumb. Thumb in front of the board pointing up in the air. 1st 2nd and 3rd fingers play the notes. No problem. Thumb is against the 1st finger. Practice the transition. Sometime the thumb comes in to play when needed.

 

[J Posega]

I think it's too awkward playing that high on the Ubass anyways. Isn't the Hutch Hutchinson has a cutaway. I wouldn't imagine it makes any discernible difference anyway.

 

[SBassman]

The Hutch does have a cutaway:

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I think that bass would look nicer with a couple of f holes instead of the slits.
Was never a fan of the slits on the Washburn and Godin instruments.

 

[J Posega]

I really like single cutaways, but the HH doesn't do anything for me. Not sure why.

I'm interested to see what's in store with that other brand of Uke bass, with the metal strings (on iPhone, can't remember brand).

 

[SBassman]

I really like single cutaways, but the HH doesn't do anything for me. Not sure why.

I'm interested to see what's in store with that other brand of Uke bass, with the metal strings (on iPhone, can't remember brand).

What other brand? [you're gonna have to remember now ] Kamoa?

 

[caeman]

I would like to see Gretsch make Uke's again.

 

[bassuker]

The Hutch does have a cutaway

And very handy it is, too.

I think that bass would look nicer with a couple of f holes instead of the slits.

I like the slits. Kala make an archtop tenor uke with f-holes:

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[Timmy-Watts]

This has probably been answered by some of you but I want to pose a question: for those gigging with the ubass, what bass would you be playing had this never been invented, or you never got one? In short, what bass(es) is this instrument replacing?

My answer: for a long time, my gigs were all upright playing traditional jazz or electric playing pop covers. Occasionally there would be a doubler (jazz & R&B, wedding with a dinner set and dance set, etc.), but those were rare. In the last couple years I started subbing a lot on this trio gig that is standards at first and the rest is pop, light rock, R&B, and Latin all mixed with more standards. I was using the upright because of the jazz tunes. My stingray just doesn't swing like the doghouse. And there is very little room there. It has a house amp with 1 channel (I am channel spoiled with my 2-channel Woods) and I have to load in through the packed bar standing room. After too many Golden Lady's and I'll Take You There's on the upright I was getting tired. If I brought both it was hard to always switch gears so much and with so little space. I saw and played an ashbory, but could not get used to the awful intonation and tackiness of the strings. I read about the Ubass and looked at YouTube. Finally sprung for one last year. I now play it on most gigs.

So my answer is mainly the upright, on any non-100% upright gig, and the electric on any doubling gig. It goes with me to every gig, though, just in case. I am even finding that the fretless Cali 5 is more ideal than either in the Latin band i'm in.

My take is this: if the bass spectrum is 100% across... The upright bass is the left 55% and the fretted bass guitar is the right 55% (assuming a 10% overlap in each instrument's ideal function), the Kala U-Bass covers the middle 70%. There is maybe 15% potential on the extremes that the U-Bass won't do as well. Beyond that, the potential of this instrument really, really overlaps what the vast majority of bass playing can be.

My $.03... I even believe that this could be the third instrument. Now we will hear of "tripling" and not just doubling

 

[caeman]

My go-to bass for the last 18 months has been my Gretsch G2202 fretless at the Synagogue and elsewhere. But since I got the U-Bass, it has been my go-to bass at the Synagogue. It fits the contemporary and liturgical music very well.

I still use my Gretsch for for the loud stuff, where an FEA Dual Band Distortion is my "preamp" for the drive tone.

 

[scotch]

Great question, Tim!

Its weird for me, as the U-Bass sort of created opportunities for itself. I guess if I lost my U-Bass today for a a gig tomorrow that I was counting on it for, I'd go with one of my shortscale hollowbodies with flats or my fretless El Capitan Epiphone. Theres always the Ashbory too, of course!