Interesting. If I ever hit the lottery and had one built,
I'd add an inch or two to the scale.
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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 2
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
- Status
Interesting. If I ever hit the lottery and had one built,
I'd add an inch or two to the scale.
Hello everybody,
First post here. I'm a noob in many senses of the word. After playing guitar casually since my twenties (61 now) but never seriously, I picked up a uke 2 yrs ago and was smitten. Then last year I joined the Rochester Ukulele Orchestra with my concert Kanil'ea.
Our group met frustratingly (to me) infrequently and was very open and welcoming to most comers, including several folk who were not terribly good and didn't seem really motivated to want to learn more.
This year, a core group has agreed to try to take it to the next level with more frequent rehearsals and levying some minimum requirements for members.
Meanwhile, we'd also had trouble finding and keeping a bass player. So... when I finally discovered the U-Bass I decided I would get one and make a stab and being our group's bass player.
Well, my band mates are very kind and praise my playing consistently in spite of my flubs and I am working diligently at getting better.
I've read most of MT Pt 2 and have gained a lot of insights doing so. I really appreciate the generosity of the folks here. Thank you in advance.
And now for my question. I picked up a Roland Micro Cube Bass and the feedback I've gotten from my band mates is that it's not loud enough. I haven't used it to it's maximum volume or anywhere near that in rehearsals mainly because I couldn't find a tone I liked, at least not for some of the numbers that we do, that called for a less aggressive bass sound. The biggest complaint I have is that the piezo is so hot and the Roland pumps out all of the high end with finger noises and the like when I try to get enough volume.
A band mate lent me a Behringer BXL450 and I can get a wider range of tone through a wider range of volume with it, but I sure like the size and weight of the Roland and I'd like to be able to use it.
I've read about the Behringer ADI21 and the Fishman Pro EQ Platinum pre-amps and it sounds like one of them might be the ticket for softening the tone of the piezo enough for me to get more out of the Micro Cube.
Obviously the Behringer is a lot cheaper $35.00 vs $135.00 for the Fishman and that's worth considering, but $135.00 is not out of the question if it'll do the job better or more reliably or adds far greater functionality.
Thoughts?
Michael
First post here. I'm a noob in many senses of the word. After playing guitar casually since my twenties (61 now) but never seriously, I picked up a uke 2 yrs ago and was smitten. Then last year I joined the Rochester Ukulele Orchestra with my concert Kanil'ea.
Our group met frustratingly (to me) infrequently and was very open and welcoming to most comers, including several folk who were not terribly good and didn't seem really motivated to want to learn more.
This year, a core group has agreed to try to take it to the next level with more frequent rehearsals and levying some minimum requirements for members.
Meanwhile, we'd also had trouble finding and keeping a bass player. So... when I finally discovered the U-Bass I decided I would get one and make a stab and being our group's bass player.
Well, my band mates are very kind and praise my playing consistently in spite of my flubs and I am working diligently at getting better.
I've read most of MT Pt 2 and have gained a lot of insights doing so. I really appreciate the generosity of the folks here. Thank you in advance.
And now for my question. I picked up a Roland Micro Cube Bass and the feedback I've gotten from my band mates is that it's not loud enough. I haven't used it to it's maximum volume or anywhere near that in rehearsals mainly because I couldn't find a tone I liked, at least not for some of the numbers that we do, that called for a less aggressive bass sound. The biggest complaint I have is that the piezo is so hot and the Roland pumps out all of the high end with finger noises and the like when I try to get enough volume.
A band mate lent me a Behringer BXL450 and I can get a wider range of tone through a wider range of volume with it, but I sure like the size and weight of the Roland and I'd like to be able to use it.
I've read about the Behringer ADI21 and the Fishman Pro EQ Platinum pre-amps and it sounds like one of them might be the ticket for softening the tone of the piezo enough for me to get more out of the Micro Cube.
Obviously the Behringer is a lot cheaper $35.00 vs $135.00 for the Fishman and that's worth considering, but $135.00 is not out of the question if it'll do the job better or more reliably or adds far greater functionality.
Thoughts?
Michael
Either device you are talking about will help, but, I have to ask: did you dial down the treble on the amp?
The Fishman Pro EQ will have the advantage of higher quality components and integrated compressor. But for 1/4th the price, I have found the ADI21 to be a very workable acoustic DI for the U-Bass. The Mids control has a sweepable frequency, giving you plenty of adjustability. The unit is noise/static free.
I'll be using the BDI21 at my next bass gig on Saturday.
I'd rather have that ADI21 that you have.
I'll just have to adjust mids at the amp.
It does a nice job - especially for the dollars.
But - that sucker draws power when anything is plugged into
it. Even when the unit is alleged to be off.
I'd rather have that ADI21 that you have.
I'll just have to adjust mids at the amp.
It does a nice job - especially for the dollars.
But - that sucker draws power when anything is plugged into
it. Even when the unit is alleged to be off.
I never run my gear on batteries. That seems fool-hardy to me. I always plug in. I figure if my power strip loses power, the entire band is in trouble, not just me. 
And for settings, I have the treble at 11:00, mids at 11:00 (frequency at 11:00), bass at 12:00
I leave the blend off. It distorts too easily.
And for settings, I have the treble at 11:00, mids at 11:00 (frequency at 11:00), bass at 12:00
I leave the blend off. It distorts too easily.
I would say, forget the add ons. You will be tryng to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. And spending lots of money too. Its also too bad you already bought the Roland. Unless batteries are a must.
First though, If you put the Roland on the ground, against the wall or in a corner, you will get different degrees of bass response. The last option +9dB. almost 2X the percieved volume. Double bass players in the no amp days used to know this. If you want to make the balance toward the lows, try turning the amp toward the wall.
Another little trick to reduce highs, especially when the right tone control is lacking, and maybe no wall nearby, is to put the amp on blocks facing down. Experiment with the height. At a certain distance there even can be a bit of a bandpass effect. so a little hump in the upper bass.
But my advice is to treat yourself and get rid of the Roland.
Go out and buy the smallest Phil Jones amp. At least 4X as loud (in the lowest octave at least), less weight (13lb.), better tone controls, even a compressor, though you lose all those unnecessary effects. And the PJ has adjustable input gain. You can even use it to overpower all those ukes if you want. I think its called the cub. I had one here to install a speaker out with a switch. It was 100 watts as opposed to 2X 2.5W of the Roland.
By the way, I'm really jealous. I would love to put the bottom under a Uke orchestra. Not only the music. I also like ladies with Ukes. Something about it.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
My post seems to have gotten buried quickly. Anyone have any suggestions for a fix? Anyone know how I can ground this? Don't I just have to put a wire somewhere inside, and tape it somewhere else. I have copper tape too, from when I stopped the buzzing on my jaguar. I had to be walked through that one though.
My post seems to have gotten buried quickly. Anyone have any suggestions for a fix? Anyone know how I can ground this? Don't I just have to put a wire somewhere inside, and tape it somewhere else. I have copper tape too, from when I stopped the buzzing on my jaguar. I had to be walked through that one though.
You shouldn't have to fix a new and expensive instrument. Keep sending it back till its right!
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Call me crazy, but I'm actually starting to feel bad for americanmusical.
This will be my 3rd return. Will cost them about $60 now and it's not their fault. I like this one too, except for the dang buzz. And it seems like an easy fix, except for the fact that I don't know how to do it. :/ I may give kala a call and see what they have to say.Is is just me, or are other experiencing the need to fix and tweak these things to get them to work right? My first issue (really bad inonation) was an easy fix, just needed new strings. 2nd problem would have needed a new pot. 3rd problem someone else may have kept the bass and just though it sucked (strings way off the fretboard), and now this. I would think I'm nit-picky, but truth is I'm not. I've owned about 100 basses, have about 25 in my stable now, and while there have been issues with some (mostly fender), 90% of the time it's all good.
I'll hold on a little longer and give kala a call when I get a chance. If anyone else has a clue on how I might be able to stop the buzz, please let me know. Thanks to those who have respondes.
Call me crazy, but I'm actually starting to feel bad for americanmusical.
Is is just me, or are other experiencing the need to fix and tweak these things to get them to work right? My first issue (really bad inonation) was an easy fix, just needed new strings. 2nd problem would have needed a new pot. 3rd problem someone else may have kept the bass and just though it sucked (strings way off the fretboard), and now this. I would think I'm nit-picky, but truth is I'm not. I've owned about 100 basses, have about 25 in my stable now, and while there have been issues with some (mostly fender), 90% of the time it's all good.
I'll hold on a little longer and give kala a call when I get a chance. If anyone else has a clue on how I might be able to stop the buzz, please let me know. Thanks to those who have respondes.
A really nice guy. Admirable. But in the end the vendor who sold it to you should be glad to straighten it out. Not their fault, but they are responsible (as Kala is to them). And they will gain another very loyal customer in the end. So don't feel bad youngin'. Kala should get their s**t together already. They are charging much too much for this kind of bad quality control. Your not the only one.
thanks
yessir, that´s 4 magnets holding it tightly.
what i found funny is that the vendor didn´t know there were any models with trussrod.
nice. truss rod. yay! is that magnets holding the back panel?
Congrats
yessir, that´s 4 magnets holding it tightly.
what i found funny is that the vendor didn´t know there were any models with trussrod.
Just got my replacement 'hog fretless today. So happy I took some of your advice. MUCH BETTER AS A FRETLESS...don't know why I didn't think it would be. No string fart, just solid bass tone. Also, I gotta hand it to Sweetwater. Those guys just made a loyal customer out of me. They inspected it and set it up, and I'd almost swear they stretched the strings out a little for me. Also, mine has a truss rod, and the magnetic backplate. Cosmetically perfect, IMO. And the tone...ahhhh.
Re: Roland Micro Cube
Thanks, all. Gonna try the Behringer ADI21 given how little additional cost there will be for the experiment. I'll report on the results. BTW, I did forget to mention that I have a solid body in case that makes any difference in the equation.
Sbassman,
Yup, dialed the treble down. Problem is, to get enough volume the bass ends up coming on too boomy and fuzzy, not as clean as I'd like for some numbers. Perhaps Bryanspkr is right that the Roland just won't have what it takes.
Bryanspkr,
That Phil Jones Cub looks like a really nice setup! If this doesn't do me, I'm gonna give that some strong consideration.
BTW, you asked how handy I am. I can solder and can handle and am not intimidated by light mechanical this and that. Electronics are out of my realm however. What did you have in mind?
Michael
Thanks, all. Gonna try the Behringer ADI21 given how little additional cost there will be for the experiment. I'll report on the results. BTW, I did forget to mention that I have a solid body in case that makes any difference in the equation.
Sbassman,
Yup, dialed the treble down. Problem is, to get enough volume the bass ends up coming on too boomy and fuzzy, not as clean as I'd like for some numbers. Perhaps Bryanspkr is right that the Roland just won't have what it takes.
Bryanspkr,
That Phil Jones Cub looks like a really nice setup! If this doesn't do me, I'm gonna give that some strong consideration.
BTW, you asked how handy I am. I can solder and can handle and am not intimidated by light mechanical this and that. Electronics are out of my realm however. What did you have in mind?
Michael
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