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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3
- Thread starter smperry
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Has anyone adjusted the saddles on their Shadow pickup? I can't find any information about it on the Shadow website. My new fretless mahogany top came this week and the D string intonation is really off. I did a restring with no loops but it didn't fix the issue.
On my spruce top the pickup is straight across at the bridge and the saddles are all placed a bit differently, but on the mahogany, the pickup itself is set in at an angle and all the saddle tops line up perfectly with no adjustments for intonation.
The spruce top isn't perfect, but close enough to deal with. The mahogany requires notes to be fretted half way between the fret lines on the D string to get to the correct pitch. This makes for a half fret shift for every note on the D string...not what I'd call intuitive or acceptable.
Anyone know if these can be adjusted somehow if I remove the strings?
On my spruce top the pickup is straight across at the bridge and the saddles are all placed a bit differently, but on the mahogany, the pickup itself is set in at an angle and all the saddle tops line up perfectly with no adjustments for intonation.
The spruce top isn't perfect, but close enough to deal with. The mahogany requires notes to be fretted half way between the fret lines on the D string to get to the correct pitch. This makes for a half fret shift for every note on the D string...not what I'd call intuitive or acceptable.
Anyone know if these can be adjusted somehow if I remove the strings?
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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I'm afraid there's nothing to adjust. If it truly is That severe, and you are Sure it is not a string issue, you Might want to consider returning it.
Looks like it may be the string. Not that it's twisted, just not stretched out enough. I've been keeping after it all day and the more it stretches and I wind it, the less prominent the issue. The bass itself is very nice so I'd hate to have to send it back...looks like a minor issue that will be overcome as the strings settle in.
Hi:
First post, but since I´m just a bass-pretender, (I only own and play an u-bass) I decided to say HELLO here
I own an acoustic mahogany U-bass, fretted.
I recently changed my stock strings to Aquila Nylgut, and I love them, they sound nicer, and stay in tune pretty well. Actually I wasn´t playing it very much, but now the fun is back...
Has anybody seen one of those? I can´t find them in kala´s homepage:
Invalid Link Removed
Is it a real improve over the original case?
I´d like to ask one last thing: Seems like everybody loves their fretless ubass, and since mine is fretted: Is it a crazy idea to defret and u-bass?
So, thanks, and... Hello again!
First post, but since I´m just a bass-pretender, (I only own and play an u-bass) I decided to say HELLO here
I own an acoustic mahogany U-bass, fretted.
I recently changed my stock strings to Aquila Nylgut, and I love them, they sound nicer, and stay in tune pretty well. Actually I wasn´t playing it very much, but now the fun is back...
Has anybody seen one of those? I can´t find them in kala´s homepage:
Invalid Link Removed
Is it a real improve over the original case?
I´d like to ask one last thing: Seems like everybody loves their fretless ubass, and since mine is fretted: Is it a crazy idea to defret and u-bass?
So, thanks, and... Hello again!
Welcome, George.
First, you're not a pretender because you play the UBass. If you play bass you play bass, no matter the size, shape, or color.
I haven't seen those cases. I did see a rectangular hard case on the Kala site though. I'd actually prefer the one you linked to. If you have the foam reinforced case that the solid mahogany ships with, I wouldn't think you'd see a whole lot of difference in protection from normal wear. Those are pretty solid.
As for the defret, I can't say. I've never done one but have considered it for another of my basses.
On one hand, defretting is not that hard. I have done it.
The key to it is - getting the right puller tool from Stew Mac.
On the other hand, I think it's best to reserve it for models of basses that don't already have a fretless option. I think it lowers the value of the bass.
Maybe you just want to sell it and then buy another that's fretless.
The key to it is - getting the right puller tool from Stew Mac.
On the other hand, I think it's best to reserve it for models of basses that don't already have a fretless option. I think it lowers the value of the bass.
Maybe you just want to sell it and then buy another that's fretless.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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SBassman said:
Good point. I'm planning on defretting my spruce, though. Two reasons: Quality varies so widely with U-Basses & when you get a good one, it may be smart to hold onto it! Secondly, I think I'll save a few bucks not losing trade in value.
For whatever it is worth, my low tech easy way is:
- Get the Stew Mac puller. It's worth it. Pull em very very - very
- slowly with that tool, and all will be well.
- Little sanding
- Wood filler goo of a color that will create enough contrast with the fretboard to make a line. [Really easy way to do this.]
- Little more sanding.
- Min wax wipe on finish.
- Get the Stew Mac puller. It's worth it. Pull em very very - very
- slowly with that tool, and all will be well.- Little sanding
- Wood filler goo of a color that will create enough contrast with the fretboard to make a line. [Really easy way to do this.]
- Little more sanding.
- Min wax wipe on finish.
That's 100% acoustic? It really sounds excellent.
I'd love to hear that same bass with a soundhole mic.
Excellent.
You need to build us some of those basses.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,081
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
For whatever it is worth, my low tech easy way is:
- Get the Stew Mac puller. It's worth it. Pull em very very - very
- Little sanding
- Wood filler goo of a color that will create enough contrast with the fretboard to make a line. [Really easy way to do this.]
- Little more sanding.
- Min wax wipe on finish.
I'm concerned with the filler eventually shrinking. Looking for some thin plastic or pvc to fill the slots.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,081
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
It should be intriguing to Kala. Obviously, a little more body makes quite a difference in volume.
They should be considering another model with a slightly larger body.
I actually sent a link of your video to Mike Upton at Kala.
They should be considering another model with a slightly larger body.
I actually sent a link of your video to Mike Upton at Kala.
Hi,
I just checked out a fretted ubass for the first time.It was a basic spruce model.and it was only 400.-
I really liked it but you guys mentioned that the basic model does not have hipshot tuners.The tuners on it looked exactly like a solid body model with hipshots they had in the store, except that there was no hipshot logo on them.The sales guy insisted that Kala only uses Hipshot tuners.Was he right?
Also I saw a clip somewhere on youtube where there was a preamp control plate mounted on the top side of the body like you find on some acoustic guitars. Was that possibly some after marked modification? The one I played only had an input jack, at the strap holder,and some kind of opening plate on the back., my guess it for the battery, that's it.
Are there acoustic u basses that have a more high quality preamp in it than the basic spruce model?
I'm thinking if I am going to get a ubass, but I don't want to cut corners to save a few bucks, because they are not that expensive to begin with.
The model that appeals to me visually is the Hutch Hutchinson model which has different soundholes and the cutaway. I would like that feature very much.How does that bass compare in features and sound to the others? Does anybody here have one of those?
I want to use it to play in a contemporary jazz quartet for some latin jazz/ salsa type of tunes.And the fretted acoustic model really seems like it would work for that.I don't like the feel or the sound of the solid body u bass as much, so that's out.
If I was to get a fretted acoustic ubass, which model would be the best sounding one straight out of the box?
I just checked out a fretted ubass for the first time.It was a basic spruce model.and it was only 400.-
I really liked it but you guys mentioned that the basic model does not have hipshot tuners.The tuners on it looked exactly like a solid body model with hipshots they had in the store, except that there was no hipshot logo on them.The sales guy insisted that Kala only uses Hipshot tuners.Was he right?
Also I saw a clip somewhere on youtube where there was a preamp control plate mounted on the top side of the body like you find on some acoustic guitars. Was that possibly some after marked modification? The one I played only had an input jack, at the strap holder,and some kind of opening plate on the back., my guess it for the battery, that's it.
Are there acoustic u basses that have a more high quality preamp in it than the basic spruce model?
I'm thinking if I am going to get a ubass, but I don't want to cut corners to save a few bucks, because they are not that expensive to begin with.
The model that appeals to me visually is the Hutch Hutchinson model which has different soundholes and the cutaway. I would like that feature very much.How does that bass compare in features and sound to the others? Does anybody here have one of those?
I want to use it to play in a contemporary jazz quartet for some latin jazz/ salsa type of tunes.And the fretted acoustic model really seems like it would work for that.I don't like the feel or the sound of the solid body u bass as much, so that's out.
If I was to get a fretted acoustic ubass, which model would be the best sounding one straight out of the box?
> The sales guy insisted that Kala only uses Hipshot tuners.Was he right?
No. Read for yourself at the Kala website. Not all models have Hipshots. YMMV as far as whether that is relevant or not.
> Also I saw a clip somewhere on youtube where there was a preamp control plate mounted on the top side
Was either a user mod or a non Kala. There is a Beaver Creek travel bass out in the wild that is a tiny acoustic bass and has such a control plate.
> some kind of opening plate on the back., my guess it for the battery
No batteries in the acoustics. That's your entry to the back of the bass to string it.
> How does that bass compare in features and sound to the others? Does anybody here have one of those? If I was to get a fretted acoustic ubass, which model would be the best sounding one straight out of the box?
You're in the subjective zone now. You want to decide that for yourself. They are all great. Which one sounds greatest to you - has to be for you to decide.
Enjoy the journey. These basses are Ridiculous amounts of fun.
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