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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
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- Feb 3, 2005
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- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
I got to try the US model soludbody and the acoustic model (spruce sides and back). Off the bat, I kind of prefer the acoustic. I think it just feels a little more natural to me vs the solidbody. However, that might just be how I expect it to feel. I couldn't compare tone as the acoustic came in with a broken piezo. It also had a "twisted" D string that was causing tuning issues. The shop was waiting on a string and new pickup.
I guess I'm struggling in that I want to like them, but initially didn't. That may simply be bc they are so unique. Once the acoustic is fixed, I'll give it another whirl.
I guess I'm struggling in that I want to like them, but initially didn't. That may simply be bc they are so unique. Once the acoustic is fixed, I'll give it another whirl.
hopturn said:
I had a fretted solid. It is a viable solid instrument. But I too read a lot on gigs and interact with the other musicians. I like the fretless for the same reasons. I don't like to have to look at my left hand all the time. The solid did have that unforgiving technique thing just like the hollows.
I now have 7 bass instruments and 2 unfinished projects. Only 2 have frets.
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,197
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
caeman said:
I think it is those rubber strings more than scale. My guitarists works at the shop, so I might get to try one at rehearsal.
Thanks for all the deep discussion, reviews, and details here! It's all helped me towards my decision to get a mahogany fretless.
But trying one out today really solidified my choice. I tried a fretted, and really hated the scale change because of how precise you have to be so the strings don't fart out - if you land on top of the fret or too close to it, they buzz and don't ring out.
I can clearly see how much easier a fretless model would be, and with some practice it should be easy to listen for exact intonation and compensate on the fly when off.
But trying one out today really solidified my choice. I tried a fretted, and really hated the scale change because of how precise you have to be so the strings don't fart out - if you land on top of the fret or too close to it, they buzz and don't ring out.
I can clearly see how much easier a fretless model would be, and with some practice it should be easy to listen for exact intonation and compensate on the fly when off.
I think you'd find, after logging time, that the strings would fart less as you got more familiar, but, I too am one of the fretted to fretless converts on this instrument.
I don't have any flight time on a U-bass, but I had an Ashbory bass a few years ago.
It always seemed weird to me, but I found the intonation far more forgiving than a full scale fretless. Don't know if it was the extreme short scale, or the silicone strings...
It always seemed weird to me, but I found the intonation far more forgiving than a full scale fretless. Don't know if it was the extreme short scale, or the silicone strings...
caeman said:
Fanned frets have nothing to do with intonation. However, since most fanned feet basses are handmade, there's less room for error.
All,
I was in Hawaii last week. I picked up a mahog fretless. So, far so good. It came with excessive wrapping on the A string, so I will give rewrapping that a shot.
Mine came with Hipshots installed.
I have not seen any mention of this so far on the thread. Is this just the most recent iteration of these?
I was in Hawaii last week. I picked up a mahog fretless. So, far so good. It came with excessive wrapping on the A string, so I will give rewrapping that a shot.
Mine came with Hipshots installed.
I have not seen any mention of this so far on the thread. Is this just the most recent iteration of these?
Probably had more to do with the tone. A thuddier tone tends to hide flaws in your intonation better than something with a lot of high end. My 30" scale Rob Allen is MUCH more forgiving than my 35" scale Conklin with roundwounds and a Dymondwood fingerboard.
It has been mentioned here a few times before - that the hogs had the Hipshots and the Spruces had the die casts.
Enjoy.
Way back in the middle of Megathread 2, Chad said:
Has this been done? If so, is there a link to it? Should be do a sticky? Even if it's just a big post with links to all the most useful/important posts in all 3 threads. Some definitive answers...
Or perhaps someone would like to post that on the UBass Appreciation page or the like....
Just an idea.
(by the way, hog fretless being delivered today!)
Has this been done? If so, is there a link to it? Should be do a sticky? Even if it's just a big post with links to all the most useful/important posts in all 3 threads. Some definitive answers...
Or perhaps someone would like to post that on the UBass Appreciation page or the like....
Just an idea.
(by the way, hog fretless being delivered today!)
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
I love my job! Corporate gig in the Canadian Rockies this evening... chilling out at the hotel with my U-Bass and a view.
The hard foam case fit perfectly in small plane (crj) overheads, btw.
The hard foam case fit perfectly in small plane (crj) overheads, btw.
I love my job! Corporate gig in the Canadian Rockies this evening... chilling out at the hotel with my U-Bass and a view.
The hard foam case fit perfectly in small plane (crj) overheads, btw.
Hey, looks just like mine - hog w/ thuderguts. Not quite the same view, tho.
Only issue I am worry about traveling is that some of the airlines are getting stricter about enforcing the 2-carryon limit. I travel a lot and usually have a roll-aboard, and a briefcase or backpack. Last trip I took the u bass - several people ahead of me were turned away at the gate and had to check a bag because they were carrying three items.
I quickly adjusted the ubass on my back so that it wasn't visible and hoped that they'd miss the strap (they did), but I hate checking bags so am wondering if I can keep getting way with this.
Anyone else have airline issues bringing along the ubass?
Speaking of case...
I've seen a bunch of you with certain complaints about the semi-hard case. I'm not crazy about the look of it either.
I'm a HARD shell case man myself. All the cases that Kala has for tenor ukes specifically state that they won't work with the UBass (and even if they don't, I've confirmed with Kala on the phone that they don't).
Have any of you found another hard case that works with the UBass? Any of you experimented with a case made for something else?
Kala sells this alligator Tenor case, that they specifically say won't work with the UBass - but it's really cool-looking.
Kala also sells this sweet tweed case. Doesn't fit the UBass.
They also sell this rectangular hard case, which kind of looks like a sax case, that DOES fit the acoustic UBass, but not the solidbody. Anyone have experience with that? Doesn't look that great.
I asked the woman I spoke with at Kala if they were planning on making an alligator or tweed UBass case that's form-fitted like the others, and she said they'd been getting a lot of questions/requests for a cooler UBass case, so she said it might happen.
So, let's all send them an email asking them to offer a tweed or at least form-fitting case for the UBass! Power in numbers?
EDIT:
15 minutes after I got off the phone with Kala, they called me back (they had my number from caller ID) to tell me that this summer they will be offering a tweed version of the rectangular hard case they currently offer. Great response!
I've seen a bunch of you with certain complaints about the semi-hard case. I'm not crazy about the look of it either.
I'm a HARD shell case man myself. All the cases that Kala has for tenor ukes specifically state that they won't work with the UBass (and even if they don't, I've confirmed with Kala on the phone that they don't).
Have any of you found another hard case that works with the UBass? Any of you experimented with a case made for something else?
Kala sells this alligator Tenor case, that they specifically say won't work with the UBass - but it's really cool-looking.
Kala also sells this sweet tweed case. Doesn't fit the UBass.
They also sell this rectangular hard case, which kind of looks like a sax case, that DOES fit the acoustic UBass, but not the solidbody. Anyone have experience with that? Doesn't look that great.
I asked the woman I spoke with at Kala if they were planning on making an alligator or tweed UBass case that's form-fitted like the others, and she said they'd been getting a lot of questions/requests for a cooler UBass case, so she said it might happen.
So, let's all send them an email asking them to offer a tweed or at least form-fitting case for the UBass! Power in numbers?
EDIT:
15 minutes after I got off the phone with Kala, they called me back (they had my number from caller ID) to tell me that this summer they will be offering a tweed version of the rectangular hard case they currently offer. Great response!
I'm joining the club!!Got a suh-weet deal from MF of $372 shipped 2nd day for the spruce top fretless, with gig bag. I'm excited for the "unplugged" side of my main band, which is where most of the gigs have been lately, too. Action shots ASAP, as I must wait for arrival and opportunity, but they will be no more than a week out.
So my hog fretless came today. Great deal on it from Roxy Music in Laport, IN (via eBay). Gorgeous instrument - looks great.
However, I could see the strings immediately needed re-stringing. The bass was out of tune (very flat) and was out of peg space on all but one string (E).
So I re-strung them - that was an ORDEAL. I tried but couldn't do it on my own (yes I watched the videos - but that G string, especially, is a SOB). It took me and my lady helping me to get enough extra string pulled through to make a difference on the winding. I couldn't do them on my own... kept sliding through my hands, no matter how tight I gripped them. But with her help, we got it.
HOWEVER... once I got all tuned up, I noticed two issues:
1. The D string buzzed if plucked too hard (a little more than lightly). I could pluck all the others with the same or more power with no issues.
2. The D string had horrible intonation. All the other strings were pretty close, and basically just a touch sharp by the 12th fret. However, the D string was a whole step to step and a half sharp by fret 12.
Basically any line I played that included the D string buzzed on those notes and all of them sounded sharp. I had to compensate, but just on that string, and it still didn't sound right.
So, what's the deal? Is there an issue with that string? Is there an issue with the nut? Saddle/bridge?
Everything seems to be in order, on visual inspection. There doesn't seem to be any reason it should be sounding like that, yet it does.
Thoughts? Can I fix this? Or does it go back?
However, I could see the strings immediately needed re-stringing. The bass was out of tune (very flat) and was out of peg space on all but one string (E).
So I re-strung them - that was an ORDEAL. I tried but couldn't do it on my own (yes I watched the videos - but that G string, especially, is a SOB). It took me and my lady helping me to get enough extra string pulled through to make a difference on the winding. I couldn't do them on my own... kept sliding through my hands, no matter how tight I gripped them. But with her help, we got it.
HOWEVER... once I got all tuned up, I noticed two issues:
1. The D string buzzed if plucked too hard (a little more than lightly). I could pluck all the others with the same or more power with no issues.
2. The D string had horrible intonation. All the other strings were pretty close, and basically just a touch sharp by the 12th fret. However, the D string was a whole step to step and a half sharp by fret 12.
Basically any line I played that included the D string buzzed on those notes and all of them sounded sharp. I had to compensate, but just on that string, and it still didn't sound right.
So, what's the deal? Is there an issue with that string? Is there an issue with the nut? Saddle/bridge?
Everything seems to be in order, on visual inspection. There doesn't seem to be any reason it should be sounding like that, yet it does.
Thoughts? Can I fix this? Or does it go back?
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