Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3

[SBassman]

Anybody try to order the new capped Thunderguts from Kala?

 

[AMJBASS]

Im considering ordering the Pyramids on Monday. Doesn't sound like anyone has really taken the plunge on them yet!

 

[SBassman]

Im considering ordering the Pyramids on Monday. Doesn't sound like anyone has really taken the plunge on them yet!

If you do, please come back here and review them. You will do a big service for many.

Personally, I'm betting that they will - yield nothing more than any other ABG. If that's what you want at a super short scale, that may be the ticket. If not ...

 

[theschnitt]

I received a set of the capped 'guts last Thursday. First I had tried a set of regular ones on my SUB, knotting them like bad_andy did. That set contained a defective G string, but I liked the strings overall.

When I was putting the capped ones on my bass the cap on the E string popped off as I was bringing it up to pitch.

I really wanted to like these strings, I liked the tone and the feel; after 2 defective sets in a row I've given up on them. I've never had a problem like this w/ the black strings, so I feel like I was trying to fix something that was not really broken.

Of course, Kala dealt with both problem sets quickly and professionally, but my impression is that the capped ones are not quite ready for shipment, and that overall there are QC issues with the manufacture of the Thunderguts. Hard to generalize from a sample size of two, maybe I just got lucky, but it's enough for me to end the experiment.

 

[SBassman]

Just know that it is not a reflection of the Thunderguts nor the way they are manufactured. Kala has chosen to receive the Thunderguts plain and cap them themselves.

Sorry to hear one failed already, and I hope Kala took care of it some way.

Before you bail on the TG's, consider fixing the cap yourself
and/or getting a replacement and trying one more time.
The TG's are worth it.

 

[theschnitt]

I doubt it. I liked 'em, but I've already spent hours changing strings, trying to work with defective product, etc. At the end of the day I'd rather spend my time playing the bass than struggling to improve on something that's already very good (the black strings).

That being said, I'm gunning for a fretless in the future, I'd consider tinkering again at that point. For now I sent back the 'guts and am getting a refund. Kala's all class, they dealt with it as best they could.

If they had offered to send me a single replacement I would have stuck with it, but they said they would not just send one string.

 

[SBassman]

If they had offered to send me a single replacement I would have stuck with it, but they said they would not just send one string.

Wow. That's bizarre. I would have asked for a refund, too, then.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

Preamp/gig update.

I drive myself crazy thinking of all the possible gear combos for my gigs. If I hadn't sold my VT pedal, BDDI, M-80, and Radial I'd have to be institutionalized.

I am playing a Latin gig on the mini slab tonight. I plugged the Eden WTDI pedal. First of all the blue power LED is so bright it blinds you to look at the pedal to see settings. It started clipping with the gain around 2:00 for me. All I could the for tone was a low end only dubstep type sound. I've had similar experiences plugging the hog into Eden backlines. Like the tone is ok, but there is something missing. The enhance knob basically gives you the California EQ curve more and more as you turn it up (smiley face). I also noticed reading the manual that the EQ centers are very close the the sliders of the Fishman. I would imagine this pedal gives a very warm clean electric bass tone. I took it out and boxed it back up. Hopefully I can play with it more in depth at home before I have to give it back.

But I think I have my preamp options set:

1. Electric bass or U-bass needing several tones: fdeck>VT deluxe w/ MXR 10-band in the loop.

2. Ubass, only one sound emulating upright or baby bass:Fishman

3: electric bass, only clean tone: Baggs (transparent sound w/HPF). Very strong and tight low end on the Baggs.

4. Upright, fdeck or Fishman depending on the amp and room.

All will be permanently in my gig bag to mix and match depending on my state of mind. I'm going tone psycho. Tonight have solid ubass>Fishman> Walter Woods amp/PA. If when I play the fretless stingray I will put it through the Baggs into channel 2.

 

[slaerts]

Played in church tonight for first time with the u-bass. Used the lr baggs, sounded good, lots of tight clear low end. Very much a nice P tone once the string noise is swallowed by vocals and other intruments. I can see me keeping this one for a long time.

 

[AMJBASS]

I think I just might order them. I have a Jazz gig I am using the bass on today(first time I'll have ever used it for a whole gig), so we'll see how that goes with the stock strings. The reason I was interested in the Pyramid is that I think it will make the bass a bit more versatile, and I want to get more of a Steve Swallow ABG thing happening. Bit of an expensive experiment though...

If you do, please come back here and review them. You will do a big service for many.

Personally, I'm betting that they will - yield nothing more than any other ABG. If that's what you want at a super short scale, that may be the ticket. If not ...

 

[scotch]

The U-Bass Appreciation Society linked earlier this month to a video detailing a good way to install Pahoehoe strings on your U-Bass (I would think this would also work well for Thunderguts).

http://ubassappreciation.wordpress....properly-install-pahoehoe-strings-on-a-ubass/

(direct video link)



Great idea for installing a new set of strings! Of course, after you've had them on a while & need to re-install, this method isn't gonna work,... but is still worth the view.

 

[Peredur]

I just ordered an F-Deck piezo buffer. I am really wondering what the actual impedance of these passive pups is. .

The F-Deck works really nicely with the Ubass. On the impedance thing, I used to run a Summit Audio TD 100 with my DB and it had variable impedance all the way from high to low on a potentiometer. It was extremely useful as a tone regulator and I wish the same idea was available in an F-Deck size. I have no idea of the technical issues involved in making this happen.

 

[SBassman]

Check out the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0rwH3dWw5I

 

[Gorn]

What about these pyramids? Are they the same thickness of the black strings? Would they fit the tuners?

 

[dougness]

What about these pyramids? Are they the same thickness of the black strings? Would they fit the tuners?

Here's a link to a video of the strings installed on the UBass. Mike Upton of Kala says the Pyramid strings are designed for the UBass, so, yes, they fit the tuners.



My question is about the tension. If the Pyramid strings are tighter, I'd want to lower the action. I don't think that's possible with the acoustic UBass.....is it?

 

[AMJBASS]

What I would really love is to put Labella Tape wound(or similar) on a Ubass. Just that little bit of clarity would be perfect. There isn't currently any tapewound at this scale however. I didn't spring for the Pyramids yet as I am debating wether its worth the $70 shipped to me. I have Thunderguts on mine now and it sounds pretty darn good.

 

[slaerts]

I hear you, Tim, about how being forced into a smaller range actually brings out better lines. I used to think I needed a 6-string, 2-octave instrument. Now my main bass is a 4-string Fender Jazz with the standard 20 frets. For Jazz, it's all I need and I'm very, very happy.

I'm sure I'll adjust to the Ubass's range. I agree that the acoustic version has more punch. Plus it's better for kicking back on the couch and practicing. Although.....I have been wondering about the Road Toad semi-hollow body. Hmmm, could be the best of both worlds.

http://www.bassuke.com/images/041SHB_complete.JPG

I've been keen on ordering one of these. I sent one e-mail which was answered quite vaguely a week later. Now, I've sent 3 more over a 1 month period wanting some specific details and to give this guy a deposit and nothing. Very frustrating. Looks like I'll be sticking with my kala.

 

[caeman]

I dunno. The beauty of the 5 string is being able to hit a low D when playing irish music. Or a low E-flat in the Jewish liturgical music I often play. Make me wonder if the U-Bass could have a variant where the low string had an extender.

 

[scotch]

I dunno. The beauty of the 5 string is being able to hit a low D when playing irish music. Or a low E-flat in the Jewish liturgical music I often play. Make me wonder if the U-Bass could have a variant where the low string had an extender.

If you play a lot of D's and Eb's, why not tune the bass to drop-D?

 

[caeman]

Can the U-bass low string handle drop D? I haven't tried that, yet.