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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3

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#743
hello,
long time lurker here; i'm mostly an upright player, almost one year since getting my spruce top u.bass. i'm really fond of the instrument, so useful for rehearsal, for transcribing and writing down bass lines and solos without having to handle the doghouse- and, of course, for gigging!
my first message in the board to tell you my experience with thundergut strings. i've been playing with the stock strings for like the first six months, the i switched to tgs for like another six months - yesterday i tried switching back to the stock strings. i actually found i like them much more. my two eurocents:
tgs are better because of the higher tension (my stock g string is just floppy) and because of the improved tuning stability. but tone wise, stock strings just suit my taste better. rounder, fatter sound. and i find them easier to play, less sticky, less noisy.
that's all! back to lurking, cheers everybody!
stefano
 
#744
Thanks Stefano,
All I hear is how good the tg's are its good to hear alternate opinions. I can't get past the white strings, my hog looks just beautiful with its black binding on the body and the stock strings.
 
#745
The Kala gets to go to church Sunday morning for two services at The Vineyard Community Church in Mason (a suburb northeast of Cincinnati). I am hoping the Fdeck HPF-Pre arrives by Saturday so I trial it in a live situation. If it doesn't I have the Fishman Pro-EQ at the ready. I have modified my usage of it.

Input Gain: 9:00
Volume: 12:00
Compression: 7:00 (minimum)
Bass: +0db
Low Mids: +0db
Mids: roughly -8db
Hi Mids: +0db

I have returned to a philosophy I use on electric bass where I never EQ to boost, just to cut. So, I cut the mids until the quack disappeared. Done.
Treble: -12db
 
#746
My hog gets to go to the gig Saturday night in Mason.

House amp is perfect. But I will be going
Hog>fdeck>VTDeluxe>amp

Only I'll probably have my Pbass too do the VT might have more than one setting used.

Sunday I'm subbing a jazz trio gig in KY with purists. Upright mostly, but the Ubass will be there too just in case. Probably Fishman straight to PA.
 
#747
slaerts said:
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.
Click to expand...


I had exactly the same issue with him. I found a local Uke luthier and went with him. Much easier and great to actually work with someone rather than order from far away.
 
#748
Methinks 'tis just not my destiny to get a Ubass. I called the only store in the area that carries them a couple of days ago to ensure they were in stock. They had both a Mahogany and Spruce top model, one fretted and one fretless... perfect.
Went quite far out of my way to stop over there today and they had sold one yesterday and the other this morning... :rollno:. Maybe someday...
 
#750
Ya know, given the small size of the HPF-Pre series 2 box, one could possibly mount it on the back of the U-Bass body with some velcro, or maybe rig up some loops so it can attach to the guitar strap.
 
#754
slaerts said:
Also, I hadn't thought of strapping something to my strap, its got me thinking...
Click to expand...

It is fairly standard practice for wireless setups. I shouldn't think it much different if you want your preamp off the floor if you cable is leading to a DI box. If you are going straight to an amp, you could just velcro the box to it.
 
#755
SBassman said:
Which cube? What do you think about the compressor?
Click to expand...

Theres only one microcube. I have one and i think its the best bass related investment I ever made. Compressor is ok. Just an on/off switch though. Adds attack and punch and sounds musical. Ive been using this as a preamp for direct recording and it sound incredible.
 
#756
U-Bass, straps & clip-on preamps:

Make sure your output jack/endpin is locked tight! I had trouble early on when using my Fish'Bii with the jack continuously coming loose. Had to use some loc-tite (fixed the problem). Just that little bit of extra weight (the Bii is light!) really torques on the output jack.

...just a friendly service anouncement! :)
 
#757
The Fdeck HPF-Pre is smaller and lighter than the Fishman BII. Could the type of patch cable you use have played a part in that? I have several that 6" patch cables that bend very easily.
 
#760
Joe Nerve said:
Theres only one microcube. I have one and i think its the best bass related investment I ever made. Compressor is ok. Just an on/off switch though. Adds attack and punch and sounds musical. Ive been using this as a preamp for direct recording and it sound incredible.
Click to expand...

Yup. The compressor ain't much to write about, but the whole package of a tiny, loud, battery (AA!) powered amp is pretty awesome. Of course it won't replace your main rig, but showing up to a jazz jam with just the Ubass and the microcube is pretty great. A touch of reverb sounds nice with the ubass.

I spent hours going through TB for all the info on battery powered amps and then went to GC to try them all out. The Bass Microcube was the clear winner, but 2nd place was kinda surprising. I actually liked the Roland Mobile Cube. Its impossibly tiny and light, but had better bass response than the much larger street cube. It has nowhere near the volume or depth of the Bass cube, but if you need really light, its worth checking out.

The Vox and Fender battery powered amps are really just for guitar. I haven't tried the Orange models, but there is a TB'er who swapped out the speakers for full range versions and reported that it sounded pretty good.

I think I'll grab a used Fdeck HPF II when the III comes out. Not sure I'll need two filters and the bump in gain on the II seems cool.
 
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