• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3

Status
Not open for further replies.
#81
The service you receive at SweetWater makes up for the lack of discounts that places like GC and MF may give on their web sites. And all you gotta do is ask and there are times when they will match those discounts.

Recently, I inquired why SW didn't have the MXR KFK-1 EQ listed. It is a dual-output version of the M108 EQ, a signature pedal for Kerry King. I sent an e-mail. I got a phone call my rep to say hello and said he would get me the pedal ordered in.

I like to reward good service with orders.
 
#83
scotch said:
Yeah, Sweetwater service slays any other phone/online (and even most brick & mortar) experience Ive had. Whether it has been price matching, after sale tech support or ability to get something fast, theyve always gone the extra mile for me.
Click to expand...

I'll buy my Kala local, but have a Moog Minitaur on pre-order w them. Rep has contacted me 2x just to keep me posted. Great service indeed.
 
#84
NOLA Bass said:
I'll buy my Kala local, but have a Moog Minitaur on pre-order w them. Rep has contacted me 2x just to keep me posted. Great service indeed.
Click to expand...

I hear ya! Im not really into buying instruments or shoes online. You kinda have to try em on to see of they fit!

U-basses seem a little inconsistent from instrument to instrument (especially intonation), so playing one first seems a smart move.
 
#85
hello all. i played a really strange gig the other night as a sub. played it all with the Ubass. some of the tunes played: whipping post, black magic woman, some karl denson funk jazz (perfect fit), come together, pick up the pieces, sir duke (was challenging), diamonds on the soles of her shoes (sounded freaking amazing), and even the theme from super mario brothers. i even ran it through a Boss OC-3 just for kicks on a few funk tunes. the crowd loved it, and that little bass was a MONSTER through the house PA. a couple of the drummers i'm playing with now specifically request the Ubass...really fattens up the sound. i didn't even get the Stingray out. just ran the Ubass through the Fishman Platinum Pre (you need this unit) and split the signal to my amp and to the house PA from there. BUTTER TONE.

as for fretless vs. fretted: GO FRETLESS. it's not as big of a leap as you may think, you will sound smoother, and there's no "string fart."

i'm going to be in the studio recording a new track with the Ubass this week. i will try to eventually get around to posting it online. oh yeah, and SWEETWATER is the only way. they actually replaced the original fretted Ubass they sent me with no questions asked (no truss rod and it had a terrible string buzz on the D string that wasn't wrap-related). Mark is the man.

also, i agree with someone who said that you can essentially play this instrument all day with no sore fingers or anything. i use the apps "Chops" "4-Track" and YouTube on my iPhone and rehearse all day long. i use the app "Guitar Toolkit" to run scales and chords and "Cleartune" as my tuner. its great. i haven't practiced/composed this much on the bass guitar in years, and it's really coming through in my playing.
 
#88
plankspanker13: most of us on here think that a preamp will help tame that savage little beast enough to get some truly fat tone. i plugged it straight into my genz-benz shuttle 6.0 and thought it was going to be a great travel/around the house instrument. then i tried the same fishman preamp i use for my EUB and fell instantly in love.

holdsg: it was an experience that i hadn't prepared for in the least...but the band was really into the idea and the audience was urging me to try it. BTW: have you seen that kid doing Donna Lee on the Ubass on YouTube? now that's something. i'm going to try Teen Town on the Ubass later...
 
#89
hopturn said:
...
as for fretless vs. fretted: GO FRETLESS. it's not as big of a leap as you may think, you will sound smoother, and there's no "string fart."

...
Click to expand...

I'm definitely in the market for a fretless U-Bass! But, I think it's time to dispell the idea that a fretted U-Bass is necessarily a string-fart machine. I've been using my fretted with great results in a wide variety of styles in the studio and stages ranging from 600 seat theatres to foot ball stadiums with almost 70,000 people (opening for Taylor Swift last year). I have had almost no trouble with "string fart". ?

Here's a clip I did of my U-Bass with Aquila Thunderguts installed. I always cut a lot of treble when U-Bassing (part of the magic, imo).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Now, if I'm not careful & fret poorly, I can coax some odd sounds out of it, but I think the fretted is still a great sounding instrument! :)
 
#90
plankspanker13 said:
I seem to see several folks mentioning the need for a preamp, so here comes my noob-in-waiting question: Would sending the signal through my small board work? The signal chain is all Boss: TU-3 tuner, GEB-7 graphic EQ, CEB-3 bass chorus.
Click to expand...

Like hopturn said above, a preamp will most likely yield great improvement!

I have a few options that have worled well, but I've settled on my Fishman Bii preamp. Simple, and magical sounding! (I am probably gonna end up upgrading to the Fishman Platinum di, but it's the same general idea...)
 
#91
Geez, what a great active thread!
Hopturn, with your smartphone and technology and whatnot, you need to put up some videos. I can't be the only one crusading on YouTube for the viability of this thing for the world to see. I know others are doing it, but we all need to spread the word, brother! Plus I want to be more inspired by others in the trenches too!

Scotch, who were you playing with opening for Taylor Swift? Did you meet Amos?
 
#92
Since I am using just the U-Bass at the Synagogue, I will try and figure out a way of putting my cheapy vid cam up to record me playing. The audio quality has the potential to be the suck, as the small mic is easily over-whelmed.
 
#93
i hear you caeman...i'm afraid the mic will just crumble under the pressure. i'll try this weekend though, tim...you are totally right. guess i'm just lazy.

and you are absolutely right, scotch. it's still a great instrument, fretted or fretless. all of my instruments are fretless except my acoustic beater guitar and an old Stingray that i refuse to part with. maybe the upright ruined me, but i slide around too much.

also: you should have seen the looks on the crowd's faces with i pulled out the Ubass and kicked in that Boss OC-3!!! i should've videotaped that. i seriously bought that pedal when i bought the Ubass just because of that reaction. too funny.
 
#94
I just put my iPod touch on a stand and hit record. Only the loudest drum hits in a big band at point blank have made it distort. Worst case it doesn't turn out and you erase it. These iPods and smart phones do a fine simple job of making videos. If its loud, cover the mic area with a guitar cloth.
 
#96
OK, I've finished the first 2 megathreads and am up to date on this one. That, my friends, was a lot of reading.

And even after all of that, I still have a question.

Since the solid body has an onboard preamp and bass/tone controls, is the Fishman still recommended?
 
#99
*I* love having EQ control over my bass, passive or active. I consider it essential. But, it isn't necessary to everyone. For some, the controls on the active bass are sufficient for their control.

It comes down to player preference and your playing needs.
 
#100
6string,
It is not absolutely needed for either. it is great for a passive piezo instrument because it smooths out the frequency spectrum of passive instruments. Even set all EQ points flat and a preamp that is designed for acoustic instruments tends to sweeten the tone. For an instrument with powered innards (like your solid body) a preamp will have less effect, but still some effect. Personally I like control of my sound so I put either ubass through a preamp and sometimes an overdrive/tube amp simulator pedal, and sometimes an EQ pedal so the tone is awesome before it even hits my amp. Your solid should need less, though, having volume, bass, and treble already on the bass.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back