Kala UBass Megathread, Part 4

[caeman]

You can probably use the strings from that other model uke on the U-Bass. Or, just use that model of Uke.

 

[davewave]

Yes, a heretic question!:

...an instrument of just about the same proportions and also stringed EADG. Only not in the contrabass range, but an octave higher.

It's funny, Klaus, I have been thinking along the same lines.
A "piccolo" ukulele bass, tuned the same as the bottom four strings of guitar.

I have a spare tenor uke with a piezo pickup that I intend to experiment with.
A baritone uke would be an even better match to u-bass scale.

I have found that LaBella makes guitar strings for short scale student guitars that are equivalent scale length to baritone and tenor uke.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[SBassman]

Next week I will take delivery on a SUB.

It's time to join the solid body UBass world.

Really looking forward to it.

If it does what I Think it does, not only will I put the steel string in the closet - I will Sell the steel string.

UBass or bust.

 

[davewave]

^ ^ ^ ^

Dive on in Frank, the water's fine!

 

[SBassman]

^ ^ ^ ^

Dive on in Frank, the water's fine!

 

[davewave]

Pyramids ~ Pahoeoe Dreads ~ Thunderguts
Fretted 21" ~ Fretted 21 " ~ Fretless 18"

 

[SBassman]

Pyramids ~ Pahoeoe Dreads ~ Thunderguts
Fretted 21" ~ Fretted 21 " ~ Fretless 18"

Excellent.

In the picture, it looks like there are pickguard holes in SUB. Am I seeing things?

 

[cultrvultr]

There are tons of cheap used baritone ukes out there. This is what i use for messing around one when im not playing ubass. I see them on Craigslist and pawn shops all the time. They usually go for about $30 by me.

I have one that I keep in open tunings and you could certainly use it like a piccolo or octave ubass. I put a business card in the strings when I want 'distortion'

It's funny, Klaus, I have been thinking along the same lines.
A "piccolo" ukulele bass, tuned the same as the bottom four strings of guitar.

I have a spare tenor uke with a piezo pickup that I intend to experiment with.
A baritone uke would be an even better match to u-bass scale.

I have found that LaBella makes guitar strings for short scale student guitars that are equivalent scale length to baritone and tenor uke.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[davewave]

Excellent.

In the picture, it looks like there are pickguard holes in SUB. Am I seeing things?

Nope.

A beautiful thing about satin black paint on a little tiny bass- I'm not above messing around with it.
Holes can be filled as well as drilled. One can of spray paint will restore the finish.

So yeah, I had my old Ampeg SVT nameplate screwed on there when strung with TGs.
Took it off when I put the dreads on.

I'm strongly inclined to take a belt sander to the lower bout to put a Fender "patented countour offset" sculpt on the "slab" body.

**************************************************

The factory knobs are gone, as well, in favor of Radio Shacks with indicator marks.

I haven't figured out the s-u-b tone design.
What to you guys think? Are they boost / cut? Or just boost?
Where would you set them for "flat" with no marks or center detents?

With poly strings it's hard for me to hear the eq curve.
Even with the bass at minimum, there's so much bottom.

I roll them both to zero, that seems "flat" to me.
I generally leave the treble down and roll up a touch of bass, less than a quarter turn unless I'm dropping the dub reggae.

 

[SBassman]

My SUB is due to touch down at the end of next week.
Really looking forward to it.

 

[davewave]

I spent a pleasant Saturday morning resurrecting my 12 year old Ashbory.

I broke the volume pot several years ago trying to remove the knob, and had loaned it to Huey, Dewey and Louie, my nephews, for a toy.

As I predicted, it proved virtually indestructible.
A quick trip to Radio Shack and a few minutes with a soldering iron soon had it back in action.

The Thunderguts are an amazng good match in tension and tone for the 18" fretless scale.

After playing it for while, my overall impressions of the Ashbory remain the same as they were when I bought it--
Fun travel bass, wish the scale were a little longer, wish it had frets, wish there were better strings for it.

Kala answered all three of my wishes, i guess I'm out now.

 

[SBassman]

I spent a pleasant Saturday morning resurrecting my 12 year old Ashbory.

I broke the volume pot several years ago trying to remove the knob, and had loaned it to Huey, Dewey and Louie, my nephews, for a toy.

As I predicted, it proved virtually indestructible.
A quick trip to Radio Shack and a few minutes with a soldering iron soon had it back in action.

The Thunderguts are an amazng good match in tension and tone for the 18" fretless scale.

After playing it for while, my overall impressions of the Ashbory remain the same as they were when I bought it--
Fun travel bass, wish the scale were a little longer, wish it had frets, wish there were better strings for it.

Kala answered all three of my wishes, i guess I'm out now.

My conclusions on the Ashbory are the same. That scale is fun, but it's just going a Little too far for me. I think that Ashbory design could have a whole other life if they did another spin with a 22 inch scale and a conventional, but small, body shape.

The Thunderguts were an amazing match for the Ashbory, after all these years.

But, we don't need no Ashbory anymore because we have it All and then some with our UBasses.

 

[davewave]

Seems very quiet around here on the Silver Rumblers front.

What is up with you advance beta testers out on the bleeding edge of technology?
Reviews, sound clips, videos, are they someplace else, not posted here?

I got a response from the owner of Aquila on a uke forum.
If I understood correctly, the strings are finished and shipped to Kala, awaiting them to package and distribute.

I sounded like they will be a Kala exclusive brand, Aquila manufactures but won't sell them.
Can anybody confirm or deny?

 

[scotch]

I spent a pleasant Saturday morning resurrecting my 12 year old Ashbory.

I broke the volume pot several years ago trying to remove the knob, and had loaned it to Huey, Dewey and Louie, my nephews, for a toy.

As I predicted, it proved virtually indestructible.
A quick trip to Radio Shack and a few minutes with a soldering iron soon had it back in action.

The Thunderguts are an amazng good match in tension and tone for the 18" fretless scale.

After playing it for while, my overall impressions of the Ashbory remain the same as they were when I bought it--
Fun travel bass, wish the scale were a little longer, wish it had frets, wish there were better strings for it.

Kala answered all three of my wishes, i guess I'm out now.

Thunderguts really are a giant leap forward for the Ashbory! I think they work better on it than a U-Bass (although Thunderguts are a GREAT choice for the U-Bass as well!)

The Silver Rumblers are pretty much a 'less bright' Thundergut in my opinion thus far. Very stable, higher tension than Pahoehoe's and more of a charcoal-gray color. They don't have the same tone of the Pahoehoe's, but are closer than the Thunderguts. Great strings!

 

[SBassman]

I'm sorry I haven't posted actual clips of the Silver Rumblers yet.
I got busy with prepping a load of material for an audition.

But, for whatever it is worth, I can say that the Silver Rumblers will be the only strings I use on my UBasses. They are a modest step up from the fantastic Thunderguts, and they look, feel, and sound great.

I don't know When they will be available for purchase, but I would guess in the very near future. I can try to get an update on that.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

I pulled the U-Bass out (strung with the Silver Rumblers) on a trio gig for Jobim's "Once I Loved." The sound was good, like scotch said very stable and loud, a tad darker than the ThunderGuts.

They did not work for me on that gig. To my fingers they were way too sticky. Each stroke they stuck to my fingers instead of rolling off, and it resulted in very slightly later notes than I wanted and thicker edge on the attack. I am in talks with Mark about that.

If you are playing U-Bass instead of Electric Bass, they would work fine. But I use it primarily in place of upright, and tend to play interactively, and with a lot of solid and position shifts, etc. the slipperiness and quick decay sound from the stock strings are still gonna be my thing at this point. Gotta say it was hell getting them back on though.

 

[SBassman]

The next time I pass the local music store, I will buy a can of Fingerease and experiment.

 

[fatdoggie]

Can someone that has added a strap button post a good pic or two of where they put it? I need to add one to my UBass, but am a little unsure of the best/safest placement.

 

[davewave]

^^^
My button is drilled dead center in the flat spot at the heel in the back of the neck. Seems like it was made for it. I guess I voided my Kala warranty when I did that, but I'm not losing any sleep over it, believe me.

 

[scotch]

Can someone that has added a strap button post a good pic or two of where they put it? I need to add one to my UBass, but am a little unsure of the best/safest placement.

This one has been on since I bought the bass: