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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 4

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#921
ChristophMuench said:
These are really good preamps, of course.

I had both.

But for getting a "natural" and even sound which is fat and transparent at the same time WITHOUT even having to fiddle with EQ, compression etc. in many situations, the Fdeck HPF-Pre wins FLAT OUT. Really.

The problem with the U-Bass is that the E string pumps out VERY fat low tones which can lead to muddiness or simply overloading of a smaller amp. And the notes on the G string are thin in comparison, so it sounds uneven (you can hear that on many of the YouTube videos). The Fdeck is up to now the ONLY device I could test that is able to even these differences out while retaining fatness, "naturalness" and richness of sound.

There is no need to pay 2-3 times more money for preamps which (for this particular instrument) do a worse job.
Click to expand...

Guess I have to try these out! I agree that there are differences in volume on the different strings. You could of cause vary your touch to compensate this :-) But if a pre-amp can help out with this it's even better!
I'll put this on top of my wish-list ;-)
 
#922
If only the f-deck had a di out, I'd give it a shot. Only I'd also have to have an intermediary buyer as I'm overseas. Shame.

Playing my fretted hog tonight. Can't wait for my 5 string hula to arrive from Grove, missing the low B like nothing else.
 
#925
Scott's a great guy to deal with. Mine's the "Teleblaster"semi-hollowbody with the Dunlop explosives crate top. I've been following your build closely, have a Hog U-bass myself. Might have to give Scott a call soon!
 
#926
For those of you who are a little more connected with Kala, are they continuing to work on developing the ultimate U-Bass string? The reports on the Silver Rumblers are that they are as sticky as the Thunderguts. I'm still hoping for a string that feels like the Pahoehoes but with better intonation and minimal stretching.
 
#927
Havent been playing much U-Bass lately (mostly rock shows, not much acousticy stuff)... But brought it out for a Sunday church job today. Only planned on using it on one tune (a Nickel Creek deal) but ended up playing it for 1/2 the 'gig'. Worked really well even in the pseudo-rock stuff (drums, acoustic, organ, 2 electrics). What an instrument!
 
#930
jamesczar said:
So, I met Scott Grove at the Cincinnati 2012 GTG 2 last week. After seeing his '51 Dusty Reverse P build and talking to him about the kinds of stuff he can do, as well as chatting about the uke bass he's working on for TimW, the "Custom Hula Bass," I decided that he was the guy to work with on my custom Uke Bass. I primarily play the uke bass in a old timey / bluegrass / Americana group, so I thought his old crate top idea was perfect.

Basically, this is what I'm thinking:
*Same scale as my 'hog fretless.
*Using the same Pahohoe strings that come on the UBass.
*Semi-hollowbody
*Shadow pickup, like the Kala UBasses? Other options?
*Built-in pre-amp. Perhaps a HPF-Pre, like TimW is doing on his build. I need to hear how his sounds once it's done. Would the Nano-Flex EQ that Kala puts in their other ukes work? Or would the frequencies be wrong? Other ideas?
*A vintage crate top, probably a whiskey crate.
*I'm debating on a more open interior design with a standard sound hole, like an acoustic UBass, or classic F-Holes. Will depend on how the crate top lays out.
*I'm also considering setting it up as a B-E-A-D tuning or doing a five-string.

I'm open to thoughts, ideas, suggestions...
Click to expand...

Would any of you guys like to weigh in on pickup and preamps? Please?

If I don't go with the F-Deck HPF-Pre (built-in), is there another built-in pre I should be considering? Shadow has a few

Also, I didn't care for the B-String on TimW's Cali UBass. Was definitely a different material... Kinda sticky and floppy. Are there other options for a B?

Should I be considering a slightly longer scale for a B?
 
#932
caeman said:
Unless you are looking for more EQ control, the HPF-Pre is a good preamp to stick with. Francis can give you a setup lacking the box for easier install.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I saw Tim's. But I'm thinking I might want more control, like what I have in my FishPlatPro.

Perhaps I can tear apart a PlatPro and install it in the bass? Hmmm... Maybe I'll be taking my current pedal apart to see how it's laid out.
 
#933
The Plat Pro is a fairly large box. Though, the actual electronics might be very small. The body shape of a guitar is your limitation on mounting external controls. The EQ knobs are usually placed on sides of an acoustic, the very curvy sides.
 
#936
I keep going back & forth on 'built-in' preamps.

PROS:
-already built into the instrument, one or maybe 2 less things to carry/setup
- preamps with tuners are handy with a capital 'H'!
- usually sound pretty good

CONS:
- extra holes in an instrument
- are almost always visually unnatractive & add nothing aesthetically
- you're stuck with that preamp and any associated coloration
- batteries. batteries suck.


Of course you can always run a pre into a pre, but eventually that gets weird too.

Honestly, with the U-Bass, a simple buffer (F-Deck is a good idea) with no eq would be ideal. The U-Bass needs buffering badly! Then you can choose the right di or eq for the individual. How about a combo output-jack/buffer/battery holder built into the end block? Then maybe a passive volume control... maybe...


I'm still digging the Fishman tone. Both the Plat Pro DI and the BII belt clip pre I keep in the gig bag. Used the BII interfaced with a 'normal' bass guitar setup Sunday & it KILLED. Cut some Treble & good to go. (Was using an Aguilar Tone Hammer 350 amp into an Ampeg 4x10. Sounded gigantic!)
 
#937
dougness said:
For those of you who are a little more connected with Kala, are they continuing to work on developing the ultimate U-Bass string? The reports on the Silver Rumblers are that they are as sticky as the Thunderguts. I'm still hoping for a string that feels like the Pahoehoes but with better intonation and minimal stretching.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Hoe much of the intonation problems on uBass are the strings? What strings and frets are out for most people. (G string 6th fret up for me.)
 
#939
scotch said:
IHonestly, with the U-Bass, a simple buffer (F-Deck is a good idea) with no eq would be ideal. The U-Bass needs buffering badly! Then you can choose the right di or eq for the individual. How about a combo output-jack/buffer/battery holder built into the end block? Then maybe a passive volume control... maybe...
Click to expand...

I was looking at my (regular) ukulele that has a MiSi Acoustic pickup and wondering if it would work on the U-Bass. Basically, it uses the Baggs under saddle transducer and plugs directly into their preamp/endpin jack. The beauty of the MiSi is that it's got a rechargeable battery; you have a 1/4" to two prong electric outlet that you use to charge it. 1 minute gives about 4 hours of performance time.

Since you can buy the endpin jack by itself, I may have to contact them and see if it's something that would be easily fitted to the elements of the U-Bass.
 
#940
scotch said:
I keep going back & forth on 'built-in' preamps.
Click to expand...

PROS:
-already built into the instrument, one or maybe 2 less things to carry/setup
This is a big motivation.
- preamps with tuners are handy with a capital 'H'!
YES! (But I can live without.)
- usually sound pretty good


CONS:
- extra holes in an instrument
- are almost always visually unattractive & add nothing aesthetically
I can live with this, if it's done right. On an acoustic instrument the preamp being on the top is hardly noticeable from off stage.
- you're stuck with that preamp and any associated coloration
Thus my extensive research and crowd sourcing opinions.
- batteries. batteries suck
I've come to live with that on all my instruments.


Of course you can always run a pre into a pre, but eventually that gets weird too.
Would an F-Deck Pre into a PlatPro be bad? I'm thinking about this because even if I have one built-in, my Kala 'hog would be my backup instrument, and therefore I'd still have to take my PlatPro with me.


Honestly, with the U-Bass, a simple buffer (F-Deck is a good idea) with no eq would be ideal. The U-Bass needs buffering badly! Then you can choose the right di or eq for the individual. How about a combo output-jack/buffer/battery holder built into the end block? Then maybe a passive volume control... maybe...
So, would the F-Deck v2 or v3 circuit be the version to accomplish this? TimW is using a v2 circuit in his build.
I guess I'm confused... other than a volume control and a HPF, does the F-Deck color the sound/do some EQing? Would it work well in line with the PlatPro? I don't understand the circuit language that Francis uses on his site... 12+12 filter curve? And by buffer, do you mean something that will change the impedance for better use with regular bass amps?

I'm not clear on all that the F-Deck does other than volume control, HPF, and a phase switch. But I know from using the HPF (depth knob) on the PlatPro that it's very useful. And I'd really like a built-in volume control, so I don't have to bend over to the floor to make small adjustments, like I do now.

I guess a pre-amp on/off switch would be great too, just so you can keep from running the battery down if you forget to unplug between sets.


I'm still digging the Fishman tone.
Me too. I like all the possibilities. And the basic colorization it does, even flat.
But the PlatPro is all on one board, and way too big for an internal install (I took mine partially apart to look around inside).

Who knows... maybe I'll be building a belt clip for the PlatPro and be done with it?!
 
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