Kala UBass Megathread, Part 5

[SBassman]

Mimmo let his cat out of the bag! Looking forward to this - lots of potential!

Absolutely - tons of potential. Exciting times ahead.

 

[Mimmo]

Hi guys!
Just a few infos:
the Red Series employed here are different from those of ukuleles. There is a big quantity of copper, more than the rubber. They are indeed so similar to an upright bass.
next months the 67 cms scale both fretted and fretless. However the first available version will be the 60 cms scale. The first batch mid febrary. Stay tuned.
Ciao!
Mimmo

 

[scotch]

Looking forward to how Mimmo's new bass will stack up against these:

 

[agfrag]

Dang! Now I wish I'd waited and converted a full scale cello ;-)

 

[olitoon]

next months the 67 cms scale both fretted and fretless. However the first available version will be the 60 cms scale. The first batch mid febrary. Stay tuned.
Ciao!
Mimmo

Can I preorder a 60cm fretless?

 

[Mimmo]

Sorry, a precisation. The 60 cm is fretted only . The fretless are available not in the first batch of shortbass one . Maybe around June and on 67 cm scale only.
I sent you a private message.
Ciao
Mi mo

 

[Gorn]

So....aquila is making basses? Or just longer strings that can go on bigger basses? Where would the basses be available from?

 

[imperialbari]

Comparing to the most recent postings I appear hopelessly out of fashion by keeping my focus on the short stringed basses like the UBass.

However the various experiments with custom designs and adaptions of the cello have my interest. I have had problems finding tables over standard string lengths for the various fractal sizes of the cello. Until I made a spelling error when googling, so that

http://www.daddariobowed.com/BowedProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=4495&productid=40

came up.

I had imagined that the 1/8 cello came closest to the UBass string length of 21". But the 1/8 cello has a length of 18-7/8", whereas the 1/4 cello has a string length of 21-1/2".

Of course the cello may need more length at the non-oscillating tail and head ends than the UBass, but stock Thunderguts should be long enough.

I am fully ignorant about which piezo elements to buy (one under each leg of the bridge), so hopefully agfrag or other members of this forum will tell me about stuff that is standard enough to be available here in Europe.

And then I will have to find out about the nut width of various brands of 1/4 cellos. It may be necessary to adjust the nut to have an asymmetric distribution of the slots to keep a reasonably even distance between the strings. Putting a new fingerboard on the cello without changing the neck would cause odd looks and maybe even odder left hand feels.

Klaus

 

[pauliebass]

I'm going to Hawaii next week and see that there are a bunch of kala dealers in Oahu. Does anybody know of the best music store to go to to try a ubass? I've played fretted models before but want to try a fretless before I buy. I'm leaning toward a fretless with Tg's in my mind. Thanks!

 

[imperialbari]

Mail them and ask what they have in stock.

I tend to agree with you on fretless and Thunderguts, but as I understand it, all UBasses are equipped with Pahohoe strings from the factory.

The fretless models are more tolerant towards wear and inconsistencies in the strings as you can adapt your fingering. Yet my position is that even the fretless ones should come with the right compensation at the bridge so that the fretting lines are realistic guides. Hence I would urge you to check the pitch of the octaves.

Klaus

 

[BassBron]

Well done Mimmo. Slightly off topic, but usefull for your research and development concerns my tenor uke, where I use the red series low G-string made for a baritone uke. The red series G-string for Tenor snaps and is too tight.

 

[olitoon]

The fretless models are more tolerant towards wear and inconsistencies in the strings as you can adapt your fingering. Yet my position is that even the fretless ones should come with the right compensation at the bridge so that the fretting lines are realistic guides. Hence I would urge you to check the pitch of the octaves.

Klaus

The most recent fretless Mahagony U-Basses do have a compensation at the bridge (dark saddle, Shadow preamp/tuner).

 

[BassBron]

Yes the saddle on my U-Bass is compensated.

 

[olitoon]

Sorry, a precisation. The 60 cm is fretted only . The fretless are available not in the first batch of shortbass one . Maybe around June and on 67 cm scale only.
I sent you a private message.
Ciao
Mi mo

Thanks for the info, Mimmo. I find the 60cm model much more interesting, too bad there will be no fretless* and no 60cm with a pickup. But I don't want complain, it's great to see new models and that you experiment with different sizes and strings.

(* I know, there is always the option to de-fret: "The skill level required isn't very high. And the tools to do it cost very little.")

 

[olitoon]

I have had problems finding tables over standard string lengths for the various fractal sizes of the cello. Until I made a spelling error when googling, so that

http://www.daddariobowed.com/BowedProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=4495&productid=40

came up.

Nice. I tried Google & Wikipedia, but also didn't find the scale length.

I had imagined that the 1/8 cello came closest to the UBass string length of 21". But the 1/8 cello has a length of 18-7/8", whereas the 1/4 cello has a string length of 21-1/2".

Of course the cello may need more length at the non-oscillating tail and head ends than the UBass, but stock Thunderguts should be long enough.

1/2 cello with 600mm / 23" should be also an option in the near future, when Aquila will offer the 600mm red/white strings for the Shortbass One.

I am fully ignorant about which piezo elements to buy (one under each leg of the bridge), so hopefully agfrag or other members of this forum will tell me about stuff that is standard enough to be available here in Europe.
Klaus

you can try any of the cheap piezo transducers. I don't know which size is best.

http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/Category...ycode=0235311&orderSequence=ASC&orderBy=price

 

[yeelaberbin]

Very well done, Mimmo !
I wich to see a photo with a Ubass and a Shortbass-one side by side,
to see the difference of size. I don't found anything on the web.

 

[Mimmo]

here is a good picture.
Mimmo

 

[Mimmo]

Sorry, just a few more things:
the first is the U bass, then the Shrtortbass-one basic 60 cms scale, the Shortbass-one 14 67 cms scale, a traditional acoustic bass guitar 82 cms scale with wound strings and a Ibanez 82 cms scale bass. Please note that these Shortbass one are prototypes, not the final version. I mean that the aestetic vision will be more professional. the head logo will be mother of pearl. the bridge will be all dark rosewood. etc etc

 

[CaballoViejo]

Mimmo, Are all strings on the new basses going to be the same colour, or a mixture of copper/red and white as in the photo?

 

[yeelaberbin]

Ok, thank you.
Could you say when will those strings be available?