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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 5

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#801
SBassman said:
The best I can describe is: play it with a very light touch.
You may want to dig in, but I find max tone and intonation comes from a super light touch - both left and right hand.

Fatter tone is obviously over the soundhole or closer to the top of it. Cutting tone is further back.

Log enough time, and you'll figure out the touch and location inside the fret where farts won't happen. Just log the time, and it will come. Promise.

As far as the size change, that's one I can't relate to. :)
All my life I was looking for smaller sized basses. My current - and only steel string - is an Ibanez Mikro, and my other bass is my UBass. I don't usually feel like it's Too small. I Did feel that when I tried an Ashbory. I also Do think there is a potential big market for a bass like this that is a larger 25 inch scale, but, personally, with my height and hands,
the UBass still feels Comfortable for me.
Click to expand...



Thanks for that advice.. Yea I am 6'1 and 220 so it feels REALLY small in my hands.. :D
 
#802
My limited experience so far is that (oddly enough) the fretlesses are much easier to play than the fretteds. I came to this conclusion after playing both at stores on several occasions. I found it too easy to fart out the fretted with slightly incorrect finger placement, where with the fretless you could easily roll (not slide) into tune if needed and no farts.

I decided to take a leap of faith and ordered my Cali fiver as a fretless.
 
#803
I'm 165 cm / 5'5" and have short fingers for my size. When I first picked up a U-Bass I found it a perfect fit. But I'm not used to a 34" bass and I'm more of a guitar player.

I'm happy with the 21" scale, but I have the impression there is a big opportunity in 23" to 26" basses.
 
#805
Opinions please! Thinking of purchasing a spruce top fretless, but not sure if I should wait for the new ones with the built in preamp, or go for the standard model. Haven't heard any reviews on the new ones but sweetwater has the fretted version available. Tough decision! Haven't given up the idea of the fretted version yet either!
 
#806
I don't think it's wise to buy a model with a built-in preamp.

Because then you MUST use that preamp, no matter what, even if you one day realize that another preamp (cough... the HPF-Pre for instance...cough) sounds substantially better.

Or am I wrong and the models with built-in preamp have a bypass switch??
 
#807
ChristophMuench said:
I don't think it's wise to buy a model with a built-in preamp.

Because then you MUST use that preamp, no matter what, even if you one day realize that another preamp (cough... the HPF-Pre for instance...cough) sounds substantially better.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's unwise to buy an instrument with a preamp. It should be possible to remove or bridge the preamp. On the other hand I wouldn't wait for a preamp model. A good external preamp is most likely a bit better than the built-in shadow preamp and I think the instrument looks better without the electronics. Get one now as long as they are available, they will be collectors items in a few decades ;).

Or am I wrong and the models with built-in preamp have a bypass switch??
Click to expand...

There is no bypass switch on the preamp. Here is a picture of the spruce sunburst, which should have the same preamp than the normal spruce model (and all other acoustics with the exception of the Rumbler, which has a different pickup and preamp). Please correct me, if I'm wrong.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I would base my decision on the quality of the pickup. Does anyone know, if the new preamp models have a different pickup than the passive ones? At least they have a different saddle, black and curved.
 
#808
Quick question for the U Bass players, I'm going to sooner or later end up getting one of the hollow U Basses, and on those days I don't feel like hauling my up right to practice with my rockabilly band, will I be able to get any string "click" out of it? I don't slap much but do enjoy popping out a good click.
 
#809
You can get a little bit of that click but not as loud as on an electric or double (IMO). Its loud enough to do a bluegrass deal with though as I have used it in this capacity. I have a fretless..the fretted might actually have more of a click come to think of it!
 
#811
ChristophMuench said:
I don't think it's wise to buy a model with a built-in preamp.

Because then you MUST use that preamp, no matter what, even if you one day realize that another preamp (cough... the HPF-Pre for instance...cough) sounds substantially better.

Or am I wrong and the models with built-in preamp have a bypass switch??
Click to expand...

I agree. The new models are convenient in the sense that they are plug and play into any amp, with nothing else needed. The great thing about the passives are that you can use a much higher quality pe-amp of your own choosing.

Jeff
 
#812
On a slightly different note here: I'm tempted to defret my Hog. Convince me to do, or don't and why. If I defret, should I fill the "lines" or not? With what?
I already did a defret/poly job on a Squier, pretty good results, so the technical aspect doesn't really bother me. I'm just tired of the farts! Thanks for the input.
 
#813
jbossolo said:
On a slightly different note here: I'm tempted to defret my Hog. Convince me to do, or don't and why. If I defret, should I fill the "lines" or not? With what?
I already did a defret/poly job on a Squier, pretty good results, so the technical aspect doesn't really bother me. I'm just tired of the farts! Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...

Whether you should defret or not is entirely up to your particular preference. (this thread is chock full of "You MUST go fretless!!!" and "The terrorists win if you dont use an f-deck!!!" hyperbole) ;)

I ended up deftetting my spruce & I do like it better. The tonal difference in the larger ensembles I play in is negligible, but it is more fun and expressive in my opinion. (I got along just fine when it was fretted though!)

If you do defret, it would be wise to fill the slots with something. You will prevent chipping and possible unwanted audible artifacts when sliding/gliss'ing. I reccomend filling with wood, plastic or something that can flex ever-so-little with humidity changes. I used some hard maple veneer material when I did mine + just a little ca glue (superglue) to harden the rosewood endgrain and secure the maple permanently. Plastic blind material was my second choice. I would avoid bondo or wood filler products as they can chip or crack if not "sealed".
 
#814
Here's an additional point of view:
Is there any possible way you can afford to buy a second, fretless?

If you wind up preferring the fretless significantly, you can sell the unmodified fretted. If you wind up liking them both, you have Two of a great bass, with different options.

If you absolutely, positively can't afford to at least temporarily have two, then I guess you go through the rest of your thought process to figure out if you should do this.

Defretting a 100 dollar SX? In my book, no problem.
Defretting a 400 or 500 dollar UBass? Eh, not for me, but I understand why others have done it.

Your [financial]mileage may vary.
 
#816
SBassman said:
:D

And then of course there are those "Thunderguts or Ultimate Fail" posts from that annoying guy with
the Boston ship avatar. Hey, wait a minute ...
Click to expand...

Ha! Yeah, I missed an opportunity there!

Passerby: "Hey, SBassman, how do you keep your hair so healthy looking?"
SBassman: "Thunderguts, duh!"
Passerby: "Wow! How do you keep your car looking so clean in these Northeast winters?"
SBassman: "Again,.. Thunderguts by Aquila. Duh!!!!"
CaballoViejo (walking past): "I couldn't help overhearing that you pronounced 'Aquila' wrong. DUH!!!!!!!"

;)
 
#817
scotch said:
Ha! Yeah, I missed an opportunity there!

Passerby: "Hey, SBassman, how do you keep your hair so healthy looking?"
SBassman: "Thunderguts, duh!"
Passerby: "Wow! How do you keep your car looking so clean in these Northeast winters?"
SBassman: "Again,.. Thunderguts by Aquila. Duh!!!!"
CaballoViejo (walking past): "I couldn't help overhearing that you pronounced 'Aquila' wrong. DUH!!!!!!!"

;)
Click to expand...

Niiiiiice. Excellent. :bassist: :)
 
#820
I recently purchased my first double bass & am getting started on that instrument (first gig is in about 3 1/2 weeks on the Grand Ole Opry... Eek! Ricky Skaggs is sitting in too... Double Eek!!!!).

Anyways, it's pretty remarkable how similar these instruments sound alike while being so obviously disparate to look at! No comparison in acoustic volume of course, but plugged in it's remarkable what a super-short scale and 'rubbery' string can do!

1361148077802.jpg
 
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