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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 6
- Thread starter smperry
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edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
Update. Ryan had a replacement tuner sent for the broken "A" string but the parts department send the wrong tuner, wrong side even though the shipping bill says "A" tuner. Oh well. Still waiting on the correct replacement. He was very apologetic.
If it is a Hipshot tuner, it is part of the concept that they work for both sides. Find the info on the Hipshot site.
I am not sharp on the details and haven't done the reassembly myself.
Klaus
I glued the double sided tape that came with my bass buddy on with superglue. Works ok now. I put the smaller one on my acoustic u-bass just ahead of middle position of the sound hole and it seems to be working out ok in that position. I may try one at about halfway between the soundhole and bridge at some point.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
I wish. It is an older one, with the original tuners which are left or right handed. I asked about the Hipshot tuners and he said they would require redrilling the tuner shaft hole as they have a larger diameter. Also I couldn't get them from Kala.
This video has been up here before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT7fp8ByJs8
This is NOT an equivalent of the UBass, rather of the Road Toad predecessor of the UBass, a baritone uke strung like the 4 low guitar strings rather than the 4 high guitar strings.
This Kamoa has my interest as an extension of what I like doing on the UBass: playing tunes by ear and doing some improvisation.
I have found one at a dealer within the EU, but he won't sell it to me now for two very good reasons:
A string is broken, and he has no spares. He is trying to source alternatives to the original thin gauge flat would bass strings.
And here your broad base of knowledge may help me speeding up the process:
Are you aware of thin gauge flat wound bass strings, preferable from a maker with a distribution within the EU?
I have a set of ADGC round wound strings for one of my other basses, but they are way too rough for this purpose.
Are there 7 string basses out there with a BEADGCF tuning?
If so the 4 top strings might be relevant.
Klaus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT7fp8ByJs8
This is NOT an equivalent of the UBass, rather of the Road Toad predecessor of the UBass, a baritone uke strung like the 4 low guitar strings rather than the 4 high guitar strings.
This Kamoa has my interest as an extension of what I like doing on the UBass: playing tunes by ear and doing some improvisation.
I have found one at a dealer within the EU, but he won't sell it to me now for two very good reasons:
A string is broken, and he has no spares. He is trying to source alternatives to the original thin gauge flat would bass strings.
And here your broad base of knowledge may help me speeding up the process:
Are you aware of thin gauge flat wound bass strings, preferable from a maker with a distribution within the EU?
I have a set of ADGC round wound strings for one of my other basses, but they are way too rough for this purpose.
Are there 7 string basses out there with a BEADGCF tuning?
If so the 4 top strings might be relevant.
Klaus
I hope this is the correct place to do this... if not I apologise but I would like a number to join the illustrious ranks of the Kala U-Bass club.
Link Removed
Also, I would like to comment on my choice of strings... I've read many many pages of discussion on Thunderguts vs. Pahoehoe vs. Pyramids vs. Silver Rumblers and I have this much to add...
Pahoehoe - Complete pain in the butt in terms of holding their tuning/intonation but otherwise a very desirable acoustic tone. Also a pain in the butt in terms of 'settling in' and changing strings and everything else. This is well-established common knowledge... which leads me to...
Thunderguts - These strings are horrible. I actually don't understand how people are able to get a good sound out of them. It might be my electric/double callouses or the oil on my skin or the seemingly very hot pickup I have but when I use these strings I have to play *very carefully* and with my thumb only otherwise all I can hear are squeaks and clicks. All that for a tone which doesn't satisfy my ears. Their one redeeming quality is that they hold their tuning. Whoop-de-doo.
Link Removed
Also, I would like to comment on my choice of strings... I've read many many pages of discussion on Thunderguts vs. Pahoehoe vs. Pyramids vs. Silver Rumblers and I have this much to add...
Pahoehoe - Complete pain in the butt in terms of holding their tuning/intonation but otherwise a very desirable acoustic tone. Also a pain in the butt in terms of 'settling in' and changing strings and everything else. This is well-established common knowledge... which leads me to...
Thunderguts - These strings are horrible. I actually don't understand how people are able to get a good sound out of them. It might be my electric/double callouses or the oil on my skin or the seemingly very hot pickup I have but when I use these strings I have to play *very carefully* and with my thumb only otherwise all I can hear are squeaks and clicks. All that for a tone which doesn't satisfy my ears. Their one redeeming quality is that they hold their tuning. Whoop-de-doo.
I agree completely with your analysis of the strings. Thunderguts only squeak and click for me and silver rumblers squeak and click only slightly less. This guy doesn't seem to have a problem:
This guy's using a pahoehoehoehoe e string and thundergut ADG's. The squeak and click was the worst on the E and A for me, so maybe pahoehoe E and A and silver rumbler D and G? I can't imagine tension being a problem but I wonder if there'd be a noticable difference plugged in. The E string sounds fine to me in this video. Anyone try something like this?
I understand what is said about the Thunderguts and the Silver Rumblers.
Fortunately I do not experience the Aquila strings being sticky. But I have heard the finger noises and the sharp attacks.
These may be handled by the right equalization. Try working with your settings in the 3KHz range, maybe also above there.
Klaus
Fortunately I do not experience the Aquila strings being sticky. But I have heard the finger noises and the sharp attacks.
These may be handled by the right equalization. Try working with your settings in the 3KHz range, maybe also above there.
Klaus
Hey, has anybody tried the new Kala Rumbler Ubass. I haver searched but have not found any reviews. Anybody know how they sound acoustically compared to the other models?
I've never seen or played one, but it seems to me it'll sound like any acoustic ubass strung with silver rumblers. It's roughly the same size and shape as the older models so should sound the same. I have the newer model exotic mahogany with the same built in preamp that's on the rumbler. It's entirely useless. With the volume up and tone down, it sounds like a ubass should.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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Yes. Pretty much identical to the U-Bass acoustically. I also was not impressed with the preamp.
Hey all, would you recommend drilling a second strap pin in the heel cap (facing you):
or the treble side of the heel on the ubass:
Totally an aesthetic thing, I think the rope around the headstock looks a little messy.
Also, is this something I should do myself? I have a drill.
or the treble side of the heel on the ubass:
Totally an aesthetic thing, I think the rope around the headstock looks a little messy.
Also, is this something I should do myself? I have a drill.
I would recommend putting the strap button on the treble side of the heel, as in your photo. I've always heard that it's too easy to split the wood by putting the button in the heel cap.
I put a strap button on my U-Bass myself (treble side of the heel). It was easy. Make sure to use the correct size drill. Here's a good website with video and instructions and cautions about how to do it properly.
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/repair/acoustic-guitar/strap-button.php
I'd recommend checking that you've got the right size drill by drilling into a separate piece of wood and putting the screw in.
Cool, thanks. Do you find that the strap attaches slightly awkwardly on the heel?
If you're going to use all the frets all the way up the neck, you may run into the strap and/or button a little. I have a leather strap on mine, which is kind of thick. I just played my U-Bass and my thumb does come up against the strap a little. Honestly, the only time I've thought about it was the first time I played it after putting the button on because I was hyper aware of it. I don't think about it at all now and it doesn't feel like a hinderance.
So the short answer is, no, it's not awkward at all for me. Play up high and notice where your thumb rests on the heel. Try to put the strap button as out of the way as possible.
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