Kala UBass Megathread, Part 6

[uprightwannab]

Hey all,
I emailed Ryan (guy who works for Kala) asking about defretting the Hutchinson Srice top
Model. He said its doable but I'd have to "Shimming the pick-up/saddle to go higher, removing material from the bridge so it sits lower. filing or filling and re-cutting the nut slots to be lower or higher"

Has anyone done this when defretting? Or does just removing the frets suffice?

 

[irvansuta]

https://soundcloud.com/anda-wardhan...dcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

hope you guys could enjoy this song (and kala ubass ) without any language barrier.

 

[topshelf]

Davesound, sorry for the quick post before. I missed a question about bass. It is great working order. The colored strings are broken in and hold tune well. Frets are still like new since I don't play very often. Pickup and electronics work great as long as you remember to charge it . I have not messed with the setup or any alterations from factory. It is approx a year and a half old and come with the bass, charger, uBass original bad, and instructions. The only real issue is the discoloration by the input jack shown below.

If anyone else is interested I would take a $700, shipped to US address, offer and since I am new to selling on this forum I would be OK with an escrow if need be.

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

Davesound Davesound is offline
Registered User

Hi

What year is this bass? All plays and works well.?Does it come with the charger?

Thanks

Davesound

Pardon me jumping in here.
I posted my used Kala UBASS in the classified section if anyone is looking for a bargain.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/kala-solid-body-u-bass-4-string-fretted-satin-red-sale-1005550/

There were no rules that I saw disallowing this post but if it does break a rule please have a mod delete it or let me know and I will delete it right away.

Thanks for a great forum, I have been lurking for a long time.

Marc

 

[davewave]

Hello u bass lovers! I have some questions regarding u basses, as I'm planning to build one from scratch. I'm friends with a classical guitar luthier, and I want to make a u bass in the classical guitar style.

Could someone tell me what the string spacing is at the bridge please?

Also, how does the hatch cover on the back attach? Could someone take some photos of the inside of the bass so I can get an idea of bracing etc?

Do you think this pickup will work? Invalid Link Removed

Is there anywhere I can buy the tuners? I think hipshot said before that they could sell me some when I start building?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Some photos of inside the bass would be awesome! I'll be sure to share my progress with you.

Joe

String spacing @ bridge 53mm.
Rear panel attaches with small magnets.

Not equipped to photograph the inside bracing, top is x-braced, back has three ribs, typical baritione ukulele construction.

Pickup looks like what Kala uses.

There are a lot of ukulele clubs in the UK, many of them have at least one u-bass, if you can't make it to a shop that sells them.

Good luck, post pictures when you start building.

 

[davewave]

Hey all,
I emailed Ryan (guy who works for Kala) asking about defretting the Hutchinson Srice top
Model. He said its doable but I'd have to "Shimming the pick-up/saddle to go higher, removing material from the bridge so it sits lower. filing or filling and re-cutting the nut slots to be lower or higher"

Has anyone done this when defretting? Or does just removing the frets suffice?

If you are ok with the action you have now, you could be fine.
I think Ryan is correctly advising you that once you have burned the fret bridge behind you there may be more work involved to optimize your setup.

When I committed to Pyramid strings on my fretted, the instrument greatly benefited from lowering the factory action much as Ryan described above and illustrated in the posts below.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-5-a-933305/index34.html#post13842014

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-5-a-933305/index34.html#post13842070

 

[Gorn]

Any thunder red news?

 

[HeavyDuty]

Any thunder red news?

In other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

 

[Gorn]

I had to look that up on the interwebs. A couple years before my time.

 

[HeavyDuty]

Get offa my lawn!

 

[jburtonca]

Any thunder red news?

According to the May 28 post, the Thunder Reds were ready but the envelopes needed to be printed. Maybe the envelopes are being printed by hand with a ball point pen.

On the other-hand there may be some problem with the string formulation. Apparently, the Thunder Reds for Kala will have a somewhat different formulation than those designed for the Short Bass One.

Jeff

 

[Gorn]

According to the May 28 post, the Thunder Reds were ready but the envelopes needed to be printed. Maybe the envelopes are being printed by hand with a ball point pen.

On the other-hand there may be some problem with the string formulation. Apparently, the Thunder Reds for Kala will have a somewhat different formulation than those designed for the Short Bass One.

Jeff

Maybe I can send him my own envelope for my order. All I want is to give him my money for his product.

 

[Gorn]

Another great one from my favorite ubassist:

 

[little george]

According to the May 28 post, the Thunder Reds were ready but the envelopes needed to be printed. Maybe the envelopes are being printed by hand with a ball point pen.

On the other-hand there may be some problem with the string formulation. Apparently, the Thunder Reds for Kala will have a somewhat different formulation than those designed for the Short Bass One.

Jeff

Ok, but what if I want to bite the bullet, and buy a "short bass one" set of strings? Do I have to buy the short bass one stuck to them?
I can´t find the short bass one strings to buy anywhere in their page...

 

[Gorn]

Ok, but what if I want to bite the bullet, and buy a "short bass one" set of strings? Do I have to buy the short bass one stuck to them?
I can´t find the short bass one strings to buy anywhere in their page...

I thought of that. Those seem to be just as unavailable as the ubass thunder reds.
But they're real! There's a picture. I want them so much. Please Aquila, please sell them to me.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gorn]

This isn't new but I've never seen this one before, Richard Bona playing a fretted solid hog:

 

[jburtonca]

So imagine this. We're all waiting for the magical Thunder Reds. Finally they get shipped out. We all pay the $50 + shipping and all the Customs BS. Finally they arrive. We excitedly tear open the package, string them up, with hands shaking, start to play them and....THEY SUCK!

The above scenario IS a possibility. I hope they meet our expectations, but you never know. Any schmuck who's ever cast a vote for some worthless f@$# of a politician knows what I'm talking about!

Jeff

 

[Gorn]

That's probably what's gonna happen. I want a string as smooth and unsticky as the pahoehoe's, that are more stable with higher tension. I don't think it's possible. Adding plastic to rubber gives us thunderguts and silver rumblers, and for many people they're sticky. I doubt the reds will be any different, but I'd still spend $50+ of my hard earned money to find out. If only they'd give me a chance....

 

[jburtonca]

I'm hoping the copper powder makes a difference and that the strings have more of a satiny rater than smooth feel. The reason is that satin finished necks are less sticky than glossy necks, for most players.

Jeff

 

[Orangeclawhammr]

So imagine this. We're all waiting for the magical Thunder Reds. Finally they get shipped out. We all pay the $50 + shipping and all the Customs BS. Finally they arrive. We excitedly tear open the package, string them up, with hands shaking, start to play them and....THEY SUCK!

The above scenario IS a possibility. I hope they meet our expectations, but you never know. Any schmuck who's ever cast a vote for some worthless f@$# of a politician knows what I'm talking about!

Jeff

This doesn't make much sense. Who has ever voted for some worthless f@$# of a politician? Ours are the best money can buy!

 

[DermotMcDermott]

I have my eye on a 2012 hollowbody solid-mahogany fretless UBass. I'm unsure whether to grab it while I can or try to get a 2013 equipped with preamp. Disregarding price, I wonder if you good folks have any opinions or preferences on this issue?

Some considerations: I have noticed relatively weak sounding E-strings on a 2013 spruce-top and a Rumbler I've tried. The 2012 preampless one sounds pretty consistent, although I have to dramatically boost bass and lower treble on a standard amp. Also, since the preamp cannot be bypassed, I wonder if I'm better off with the 2012 and running it through a Fishman or something for more comprehensive EQ, and possibly less noise, than just a "tone" knob.

I appreciate any thoughts or help you can provide.