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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 6

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#721
Hi martyn! Sorry I didn't get get back top you sooner! Your not going to like the Carvin MB210. Just kidding! It should sound great with your u-bass! My bass is the older fretless mahogany without the preamp. As far as explaining what the f-deck does, I really don't have a clue! All I know is it makes my u-bass sound a lot better than when I don't use it. I'm not into the tech stuff, but there are others on this thread who can explain how it works. Upright players love the f-deck and they have a thread about it. Tim Watson uses it and loves it and maybe he will come on and give more info than I can. I use the MB15, but the 210 should be awesome. Good luck!
 
#722
Thanks a lot for getting back to me! I was completely unsure between the mb15 or the 210 but I ended up finding a really good deal on the 210 so that settled it for me :p This is the first proper amp I've ever bought so I can't wait to hear it. Hopefully the 210 won't lack too much in the lows?

Now I just need to get better at playing the thing!
 
#723
Dear all, I have finally bought a spruce top fretless ubass (with preamp and tuner). Liking it a lot so far.
The intonation seems to be fairly good when I pressed the strings at the fret line. I a pretty happy with it.

Too bad it still have one issue. After trying with a couple different amps and sound systems, I found that the output of the strings are so uneven. G and D are very good, very loud, but A string is a lot lower, and E string is much lower.
My and my friends couldn't really figure it out why it is like that.
I tried to restring several times to make sure everything is alright, but it didn't help.

Is it possible that the pick up is problematic?

I appreciate any feedback.
THANK YOU.
 
#724
I have an older acoustic. The pickup sits in a routed pocket under the bridge. When I took it apart to add a shim to raise the bridge, I found wood chips and other crud that might have kept the pickup from making solid contact with the bottom of the pocket. Might be worth a look on yours.
 
#725
JCKA said:
Dear all, I have finally bought a spruce top fretless ubass (with preamp and tuner). Liking it a lot so far.
The intonation seems to be fairly good when I pressed the strings at the fret line. I a pretty happy with it.

Too bad it still have one issue. After trying with a couple different amps and sound systems, I found that the output of the strings are so uneven. G and D are very good, very loud, but A string is a lot lower, and E string is much lower.
My and my friends couldn't really figure it out why it is like that.
I tried to restring several times to make sure everything is alright, but it didn't help.

Is it possible that the pick up is problematic?

I appreciate any feedback.
THANK YOU.
Click to expand...

I've read a few people saying similar things about the newer models in this thread. All though I'm not sure what the problem is. Hopefully someone who knows what they are talking about will chime in. I've not even heard mine amped up yet so can't tell you if it's the same.
 
#726
I am intrigued by the U-bass, but to be honest, it is a simple instrument and the selected wood or the craftmanship is not spectacular either.

I don't think I will buy one, and the reason is that I think it is overpriced. Correct me if I am wrong, but that's my opinion.
 
#727
3234718 said:
Your stock strings are 2.5 years old? Which are you restringing? The D and G? Otherwise, how have they held up after all this time. Are they sausaging? Are they holding their intonation?
Click to expand...

The D and the E. a second row of wraps is just starting. I got my U-Bass in February of 2011. It is a first production run (had to get it from Road Toad's shop directly, and he only had a couple in stock. I think his place was the only place in the country that had stock then. I have had thunder guts and silver rumblers on there for very short times, but have returned to the original stock strings. Tension is slightly softer, but no intonation problems, no tone problems, and zero sausaging. They still sound and feel great. They hold their tuning for at least a set, if not the whole gig. It's been about a year since my last re-stringing.

Re:the F-Deck short answer, get one. Longer answer, it is a very high input impedance input. Passive piezo pickups can be honky and sctatchy if the impedance is too low. This smooths out the highs, softens the peakiness of the mids, and solidifies the lows. If this is put after any other electronics, including an onboard preamp, the ideal impedance buffer will have no effect. It also has a variable filter that takes care of super low frequencies from instrument handling, etc. the volume and phase reversal switch can be handy too. I highly recommend series 2.
 
#728
JCKA said:
Dear all, I have finally bought a spruce top fretless ubass (with preamp and tuner). Liking it a lot so far.
The intonation seems to be fairly good when I pressed the strings at the fret line. I a pretty happy with it.

Too bad it still have one issue. After trying with a couple different amps and sound systems, I found that the output of the strings are so uneven. G and D are very good, very loud, but A string is a lot lower, and E string is much lower.
My and my friends couldn't really figure it out why it is like that.
I tried to restring several times to make sure everything is alright, but it didn't help.

Is it possible that the pick up is problematic?

I appreciate any feedback.
THANK YOU.
Click to expand...

I just tried mine plugged in for the first time (straight in to the computer) and all of my strings sound fairly equal in volume. Obviously I'm not using a proper amp so it's a little hard to tell but perhaps yours does have a problem. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can help.
 
#729
Shardik said:
I am intrigued by the U-bass, but to be honest, it is a simple instrument and the selected wood or the craftmanship is not spectacular either.

I don't think I will buy one, and the reason is that I think it is overpriced. Correct me if I am wrong, but that's my opinion.
Click to expand...

As much as I enjoy playing mine, I have to agree with you. The nut slots look like they were chewed instead of cut, and there are other details that seem sloppy or poorly executed. I've seen other instruments in the same price range that appeared to built and finished to a higher standard. If I hadn't found a used one at a good price I wouldn't have bought one.

Kala could use some competition.
 
#730
Formula144 said:
As much as I enjoy playing mine, I have to agree with you. The nut slots look like they were chewed instead of cut, and there are other details that seem sloppy or poorly executed. I've seen other instruments in the same price range that appeared to built and finished to a higher standard. If I hadn't found a used one at a good price I wouldn't have bought one.

Kala could use some competition.
Click to expand...

The instrument is what it is. Yes, they're 'crafted' in china and qc has some issues - which is frustrating and Kala could certainly lift its game. It certainly isn't an instrument for everyone. Most bass players expect all the benefits of a full scale instrument - something these instruments can't do. I would also put it to you that a certain amount of time must be put into your technique. The short scale, piezo pickups and poly strings tend to show up some lazy or inaccurate technique. I love mine. The advantages of a smaller instrument for my playing situation far outweighs the shortcomings.

Now playing mine with an EA i-amp Doubler/Barefaced 1x12 cab and loving it.

I got to A/B my original run exotic hog with a newer onboard pre-amped mahogany, yesterday. Found the newer model's tone control pretty useless. But the volume would be useful when not playing/switching instruments. String tension was tighter on the newer model and action was also higher. I liked my old version, both were fine.
 
#731
JCKA said:
I found that the output of the strings are so uneven. G and D are very good, very loud, but A string is a lot lower, and E string is much lower.
Click to expand...

I had exactly the same problem when I removed the plastic shim from beneath the saddle. When the shim is in its place, the string balance becomes much better but still not perfect.
I have a fretless hog model with the new pickup and preamp.
 
#735
Shouldn't be a problem. All my basses are fretted, but my u-bass is fretless and I had no problem. However if you read music it will take awhile. I watch where my fingers are going when I play mine. If I look away for a bit I can here my intonation being off and sure enough my fingers aren't where they are supposed to be!
 
#736
I'd go fretted. I think a lot of people that think they're proficient fretless players would think differently if they heard a recording of themselves. It's like how your recorded voice sounds nothing like it does in your head. I thought I was great at fretless till I heard myself. But if you have a great ear and the patience to get it right, then go for it.
 
#737
Mine is fretless and I'm really enjoying it. I was a bit scared at first too but I'm actually enjoying the learning process and it has such a nice sound! It definitely gets tough the minute I look away from the fretboard though... I think I need to practice in the dark and get used to the feel of it.
 
#740
JCKA said:
I am trying to contact Ryan at Kala, but I couldn't find his email.
Can anyone kindly give me his email address?
Really appreciate it.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Dear all, for those who has contacted Ryan at Kala before,
could you please kindly let me know how to get in touch with him?

My E string out put is so low and would like to ask for help to resolve this.
Thank you so much.
 
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