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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 6

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#61
1stnamebassist said:
I'm partial to the sound of the mahogany over the spruce, but either one sounds incredible! Liking fretless a lot also. Someday I would like a fretted spruce for different sound and feel, but right now content with what I have. Played a church gig this morning, first gig with the U-bass! Used the Fdeck to a direct line to PA. Everbody loved the sound! Lots of compliments even from the sound guy. The worship leader tried it and she loved it so much she wants one and she doesn't even play bass! Having way too much fun with my U-bass! Loving the Silver Rumblers after I rubbed a smidgeon of baby powder on the strings. Instantly took any stickiness away!
Click to expand...

Good deal. You also might want to try a billiards talc bag.
Works great, no baby powder smell, and no mess.
 
#63
Just got a set of Silver Rumblers -- D and G felt great, E and A were sticky.
Haven't tried powder yet -- I suspect it'll make a white mess on the black solid-body. Got a source for black talc? :)

Solid vs. acoustic: I like the tone of the acoustic a bit better. On the other hand, I think the solid is a bit more comfortable to play. The solid can be better for travel because it's almost silent -- you can play sitting next to someone and not bother them.
 
#64
I wanted to say hello and thanks to all who contribute here. Based on the megathreads (and I've read them all!) I bought a used fretless hog.

I'm a drummer turned bass hack and my heavy basses were killing my shoulder after about a set. I went after this as a nice light alternative and was blown away by the sound. I'm playing alt-country/folk kind of stuff and it works perfectly for that.

Last night the pick up starting cutting out. When I would pluck a string there was a delay before any sound. It didn't happen every time and was only on the E and A strings. Is it more likely I have a bad pickup or connection? I'm going to take this to a tech for a repair but it would be nice to have the part I need when I go over since he is really busy. If there is any troubleshooting that can be recommended I'd appreciate it since I have zero experience doing anything beyond restringing.

My other basses have sat idle since I brought this home and I'm not looking forward to downtime. My wife doesn't believe that this was the cosmos saying it's time to buy a fretless 5 string...
 
#65
Phishr said:
I wanted to say hello and thanks to all who contribute here. Based on the megathreads (and I've read them all!) I bought a used fretless hog.

I'm a drummer turned bass hack and my heavy basses were killing my shoulder after about a set. I went after this as a nice light alternative and was blown away by the sound. I'm playing alt-country/folk kind of stuff and it works perfectly for that.

Last night the pick up starting cutting out. When I would pluck a string there was a delay before any sound. It didn't happen every time and was only on the E and A strings. Is it more likely I have a bad pickup or connection? I'm going to take this to a tech for a repair but it would be nice to have the part I need when I go over since he is really busy. If there is any troubleshooting that can be recommended I'd appreciate it since I have zero experience doing anything beyond restringing.

My other basses have sat idle since I brought this home and I'm not looking forward to downtime. My wife doesn't believe that this was the cosmos saying it's time to buy a fretless 5 string...
Click to expand...

I personally haven't a clue to assist you in your problem .

But what I do know is that this is an acceptionally entertaining post .

One's wife might ought never be amazed to soon . lol
 
#66
Just in case it isn't the cosmos I would give Kala a call. In my experience they have been able to answer any questions I have had about my U bass sight unseen. Although in my professional opinion this is a sign that you should order that fretless 5 string. Oh and let me know how that works out for you I am sure after your wife gets a look at your new bass she will be just as happy with it as you are.
 
#73
Bought my acacia fretted last July. Liked it so much that I wanted a fretless also to see whether I could learn playing one despite not being the youngest any longer. It arrived in November. Liked it at once, but playing in tune takes a lot of work. Some days definitely better than others.

With the fretless also came a SUB intended as a gift for a friend. The bridge compensation was way off and the SUB was returned to the seller.

Supplies have been low, but today a fretted hog came as a replacement for the SUB. Tested it with the original Pahoehoe strings and it certainly sounds good. They have a warmth to them that is not so much there with the better projecting Thunderguts.

Yesterday I had put Silver Rumblers on the fretless hog. Where the Thunderguts sound like having a prominent attack one octave over the nominal string pitch, the Rumblers has an even higher attack sound. Makes it easier to detreremine the pitch on the fretless.

Horribly bad photo of the 3 Ubasses:

L=>R: Fretless hog with Silver Rumblers, Acacia fretted with Thunderguts, and fretted hog with Pahoehoes.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m6hhrr92l04n6xa/HogFL-AcaciaFR-HogFr.JPG

The last arrival has a problem that I didn’t see before: the wing nut of the A string tuner comes off. I have told the retailer who thinks there may be washer missing, but there may be an easy fix. I don’t want to return what appears like a fine instrument.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lzbqh9sod75b86g/Tuner%20wing%20comes%20off.JPG

Klaus
 
#74
well,
at present there are available the stock Thundergut gut yellow colour set instead the white of the past.
It is available also the gut yellow Thundergut set for the 5 string solid kala. The 5 th BB is a red series so it is really powerful and with the same gauge of the 4 th string. There is a lot of copper inside the BB string
The red series Thundergut ( brand name Red-Thunder) will be available around may, maybe june, not before: it is not so good for the marketing strategy to introduce too much things all in the same time
However, let me say that they are really wonderful and powerful on the kala U bass that I use for my experiments.
Mimmo
 
#75
Mimmo said:
well,
at present there are available the stock Thundergut gut yellow colour set instead the white ones of the past.
It is available also the gut coloured Thundergut set for the 5 string solid kala. The 5 th BB is a red series so it is really powerful and with the same 4th string. a lot of copper inside....
The red series Thundergut ( brand name Red-Thunder) will be available around may, maybe june, not before: it is good for the marketing strategy to avoid to introduce too much things all in the same time
However, let me say that they are realy stupend on the kala U bass that I use for my experiments.
Mimmo
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, Mimmo! Please let us know when we can get our hands on some Red Thunder. Those strings sound fabulous in your videos.
 
#76
There is some information posted about the
Shortbass-One
at an Italian website. The bass is now available in Italy.

Some specs:
- Piezo pickup
- 23.6 inch scale
- Truss rod
- Top is cedar, sides and back are Sapele
- Strings are the new Red Thunder
- Padded gig bag
- 2 strap pins - one at the bottom, one at the heel

I have been given the opportunity to review a Shortbass-One, and I will be doing that and posting my observations here. I want to log enough time with the bass before making the observations, and the bass just touched down. I can tell you that it looks very beautiful. It accomplishes the big sound with a short scale - while not looking as diminutive as the UBass.

Much more over the next days/weeks.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#77
Mimmo said:
well,
at present there are available the stock Thundergut gut yellow colour set instead the white of the past.
Click to expand...

it is funny you should mention that.
i got white guts a year ago or so, they are a vast improvement to the stock Pahoehoes, but (possibly in anticipation of your new color coding) the E and A string have turned dark yellow, and they werent't on display in the sun either.
 
#79
I've been kinda quiet since my fretless five arrived. I've had the cold/bronchitis that's been going around, plus I had a minor issue with ground hum to work out. I'm finally feeling like I won't expire and the hum is gone, so the last few days I've been getting to know the new Cali.

Early verdict - wow! Everything I had hoped for: thick tone, thud, playability. I was worried about jumping in with a fretless, but to be honest it hasn't been an issue at all.

I'm impressed!
 
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