• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Kala UBass Megathread, Part 6

Status
Not open for further replies.
#801
vHarmonic said:
Has anyone tried these Orange Bass Uke Strings form Worth? They sound interesting.

This is from the Worth site -

Generally Poly Urethane is used in manufacturing machine drive belts so it can withstand the pull under stress.
Comparing with silicone rubber strings, Poly Urethane has a smoother surface. This is a real benefit so players can play it smoothly without talc powder,or any stress on finger tips.
Since Poly Urethane is harder than silicone rubber, the strings last a long time… yet can play the same mellow sound as with silicone bass strings.

Elderly Interments has this to say about them-

"Originally a set put together for a David Gomes bass ukulele. A possible substitute string for Ashbory basses. Made of a dull orange polyurethane, they have more slip than silicone strings and should be easier to play. Perhaps not as "rich" sounding as silicone strings. Our initial feedback, including our shop, (as of March 07) has been that they may be tricky to install and bring to pitch."

It looks like the David Gomes bass ukulele has a 17" scale. And in these photo of the David Gomes bass the strings are tied in knots around the tuning key. Witch would support the difficult to instal part.

Also here is a vid of some playing the David Gomes bass ukulele with the Worth strings.



Click to expand...



The short answer is that they will not work with the Kala.

The long answer is that I tried them, very briefly, with my Dearmond Ashbory not long after I bought it in 1999 or 2000. I was frustrated with the very fragile silicone strings that came with the Ashbory and had the Worth strings sent from Japan. They were VERY hard to install on the Ashbory and due to their hardness and thickness, there is no way you will get that E string through the Kala tuner slot or nut slot.

The tone of the strings was also not very good. There was very little sustain and the deep bassy tone was not there either.

And for those of us on this thread in the "Sticky Finger Bass Club" the Pahoehoes and Thunderguts are a dream compared to those Ashbory silicone strings.

I love the Kala for it's incredible tone and portability and for those reasons I'll put up with the stickiness of the strings that are currently available.

Mimmo, if you're out there, please let us get our poor, sticky fingers on those Thunder Reds.:)

Jeff
 
#802
I don't know whether the Thunder Reds are going to be the Holy Grail of ubass strings or not. Actually, I ordered the white ones and, by chance, I got a 5-string set with a RED B-string. I put it on my acoustic hog model in place of the E-string and tuned to E. The playability and the comfort (stickiness) is almost perfect, but the sound is quite different from the Pahoehoes that are deep and round. And the reds are more prone to fingernoise, as well.
 
#807
I saw this announced on Kala's FaceBook page today. Build your own California U-Bass from a kit, choosing your own finish and strings:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 

Attachments

  • ubass-bodiesandnecks2.jpg
    ubass-bodiesandnecks2.jpg
    15.9 KB · Views: 106
#809
macmanlou said:
I saw this announced on Kala's FaceBook page today. Build your own California U-Bass from a kit, choosing your own finish and strings:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
But "does not include strings". What's up with that? At $799 for the 5-string version, you'd think they could supply "all the parts you need". They don't have to do the finishing or assembly.

More and more, I'm thinking I'll build my own fretless.

Marcus
 
#813
By the way, I just wanted to say that Owen, Road Toad Music, is great to deal with. I ordered a set of low tension strings for my ashbory. Will hopefully get stringed up tomorrow as they came in today in the mail. He was very helpful. Direct from bassuke.com was the best and cheapest sure way to order.
 
#817
Got a screamin' deal on this used solid spruce U-bass. It had Pahoehoe Dreads on it but the original strings were in the gigbag. I like the upright "thud" of it and it sounded really good when I ran it through the PA last weekend. Old stylepassive pickup sounded better than the pickup in the Rumbler. I'm not 100% thrilled with the high G string though - it seems out of balance with the others when played acoustically. Any thoughts?

F691B4C7_zpsde478923.jpg
 
#819
Tele295 said:
Got a screamin' deal on this used solid spruce U-bass. It had Pahoehoe Dreads on it but the original strings were in the gigbag. I like the upright "thud" of it and it sounded really good when I ran it through the PA last weekend. Old stylepassive pickup sounded better than the pickup in the Rumbler. I'm not 100% thrilled with the high G string though - it seems out of balance with the others when played acoustically. Any thoughts?


I think older D and G Strings (Pahoehoes) were thiner than later Versions, maybe contact Roadtoadmusic to be sure.
I changed Strings on my older Hog because of string Balance issues and the newer Gauges were better.
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back