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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 6

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#141
scotch said:
jburtonca:
The Shortbass will definitley appeal to a lot of people, though! It's far louder than my Washburn AB-20 abg and Epiphone El Capitan abg. The U-Bass doesn't even come close in terms of acoustic volume (or usable/mic-able acoustic tone).

The stock Shortbass as-is may very well be the best campfire/couch/back porch bass ever! I haven't spent much time with the plugged-in characteristics yet, it just sounds so rewarding acoustically! I'm starting to think that the mic'ed potential is gonna be my favorite unique feature. We shall see... It's far from "perfection", but man oh man- it's amazing what this budget instrument can do!
Click to expand...

This is such good news. Although I have to say that I'm more interested in the Short Bass One 14, because I'd like access to the upper frets. A cutaway would be really great, but maybe that'll show up in future versions.

Are the Red Thunder strings sticky? (Sorry if this is a repeat. I don't remember if you already talked about this.)

Are there any intonation issues with the strings as you move up the fretboard?

Is the soundhole standard size so an acoustic guitar soundhole cover will fit?
 
#142
dougness said:
This is such good news. Although I have to say that I'm more interested in the Short Bass One 14, because I'd like access to the upper frets. A cutaway would be really great, but maybe that'll show up in future versions.

Are the Red Thunder strings sticky? (Sorry if this is a repeat. I don't remember if you already talked about this.)

Are there any intonation issues with the strings as you move up the fretboard?

Is the soundhole standard size so an acoustic guitar soundhole cover will fit?
Click to expand...

The Reds are less sticky than white Thundergut, but have more texture than a Pahoehoe. Honestly, I never found the white TG's to be a problem myself- but I understand some folks do. I suspect it's a skin Ph issue.

I haven't measured intonation with a strobe yet, but it sounds really good as you climb up! The longer scale seems to help with this.

The soundhole is smaller than an acoustic guitar. A little closer to my Takamine classical's size. Too small for a regular soundhole plug.
 
#144
scotch said:
Speaking of the Red strings, they REALLY sound and feel amazing! They have more "weight" than any of the steings I've tried (Pahoehoe, Thundergut and Silver Rumbler) and project way more fundamental and sustain!
Click to expand...

The Reds sound like they're going to be great for what I want from these little basses. Plus, I'm one of the lucky ones who only had minor trouble with the stickiness of Thunderguts.

Thanks for the info!
 
#145
scotch said:
The Reds are less sticky than white Thundergut, but have more texture than a Pahoehoe...

I haven't measured intonation with a strobe yet, but it sounds really good as you climb up! The longer scale seems to help with this...

Speaking of the Red strings, they REALLY sound and feel amazing! They have more "weight" than any of the strings I've tried (Pahoehoe, Thundergut and Silver Rumbler) and project way more fundamental and sustain!
Click to expand...

What he said. :) Seriously, I'm experiencing the same on those points.
 
#146

Here's a short video of Me sitting in with a friend at a noisy coffee shop and using my other friend's UBass with the white thundergut strings. The amp was on the floor to the side and in front of me and I couldn't really hear it or adjust it, so the clicky sounds I didn't really hear at the time. It was my first time playing with those strings and they require a different touch. Anyway, thought I would share!
 
#148
Just bought a spruce off eBay.

I've played a few U-Basses and just grin ear to ear while playing them. I am a big fella, 6'5" 250lbs, and I imagine I'll get a few snickers if I pull the U out on a gig. But I'll enjoy knocking people's socks off with the bottom end.
 
#150
chadhargis said:
Just bought a spruce off eBay.

I've played a few U-Basses and just grin ear to ear while playing them. I am a big fella, 6'5" 250lbs, and I imagine I'll get a few snickers if I pull the U out on a gig. But I'll enjoy knocking people's socks off with the bottom end.
Click to expand...

Ha! Yeah... 6'4", 230lbs here. My U-Bass looks like I'm playing a snack!
 
#157
This all fits with my previously told experience that the acoustic UBasses, especially with the Pahoehoe strings, sound best with amplifiers and speaker cones that will transmit the true low frequencies down to around 40Hz. The Pahoehoe E string does not have strong overtones allowing the listener’s brain to deduce the exact frequencies of the lowest notes.

Klaus
 
#158
SBassman said:
I think the Shortbass and the UBass serve different segments.

If a person's prime directive is the Smallest bass period, then yeah the UBass is smaller.
On the other hand, the Shortbass serves people looking for:
- A comfortable micro scale neck attached to a Regular looking body
- More acoustic volume
- Possibly more tone options

With more choices, everybody wins. :cool:
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong. I think what Mimmo has done with the Shortbass One is amazing. For as long as I can remember bassists have been looking for a LOUD acoustic bass guitar that SOUNDS like a bass. From what I can hear, the Shortbass One accomplishes this in spades; it is loud and has a deep, smooth sound. The longer scale and larger body will give it a broad appeal to those who can't warm up to the short scale and diminutive size of the U-Bass.

The recent post by Scotch about the extra weight of the Thunder Reds is interesting. The added heft from all that copper should really add to the sustain and volume, even when they are used with the U-Bass. I'm looking forward to more posts.

Jeff
 
#159
edmidlifecrisis said:
I know all that from reading TB. I was installing Thunderguts when this happened and it was not because of the excess wraparound of the stock strings. Thanks. Ed.
Click to expand...

+1

I've read all the mega threads too and can tell you that my acoustic ubass has had two tuner failures without any over wrapping ever.

"E" tuner failed & Ryan / Kala promptly replaced at no charge.

"A" tuner failed (ironically while I was restringing because my wraps were getting 'close' to over wrapping).

I'm convinced the worm gears are simply poorly cut/toleranced/designed.

Emailed Ryan / Kala requesting a replacement for the failed tuner.

I'm just hoping there was a bad manufacturing run of tuners...
 
#160
HT Paul said:
From reviewing the Kala website, every uBass will now be coming with the preamp/tuner built in. Which leaves me wondering, wait for the preamped equipped to hit the streets, or try to catch a bargain on an older one without, as it would now be less cool/desirable.
Click to expand...

I just bought a Radial Tone bone Bassbone. I plug my 5 string electric into the bypass side and the U Bass into the side with the 3 band EQ. It works beautifully.
 
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