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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

#2,181
RedHotFuzz said:
Personally what I really want from Kala is the cutaway body with f-holes with the nicer tuners and pickup/preamp they put on the striped ebony and mahogany models.
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The Journeyman is configured the way it is because it's a stock item made by a Chinese manufacturer that Kala buys as is and has the manufacturer add the Kala label. I know people are going to deny that, but that's how many Kala standard level instruments are done, like the all bamboo line. Kala might choose the strings, but the main construction and parts are chosen by the Chinese manufacturer; tuning machines, nut material, wood, finish, preamp, pickup assembly, parts made by other Chinese manufacturers and can be found on AliExpress or Alibaba.
 
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#2,182
KohanMike said:
The Journeyman is configured the way it is because it's a stock item made by a Chinese manufacturer that Kala buys as is and has the manufacturer add the Kala label. I know people are going to deny that, but that's how many Kala standard level instruments are done, like the all bamboo line. Kala might choose the strings, but the main construction and parts are chosen by the Chinese manufacturer; tuning machines, nut material, wood, finish, preamp, pickup assembly, parts made by other Chinese manufacturers and can be found on AliExpress or Alibaba.
Click to expand...

So at which point is this not the case?
 
#2,183
KohanMike said:
The Journeyman is configured the way it is because it's a stock item made by a Chinese manufacturer that Kala buys as is and has the manufacturer add the Kala label. I know people are going to deny that, but that's how many Kala standard level instruments are done, like the all bamboo line. Kala might choose the strings, but the main construction and parts are chosen by the Chinese manufacturer; tuning machines, nut material, wood, finish, preamp, pickup assembly, parts made by other Chinese manufacturers and can be found on AliExpress or Alibaba.
Click to expand...

Right, I’d just like Kala to do a cutaway + f-holes body for one of their premium models.
 
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#2,184
KohanMike said:
The Journeyman is configured the way it is because it's a stock item made by a Chinese manufacturer that Kala buys as is and has the manufacturer add the Kala label. I know people are going to deny that, but that's how many Kala standard level instruments are done, like the all bamboo line. Kala might choose the strings, but the main construction and parts are chosen by the Chinese manufacturer; tuning machines, nut material, wood, finish, preamp, pickup assembly, parts made by other Chinese manufacturers and can be found on AliExpress or Alibaba.
Click to expand...

100%

My Kala even says, "made in China" and has a taped on Kala serial number.

The Koa is the thinnest veneer, and the fit and finish is what I would expect out of a sub $500 instrument.

It does have Hipshot ultralight tuners, so there's that.
But it sounds good and plays well enough.
 
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#2,189
Looking for a source for the 4-string set of Pahoehoe blacks for 23-24 inch scale (Gold Tone Micro Bass). I put a set of the 19-21 inch scale on the bass a few years ago, but the G & D strings were stretched significantly thinner than they would be on a 20” scale Kala UBass. As a result, they stretched out early and finally broke.

Seems the Bassuke.com\stringstore site is now defunct. The site has a message that it’s closed and will reopen September of 2021.

When I bought and installed the 19-21 inch scale set, I communicated with someone where I got the strings and was told the 23-24 inch scale existed and would have worked much better on my bass, but that’s been too long ago and I no longer have the info where I got the strings or the correspondence with a rep from the site. Now, the only 4-string set of Pahoehoe blacks I can find on internet searches is 19-21 inch scale.

Please don’t bother recommending Aquila strings. I’ve tried many types and every conceivable liquid and powder lubricant, but can’t live with the stickiness that eventually develops. I apparently have strange body chemistry / skin oil that makes glue when applied to Aquila strings…
 
#2,190
Tim Skaggs said:
Looking for a source for the 4-string set of Pahoehoe blacks for 23-24 inch scale (Gold Tone Micro Bass). I put a set of the 19-21 inch scale on the bass a few years ago, but the G & D strings were stretched significantly thinner than they would be on a 20” scale Kala UBass. As a result, they stretched out early and finally broke.

Seems the Bassuke.com\stringstore site is now defunct. The site has a message that it’s closed and will reopen September of 2021.

When I bought and installed the 19-21 inch scale set, I communicated with someone where I got the strings and was told the 23-24 inch scale existed and would have worked much better on my bass, but that’s been too long ago and I no longer have the info where I got the strings or the correspondence with a rep from the site. Now, the only 4-string set of Pahoehoe blacks I can find on internet searches is 19-21 inch scale.

Please don’t bother recommending Aquila strings. I’ve tried many types and every conceivable liquid and powder lubricant, but can’t live with the stickiness that eventually develops. I apparently have strange body chemistry / skin oil that makes glue when applied to Aquila strings…
Click to expand...
You may have communicated with me. I would order Pahoehoe strings direct from Road Toad Music, Owen Holt who created and licensed his bass uke design to Kala, but in going to the web site, it seems you have to email Owen directly to order strings, Road Toad Music Main Page (scroll down to get to his email link).

Let me add that after using all the various poly strings, I found that even Pahoehoe gets sticky in humid conditions. I've since given up on poly when the Kala/Galli flatwound nylon core came out, now I only use those. I think it's ridiculous to constantly have to put something on your fingers or the strings to combat stickiness when the flatwounds work so much better and sound really good compared, not at all like the round wound zingy electric bass sound.
 
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#2,191
KohanMike said:
You may have communicated with me. I would order Pahoehoe strings direct from Road Toad Music, Owen Holt who created and licensed his bass uke design to Kala, but in going to the web site, it seems you have to email Owen directly to order strings, Road Toad Music Main Page (scroll down to get to his email link).

Let me add that after using all the various poly strings, I found that even Pahoehoe gets sticky in humid conditions. I've since given up on poly when the Kala/Galli flatwound nylon core came out, now I only use those. I think it's ridiculous to constantly have to put something on your fingers or the strings to combat stickiness when the flatwounds work so much better and sound really good compared, not at all like the round wound zingy electric bass sound.
Click to expand...

I’d be interested in the flat ribbon winding over a nylon core, but I’ve been under the impression my intonation would be way off. Is there some change to that issue?
 
#2,192
Tim Skaggs said:
Looking for a source for the 4-string set of Pahoehoe blacks for 23-24 inch scale (Gold Tone Micro Bass). I put a set of the 19-21 inch scale on the bass a few years ago, but the G & D strings were stretched significantly thinner than they would be on a 20” scale Kala UBass. As a result, they stretched out early and finally broke.
Click to expand...
Sweetwater has a 5-string set, for 23", you'll just have an extra string...
Road Toad Music Pahoehoe U-Bass Strings - Black 5-string
 
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#2,196
KohanMike said:
You may have communicated with me. I would order Pahoehoe strings direct from Road Toad Music, Owen Holt who created and licensed his bass uke design to Kala, but in going to the web site, it seems you have to email Owen directly to order strings, Road Toad Music Main Page (scroll down to get to his email link).

Let me add that after using all the various poly strings, I found that even Pahoehoe gets sticky in humid conditions. I've since given up on poly when the Kala/Galli flatwound nylon core came out, now I only use those. I think it's ridiculous to constantly have to put something on your fingers or the strings to combat stickiness when the flatwounds work so much better and sound really good compared, not at all like the round wound zingy electric bass sound.
Click to expand...
I have an email in to Owen asking if he can come up with a 4-string string set in 23-24 inch scale. Thanks for the info.
 
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#2,198
Tim Skaggs said:
I have an email in to Owen asking if he can come up with a 4-string string set in 23-24 inch scale. Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

Below is the reply I received from Ash Reyes although I sent the email to:
[email protected]

Anybody know what the “retail set” is?
———————————————
Ash Reyes (Kala Brand Music Co.)

Jul 24, 2023, 12:20 PM PDT

Hi Tim,

Thanks for reaching out! We only offer one size of road toad strings.
I verified with our shop manager and product director that we used the retail set as our longer scale set.
U•BASS® Strings – Kala Brand Music Co.™

Best,
Ash
Kala Service Team
—————————————————
 
#2,199
Bighouse said:
Looking at buying a used Kala Ebony with roundwounds. Going to test play it this afternoon. Any suggestions on what I should look for? (Can't help but wonder why someone would sell it.)
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Maybe they just don't like it. I recently sold a Journeyman, just because I didn't care for the round wounds. Nothing wrong with it at all. I just have been playing Pahoehoes for 5+ years and like them better.
 

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