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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

#581
Not sure if this is the right place to share this, but here goes.

I have one of the original Kala Ubasses, with the 1 piece pyramid style, passive piezo pickups. I have had the common complaint that others have had, with the E string being quieter than the other strings.

When the pickup died completely recently, I took it to a Luthier in Adelaide, South Australia, Salvi's fine Guitars. Steve Salvi was awesome to deal with. Really nice guy. We ordered a new pickup from the Aust Distributor, and on installation, foung the Pick up to be quiet on the E string also. He had another Pickup there also - same problem.

Just on the small sample of these pickups we had on hand, it seems that the crystal nearest the cable is consistantly the quietest. That issue along with the fact that the E string has the lowest tension of all 4 strings, makes for a quiet E string. After a bit of a chat we decided to drill a hole at the other end of the bridge, so that the cable could be fitted at the other end of the bridge, and the quietest crystal could go under the G string. Problem solved!! The higher tension of the G string with the quiter crystal seems to work ok.

Ofcourse - It would be nice if these Pickups just worked as they should, but they don't, so for me this work around has solved the issue for me YMMV. Since the repair I haven't used in a band setting to see how the E string sits in the mix. but at home by ear, and looking at a dB meter on my compressor, the volume is more even than it ever has been.
 
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#582
scotch said:
Yup. Many times. Places like Arrowhead Stadium, Texas Stadium and Madison Square Garden. It's a pretty amazing experience to move that much air with a 6-figure pa!

Keep in mind that when you play medium to large venues, you're dealing with high-level professional audio crews. They use their own highpass filtering (if necessary). They want to get a full range source at front-of-house. I did a couple months with an acoustic opening act on Taylor Swift tour. They did not high pass my U-Bass. I used a Fishman belt pack preamp plugged into a passive Radial di. Kept it simple!
Click to expand...

Which one?
 
#583
Rocksolid said:
Not sure if this is the right place to share this, but here goes.

I have one of the original Kala Ubasses, with the 1 piece pyramid style, passive piezo pickups. I have had the common complaint that others have had, with the E string being quieter than the other strings.

When the pickup died completely recently, I took it to a Luthier in Adelaide, South Australia, Salvi's fine Guitars. Steve Salvi was awesome to deal with. Really nice guy. We ordered a new pickup from the Aust Distributor, and on installation, foung the Pick up to be quiet on the E string also. He had another Pickup there also - same problem.

Just on the small sample of these pickups we had on hand, it seems that the crystal nearest the cable is consistantly the quietest. That issue along with the fact that the E string has the lowest tension of all 4 strings, makes for a quiet E string. After a bit of a chat we decided to drill a hole at the other end of the bridge, so that the cable could be fitted at the other end of the bridge, and the quietest crystal could go under the G string. Problem solved!! The higher tension of the G string with the quiter crystal seems to work ok.

Ofcourse - It would be nice if these Pickups just worked as they should, but they don't, so for me this work around has solved the issue for me YMMV. Since the repair I haven't used in a band setting to see how the E string sits in the mix. but at home by ear, and looking at a dB meter on my compressor, the volume is more even than it ever has been.
Click to expand...

Good info, thanks for posting.
 
#585
SBassman said:
Which one?
Click to expand...

The old, out-of-production Bii. I use it when I don't have my Radial PZ-Pre with me or when it makes more sense on stage to have the preamp 'with the instrument'. I prefer the Radial, but the little Fishman does work wonderfully with my passive U-Bass!
 
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#588
Holdsg said:
Anybody ever try one of these battery powered amps for portable rig/busking/desert jams?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/roland-micro-cube-bass-rx-bass-combo-amp

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...et-ex-battery-powered-stereo-guitar-amplifier
Click to expand...
I use the Roland Micro Cube RX even used it jamming in Central Park NY with a bunch of bluegrassers, used it at a Wernick Jam camp in Prague and will use it at a retreat next weekend, but I use it with an Ashbory not a Kala (don't own one, yet).
 
#589
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#590
Rocksolid said:
Not sure if this is the right place to share this, but here goes.


Just on the small sample of these pickups we had on hand, it seems that the crystal nearest the cable is consistantly the quietest. That issue along with the fact that the E string has the lowest tension of all 4 strings, makes for a quiet E string. After a bit of a chat we decided to drill a hole at the other end of the bridge, so that the cable could be fitted at the other end of the bridge, and the quietest crystal could go under the G string. Problem solved!! The higher tension of the G string with the quiter crystal seems to work ok.
Click to expand...

What about your intonation now? AFAIR the saddles are different on UBass in respect to where they touch the string.
 
#591
Temcat said:
What about your intonation now? AFAIR the saddles are different on UBass in respect to where they touch the string.
Click to expand...

The intonation is fine AFAIK. The contact point for the strings in the top of the Pup runs diagonally (if that makes sense) so when you flip it around it is essentially the same other than the cable going thru the bridge at the other end.

IMAG0050_zpse0ckgag3.jpg
 
#597
I think we all look a bit silly playing any Ubass, but slightly more silly with the solid body I guess! I had one briefly and it sounded the same as my hog. The intonation was almost a half step flat at the 12th fret so it went back. Picked up a Goldtone which is about 10 cents flat on the A. Not sure if I'll keep that yet. Don't play up that high on these shortys that often anyway.
 
#600
After get a U-Bass a month ago. I must say this little bass has grabbed a hold of me.
Much more than just a fun practice bass. It has become a useful live gigging bass. That turns a lot of heads when i play it.
Big, bold thick upright tones.
 
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