Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

[Gorn]

Anybody have any thoughts/opinions on the Rumbler? I apologize this has been discussed somewhere else. Thanks.

You're better off buying any other version used. Or if you want to buy new, spend another $50 on the exotic mahogany. The rumbler, in my opinion, is kinda crap, and not worth the $50 you save over the exotihogany. There's no back hatch to load the strings. The tuners are the cheapest available for ubasses. The finish is cheap feeling. The gigbag is completely unpadded.

Essentially it plays and sounds basically the same as more expensive models, but the all the stuff I mentioned doesn't make the $50 savings worth it.

It's worth noting that a lot of resellers are selling rumblers using pictures of the solid mahogany version. The rumbler doesn't look like that. It's flat brown and cheap looking.

 

[canuckshort]

Wow, I didn't know that the cost savings was that little with the Rumbler. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Gorn]

It really does play and sound basically the same. But not having the back hatch is really annoying. Especially considering most people don't like silver rumbler strings. To change them to pahoehoes involves feeding them in through the bridge, pulling them out the sound hole. Tying a knot. Pulling it back through the bridge. It's a pain in the butt. The electronics are also cheaper than the exotic mahogany if I remember correctly. The tuners are more prone to sticking. And the gigbag is a joke. It's just plain nylon. No padding whatsoever. For $250 or even $300, it would be an okay deal, but not $350.

 

[1stnamebassist]

It really does play and sound basically the same. But not having the back hatch is really annoying. Especially considering most people don't like silver rumbler strings. To change them to pahoehoes involves feeding them in through the bridge, pulling them out the sound hole. Tying a knot. Pulling it back through the bridge. It's a pain in the butt. The electronics are also cheaper than the exotic mahogany if I remember correctly. The tuners are more prone to sticking. And the gigbag is a joke. It's just plain nylon. No padding whatsoever. For $250 or even $300, it would be an okay deal, but not $350.

All of the above plus you can find better Ubasses used for around 300 give or take a few bucks.

 

[Gorn]

I might be getting a ubass for the 6th time. Maybe the 7th. Found one cheap on craigslist.

How does everyone feel about the newer single piece/non compensated saddles as opposed to the older ones?

 

[Rumblin Rick]

I have a 2012 calif ubass and the misi has failed . I have been on the Kala site and they seem to be out of them . Does anyone know if any of the other preamps work?

 

[Holdsg]

I thought the new cali ubasses were coming with LR Baggs pres in them, should be retrofittable, I would think, but that's just me thinking.

 

[caeman]

Just checking in. Been in a while...

I am still a proud owner of a U-Bass and using it often at the Synagogue on Saturdays. The folks there simply love the sound.

 

[J Posega]

I need a preamp to plug my passive, older U-Bass into to get rid of the awful piezo quack. Want to keep things as cheap as possible: currently thinking of getting the Behringer ADI21; any thoughts? Is there anything else less than $50? $75? $100? Remember, cheap is better than amazing.

 

[caeman]

I have the ADI21 and it works very well. Cheap and good enough.

 

[MuthaFunk]

I need a preamp to plug my passive, older U-Bass into to get rid of the awful piezo quack. Want to keep things as cheap as possible: currently thinking of getting the Behringer ADI21; any thoughts? Is there anything else less than $50? $75? $100? Remember, cheap is better than amazing.

There have been many happy TB'ers with the Joyo American Pedal which is based on the Fender Bassman I believe. Just a foggy recollection... you may want to look into it as I think they're only $30

 

[hensonbass]

My $40 FDeck preamp is all I need.

 

[caeman]

I gotta say, though, if you can afford $70, the HPF-Pre Series 2 will give a better overall sound than the ADI21. As a bonus, the HPF-Pre can be mounted to your guitar strap, meaning no pedals on the floor. I have mine velcro'd to my strap.

 

[scotch]

I need a preamp to plug my passive, older U-Bass into to get rid of the awful piezo quack. Want to keep things as cheap as possible: currently thinking of getting the Behringer ADI21; any thoughts? Is there anything else less than $50? $75? $100? Remember, cheap is better than amazing.

I've kept one of these in my U-Bass case for when I want to plug into an amp & don't have one of my better di solutions on me. Lightweight, effective 2-band EQ and a great impedance match for the passive pickup!

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Discontinued, but pop up pretty often used. I got mine for $30 - but here's one for $60 on the 'bay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/121357903423?lpid=82

I have an fDeck as well, but I prefer the full-range response of a non-hpf preamp. I want the full room-shaking richness of the U-Bass to hit the house! (If my amp were the sole "p.a.", I might have to use the fDeck, granted.)

 

[jburtonca]

I have an FDeck HPF-Pre Series 3 and it's perfect. The impedence is 10MΩ which is great for getting good tone from a piezo. The "super high" impedance of the Behringer ADI21 is only 1MΩ; not high enough. Whatever you get make sure the impedance is higher than the 1MΩ found on almost all modern bass amps.

 

[caeman]

The ADI21 has the advantage of the adjustable mids frequency. You fine-tune it to a room size or temperature. I have doubled up using the Fdeck 2 and the ADI21 as my EQ. I recommend owning BOTH if the cash is available.

 

[repoman]

Whew... 6 Mega-thread episodes later, here I am, ready to join!
I picked this one up last week from a TB'er who lives only a few miles from me.
Fretless Mahogany, passive model (no pre-amp,no tuner, etc.)
He had it strung with a set of Silver Rumblers with the original Pahoehoe black polyurethanes packed away in the case.
He said the pahoehoe strings are sufficiently stretched and was going to put them back on if he didn't end up selling.
Right now I'm OK with the Silver Rumbles on but am curious about the pahoehoe's.
I ordered an F deck series 2 (sounds like that is a mandatory requirement lol )
I'll be playing this in a trio setting tonight for the first time, this should be fun.
Like a majority of the folks in these threads have said, this thing sounds incredible.
I just plugged it straight in my Streamliner 900 (410 Focus cab) and it was pretty much off to the races!
Quick question...the serial number is 1108XXX, I understand means manufactured in August of 2011, is that correct?
Looking forward to actually contributing to the next 6 chapters in this mega thread.
I'm not much of a photographer, but here ya go...
Pat

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[Rocksolid]

I borrowed a LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI to try with my U bass and it sounded really good, but I just ended up sticking with either my Zoom B3 or MS-60B. I use either the U5 clone, an Amp sim, or the Fishman clone it has, with an EQ, and compressor in front and have been happy with the results.

Considering you can pick up a MS-60B for <$100 currently I think it is a pretty good option. Pkus there is a n inbuilt tuner

 

[fjadams]

Has anybody else put one of the self stick thumbrests on theirs? I did on mine, and it makes it much more comfortable to play. Plus the color match is perfect. Looks like it came that way.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Whew... 6 Mega-thread episodes later, here I am, ready to join!
I picked this one up last week from a TB'er who lives only a few miles from me.
Fretless Mahogany, passive model (no pre-amp,no tuner, etc.)
He had it strung with a set of Silver Rumblers with the original Pahoehoe black polyurethanes packed away in the case.
He said the pahoehoe strings are sufficiently stretched and was going to put them back on if he didn't end up selling.
Right now I'm OK with the Silver Rumbles on but am curious about the pahoehoe's.
I ordered an F deck series 2 (sounds like that is a mandatory requirement lol )
I'll be playing this in a trio setting tonight for the first time, this should be fun.
Like a majority of the folks in these threads have said, this thing sounds incredible.
I just plugged it straight in my Streamliner 900 (410 Focus cab) and it was pretty much off to the races!
Quick question...the serial number is 1108XXX, I understand means manufactured in August of 2011, is that correct?
Looking forward to actually contributing to the next 6 chapters in this mega thread.
I'm not much of a photographer, but here ya go...
Pat

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I have the same one and love it. I don't get along with silver rumblers or any other strings. I prefer the stock which sound great and stabilize to hold tune well after awhile. It should bring you many happy hours of low end thumps fun! Congrats and enjoy and welcome!