Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

[xshawk]

for the 5-string folks, I see that some have low volume from the B and others are fine...
the stock B-string on mine has a noticeably different texture and significantly lower tension when properly tuned.

anyone who has tried a non-stock B string willing to post their impressions?
I'm waiting on a replacement piezo that may fix mine, but was hoping for info on other options if it doesn't.

thanks in advance

 

[Inertialsky]

I picked up a hollow body Spruce top Ubass today. I'm having a lot of fun with it. I do think I need a new set of strings. They are very worn past the nut.

I've noticed the tension on the A and D strings feels pretty good. But the low E and high G feel a little floppy. This is my first bass with silicon strings so I'm not sure where the tension should be...

 

[scotch]

They're supposed to be floppy!

 

[Gorn]

This is my first bass with silicon strings so I'm not sure where the tension should be...

They're polyurethane. Bridge cables compared to actual silicon strings like on an ashbury bass.

 

[Inertialsky]

Thanks guys..

hey, at least I didn't call them rubber-band strings!

 

[El Papa]

Subscribed.... Love my Kalas

 

[1stnamebassist]

I picked up a hollow body Spruce top Ubass today. I'm having a lot of fun with it. I do think I need a new set of strings. They are very worn past the nut.

I've noticed the tension on the A and D strings feels pretty good. But the low E and high G feel a little floppy. This is my first bass with silicon strings so I'm not sure where the tension should be...

I don't believe the G string should be floppy. My has pretty good tension with the stock Paehoehoes.

 

[Inertialsky]

I can't imagine it's a whole octave low... It's not unplayable by any means but it is quite floppy.

Could the strings be shot? I have no idea how old they are... The previous owner over-wound them on the tuning pegs and they got a little chewed up when they wrapped around the lower sharp nut part of the machine heads. I fixed that and now they have the proper 2-3 wraps per peg.

I'm gonna pick up a new set of Paehoehoes soon. What a fun word to say, "Pay-ho-ho"

 

[Inertialsky]

Still loving my U-Bass, but I am debating putting it up for trade for a fretted version.

The fretless version is a lot of fun but I think a fretted neck would be of more use for me

Anyone with a fretted ubass looking to go fretless?

 

[Holdsg]

walking around NAMM, very interesting to see lots of copy-cat UBasses out this year. Something about the sincerest form of flattery?

 

[1stnamebassist]

I prefer the f

Still loving my U-Bass, but I am debating putting it up for trade for a fretted version.

The fretless version is a lot of fun but I think a fretted neck would be of more use for me

Anyone with a fretted ubass looking to go fretless?

I prefer my
fretless Ubass over my Goldtone fretted Microbass. Everyone is different,but one thing to consider is intonation issues with some fretted ones. I ordered a fretted sub one time but the intonation was almost a half step flat at the 12th fret. I sent it back and have stuck with my fretless hog.

 

[bnolsen]

walking around NAMM, very interesting to see lots of copy-cat UBasses out this year. Something about the sincerest form of flattery?

do you have names and prices for the new dealers? did you see any new ubass strings?

messing around with my recently defretted hadean omega ubass i don't think its going to take too long to get used to not having frets. these ubasses have a serious lack of adjustment options.

 

[Gorn]

Fretless rumbler and 5 string sub solidbody:

 

[HeavyDuty]

Interesting about the Sub5 - I sold my Cali 5 fretless because it wasn't getting enough use to justify keeping, but a Sub...

 

[SBassman]

Long time no post.

I need to replace the nut on my 4 string acoustic. The nut is out of stock at the Kala site. Anyone know where I can get a replacement nut?
Thanks.

 

[macmanlou]

Long time no post.

I need to replace the nut on my 4 string acoustic. The nut is out of stock at the Kala site. Anyone know where I can get a replacement nut?
Thanks.

Maybe get a local luthier to make one?

 

[SBassman]

Thanks. I'm equipped to make one these days, but I'd thought I'd start with a Kala part.

 

[macmanlou]

Thanks. I'm equipped to make one these days, but I'd thought I'd start with a Kala part.

It's supposed to be a graphtech nut. They sell direct, so maybe something here would be close, or maybe they would sell you what they make for Kala.

 

[surfaday]

Got an Exotic Mahogany model u-bass tonight! I love it. I bought the Rumbler on Sunday but exchanged it for the EM. I like the finish, the better tuners and the inlay on the EM. I have also found that the hatch in the back for changing strings is handy for moving wires around to minimize buzzing. Since I am a casual player, its much more convenient to pick up the ubass than it is to lug out the 4 and 5 string electric basses.

I thought I might read the megathread before posting - but when I saw the size of it, I figured I'd better say hi before digging in.

Does anyone have a suggestion for keeping the back door on the ubass from buzzing?

Walt

 

[surfaday]

Just got my u-bass a couple of days ago. I have traced a source of tremendous rattle to the door that covers the string change hole. Not only does it rattle, but it pops out too easily, (it seems to me, this is my first u-bass).

Is this just normal or is there a fix to this that owners commonly use?