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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7
- Thread starter olitoon
- Start date
I just got a Shortbass One Basic. I love my U-basses, but I've been playing once a week with a ukulele group where I am not allowed to plug in. My U-Bass just does not cut it. I have been using a Fender Acoustic Bass with steel strings - which I hate. It is just loud enough but the steel strings sound terrible in the mix. Since the Shortbass One is not sold in the US and virtually impossible to find here, I decided to take the leap and buy one from Europe. I got a store demo for slightly more than half the cost of what a new one would be for me. I probably would have preferred to get the 14 fretless, but I figured I could sell this one if it doesn't work out for me.
It only took a little over a week to arrive and to my surprise was in like new condition. The strings were way over wrapped so I had to fix that. It sounds OK unplugged but I honestly don't know if it is loud enough. Based on the demos I've seen I kind of expected it to be approximately as loud as the Fender. My impression at the moment is that it is slightly less loud - which is not good. I'm going to try it at my group and see if it works. The group is about 13-15 ukuleles and they don't play that loud.
It only took a little over a week to arrive and to my surprise was in like new condition. The strings were way over wrapped so I had to fix that. It sounds OK unplugged but I honestly don't know if it is loud enough. Based on the demos I've seen I kind of expected it to be approximately as loud as the Fender. My impression at the moment is that it is slightly less loud - which is not good. I'm going to try it at my group and see if it works. The group is about 13-15 ukuleles and they don't play that loud.
I thought you meant the kind of squeak you get from thunderguts. There's some zing and fingernoise like any roundwound, but not as bad as normal rounds.
So your bass was to small for the gig? What a trip! BTW I enjoyed your videos a lot.
I just called D'Addario and they're going to send me a set of those strings for review, which I will post here.
Hey guys! Been reading the forum for years, but didn' t participate much...
I thought that too, that rubber strings were the main point. But bought mine (spruce fretted) and used in my amp (orange terror 500) to play hard rock (I have my reasons, besides ubass being awesome!) and i felt the strings had 0 highs. And distortion was awful. BUT with pyramids... That's something different!
I have a YouTube channel with some videos rocking it (more to come). The series name is "rock that ubass", if someone is interested.
Rock That Ubass: Rock That Ubass - YouTube
Cheers!
(editing for typos and adding the YouTube url)
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You're a lucky guy!
I can't find any pictures of those strings on tha web. Are they like Tguts or differents ?
I asked George at D'Addario, but he just said he'll send me a set so I can see for myself. I'll take pictures with the review.
Also, I just got a set of the new Kala round wound metal strings (already out of stock) for my custom fretless bass ukulele. I've been a little skeptical of metal since the other bass player in my uke group uses a Kala spruce top acoustic with Pyramids that sound too tinny to me, but after rehearsing with the new strings yesterday, I'm very happy with the sound and feel, maybe that's due to him using a Pig Nose Hog and I'm using a Phil Jones Bass Double Four.
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Now you got my attention! If they're not like those horrible to me anyway, Pyramids, They sound more like a bass, They intonate well, and don't have to change the nut, I will probably give these a try on my fretless hog!
Just wanted to add - I have the perfect gig for my U Bass - I play occasionally with a steel pan group that does traditional calypso and some funkier Latin jazz. The U Bass sounds amazing under the steel pan - almost like a bass steel pan in some instances.
I've also been bringing it on jazz standards gigs and playing it on the last half hour or so. People always freak out and totally dig the sound. Last gig, both the drummer & pianist were like - yeah - bring that thing next time!
I've also been bringing it on jazz standards gigs and playing it on the last half hour or so. People always freak out and totally dig the sound. Last gig, both the drummer & pianist were like - yeah - bring that thing next time!
Sorry for fuzzy pic.... but I'm in. Couldn't resist. Just so fun-looking I had to bite... $279 did I pay too much? Anyway, what exactly do I have here? Any tips, pointers, things I need to know, etc.... Already noticed it doesn't have much high end. Also, every little creak and groan that my strap makes against the body is amplified... so I need suggestions on how to tame that. But anyway, it'll take DAYS to go through all the megathread parts, anyone care to catch me up?
You have a Kaka sub ubass. good deal and a nice bass. Piezo pups amplify everything so don't move around too much! You won't get much treble but you'll get a ton of bottom end! Also don't fret up against the fret! Play toward the middle of the fret to avoid unwanted noise. The strings take a long time to settle in when new, so if they are not done stretching you will have to take them off and restring frequently. No more than 3 wraps on the tuner or you risk snapping it! Also intonation can be a problem. It is rare to have one with perfect intonation! I bought one from sweetwater and sent it back the next day because I was a full half step flat on the D string at the 12th fret! My fretless mahogany hollowbody ubass is close to perfect and I can compensate anyway. Good luck with yours! Tons of info on the ubass thread!
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Oh, yeah forgot to mention it came with a Ubass gig bag, too. Overall I'm digging it. What about tone settings on my amps? suggestions there? I have a genz 3.0, an MB200, a promethean 300, and fender rumble 150. I like micro heads.... the cabs in the pic are ChopShopAmps prototypes (1x8 with a 5 mid). Do you guys dial in extra highs, or does that make the piezos go nuts? Obviously I figured out very quickly not to boost lows 
Do you do anything with right-hand technique when you're playing up above the 7th fret? I'm noticing a lack of sustain; or just dull, almost palm-muted-sounding notes up higher on the neck. Maybe it's just a learning curve thing.... never played anything but round-wounds on electrics, and never with piezos either.
Do you do anything with right-hand technique when you're playing up above the 7th fret? I'm noticing a lack of sustain; or just dull, almost palm-muted-sounding notes up higher on the neck. Maybe it's just a learning curve thing.... never played anything but round-wounds on electrics, and never with piezos either.
I'm ready to try a U-bass again. I scanned the classifieds and not many for sale.
If anyone has one they are looking to part with, please "start a convo" with me.
Just not Rumblers or SUBs. Any of the other models I'm interested in.
If anyone has one they are looking to part with, please "start a convo" with me.
Just not Rumblers or SUBs. Any of the other models I'm interested in.
There's one on reverb. It's an older solid mahogany version for $400. I think it's new old stock or something. No preamp, compensated bridge. Better than the new ones in my opinion. (It's not mine).
Thats the model I have in fretless strung with the stock paehoehoes. It has no preamp so I run it through an
fdeck high pass filter then straight to my carvin mb15 and it sounds killer! Pretty much all you need.
SO perhaps the U Bass experts can help me out here. I just bought one on ebay that has not yet arrived, Mahogany, older style without the tuner and preamp. It has not arrives, but will later this week. I just want to make sure it is not a Rumbler etc. Anyone familiar with the model # designations for you bass? if it were a Rumbler would the model # indicate this? Seems like I recall (but vaguely) that if it is a Rumbler it has RUM in the model #, but I could easily be wrong about that.
Model, per the seller, is UBASS4FLMAH. This is a bit different from the current model format, I think the current mahogany ones are something like SMHG-FL. obviously FL in my model # is "fretless"... MAH for Mahogany... not a Rumbler is it? Is there any resource for checking out different model designations for U Basses?
Model, per the seller, is UBASS4FLMAH. This is a bit different from the current model format, I think the current mahogany ones are something like SMHG-FL. obviously FL in my model # is "fretless"... MAH for Mahogany... not a Rumbler is it? Is there any resource for checking out different model designations for U Basses?
I belive both of those model names are for the fretless solid mahogany. Was there a picture of the actual bass in the ebay ad?
