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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

#881
Holdsg said:
This one has now landed, and I've done my comparison to the fretted.
DSCN0811_zpsz7qmfuvs.jpg


yeah, the fretless wins by a hair, easier to play for me. Less farting out on the frets (more foregiving of finger placement).
I don't need two of these.
so the fretted is now posted in the classifieds.

For Sale - Kala California U-Bass 4-Fretted with LR Baggs Pre | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...
That's a good lookin bass.

The fact that a giant version of that (full scale) doesn't exist, makes me sad. I love pahoehoes but the iddy biddy scale doesn't do it for me.
 
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#882
Gorn said:
That's a good lookin bass.

The fact that a giant version of that (full scale) doesn't exist, makes me sad. I love pahoehoes but the iddy biddy scale doesn't do it for me.
Click to expand...

What if it wasn't iddy biddy, and wasn't giant/full scale, but instead was, ohhhh, let's sayyyy, 25" guitar scale, still with the beloved pahoehoehoes?
What would you think about that?
 
#886
I know, makes sense huh? What I meant to say is that their isn't enough of a difference between the 18" kala and 23" goldtone to make me want to stay with the goldtone. The 18" felt more comfortable to me. I guess I'm thinking that a fullsize bass with paehoehoes would be an incredible instrument both sound and feel wise with the added string tension. Plus I prefer longer scale instruments most of the time. The kala takes care of my shorty needs.
 
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#887
I think the kala 4 strings are all 21" scale, aren't they? I think the Ashbory was 18" scale. Either way, you're comfortable where you're comfortable. I can't play 34" scale these days due to arthritis, but my "regular electric" is a birdsong at 31". I'm sure you could build a 30" pahoehoe equipped bass fairly easily, I bet the strings would stretch far enough! I saw that road toad cab make custom sets too, I wonder if he'd make them in a longer scale.

Anyway, kala changed my gigging life for the better and I'm very happy about that!
 
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#889
mrufino1 said:
Finally was able to get my California 5 this afternoon and played it all night on tonight's gig. I need to make a thumb rest (which I did on my hadean 4 string) and the pahoehoe strings are sticky as heck, so I need to clean or replace them, but overall it was awesome and I very much enjoyed not having to frantically tune down to D for uptown funk!

View attachment 702029

My arthritis says I'll be playing this one for a long time.
Click to expand...

I have a Cali 5 in mocha. My arthritis says I will be playing this from now on (till death do us part). Hope you are enjoying yours half as I am mine. :thumbsup:
 
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#890
The Kala acoustics are 20.5 inch scale. When I was first looking about a year ago, I didn't like the configuration of the Kala, but really liked the Gold Tone 23" MicroBass with cutaway and 1/4" outlet not through the strap button (don't like that at all). Putting on Pahoehoe made it that much better. I then had a a custom bass uke made, 21.5 inch scale, two more frets than the Kala (two less than the Gold Tone), fretless and cutaway. Both play very well.
 
#891
SBassman said:
What if it wasn't iddy biddy, and wasn't giant/full scale, but instead was, ohhhh, let's sayyyy, 25" guitar scale, still with the beloved pahoehoehoes?
What would you think about that?
Click to expand...
Close but not enough. I need 34". If I ever commission a custom build at some point in my life, it'll be for that.

I don't play guitar so that scale doesn't appeal to me and I don't like "normal" short or medium scale basses. I don't know if I'd want the 34" pahoehoe strung bass to be solid or acoustic though. That's a tough choice. I've owned both the micro acoustic and solid body, both strung with hoehoes and they were both great. Just too short.
 
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#892
I think an acoustic would be doable. Like this Dean:
dean-acouselecbass-eabc.jpg

You'd have to replace the tuners with ubass tuners and replace the nut. Then take out the bridge pins, feed the pahoehoes through and secure them with knots. Maybe some day I'll give it a shot.

Like this, but this one is 32" and it's strung with thunderguts. It seems like that's what they did but the tuners look original. I think the thunderguts could be made to squeeze into the tuners, but I doubt pahoehoes would work the same way.
 
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#893
I have the new metal round wounds on order, and I will post some comments here after I log time with them.
But first - USPS has to cooperate. Once again, a USPS package is in that black hole where:
- It has passed the delivery date.
- Tracking hasn't updated in 3 days.

I hope the package is able to extricate itself from the black hole soon and make it to my door step.
 
#894
The new round wounds touched down and are on the bass right now.
Along with a new nut I cut for the occasion.

It's too early to be writing, but suffice to say, it's off to a really good start.
With my expert setup :) I've got that baby intonating very accurately with the round wounds.

They feel very good. They are soft - much softer than a typical nickel round wound. They are similar to or identical to Contrabass strings.

I had suggested Contrabass strings to some at TB last year after experimenting with them. The challenge was that the thickest string on the market was a 90something. With this Kala version going up to 110, they will probably be stable.

Again, off to a nice start, but I'll write more when I log more time.
 
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