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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7
- Thread starter olitoon
- Start date
They sound basically the same. I bought one a few years back from sweetwater. It sounded and played great but the intonation on one of the strings was so far out to lunch it had to go back. just buy from somewhere with a good return policy.
Just joined Talkbass, and am happy to be here, after MANY years of being a bassist... About the Kala: bought the low-end fretless Rumbler a few months ago, and have enjoyed it immensely. I have two things to say about two common items: intonation, and the combo jack/strap button.
First, intonation: I've read lots of complaints about the Kala, but honestly, what bass doesn't have its quirks? Do we not all learn to deal with them if the bass is worth keeping? If a bass needs fixing, then fix it; dumping, sell it or turn it into wall art... The E on my fretless Rumbler requires different finger placement than the other three strings to nail the notes. Took me three minutes to figure it out, then I adjusted--no more intonation problems on the E.
The jack/strap button on the Kala acoustic-electrics: Having had much experience with weird and bad designs over the decades with guitars and basses, I have to say the combo button on the Rumbler gave me pause before I bought it, and rightly so. The design is bad--and there have been warnings in many forums about this--so your strap can loosen the nut that holds the jack, twisting the wires inside. This could have been taken care of easily enough by a better design, but the problem is very difficult to fix once it happens, and...it happened to me.
Full disclosure and disclaimer: If this has happened to your Kala bass, DO NOT do what I did unless you are willing to violate your warranty. I do woodworking, often make or reconfigure my own instrument cases, have good tools, and understand the basic electronics of pickups. So if this makes you nervous, don't do it: I cut a panel on the lower back big enough to get my fingers in, untwisted the wires and tightened the nuts. I took the panel, created a mounting plate for it, and replaced it with tiny screws. This works fine. I also took another strap button I had around, and installed it about 3/4-inch directly above the jack.
Bottom line advice here, if you have this bass or its cousins: take it back to a Kala dealer and have another strap button installed so that YOU don't violate your warranty. In any case, I suggest you do not use the combo jack/strap button for your strap...Hope this helps anybody out there.
The only problem with fixing intonation is with fretted models. No way to adjust it really. Fret less you just adjust your fingering.
I have both. As a counterpoint I would recommend fretted if you aren't skilled enough to play fretless well. I used to think I was better on the fretless but I know I can't count on always hitting the note right. The fretted has decent intonation for the first 7-9 frets. Most of my ubass playing is in that region anyway. If I need higher on the neck I prefer a short scale bass.
I don't know if it was here or another thread but a guy from Kala mentioned a full scale pahohoe strung bass in the works. Anyone remember where that was or what the Kala guys user name was? I'd like to know where they are with this.
I was able to tighten the plug of my just-arrived Rumbler without having to cut anything. I loosened the strings, then inserted my (small) hand into the soundhole and kept the jack plug still from the inside while unscrewing the external pin and underlying nut. Then I screwed the inside nut with the fingers, and then screwed the external nut. I did not tighten the pin strap too much to let it move a bit. I hope this helps.
Hello everyone, I just received my fretted Rumbler, and I think it's wonderful. I have a question: did anyone try the new Aquila Thunderblack? Are they the same as (Aquila-made) Kala Silver Rumbler, just rebranded, or they are more "sticky" like they say Thundergut are?
Probably took you five minutes. Tried the same thing, BUT couldn't get my hand in the sound hole, and there's the rub. At least now I've got an easier method of changing strings! I still wouldn't trust the combo, Neclepsio, of the jack-and-strap button. And it's still a bad design.
The tech at my local Guitar Center showed me how to fix loose output jacks, he inserted a 1/4" plastic tube in the output jack which he held to prevent the jack from rotating while using a small adjustable wrench to turn the nut. I've done it now a number of times and it works great.
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Thanks for this. Fixing the output jack is on my list of things to do this weekend.
Tone update: Ampeg SCR-DI + Kala Cali solid uBass = where you hiding the standup bass? The "ultra lo" targeted mid-cut and Ampeg special sauce just works with the onboard pre.
My learned friends, I need your help please.
I just got some Pahoehoe Black Strings for my S-U-B. It seems like they are miles too short!
They are for 20" to 21" scale. I thought that was okay as the SUB is 20.5" scale.
What's the deal? Do I have to stretch like crazy or do the SUBs take a different string length?
I just got some Pahoehoe Black Strings for my S-U-B. It seems like they are miles too short!
They are for 20" to 21" scale. I thought that was okay as the SUB is 20.5" scale.
What's the deal? Do I have to stretch like crazy or do the SUBs take a different string length?
