• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

#1,201
Hi gals and guys!

Any experience with U-Basses as hand luggage on flights? I have a few international trips coming up and I'm thinking of taking my acoustic mahogany model with me. But I wouldn't want to check it in because of the case not matching their size specifications for hand luggage or even leave it at the security check. Have any of you had any problems with U-Basses as hand luggage?

Thank you in advance for your input!

Stef
 
#1,203
Welcome to the forum.

My general approach is that it's easier to fix the electronics on an instrument you like to play than it is to learn to like playing an instrument which you don't love but has good electronics. See if you can get the cheaper one fixed to your satisfaction, even if it ends up adding a bit to the price. Worst case, you could get a replacement pickup or bridge, depending on the problem.

I was advised that the quality control on these is such that they can be really different instruments one to the next. Also, don't forget to check intonation. That's hard to fix if they don't get it right to start.


Stefbass said:
Hello everybody!

I am new to this forum. And although I have started reading this thread in its entirety, I am only on page 27 of the 1st megathread, so it will take me some time to read through it all :) Forgive me if the questions I am asking here have been asked and answered before. I am currently in a situation where I need to decide between two fretless mahogany U-Basses and I am not sure which one to choose.

I have both at home right now with the right to try them out for 30 days. When the first one arrived, I was immediately in love with it and wouldn't put it down for the rest of the day. It was a used model that sold at 150 bucks less than the original price. Unfortunately, the E string has a way lower output when amplified. I know that others have had this problem, and Stephanie from Kala immediately replied to my email with suggestions on how to re-set the pickup for more pressure on the piezo. (Do you know of cases where the piezo simply wouldn't deliver an even output of the strings, even after restringing the bass with the piezo "forced" into its ideal position? I have not done it yet because the instrument is still the seller's until I decide to indeed buy it.) Besides the output of the E string, I find it suspicious that the seller (a renowned company for instruments here in Germany) hasn't managed to sell it otherwise. And it was quite dusty when it arrived here. The serial number indicates that the model was fabricated in January 2013.

So, the second model (new, manufactured in July 2015, full price of EUR589) arrived, and I also liked it, but somehow I didn't fall for it as immediately and fully as with the first one. I noticed some minor manufacturing flaws, such as the varnish on the neck feeling less smooth, some glue (?) sticking out between neck and fretboard, a light stain on the fretboard (looks as if the fretboard was oiled sloppily and this part didn't get any oil), the toad logo being cut-out sloppily (this one is purely optical, I know, but still...). This bass has definitely received less love and care during production than the first one. And, most weighty of all, the neck has a different shape and diameter. (Do any of you know why Kala changed the neck shape between 2013 and 2015? Was there a specific reason? Or was this maybe not even deliberate and it's a mere case of production variation?) It does not fit as snugly into my hand. I feel my left hand slightly hurting after playing for a while. Maybe the muscles in my hand still need to get used to the shape (I am not very experienced yet with basses, I am only starting out). But I don't have this issue with the older model. The neck of bass no. 1 and my hand seem to be a perfect match. The upside of the new model is that all strings output with the same volume. But I notice slightly less of this wonderful thump sound that the first one has.

What would you do in my case? I already asked the first dealer about the string output and they offered me to send back the bass and get it checked by their guitar tech. They actually have a luthier department, so I guess I could trust them with this. But I still wanted to ask you experienced bass players your opinion on this case. What do you think?
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stefbass
#1,204
JES said:
Welcome to the forum.

My general approach is that it's easier to fix the electronics on an instrument you like to play than it is to learn to like playing an instrument which you don't love but has good electronics. See if you can get the cheaper one fixed to your satisfaction, even if it ends up adding a bit to the price. Worst case, you could get a replacement pickup or bridge, depending on the problem.

I was advised that the quality control on these is such that they can be really different instruments one to the next. Also, don't forget to check intonation. That's hard to fix if they don't get it right to start.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your reply, JES! I am really a bit lost here and your input helps a lot. I think I will accept the first dealer's offer and return the bass to them for a thorough check of the pickup situation and maybe even a replacement if need be. Or maybe I'll even try to correct the pickup placement myself. Stephanie's instructions sound doable (see below), and I've seen videos on how to re-string U-Basses and read warnings about snapping turning pegs, so I'll be careful. Still a bit suspicious, though, on why they haven't managed to sell this 2013 model otherwise... I might simply ask them about it.

In the meantime, I'll continue playing and testing the other one to see how we get a long. I actually found yesterday evening and today that I did like the second bass as well and that the neck wasn't such a turn-off anymore.

Both are fretless and so far I have not noticed any problems with wrongly placed fret lines.

By the way, in case anyone's interested, here is what Stephanie sent me:
UBASS strings vary in thickness to a large degree, because of the varying thickness they have different string tensions that put different pressures on the piezo-saddle pickup. Since the piezo-saddle pickup works by using pressure, this can lead to uneven output. The UBASS bridge and saddle are built to have some wiggle room to adjust that varying tension but sometimes you have to manually reset the position of the saddle for it to adjust correctly again.

To make that adjustment, we’ve put together some instructions to explain how to do that for Polyurethane strings (Road Toads, Rumbler, and Thunderguts) and Round Wound strings.


Polyurethane Strings

I would detune your strings as much as possible and check to see if your saddle (pick-up) has some front to back wiggle room. Then tune all the strings back up to pitch, start with the E (or B if a 5 string) and work down to the G. Once up to pitch, with your hand try to lean the saddle back (away from the neck) and also apply down pressure to the top. Double check to make sure your strings are up to pitch and then check the output.


If you still are experiencing the issue after that, with the instrument plugged into an amp and on try pressing down on the saddle and rocking it back away from the fret board, keep trying this adjustment and you should get an even output. If after a minute or two it still doesn't work please let me know.

Another method is to lift up all the strings at full tension with your fingers and then pull the pickup back with your other hand. Once pulled back, hold in place as you set the strings back down. PLEASE NOTE: If you have Rumbler, Aquila Red or White Thundergut strings make sure to unwind them a turn or two just a bit to prevent sausaging when lifting.


Round Wound

Loosen the strings, rock saddle a little bit, then lean it back and tune up the strings working from the outside strings inward. i.e. B ----- G , then E ----- D, then A. Check your output and press down on strings at the saddle to ensure proper contact on the pickup.
 
#1,205
Stefbass said:
Hi gals and guys!

Any experience with U-Basses as hand luggage on flights? I have a few international trips coming up and I'm thinking of taking my acoustic mahogany model with me. But I wouldn't want to check it in because of the case not matching their size specifications for hand luggage or even leave it at the security check. Have any of you had any problems with U-Basses as hand luggage?

Thank you in advance for your input!

Stef
Click to expand...
I have done international trips (to/from Australasia) with acoustic and solid body U basses. All good. Just check with the airline on size restrictions for instruments and they may only allow you one piece of cabin baggage which would be your bass, the rest has to go in the hold; or put you toothbrush and undies in the bass case like I do!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stefbass and JES
#1,206
Rev Tiki said:
I have done international trips (to/from Australasia) with acoustic and solid body U basses. All good. Just check with the airline on size restrictions for instruments and they may only allow you one piece of cabin baggage which would be your bass, the rest has to go in the hold; or put you toothbrush and undies in the bass case like I do!
Click to expand...

Thank you, Rev Tiki! It's good to hear you've had no problems so far. I was wondering because my next trip will be with Lufthansa and their size restrictions for carry-on are stated as 55 x 40 x 23 cm, whereas the case of my U-Bass measures something like 83 x 32 x 15 cm.
 
#1,208
Stefbass said:
Thank you, Rev Tiki! It's good to hear you've had no problems so far. I was wondering because my next trip will be with Lufthansa and their size restrictions for carry-on are stated as 55 x 40 x 23 cm, whereas the case of my U-Bass measures something like 83 x 32 x 15 cm.
Click to expand...
Yes, most airlines have provisions for musical instruments and the dimensions are different (bigger) than the standard cabin bag size. They are measured linearly (the volume of the instrument), so it can be longer if its thinner than a cabin bag. Very confusing but check with the airline, you'll be fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stefbass
#1,209
JES said:
Welcome to the forum.

My general approach is that it's easier to fix the electronics on an instrument you like to play than it is to learn to like playing an instrument which you don't love but has good electronics. See if you can get the cheaper one fixed to your satisfaction, even if it ends up adding a bit to the price. Worst case, you could get a replacement pickup or bridge, depending on the problem.

I was advised that the quality control on these is such that they can be really different instruments one to the next. Also, don't forget to check intonation. That's hard to fix if they don't get it right to start.
Click to expand...

I sent this photo of the two neck shapes to Kala, and here is what they said (lightening fast customer support, by the way):

U-Bass neck shape 2013 vs. 2015

U-Bass neck shape 2013 vs. 2015

  • Media owner Stefbass
  • Date added
Top is the neck shape from a Nov 2013 model, bottom from a July 2015 model. Makes a huge...

"The photo helped a bit, I was able to track down a couple of reasons that the change was made, the older model with the slimmer neck might be from before we installed a truss rod in the UBASS models. I would check to see if it has a truss rod or not, if it doesn’t than that is why the change was made to have them a bit bigger to accommodate for the truss rod.

Our head builder told me that if it does have a truss rod than the change was most likely made just so that it would have a bit more of a sturdy feel to it."

Mine has a truss rod. This means that I'll go for the slimmer/older version (if I get the pickup output evened out).
 
Last edited:
#1,210
Just having a vent for a second...
The black strings are killing me! Theyre a month old and still can't stay in tune for more than two songs!
I can't gig with these! Annoying.
Yes they have been stretched.
Yes they are on as per the Kala recommendations and no, I can't use thunderguts due to stickiness.
Phew, I feel better now....
 
#1,213
Rev Tiki said:
Just having a vent for a second...
The black strings are killing me! Theyre a month old and still can't stay in tune for more than two songs!
I can't gig with these! Annoying.
Yes they have been stretched.
Yes they are on as per the Kala recommendations and no, I can't use thunderguts due to stickiness.
Phew, I feel better now....
Click to expand...
Yes those silly Paehoehoes! They take a long time! You will have to remove and reinstall several times. But eventually they will settle in. And don't forget no more than 3 wraps on the tuning peg or it will eventually self destruct and you'll have to buy a new one! I can't stand Thunderguts for the same reason you mentioned, but I'm having great luck with the Thunderreds. They start off sticky, but I put powder on them once and the stickiness is gone! My new favorite string! Plus as a bonus they sound fantastic! Been on for several months now with no issues. Plus they stabilize quite quickly and stay in tune.
 
#1,219
bassmonkeee said:
I picked up some Thunder Reds off of eBay for $20 shipped. Arrived today. I'll be putting them on my 1st gen Hutch Hutchinson replacing the Thunderguts that are on there now. Any tips? 61 pages is a bit much to read through to find anything. :D
Click to expand...

By suggestion of 1stnamebassist, I put a coat of powder on them only once and they stayed smooth without need to reapply.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassmonkeee

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back