Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

[KohanMike]

Okay, am I wrong?

I don't think you're wrong, I agree, especially that they sent an email to find out how your order went. Saying that, I always order my Pahoehoe strings directly from the guy who originated the U-bass and licenses it to Kala, Owen Holt of Road Toad Music, use the link below.

string_store

 

[tomyleft]

62 pages very difficult to find. Just wondering if anyone got the fretless model for the solid body? I would love one in Koa but want to hear people's experience with it.

Fingerguy: I bought the Bakithi Kumalo fretless model two months ago, direct from Kala (best price). I had already been playing the fretless Rumbler. I like the BK bass quite a bit. The black strings are much faster than the gray Rumbler strings, and you can play much higher on the neck. The neck is curved flatter than the Rumbler, and is very smooth. Some posts have complained about string intonation with the black strings, but my answer is always the same: spend the time stretching new strings correctly, and then tune when you need to. I play outdoors frequently with a percussion ensemble, and even the drummers are always tuning drumheads. The point is, we're ALL tuning when we need to (so what's the big deal?).

The bass is well-balanced, the electronics are superior to the Rumbler's, and the Zoom B3 multi-effects box I often use with it has no problem with the signal from the bass (not that it should, anyway). (The other fun part about that is watching people's faces when they try to connect the tiny bass with whatever huge weird sound comes through the Zoom and out of the amp.)

I have owned a number of long-neck (and upright) basses in my life, and I see no reason to go back to one, especially as I'm not a young man and can do without the weight of a big bass. The Kala strings, in general, take less pressure to play, and you won't have to stretch to cover a lot of space. If you don't play fretless already, you will find the adjustment to a lined-fretless, like the Kala, fairly easy to make--in my opinion--as good intonation is easier to hit on a shorter neck. My first fretless was an unlined Fender Jazz bass, and I seldom felt I was hitting the notes dead on; I was much more accurate playing an upright!

Hope this helps...happy hunting...

 

[JES]

Here's a review of the Kala metal strings for the search engines.

I'm feel like I'm one of the rare u-bassists who strongly prefers the metal strings. I'd been using Pyramids for the last couple years but when when it came time to do my more or less annual string change (you know a string is gone when the sitar sounds start coming), I thought I'd try the metal/nylon ones from Kala. I really wish they were cut right. As the two pictures attached show, there's way too much string for the post, whereas the Pyramids were cut just to wind perfectly around the u-bass' post (no pic, but trust me), and none of the larger body of the string wrapper around the post like these do.

Sound-wise, when I first put them on I felt the G-string was weak compared to the others. But after a few hours of break-in over a couple practices, the set seems to have settled into a more even tone. They seem a touch brighter than the Pyramids, but they're still too new for me to be sure of that.

My first gig with them was last night. After the usual jokes from people at the bar during soundcheck about the size of the instrument, people were suitably impressed with the sound (some drunk audience members even chanted "uke bass uke bass" at one point) and I doubt I could tell the difference from the Pyramids in a mix, sonically. They are still breaking in and we'll see how long they last. And I love the joke-to-fascination process that seems to happen every time I use the bass in public. Bass nerds may ask about my pedals or amp, but everyone, musician or not, wants to know about the magic of the uke bass.

 

[yussipee]

Hi!

I'm reading the megathtead number 6 on about page 26. It's where Galadriel takes Frodo's SUB U Bass and says, that the orcs play the drums.

Anyway, I just bought a used red solid wood SUB bass. It has those black thick rubber bands. I'd like to try something closer to ordinary bass strings. I play P-bass with flats on, so there's the reference. I'm looking for strings that are

- something else than rubber bands
- not sticky
- easy to change without modifying the bridge / nut
- great sounding
- higher tension than the flobbits

Pyramid 509.200? Aquila Thunder Reds?

Soon the Hobbits will enter Moria. They are gonna dig deep - too deep - with their U Bass...

Thanks!

 

[fretno]

I use the Kala metals , you just need to trim them like any other bass string

the thing for me though is they are so soft that they are totally dented and worn from the frets in like 10 min . My solution .. conversion baby

 

[JES]

Kala or Pyramid metal strings will get you where you want. They are technically "rounds" but trust me, in a mix, if you like a Precision with flats, you'll like these.

PS -- I also play a fretted ubass.

 

[fingerguy]

Is changing from the rubber strings an option? I thought it wasn't for I thought that was one of their key features about the Kala UBass. Also, I now if you take a vinyl string guitar and try to put metal strings on it, the outcome won't be good. So having the same thought about Kala.

 

[JES]

They make the metal strings for the U-bass. You can find links on the Kala website. I wouldn't string it up with a set of Labella Jamersons, but it handles the nylon core metal strings fine. As to the sound, yes they sound different. I prefer that sound.

 

[Precisionb87]

Would anybody know where to find a Kala UBass serial number guide?
I have a fretted acoustic mahogany that I purchased used several years back. I have always wondered when exactly it was made.
The label in the sound hole reads: KA-UBASSFS, and below it: 10041018.
It does not have a preamp, and it's trap door is held on with screws rather than magnets.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[PixelPaintbrush]

Wow, took me a bit to find this thread haha.

I see so many things here, and am thinking of converting my Hadean to a fretless and getting metal strings on it; How difficult and risky would you guys say it is? I seriously desire to attempt this conversion to get the fretless sound and learn a new skill!

 

[KohanMike]

I'm going to use the new extra short scale La Bella Deep Talkin' flatwound metal strings made exclusively for the Gold Tone solid body Microbass on my 24" scale Hadean solid body that I'm having painted Olympic white by Pat Wilkins, with a tortoise pickguard made by Eric's Guitar. I use them on my magnetic pickup mini bass guitars.

 

[mrufino1]

I'm going to use the new extra short scale La Bella Deep Talkin' flatwound metal strings made exclusively for the Gold Tone solid body Microbass on my 24" scale Hadean solid body that I'm having painted Olympic white by Pat Wilkins, with a tortoise pickguard made by Eric's Guitar. I use them on my magnetic pickup mini bass guitars.

The hadean basses have a truss rod, the kala solid bodies don't. Id be worried about those labella strings on the kala.

I no longer have my kala, but if anyone is wondering about why those metal strings are ok its because they are nylon core so very low tension, basically a big classical guitar string. I gigged with the kala rounds for a year, the bass on this song is the cali 5 string with rounds, recorded live on our July 4 gig last year:

 

[Stefbass]

Would anybody know where to find a Kala UBass serial number guide? The label in the sound hole reads: KA-UBASSFS, and below it: 10041018.

That should be April of 2010 (the 1004 part of the number) according to what Stephanie from Kala support told me a while ago.

 

[pecBass]

Hi ubassers, i played on a kala ubass today and loved it. Now to decide which one. Probably looking to spend 500-600. Suggestions?

Want a hard case as well. Just choose on looks? Is playablity different between the models?

 

[El Spearo]

I got invited this week to play a few tunes with an acoustic trio (two acoustic guitars and harmonica). I accepted without knowing which songs they want me to play on because I like the guys and I like playing music. I think they expect me to show up with the double bass, but I'm taking my fretless U-Bass.

Signal chain: U-Bass>polytune>Fdeck HPF>Agilar Tonehammer 500>Audiokinesis TC112AF. They play mainly festivals, so I'll send a DI from the amp to the front of house.

I think they're going to freak out when I plug in, but they're going to love the sound!

 

[pecBass]

I got invited this week to play a few tunes with an acoustic trio (two acoustic guitars and harmonica). I accepted without knowing which songs they want me to play on because I like the guys and I like playing music. I think they expect me to show up with the double bass, but I'm taking my fretless U-Bass.

Signal chain: U-Bass>polytune>Fdeck HPF>Agilar Tonehammer 500>Audiokinesis TC112AF. They play mainly festivals, so I'll send a DI from the amp to the front of house.

I think they're going to freak out when I plug in, but they're going to love the sound!

Wow, your pedal board will be bigger than your ubass . Which ubass do you play and why?

 

[bassmonkeee]

Wow, your pedal board will be bigger than your ubass . Which ubass do you play and why?

I know the feeling.

 

[pecBass]

Hi ubassers, i played on a kala ubass today and loved it. Now to decide which one. Probably looking to spend 500-600. Suggestions?

Want a hard case as well. Just choose on looks? Is playablity different between the models?

Also how to attach a strap?

 

[pecBass]

Any of you using VOX or iRig's with your ubass?

 

[PixelPaintbrush]

Any of you using VOX or iRig's with your ubass?

iRig was terrible back when I had one, Vox has a new little bass amp out though go that seems nice.