get the steel-wrapped strings (Pyramids or Kalas own), lower the action as far as you can (a bridge hack may be required), and you're good to go.
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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7
- Thread starter olitoon
- Start date
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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That's tough. A U-Bass is fundamentally designed to sound different.
Are you sure that only a U-Bass is possible? There are other super short scale options. An Ibanez Mikro, for example.
Barring that, you're going to have to become a surgeon with eq.
I agree to use the steel wrap nylon core strings, but if you need a very short scale and want it to be electric, I suggest the bass I bought a while ago that I find to be very very good, a SmallGuitars.com 1/2 size 24 inch scale P-bass. I changed the strings to flatwounds that LaBella makes for Gold Tone exclusively for their M-bass, but works on many of my basses. I had it painted Fender surf green by Pat Wilkins, including the truss rod cover, and I added stick-on fret markers and Strat knobs. one of my favorite basses, and I have a bunch of 21-24 inch scale.
(Pyramid nylon-core roundwound strings for ukulele basses are wrapped in silver-plated copper, not steel: says as much in their English language product catalogue; the silver-plated "metal" in the Kala rounds is left undisclosed.)
Thirded. Nyloncore roundwounds are the simplest way to get a uke bass into electric tone territory - not exactly there, but close.
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I have a Kala acoustic and an Ohana OBU-22. The acoustic Kala is OK size wise, but my Cali Kala is perfect for my situation. The Ohana has just not worked out for me, even with the super expensive custom flatwounds. I am going to sell both of those and get a second Cali to have one with the roundwounds, I guess.
Thanks for posting these, great examples, and they lead me to more.
Does anyone know what the output should be from the Shadow preamp on newer U Basses? Seems very low on the one I just bought. It's going into an AI Clarus +. Thanks
Does anyone know how to determine build date from the serial number under the sound hole if a Kala Acoustic/Electric UBass? Thanks for any info you can provide.
You could call Kala. They've always been good about providing information over the phone, in my experience.
Has anyone played the new Kala Journeyman? Does it sound as (somewhat) close to an upright as the round hole acoustic Kalas? I am looking for a CITES compliant U Bass, and this has really caught my eye.
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Is it just me or does the journeyman and whatever the other new one is called look like a hadean bass that says kala on it with a large markup? That bridge and the ukb500 electronics appear to be the same. And the thunderguts being standard gives me further feelings in that regard.
I could be wrong of course. After my kala phase I'm not as impressed with them as a company. I'm not denying that the issue could lie with me however...
I could be wrong of course. After my kala phase I'm not as impressed with them as a company. I'm not denying that the issue could lie with me however...
There's definitely a similarity in appearance, and I'm sure Kala brought these out because Rondo is taking away sales of their over $400 U-basses. Whenever I see a post about buying a Kala U-bass, I always reply recommending the Rondo Hadeans. Come to think of it, I'll bet Rondo's Chinese factory will make an F-hole version Hadean as well.
Having said all that, I still like the Journeyman, but I'd immediately change the strings to Road Toad Pahoehoe.
Having said all that, I still like the Journeyman, but I'd immediately change the strings to Road Toad Pahoehoe.
Because for the price, the Rondo Hadeans are very good, in fact, I find they're just as good as the U-basses that are more than twice the price.
So, you feel the, electronics, fit & finish, and intonation are so good on the Rondos that Kala's instruments are not worth the extra cost. Do you feel this is the case with the acoustic models as well as the solid bodies?
Yes, acoustic and solid body, that's my personal opinion, but I do commend Kala for coming out with a lower priced line.
