Kala UBass Megathread, Part 7

[jfh2424]

CR 2032. These are 3 volt coin batteries.

They come shipped with a set. So you can use it right away.

 

[KohanMike]

Be sure you don't leave the cable plugged into the bass when you finish playing, that kills the battery very quickly.

 

[SBassman]

I don't like electronics with those watch batteries, but I can get over it. I forgot anything I knew about the ubasses. Do some of the models now come with 9V? [much preferred]

So, the Red Journeyman with Round Wounds touched down. Far too early to tell if I will bond with it.
Early observations:

- Well, it wasn't crusty B stock for that price. It was absolutely brand new, arriving in perfect condition. Very nice looking.

- I forgot how small these things are. Where's my guitar scale acoustic bass?

- Won't even try to check intonation until the strings settle. [These strings take longer than typical strings to settle.]

- Initial action not great. Not a big deal. Often observed in new production, low end instruments. We'll see when I whip out the allen wrench if I can get it better. Right now, action is not where I need it.

- Quality of build seems high. It's got a nice nut, although, the nut looks pretty high. And, it came with a certificate saying it was "set up" in May, 2020.

- Color isn't as Loud in person as in picture. I can get used to that.

- Strings did Not arrive all corroded, as I thought might happen. [These strings corrode kind of quicker than others.] Definitely like the beef of the gauges of the strings.

For 239, it can turn out to be lots of fun, and a great deal, but it will take time to see. To be continued.

 

[tymbrewolf]

Then I think you need the 23 inch hadean acoustic uke bass

 

[SBassman]

Nah. No Rondo ubasses for me.

I’ll get used to the size again. Im vertically challenged. The size will be comfortable after a few reps. More concerned with tone, action, and intonation.

 

[SBassman]

Red Journeyman with Round Wounds - feedback Part 2:

- Fatter gauges - fatter than CB40s - are stabilizing faster. Strings are now stable enough to evaluate intonation. Intonation is very good. Will not be an issue.

- Not sure what is going on here, but, acoustically, this is a really choked design. My guitar scale acoustic basses, with the same type of strings - CB40s - are Way louder. This is not a problem for me, because I Get that these are different tone options and different Size options, not to be thought of as actually played acoustically. But, yeah, acoustic volume is - close to non existent.

- Yeah, action is - awful. I'm almost at the point of feeling brave enough to whip out the allen wrench. Any minute now.

- But, I like it very much. I predict success. I tore off the "Made in China" sticker from the back of the headstock. A sure indicator that I am keeping it.

 

[Kerplunk]

Yeah, the action is high, but its supposed to be.

From the manual :"String height at 12th fret: 5mm for optimum tone."

I'd say they've allowed for the idiosyncrasies of the strings.

 

[SBassman]

Yeah, the action is high, but its supposed to be.

From the manual :"String height at 12th fret: 5mm for optimum tone."

I'd say they've allowed for the idiosyncrasies of the strings.

I'm very familiar with these strings. Those strings exist for this bass because of collaboration I initiated with Kala, La Bella, and Gold Tone several years ago. They may have done that if they thought it would provide another iota of acoustic volume. But outside of that, that's not going to fly for action.

I just cranked on my truss rod. We'll see what it is like tomorrow. Immediately, it offered a little relief.

I do believe after this settles, and after I possible whip out my nut files, the action will be fine.

 

[jfh2424]

Re: unamplified sound...you are right. I think the f holes are just for styling. They are pretty much inaudible, especially with others.

I usually like low action. But strangely enough the medium action of my Journeyman works for me.

 

[jfh2424]

So these are made in China. And I guess they are shipped to the USA, where they do the setup?

 

[KohanMike]

The only time I play one of my acoustic bass ukes without an amp is by myself working out a bass arrangement in front of my computer. Wouldn't even consider playing with others without an amp, even just one other person.

 

[SBassman]

Red Journeyman with Round Wounds - feedback Part 3:

- Total action improvement from truss rod adjustment has been low. I'm maxed. Only other relief will come from nut files. Which, like many things in my household, are stuck in the house black hole. Hopefully I will find them. Decent nut files are not cheap,

- I'm going full monty with dedicating this to a particular tone. So, I put a foam strip under the strings.

- Electric tone is - Awesome. Really awesome. These strings, at these gauges, really create some awesome tone with this little bass.

- Definitely already adjusted to the tiny size again.

- Curse all acoustic manufacturers who include one but not two strap buttons. Curse all of you. Should be illegal.

Definitely bonding with it. I predict that after the nut work, I will Love it.

 

[tymbrewolf]

So funny that you said no more uke basses. I might go back since you can get flats now from kala

 

[KohanMike]

Curse all acoustic manufacturers who include one but not two strap buttons. Curse all of you. Should be illegal.

But it's so easy to install a strap button, I do it all the time.

 

[SBassman]

But it's so easy to install a strap button, I do it all the time.

So do I. Yes easy. But now I need to procure them, and I don't know if my local store is operating.

Anyone know what Kala does with attaching the nuts? A nut should be easy to tap out. Have done that many times too. The nut on the Journeyman is Not tapping out, and I used as much force as I was comfortable with. I also tried Pulling on it with pliers unsuccessfully.

 

[jfh2424]

Red Journeyman with Round Wounds - feedback Part 3:

- Total action improvement from truss rod adjustment has been low. I'm maxed. Only other relief will come from nut files. Which, like many things in my household, are stuck in the house black hole. Hopefully I will find them. Decent nut files are not cheap,

- I'm going full monty with dedicating this to a particular tone. So, I put a foam strip under the strings.

- Electric tone is - Awesome. Really awesome. These strings, at these gauges, really create some awesome tone with this little bass.

- Definitely already adjusted to the tiny size again.

- Curse all acoustic manufacturers who include one but not two strap buttons. Curse all of you. Should be illegal.

Definitely bonding with it. I predict that after the nut work, I will Love it.

Yeah, I was surprised that there was only one strap button. But now, I just run the strap to the headstock. I haven't found it to be a big deal.

I'm curious as to why you have decided to put some foam underneath the strings...you found that the tone was not uprightish enough? Did you find that it improved the tone? I find that mine is very close to an upright tone, depending on how the preamp is used. But then again, this is very subjective. I feel in love with the tone, too, like you. I was really not expecting that. It also does well in a band setting, in my opinion. There's a lot of room to sculp the tone with the onboard pre, too. The only thing that I have found negative in a group setting is the feedback. This is dealable. But I don't think it is positive, I wish there was a way around this that did not involve physical distance from the amp, etc.

Personally, I would wait before filling the nut. I bet your bass is still adjusting to the new climate. The action will probably change again.

 

[KohanMike]

I'm curious as to why you have decided to put some foam underneath the strings... you found that the tone was not uprightish enough?

He did say he likes the electric tone. "- Electric tone is - Awesome. Really awesome."

 

[SBassman]

Yeah, I was surprised that there was only one strap button. But now, I just run the strap to the headstock. I haven't found it to be a big deal.

I'm curious as to why you have decided to put some foam underneath the strings...you found that the tone was not uprightish enough? Did you find that it improved the tone? I find that mine is very close to an upright tone, depending on how the preamp is used. But then again, this is very subjective. I feel in love with the tone, too, like you. I was really not expecting that. It also does well in a band setting, in my opinion. There's a lot of room to sculp the tone with the onboard pre, too. The only thing that I have found negative in a group setting is the feedback. This is dealable. But I don't think it is positive, I wish there was a way around this that did not involve physical distance from the amp, etc.

Personally, I would wait before filling the nut. I bet your bass is still adjusting to the new climate. The action will probably change again.

Try it once. Shove some weatherstripping or other type of soft foam underneath. Bass players have been doing some form of that from back to the early days of the electric bass. It's not tone for All situations, but it is lots of fun.

 

[SBassman]

Journeyman action shots:

 

[tymbrewolf]

I need to find me a preamp for my project for my picco acoustic