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donkaulia
Lokahi
249 Posts |
 Posted - 08/10/2011 : 4:09:08 PM
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I just purchased a Kala 'U Bass'. Works fine for me and my wife Wendy is enjoying her bass lessons. Going to use it at LT Smooth's CD Release Party on Sept 3, 5pm-pau at Huggos ON DA ROCKS!!!!!
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donkaulia |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 5:51:28 PM
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| Nice for you. Fretted, fretless, solid body? I've had mine for a little over a year now - it needed some "fixes," but overall, I'm happy with it. |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 06:21:08 AM
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Interesting that they charge so much more for the solid bodies.
Even more interesting that something made me "upgrade" from the laminate version to the all solid wood one - like the difference is audible <grin>.
We've found that the playing technique makes a huge difference in the sound, but when you find the right plucking stroke it gets really fat.
Greg, what issues have you found? I've noticed that the D string intonates a bit flat so I usually cheat it a bit sharp when I tune up.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 09:02:27 AM
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| Retro plays one here in Seattle, and the Japanese trio, "Kanekapila"; uses one, too. They're ok, easy to play, and certainly very transportable, but the levels have to be set very carefully, or they emit a pretty non-tonal "thump", imho. |
keaka |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 11:05:38 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fran Guidry
Greg, what issues have you found? I've noticed that the D string intonates a bit flat so I usually cheat it a bit sharp when I tune up.
The easier one to have fixed was that the jack kept wobbling loose, despite several times reaching in with needle-nose pliers to tighten it, so I finally had it glued in firmer.
The one I can't seem to get corrected is the pickup for the G string is quieter than the other three; I've heard this same comment from a couple other players of the Kala, but they both had it happen with the E string. |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 05:59:10 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Retro
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The one I can't seem to get corrected is the pickup for the G string is quieter than the other three; I've heard this same comment from a couple other players of the Kala, but they both had it happen with the E string.
I recall a procedure for adjusting sensitivity of undersaddle pickups involving bits of paper used to adjust the tension at one string or another. I'm pretty happy with the string to string balance on mine.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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GUke
Lokahi
188 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2011 : 10:05:33 AM
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| Solid body has built in pre-amp (MiSi therefore no battery, but a capacitor to charge for 8 hours of play). Also the scale is a bit longer, whereas the original has 16 frets, the solid body has 24 frets. Solid body per Kala advertisement is built/assembled in the USA (Petaluma, Ca) and is available as a 5 string too. The fret spacing is a bit wider, and I am told by an experienced bass player holds tone well down the neck. And of course you need amplification, whereas the original you can practice without an amp. Both are portable and easy to travel. |
Genaro
Should I? Itʻs only $, and where Iʻm going itʻll burn or melt. |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2011 : 2:59:12 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by GUke
... whereas the original you can practice without an amp.
That's actually a little misleading; sure, you can hear it acoustically by yourself, with nothing else going on - but very faintly. You can't hear it if you are playing along with a recording or in practice with any other musicians. You really need amplification at all times with the UBass. |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2011 : 09:13:03 AM
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Someone in our local uke group asked the following question, and I was wondering if any of you would have thoughts I could share with them:
"We have talked to someone who is tuning their new Kala bass in soprano tuning, GCEA. It seems to work. Can anyone think of any reasons to not do this?"
I've already expressed some concerns about tension and string wear, and Nathan Aweau said that he would find that tuning "a little questionable," but I suspect the question comes from a uke player with no bass training.
Mahalo for your thoughts.
= Gregg = |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2011 : 05:52:26 AM
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| String tension is the main concern. Also, the traditional bass tuning opens up the patterns for bass playing (ask Slipry1, he knows this stuff). |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 09:55:29 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by thumbstruck
String tension is the main concern. Also, the traditional bass tuning opens up the patterns for bass playing (ask Slipry1, he knows this stuff).
Indeed! There are 2 basic patterns for electric bass, depending whether the root note is on the 3rd or the 4th string. Sorry to be so late on responding, but somehow I missed the thread. Oh - for acoustic bass, the patterns are different. You try to hit open stings, while, for the electric bass, you try to avoid them. |
keaka |
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fred d
Akahai
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 3:45:49 PM
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I have and Asbory made by fender. Same thing but doe's have the Uke shape. People smile when I pull it out but pluged in spunds like an upright bass. I got mine form Elderly music this thing was invented in 1956 I sometimes play it thru a battery amp. Sounds great |
fred davis |
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GUke
Lokahi
188 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 4:28:37 PM
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| For those of you who own the Kala UBass, there are two sets of strings you can buy that are not OEM. One is the Aquila Thundergut ($24 for a 4 String set) and the other is made by Pyramid ($50 for a 4 string set). From what I got on the internet the Aquila Thundergut set does not stretch as much as the OEM (pahoehoe strings). So the Aquilaʻs require less time to set and donʻt have to be retuned as often. One review claims the Aquila are louder(unamped) and more treble. But one negative reported is that these strings may be stickier. The Pyramid strings are metal round wound nylon strings and make the UBass sound more like an electric bass guitar. Google and get more info. |
Genaro
Should I? Itʻs only $, and where Iʻm going itʻll burn or melt. |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 5:50:44 PM
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| Mahalo, Genaro - I'll check that out! |
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 12:30:11 AM
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"Oh - for acoustic bass, the patterns are different. You try to hit open stings, while, for the electric bass, you try to avoid them."
I play some electric bass and some 'Stand Up' bass, (there's a reason I call it that!) and I've honestly never even heard of this, let along done it. What's the reasoning behind it?
I can see the appeal of the uke bass, in terms of portability and so on. If they'd had them when I started bass, perhaps the course of my life would have been different. But I can't replace my beloved Stand Up with a titchy little uke size thing that you can't use without an amp. For me, it just wouldn't feel right. |
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U Bass
