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Original Post By:
Rick Cota
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Date: 4/11/2014 9:56:08 PM |
| Have an opportuntity to buy a second hand Kala Uke Bass. It's the solid body frettless model that resembles a small Gibson Les Paul. Just wonder if anyone has any opinions about frettless verses fretted, and solid body as opposed to the acustic model. I'm told that it's less than a year old and was also wondering what the price range should be. Thanks for any help I can get. Rick Cota |
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Posted By:
J Boy Shyne
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Date: 4/12/2014 8:13:06 AM
(Updated: 4/12/2014 9:32:07 AM)
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I'm unaware of any Kala U-bass looking like a "Les Paul." You really need to be more specific with the model number and then it'll be easy to see what they are selling for or sold for new. Used Kala U-basses are hard to find in that they are a relatively new product, although the mini bass (such as the Ashbory) has been around since the '80s.
I seem to recall (but have been unable to verify) that at one point, there was a solid body ubass that was going for around $300 new, although the top model was around $1000. Kala has made changes to the line and the solid bodies are now starting at $450 with some custom jobs going for $1600. So again, you really need to be more specific on the model.
Here's a store that's selling a bunch of new ubasses. It will let you know what the price is for the various new ubass http://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=kala+u-bass&sb=low2high&pn=all
With regard to whether to go fretted or fretless, I'd say that if you have to ask, it's best you go fretted. It'll be easier to play.
Finally, do bear in mind that the Kala Ubass (like all other mini basses) is a bass and not a ukulele. One plays it like a bass and it sounds like a bass. While it has a shortened scale length (21" as opposed to the 34" standard for a bass guitar), it's still a bass.
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Posted By:
Dutch
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Date: 4/12/2014 11:06:46 AM |
If you're coming from bass viol to the Kala, fretless makes sense. If you're coming from uke or guitar, fretted makes much more sense. There's no guarantee you'll want to put in the time to adjust to fretless. There are enough bass players who play out of tune already.
The Kala Ubass is a bass. JBS is correct. You'll have to listen to bass players to play correctly. JBS has good advice. Price around before you buy. When I got mine (acoustic/electric) it ran me better than $400. Well worth it. Happy hunting.
Strength & Honor
Dutch
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Posted By:
Katysax
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Date: 4/12/2014 11:48:53 AM |
I love the solid body Kala UBasses. I have one of the older less expensive solid body ones and one of the newer California made ones. I also have a Mahogany "acoustic" one. The solid body ones are my favorites. I like the smaller bodies, the sound is a bit cleaner, and the pickups are louder.
The older less expensive models have very hot pickups and the sound is kind of booming. Unfortunately, the pickup wiring is prone to shorting. Both the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones have their merits, they are different. Bottom line for me is that I love playing the solid body ubass - it's a ton of fun.
I'd like to try fretless, I like the sound. However, I don't want to struggle with intonation.
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Posted By:
Ukulele Rob
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Date: 4/12/2014 2:48:56 PM |
Some good advice, here, Rick. If you come from a bass viol background fretless will feel natural (and if you've played cello or violin you'll be halfway there anyway). OR if you're just such a huge Jaco Pastorius fan that you can't wait to put a bunch of Weather Report LPs on the turntable and work your fingers off getting that sound on a U-Bass.
On the other hand, if your bass experience has all been on fretted electric bass and you're looking to easily transition to using the U-Bass instead (an easy transition, and you'll LOVE the smaller size when it comes to lugging a bass to gigs), fretted is probably the way to go.
I guess this begs the important question: Are you already a bass player? If so, you're really gonna' have fun with the U-Bass, and whether you go fretted or fretless to start ('cause let's admit it, you're gonna' eventually want one of each) depends on what type of music you play, your other bass experience, etc.
If on the other hand you're a uke or guitar player thinking about learning how to play bass, again depending on what sort of music you want to play, you may want to look into borrowing or renting an upright or an electric bass, trying a bunch of stuff, taking some lessons, and then deciding which way to go with the U-Bass.
One final piece of advice if you play or decide to take up standup: Among the bands I played in during high school and college was a folk group in which I played standup bass. I learned the hard way to never never let boredom result in my poking one of my fingers into one of the holes in the bridge. We were doing a gig at a rural county fair, and when my finger swelled up I had to be driven to a local hospital sitting in the back of a pickup truck holding the darn thing so that an emergency room doctor could cut me free without severely damaging either my finger or my bass!
http://www.ukulelerob.com
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