What I Realized About Short-Scale Basses | Kala Solid Body U-Bass Review
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- Опубликовано: 28 ноя 2024
- In this video, James reviews the Kala Solid Body U-Bass where he gives his honest thoughts and shows what it sounds like.
Get the Kala Solid Body U-Bass here:
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I own one of the new crème coloured ones. In my opinion the best colour choice because the black guard matches the pickup colour and gives it a Yin/Yang look. Mine also came with some fret buzz but one quarter turn on the easy access truss rod wheel fixed everything. The bass can sound monstrous through a Fender Rumble especially with some EQ tweaks and amp sims. I’ve played an entire 4 hour rock gig with it right out of the box and also travelled with it by plane - carried on with no issues. I do prefer my Kala Journeyman for hotel rehearsals as they can be played without an amp and sound better through headphone amps.
Great share mate! All the best!
Yes. Longer strings mean more overtones, which may not be the best thing in a busy mix. Short scale basses became a kind of secret weapon in 60's recording studios for that reason. Less harmonics taking up valuable real estate and making things sound muddy with too much build up of certain frequencies. Middle c on a grand piano vs a spinet is still 256hz even though the strings are way shorter. But we can all hear a difference. The grand sounds more round, full, complex. The spinet still sounds like a piano but lesser so in comparison - it simply gets the work done. Sometimes, that's exactly what's needed. Cheers.
I had a Gretsch Junior Jet short-scale bass for a couple of years that I purchased because the frets on my first bass, which was a Hagstrom Viking, were too wide, making it difficult for me to play. Like the Kala, there were more overtones on the Gretsch than a standard bass which I found to be sonically problematic. I ended up selling my Gretsch recently because it wasn't as much fun to play as my Hagstrom replacement, a P Bass. Having said this, your point about the Kala catering to a whole new market, i.e., young kids, makes a lot of sense.
The reference to children's increased interest reminds me about the Suzuki method of music teaching. Students start out with real instruments their size and move up.
Great share! All the best!
This was the real deal for me after owning an acoustic-electric and cheap solid body - all with the silicone strings and piezo pickups. What I love the most is that the intonation is hugely better than on those other instruments. And tuning steel strings is more 'normal' compared to dozens and dozens of turns on the rubber strings. Being a strong lover of flatwound strings, I did purchase a set for the Kala solid body. I was only able to buy them from Kala in the short length. In my entire life I have never paid so much for flats or any other strings including tape wounds. Now I've got the best. The other ukulele basses never get played.
Great video. Finally a eBassGuitar RUclipsr who makes a positive video about short- and shorter-scale bassguitars!
I started on tenor ukulele and came to a rubber string uBass (Casha): I then added a Ibanez Gio miKro shortscale, in order to follow "real" eBass lessons on RUclips.
The one time I got to play a "real" eBass (Fender Mexico), it felt intimidating and unconfortable and too big for handling within my small room. Not my cup of tea, although i am tall (185 cm). I get a lot of fun out of playing my small instruments.
I do not need to add another instrument into my collection, but am very happy to see that more and more producers (also Flight) make beautiful small eBasses which make the eyes shine when one looks at them.
Your son is right and the perfect example: One gets hooked as soon as one encounters such a perfect, beautiful and simple instrument. It brings joy and fun. It is handy. It is easy to transport, to store, to grab ...
Again: Great video. I enjoyed it immensely! Thanks!
Try a Hofner. Best short scale bass out there
I love the sound and the versatility of the thumb technique you were using, right at the 6:00 minute mark. Please do an entire video on that technique! I suspect a lot of us would find it a huge help!
Great idea! I'll definitely consider doing an entire video on that technique. Stay tuned!
@@ebassguitar Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys played thumb style bass 100% of the time.
I don’t know about overtones, but I’m not fond of the fret buzz. Can that be adjusted out via the truss rod or the saddle height?
It can be adjusted. I’ve had one for almost a year and have never had any fret buzz. I did change from the standard round wound strings to the Kala flat wound strings. Kala also makes fretless models of this bass.
I’ve had mine for about a year and absolutely love it. Mine came with a super setup and is the best made bass I’ve got. No buzzes and sounds great. @Rwjudy48, how do you like the flats? I’ve considered them.
@@polecatrecords I much prefer the flats. Less string noise, much easier to slide, and a slightly mellower tone to my ears.
I have an acoustic-electric Kala U-Bass. I have found that it sounds much better to fret in the middle between frets instead of up against a fret. The between-frets position reduces the clanky metallic overtones.
Great share! All the best!
I just bought a 5 string Kala off Reverb, in shipment ... my left shoulder requires less weight. My Hofner is great, this should be an excellent addition!! Thanks for the content!!
Very nice!
well, what's your impression of the 5-string? should I walk, run, or run away?
Per the comments...I really like my gretsch junior jet with tapewounds...no overtones I notice
I started out with short scale basses. Harmony, guild semi hollow. It was a good while before I got a 34in scale fender jazz bass. I still like playing 3/4 30 in short scale.
I have allmost every type of bass in regards to lenght, I definitly prefer the 28" squires.
My list:
23" Kala fretless
25" GW101
28" Squire Mini P
30" Don't have one
32" MIM Fender Mustang
34" everything else.
Thanks for the great introduction to this instrument. The finger style playing sounds rather convincing, the plectrum style not at all, slapping in between.
I want to get two, one a fretless. This way I can take them both with a Hartke Kickback Combo to my gigs in a Smart Car. 😀
Love it!
yeah....sounds real good....a cool way for youngsters to get into bass playing
Might have been worth spending 10 minutes getting rid of the fret buzz. If flats are available I might consider it.
These have always been possible. It’s the strings that make the difference. String gauges of 0.125, 0.130, etc. wound in shorter lengths weren’t available until the Ashbory bass and Road Toad guitars became popular and Kala licensed the Road Toad design and ran with it. Naturally the foreign manufacturers copied the designs out of the same factory and away we go. Now there’s almost no reason to use anything longer than 30” unless you’re playing an upright. I’m considering getting a 22” scale guitar and putting 12s on it to see what happens…
Thanks for another fantastic video James!
My pleasure! :-)
Cool! got one myself but need to source some flatwounds for it, and ideas?
Sounds good. I have one of their acoustic/electric models. Nicely made and fun to play. Of course I'm not trading in my p or j any time soon!
Sounds awesome! Nothing beats the classics like a P or J bass! :-)
I find this review suited for beginners, but not for intermediate/advanced bass players, who don't wanna be wasting 35€ without knowing what to expect. To be honest, beginners too might wanna know more about the peculiarities of playing a mini bass, before committing their hard earned money to the endeavour. Most notably, what kinda strings would one use, and how is the string tension? I imagine it's not strung with normal 0.45-100 rounds?... Also, you make some very strange comments: First of all, this is not a gamechanger, the Samic Corsair mini bass has been around for at least 10 years, and it's in almost every way very similar to the Kala, at 25 inches scale length. The one true innovation of this new Kala, I think is the custom made roundwound strings, which is an improvement over many early mini basses. Also, you say there are more overtones, but what I'm hearing, is fret noise/fret buzz, which, along with tuning and intonation issues, the main challenges one faces with such a short bass.
sounds cool, thanks for the review
Glad you like it, Omar! Cheers!
I have that Kala Solid Body for half a year, as I have a Kala Journeyman for some years more now. They both are my favourite go-to basses meanwhile. Sure, my fretless Fender Precision sounds different, thats why there is still a place for it, but my first choice is the new Kala. Not only kids benefit from the small size and the light weight, old farts like me also appreciate that.
Good quality, good sound, good price, good choice.
Wonderful feedback! Truly appreciate it!
I started playing bass 4 years ago at age 72. Like you, I started with the electro-acoustic Journeyman, then added the solid body last September. The shorter scale length saves a lot of shifting up and down the neck, which I think aids older players, as well as fitting child players better.
An added note: There are left handed models. For a parent trying to teach their left handed child, the options are limited and leads to a tendency to just stick to piano.
Loving my Sterling Stingray SS-4. I did some minor work-on-it ( proper set-up & fret end file with rolled edge ) and it plays like a Custom Shop. oNe LovE from NYC
I saw one of these on a recent visit to Hawaii. I might of purchased it if I didn't already have an Ibanez Mikro. Good review. Although this sounds adequate as does the Mikro, I still prefer the sound of a long scale even though I don't own one. (yet).
I bought one for my son: Put custom shop fender '62 pickups in there, sounds great/plays great
Very cool!
I have Cubital tunnel syndrome in my left hand, causing loss of strength of my pinky finger (makes it hard to do scales and I end up using my ring finger do do octaves and some fret jumps). So I'm slowly getting into short scales. Just got a Squier Paranormal Rascal (30" scale) and considering Jaguars/Mustangs.
If Kala were to make 5 string version it would be interesting to try a 5 string set on this 4 string. Tune the B string to E, t he E string to A etc. The tension would be more like a standard 34" scale bass. I wonder if that would work.
They have, I got one. Plus they're making more premium models with fancier woods and $1500ish price tag.
That fret noise is in your hands. I have heard them played a lot in shows (I'm in Hawaii) and they have always sounded HUGE
It’s because the instrument was set up too low relative to how hard I play.
I either need to play lighter or the instrument needs a higher action
Is this instrument good enough to lay down some bass in a track? Want it for recording bass parts without having to buy a full size bass since I’m mainly a guitar player…..
Thanks ahead ! I’ve asked on multiple videos and haven’t gotten a good answer yet…
Yep, it’s absolutely good enough to record with…
Have had one of these for 3 months - the sunburst/tobacco coloured one - and I love it. Totally agree with you James about the versatility of it. I play it very often in my Ukulele band but I wouldn't have any doubts that it could perform in my rock band as well. Thankfully, wire-wound strings, not the polyurethane ones. And the case is so handy with straps to carry on your back too. 100% recommend it. Finally, no back-ache either as it's a ton lighter than my Fender!!
I have had one on order since February-still has not come in (ordered through a Music Store in Canada, not from the Kala website.) Kala has a big advertising push on these right now, so I hope they can meet the demand.
Yes, quite a bit of buzz. I would dampen it with foam.
What are the strings like?
Can you do a review on wah pedals for the bass. Specifically the cowboys from hell dimebag wah vs the Morley Cliff Burton
Nice review, however I still believe it's tough to beat the sound of the classics our ears all crave. I know someone locally who plays the Kala acoustic version through a Fishman amp and the tone is mediocre at best in my opinion. I tear into a simple blues line with my Fender JMJ Road Worn Mustang pumped through a Fender Rumble 100 amp and it almost immediately receives praise for it's smooth tone. I will say the funk music in your demo is rather enticing and Kala provides a nice option for portability with perhaps something such as an Everse 8 portable PA. However, on that same note, Squier's Mini P could easily dominate because it can be upgraded with genuine Fender parts and aftermarket accessories for basically the same price as a stock Kala. It's tough to compete against the dominate bass manufactures. Looks great with nice design, but I'm thinking a Fender pickup with CTS pots would make this little bass become candy to the ears.
I own an Epiphone Thunderbird, a Squier/Fender Mini-P and this Kala Solid Body (in tobacco burst ). The Tbird has fantastic tone and plays great but the rest of its ergonomics kinda sux. The Mini-P is an instrument that I am trying really hard to like but so far have not been able to. The little Kala Solid Body gets played most of the three. It is not comparable at all to their acoustic basses.
Yeah, those overtones would drive me nuts.
I totally get that! Finding the right setup and technique can help minimize them. Cheers!
@@ebassguitar Isn't it about the ratio of string thickness to speaking length? It's the same reason you get inharmonicity on fatter strings (esp fatter cores) further up the neck. No?
The Blackstar Carry-on ST Bass look a better deal to me 218 USD against 350 for the Kala. Unless you may be fortunate enough to get one as a promo from Kala of course .
Ernie ball is the pioneer of the spoke wheel trust rod adjustment.
I didn’t know that!
Love it... and nice review James. BUT... More than other (30") short scale basses I own (Squire Jag P/J, Mustang P/J, and Musicman Stingray SS) it absolutely *needs* flatwounds IMHO. The overtones of roundwounds on my Squire are problematic for any type of music except for the OG punk I play exclusively on it (Buzzcocks, Clash, Ramones, et al for a 'old rockers milestone birthday parties' band) and the Kala sounds way worse. I have a Kale U-Bass with thundergut Reds and it is great for acoustic style stuff (and even soul/Motown), but the solid-body version with flats *could be* a very versatile all-rounder. Kala (or La Bella, or Thomastik)... some flats for this PLEASE?! Then I would buy... especially as I have a lad who is fascinated by bass but intimidated by even a 30" scale... partially weight and kinesthetics related I suspect, rather than hand span/arm reach specifically (unwieldy). How much does it weigh, btw? All my SS basses (and guitars) are < 3kg (bad back, multiple surgeries...) I play only short-scale basses now, or I wouldn't be able to play (live) at all.
I've been very curious about the 5-string. Anyone own one?
I already own a GoldTone solidbody 4 with the piezo and I like it just fine, but I used to love my 34" 5 string, when I could still play it without pain....
I have a Kala U Bass as well as a Fender P-bass. I love them both for different reasons. I saw that the solid body Kala is available as a 5 string. The E string on my U Bass is already really thick which can cause some tuning issues as you play higher frets. Does anybody have experience with the solid body five string? I want one but not if I have to avoid most of the B string.
I don't know how you have this set up, but over high-quality earbuds there is an awful lot of string rattle. I wouldn't call it an overtone. I love short scales. I rock an Ibanez mikrobass, lots of tonal options there.
Buzzing some what 😅
- You showed a Fender Jazz Bass when you probably meant to show a Mustang.
- That Kala bass is more of a mini bass/kids bass than a short-scale bass, I wouldn't put them in the same class
- The fret buzz on that thing is horrendous and not set up properly
- has someone ever defined the parameters of what counts as a short scale bass? If not, then in my eyes is definitely in that category. In my view it’s not a kids instrument.
@@ebassguitar Fair enough, maybe a mini or travel guitar if not a kids guitar. I own a few shortscales and none of them are that small. It's a full step down in size to my eyes from any shortscale I've played.
Seems like some people would want to know the scale length
Did I not say it in the video?
From memory it’s something like 24”…
Too bad a set up wasn't done first. Would sound much better. Intonation is off and needs strings raised, neck adjustment.
It sounded like crap
Thanks for sharing your view!
sounds awful - that action is criminally bad!!!
No way is that bass worth 350 bucks. Smoke more crack.
We can all have differences of opinion… :-)