@@rastabooze9668 In the grand scheme of things, I don't think the amount of effort it takes to press down a string should be the deciding factor here. The roundwounds have a couple of properties compared to the rubber strings that I enjoy/prefer. With the roundwounds, I can easily use the U-Bass as a practice instrument without the need to plug it into an amp. The acoustic tone is better IMHO. A lot of people complain about the tuning stability of the rubber strings, with roundwounds it is, more or less, pick up and play. Especially if you use it often. On the other hand, the amplified tone of the rubber strings is really unique and one of the selling points of the U-Bass. They might be a bit easier to press down, but because they feel so different from ordinary bass strings, getting used to them might take longer than the round wounds.
Great video. I upgraded my Harley Benton Ubass with the Thunder gut strings. But the e string is much smaller so it keeps popping out of the nut. Any tips?
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney Yeah, that's how Louis Johnson played it apparently, he even used his thumb to fret the note. Not a huge deal but gives it more oomf and that octaver pedal vibe
I kinda really like that percussive sound that you call "noise." Your rhythm is on point even for when you place your finger on a string in advance, so it's a pretty cool effect
It's a 50/50 for me. Sometimes it sounds great with certain notes, with some it sort of sounds like a prematurely muted note that you didn't want to play.
By the end it did kinda fell like a made up issue when the tricks didn't eliminate it and the real answer is to buy their premium strings, I'd still want one of those little mfers tho
I am a music school teacher and one of my pupils plays an ukulele bass. He is a rather small guy, so it's nice for him, to play a reai instrument for adults, not a children's size bass. He is doing very well in the school's bigband with his old fashioned upright bass like sound.
I'm a student and we have the exact same situation here at our school with one of my friends, it's really great how the uke bass can get a sound like that with such a small size.
I love the U-bass, it was totally an impulse buy but now it is my new best friend. I pick it up all the time! Mine is fretted and one thing I had to get used to is I seem to get less fret buzz if I finger the notes in the middle between the frets instead of right up behind the fret like I normally would on a standard electric bass or guitar.
Hey, that's not noise! That's a really nice percussive thump. It sounds awesome! Edited for massive thumbs up for you playing Teen Town by Weather Report. A nod to Jaco on a uke bass with huge rubber strings deserves mad props.
This sounds weird but the oil off your nose works better than anything else for your right hand. It keeps the strings from grabbing your finger tips. The down side is of course rubbing your nose every now and then. But it works...lol
After watching this video about 6 months ago I got hold of some Aquila Thunder Reds and I love 'em. Prefer the sound quality and much easier to play than the old sticky blacks. I got a backup set immediately. Life has got better - thank you so much for your video!
For me, the rubber strings sounded too mumbly/warbly. I was not a fan of the sticky noise of the rubber strings. Also, there were times when the strings sometimes felt sticky and when I was playing, it felt like my fingerprints were getting pulled off by the strings. So after doing some research, I found out that steel Flatwound strings exist for the U-Bass and I switched over. U-Bass Flatwound 4-String Set by Gallistrings. (KA-BASS-4FW). No more sticky feeling, no more sticky noise. I used it when I played bass for a Hawaiian dance group during a hula competition. Sounded awesome! Didn't sound warbly or rumbly as the rubber strings. Sounded like an acoustic stand-up bass! Definitely worth trying out.
Thanks for playing without the amp I’ve been trying to hear one acoustic. Sounds pretty good compared to what owner say it sounds like. That ebony fret less had been calling out to my wallet the last couple months
Well, for my money, Kala sounds much better with Ubass Strings, while Thunder reds just exacerbate its sounds adding very spiky and lofi tones as if from a bitcrusher mixed with oversaturation and too bassy EQ. Visually, Kala is better with black strings as well, not red ones.
Nice to hear some Jaco licks! I have to admit that I prefer the sound from the original black Kala strings, sounds cleane and even deeper. The sustain is close to zero, but that may be the charm also :). Maybe compressor/ sustainer will help this a little? Think I will pluck out my little Kala (slab type) from the closet very soon and give it a go! Always inspiring to see you Julia 🤹
Came here to say why not just use Fast Fret, but assumed it killed these type of strings or something. Almost instantly makes you a better player when your fingers aren't sticking on anything.
I just wear really thin gloves. Those thin liners for under surgical gloves La Bella has nylon core nickelwound and so do Tomastik Actually.. A compressor with pretty agressive settings can help lots.
I typically use baby powder on the strings (white thunderguts) to make them less sticky. Apply on new strings a few times, it gets better when the strings are played for a few weeks.
Yeah I’m kinda surprised that dry lubrication wasn’t brought up more as an option along with rosin and water. Since the first days of those big noodle strings, various talc and corn starch etc have been experimented with.
Julia Hofer a ways back I had one of those little de armond basses with the silicone (latex? Idk, whatever) strings. There weren’t a ton of choices for strings and I remember the dude I bought it off of had mentioned that one or some of the powders he’d used ended up reacting with the string material in a less than ideal way over an extended period, weakening the strings. That just popped into my head, but is likely no longer applicable information. Man, I miss that little monster of a bass. I tracked one down after hearing that (the beautiful) Tony Levin used it on a PG track. Lovetown, I think?
Nice vid. I have a fretless and play with my thumb around the 12th fret .don’t try to make it sound like something it isn’t, you get a great double bass type sound. Also, talc the fretboard and your fingers will zip around . It is my go-to bass now. The Fender just pines in the corner.....neglected...
I just like to take a leak on my hands before playing. I find my own pee has a better attack than water. Plus you don't always have water around but you nearly always have a bit of pee spare.
I bought a Kala Hutch Hutchinson UBass a few years ago. I've never been knocked out by the polyurethane strings that came with it. The intonation was a bit wobbly. I wasn't sure if it was the UBass or the strings. Then I saw your Ubass video and ordered a set of Thunder Reds. A bit dear, but man-o-man what a difference! The sound (plugged in AND unplugged), the harmonics (not all but most), and the feel are substantially better. You do great bass videos, but this one made me buy something, and I'm very happy with the results. Thank you, Julia, and keep up the great work you do!
I've had thunder reds on my uke bass for some months now. It really sounds a lot more "punchy" and clear. The only problem is that my E string broke 2 times already (somewhere around the bridge). The first time I could continue using it in the "shortened" form (because I had enough leftover string to begin with), but now I had to toss it away. Is there anywhere I can buy the thunder reds as single strings? I don't want to pay 40 € to just replace the E string. ;)
Not bad, some good info there, I play u-bass with the ukulele orchestra of Great Britain and use one made by Stevens of Munich with metal strings and it’s great. Btw, he coined the phrase u-bass first but it is just a short scale bass guitar. Kala now make a steel string version which is also very good. The two reasons I use this is firstly, it looks good with the other 7 Ukes, secondly, I can take it on a plane as hand luggage. I’ve played a vintage fender jazz for 40 years but I love the steel string u-bass also 👍
Hi Jonty, the reason I want one of these things is because every time I come and see you guys live I can't get over the fat sound you get! I have a Kala concert-size uke which I'm very happy with, but a Ubass would fill a little gap that my other three basses can't quite hit. Why do you prefer the steel strings over the rubber ones? Is it sound or feel? PS. was great to meet you in Cambridge last year!
Thanks for this video and your ideas Julia! ...and for the Thunder Reds you guys sent me for Christmas :) I'd also love to hear a video comparing the acoustic sounds of the various fretless uke basses you have for sale. It's their gentle acoustic expressivities I seek. Their piezo amplified sounds are less interesting to my ears.
I started playing bass 7 years ago with a bass uke. I found the creme color Aquila Thundergut to have unacceptable noise and stickiness, even the Thunder Reds didn't help much, and I find it ridiculous to have to resort to putting something on your fingers. I went to black Road Toad Pahoehoe, which were much smoother, but all poly (not really rubber) will get very sticky in humid conditions, plus they stretch a lot and require trimming too often. I decided to replace all my poly strings with either Gold Tone/La Bella all steel flat wound MBLS or Galli UXB910C nylon core flat wound 20.5" and 23" scale (have not been able to find 20.5" to 23" all steel flat wounds, not even custom). I also find round wound to be too noisy, I will only use flat wound, even on my guitars for almost 50 years.
All of your Playing sounds Great.!! ... If it's the Feel that concerns you, apply baby powder to some Cotton Fabric and Rub onto the Strings, (Made from any Plastic material) Hope this Helps.!!
I use olive oil on the strings that make them play better. Also if your E string does not give much sound compared to the A,D,G strings. In my case it was because the saddle did not connect well to the piezo beneath it. I solved this by making a really thin strip of Bison Kombi Stick and place it between two thin sheets of kitchen wrap plastic in the saddle slot and press the saddle on it after I grounded a little of the saddle with sanding paper on a flat piece of wood to make sure the bottom of the saddle was straight. After Kombi Stick Putty strip dried out I took out the saddle, removed the excess plastic and all the strings sounded perfect. If the saddle after this comes up too high you can again sand a little of the bottom as done before until it reaches the desired height. Saddles are not expensive so you can try multiple times, just do not forget to put the plastic sheet in the saddle slot before putting the Kombi Stick Putty strip in the saddle groove or you cannot get the Kombi Stick Putty strip out of the slot if you need to. PS. do all of this at your own risk... This should work on any guitar with a saddle piezo.
I’ve not got to the end of the video yet but I remember reading a review of the Ashbury short scale bass which also had rubber strings. The reviewer hated the sound until he slapped talcum powder on his hands, the strings and the fretboard. All made sense after that, apparently.
+1 on the talc. My late dad was the inventor of the Ashbory and would always slather the strings in talc before playing. He used to joke that he should have sold repackaged talc, branded as "Bass Dust"... but he was never sufficiently cynical to actually go through with a plan like that 🤣
Some years ago I got myself a pair of 'guitar practicing gloves'. Got them for open air gigs at the local christmas market. I don't like them for plucking my electric bass but caused by this video I tried them on my bass ukulele. Still have to try them with my amp, but unplucked it feels pretty good. The glove doesn't stick on the rubber.
The Thunderred stringscare not coated with coper the coper is mixed into the string. Aquilas has 3 new formula Ubass strings, that came out in 2022. I think it is time for an update comparing these new options. The new formula is designed to have less stretch, more stability, and be less sticky. The new strings that Aquila have are 1. Thunderblack (new formula): with added Iron powder 2. Thunderred (new formula): with copper powder. 3. Thunderbrown: with coper powder. These have more powder mixed in and are the most stable of these.
It's not just water. It's Rosen + water. These are the origional thunderred strings. Earlier this year Aquila released some new sets. Thunderblack (new Formula) with iron powder Thunderred (new Formula) copper powder Thunderbrown copper power
The name "short scale bass guitar" is already coined for 30" bass guitars (regular size=34") like the Hofner violin bass of Paul McCartney. This one is much shorter.
@@LieuNoir if scale length were tied to type of instrument, that if scale length was a defining feature, then both Gibson and Fender guitars couldnt both be guitars, but they are.
The fretless is easier to play accurately than a fretted with the softness of the strings. I switched from a full sized freteless acoustic bass to a ubass fretless with zero issues after trying the fretted Ubass at a local music store and finding it supremely irritating. The gray strings which are standard on the fretless rumbler ubass are much nicer than the black rubber strings. Also, a light palm muting will help with the noise from the piezo as will the use of a notch filter. It does well with pedals which can make it sound more normal. There are also flatwound ubass strings out which are still pretty new.
Rosin is intended to add more friction to bows to get a better grip on the strings. This will do the opposite to get rid of noise. The water thing is a bad idea as well, as you will have to wet your hands frequently throughout your set. I've tried oils, and a few other things, and the best solution that I've found for the rubber strings is talcum powder.
Love the video!!! I've always wanted to learn bass but I'm 5'2" and have teeny baby hands!! LOL I own a Soprano uke and am mostly a hobby strummer for relaxation, but I do love ukes!! :) Cool tips such as resin, water, etc. I love that it's fretless but you can SEE the marks!! Seems like the best of all worlds. Holy cats, the Aquila Thunder Red strings are smokin'. Not related to instruments, but I am sensing a Brazilian accent, is that right? You sound just like a friend of mine!
Thanks for a great video Julia and Thomann! I saw that you were at the NAMM show, sorry we didn't have the chance to meet, next time! I have been playin ubasses for almost 10 years and agree with most of what you're saying here! :) For more info, reviews and lessons and more please check out playubass.com Here's "a few" ubass videos too: ruclips.net/video/X1FXK4H2jZ8/видео.html
I have an ukebass, from a cheap brand from amazon, ♪Doner, and it is not the best build quality, but does the job. I totally recomend use the ukebass conected to an Vox Amplug (U$S40), and the headphone out of the amplug to a bluetooth speaker with good bass (I have a tronsmart element force U$S50). It is perfect to jam outdoor or at the hotel, but somebody may hear you.
To get more slip on your fingers, did you try grease, oil, PTFE (spray) or graphite? I'm no bass players that are just ideas that popped into my head. Can you play an ukulele bass with something similar like one of those glas bottlenecks? Would that device need to slide or could it roll over the rubber strings? If so, PVC pipe might be an option if you put two different size over another and create a bushing or you could use a needle bearing.
I actually like the sound of the original strings better than the Thunder Reds. I want to get two, one fretted and one a fretless. This way I can take them both with a Hartke Kickback Combo to my gigs in a Smart Car.
Somehow if you get some Thundergut white strings, they won't fit thru the bridge holes of the Khala Bakhiti Kumalo. I though they were universals for Kala basses. Am I doing anything wrong here?
I had a Kala U-Bass for a while, and I thought it was fun to play, but ultimately I found the strings to be too sticky for accurate and comfortable slides, so I got rid of it. Maybe the "Thunder Reds" would have eliminated that problem?
I prefer not to call this instrument a bass-ukeleIe because although it has the shape and the size off a ukelele, it has nothing to do with normal ukelele-playing. I should call it a U-bass or a mini-bass. On my U-bass I’ve replaced the strings with ‘d Addario EXPPBB190GS strings with a nylon core and bronze winding wich are developed for the Taylor GS mini-bass. The 'd Addarios sound much better, more articulated and less muddy, and play more naturally than rubber strings, the only disadvantage is that they are quitte expensive.
tja, ich habe leider überhaupt keine Ahnung von Saiten-Instrumenten, habe nie Bass gespielt und schlichtweg wirklich NULL Ahnung. Den Klang einer Ukulele mochte ich persönlich nie so richtig, wollte aber immer mal Bass lernen - vor allem aber suche ich ein Instrument für Reisen. Also habe ich mir jetzt einfach mal eine dieser Ukulele-Bässe gekauft. Keine Ahnung, ob man da als absolutester Anfänger überhaupt eine Chance hat einen vernünftigen Klang erzeugen zu können oder etwas zu fabrizieren, was an Musik erinnert. Ich höte auch keinen unterschied bei den verschiedenen Dingen, die die junge Dame da versucht, aber vielleicht ja dann, wenn ich selbst mal ausprobiert habe. Ich frage mich, ob man nur mit Hilfe von RUclips überhaupt in der Lage sein wird, dieses Instrument zu erlernen? Irgendwie muss man ja anfangen. Und ich frage mich - da ich in einem Wohnmobil verreise, in dem die Temperaturunterschiede zwischen Tag und Nacht locker 30 bis 40 Grad betragen können - ob das Instrument das aushält. Ich bin sehr gespannt.
I love your video. I have the Goldtone fretless . I love the bass. Has that double bass sound but after hearing you on Thunder reds, I would love to switch from the sticky rubbers. I use talcum powder on my finger tips for a smoother feel.
Oh yeah! You are looking sleek in that black outfit. I am thinking about getting a bass ukulele for some time now. Unfortunately the Harley Benton Bass Ukuleles are soooo big 😢 Gonna save some money for a smaller one and the red strings. Does Thomann change the strings for me before they send it over?? 😁
I have been trying to find a good video showcasing this tiny bass. Everyone just wastes so much time faffing around! Finally found this video, straight to the point, informative, succinct. Great job. Fastest I have ever subbed a channel.
I've been playing Yamaha 6 string fretted and fretless for 20 years... Make a 6 string (steel string) version that looks like an electric bass and I'm in !!
I am a happy recipient of a U-bass this Xmas. Thank you for the advice. I would be interested to hear your (and others) opinion on putting flat wound steel strings on.
That so called "noise" doesn't bother at all, especially when compared to others, like the "hum" of single-coil pickups in guitars plugged into loud amps, or the friction of our hands over the thickest bronze strings in acoustic guitars, or how some weird cymbals sustain for too long
I've been playing bass uke for nine years. I absolutely don't believe in adding anything to your fingers or strings. I finally gave up on poly strings because they get sticky in humid weather, take very long to settle in and require trimming too often. I now only use flatwound nylon core, which in my opinion sound very good, not like round wound with the harsh zing noise they make.
Thanks Julia! I love all your bass videos. I was wondering how you feel about Hofner Basses? And if you've ever done a top 5 favorite Paul McCartney Bass lines video before? If not you definitely should. Oh yeah I got very curious about these Lil Uke Basses when they all started coming out and went out and tried out a few of the most popular Uke Basses out there and the one I liked best and settled with was the Gold Tone Fretless Micro bass 23' scale & so far I'm glad I bought it. I really love how small and comfortable it is to play and the tone is smooth but funky so that's awesome but so far I've found a few things I'm going to have to fix before it'll ever hit the stage or studio with me and what's up is the volume across the strings is way out if whack the E & G strings volume are Way loud but the A & D strings are super quiet, and the stock strings are too weird for me I'm having to use baby powder on my left fingers just to be able to slide without hearing an annoying squeeky noise, and then there's definitely intonation issues(with the Fretless version at least). So If anyone out there that has any advice for fixing these issues like intonation on a acoustic Fretless 23' short scale bass or what I could do to even out the volume across the strings please let me know I'd be very forever grateful. 🙏
When it speaks to the camera, it uses the take of it speaking to the camera. When it uses the take of it speaking to something else, it looks vapid, pointlessly voyeristic, and blatantly incompetent with camera work.
I have a bass uke, basically a baritone uke with the silicone rubber strings. Seems smaller than yours. It’s got a piezo amp, made of zebrawood, and sounds so warm when plugged in. You’re definitely right about finger preparation- a bit of hand lotion helps a lot, at least for me. I love playing it. It really grabs people’s attention- looks really different than my usual bass but has mostly the same range. Very easy to bend and slide notes on, too.
I dont like where that cup of water is sat.
😮🤷♀️🤔?
I have a Kala U-Bass with roundwounds. It's a bit louder acoustically, holds its tuning very well and no weird noises.
Did you add the steel roundwounds yourself or were they there in the 1st place?
@@j0c0b I bought the Striped Ebony model complete with roundwounds. But they are available separately as well.
is it easier to play the rubber strings, based on the power you need to press the strings?
@@rastabooze9668 In the grand scheme of things, I don't think the amount of effort it takes to press down a string should be the deciding factor here. The roundwounds have a couple of properties compared to the rubber strings that I enjoy/prefer. With the roundwounds, I can easily use the U-Bass as a practice instrument without the need to plug it into an amp. The acoustic tone is better IMHO. A lot of people complain about the tuning stability of the rubber strings, with roundwounds it is, more or less, pick up and play. Especially if you use it often.
On the other hand, the amplified tone of the rubber strings is really unique and one of the selling points of the U-Bass. They might be a bit easier to press down, but because they feel so different from ordinary bass strings, getting used to them might take longer than the round wounds.
@@T3L3cast3r thx man, that rly helped me!
Tell us more about different string types?
Great video. I upgraded my Harley Benton Ubass with the Thunder gut strings. But the e string is much smaller so it keeps popping out of the nut.
Any tips?
Wrap it with a layer of paper where it sits in the nut. Just enough to fatten it up so it sits tighter.
You might try filling in the grove with baking soda and crazy glue. There are videos on YT.
I find super glue works too and tends to be less toxic than rosin.
Nice to see more people playing Billie Jean with the lower octave added in there
Filiosp Is that how the original recording is? That's how I generally play it, but I've heard it both ways a lot.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney Yeah, that's how Louis Johnson played it apparently, he even used his thumb to fret the note. Not a huge deal but gives it more oomf and that octaver pedal vibe
On the original recording of billie jean I hear the first note doubled at the octave every time.
Filiosp, good ear mate 👍
Pootis
I kinda really like that percussive sound that you call "noise." Your rhythm is on point even for when you place your finger on a string in advance, so it's a pretty cool effect
It's a 50/50 for me.
Sometimes it sounds great with certain notes, with some it sort of sounds like a prematurely muted note that you didn't want to play.
By the end it did kinda fell like a made up issue when the tricks didn't eliminate it and the real answer is to buy their premium strings, I'd still want one of those little mfers tho
I agree , to me it gives character and feel to the playing
Yet another aspect of musical style
that’s the real trick - to incorporate every sound rhythmically.
I am a music school teacher and one of my pupils plays an ukulele bass. He is a rather small guy, so it's nice for him, to play a reai instrument for adults, not a children's size bass. He is doing very well in the school's bigband with his old fashioned upright bass like sound.
Wow cool, thanks for sharing! :)
Cheers Julia // Thomann
I'm a student and we have the exact same situation here at our school with one of my friends, it's really great how the uke bass can get a sound like that with such a small size.
i'm glad to hear you do that. back in the day, you played a horn or drum or whatever the band teacher had/needed you to be.
I love the U-bass, it was totally an impulse buy but now it is my new best friend. I pick it up all the time! Mine is fretted and one thing I had to get used to is I seem to get less fret buzz if I finger the notes in the middle between the frets instead of right up behind the fret like I normally would on a standard electric bass or guitar.
am i the only one hearing less noise on original kala strings @ 6:56 than on Aquila Thunder Reds @ 7:10?
I think it's because is warmer, the copper powder is more similar to steel strings
As far as I can see Aquila is owned by the same company as Kala I ordered the thunderguts the same time as my ubass
@@lilkris3008 No, Kala and Aquila are separate companies. Aquila has just provided strings for the majority of basses sold out there.
Damn those strings are THICC
Just the right size for real players
Also soft as a butter. This thing is actually harder to play than it looks. You have to be really delicate to keep it in tune
i reckon she only wear one pair of'em...
Dude, just the fact that she played Teen Town by Weather Report already deserves my thumbs up
Absolutely.
Yes!
paleaaase… she did not play TT!
I really like the vibe of this bass... It sounds to me almost like a p bass with flat wounds... seriously love the vibe ...
Hey, that's not noise! That's a really nice percussive thump. It sounds awesome!
Edited for massive thumbs up for you playing Teen Town by Weather Report. A nod to Jaco on a uke bass with huge rubber strings deserves mad props.
Droppin Jaco on us like it’s no big deal! This girl can PLAY!
Yes, she's a genius. :D
yeah, well … those two phrases she quoted are not really Jaco … it‘s the opening bars to TT, delivered w/ a horn!
@@MariUSukulele you mean on jacos album?
@@jambajoby32 yup - and live it’s the same: a horn
This sounds weird but the oil off your nose works better than anything else for your right hand. It keeps the strings from grabbing your finger tips. The down side is of course rubbing your nose every now and then. But it works...lol
Bro, marry me, I thought I was the only person who did the nose thing
Wait, really? I gonna try that.
Also helps if you get too much rosin on your hands!! (Left hand for cellists, at least... idk about right hand for pizzicato...)
Yeah it's an olde club trick
Nose oil is great for piano actions too!
After watching this video about 6 months ago I got hold of some Aquila Thunder Reds and I love 'em. Prefer the sound quality and much easier to play than the old sticky blacks. I got a backup set immediately. Life has got better - thank you so much for your video!
For me, the rubber strings sounded too mumbly/warbly. I was not a fan of the sticky noise of the rubber strings. Also, there were times when the strings sometimes felt sticky and when I was playing, it felt like my fingerprints were getting pulled off by the strings. So after doing some research, I found out that steel Flatwound strings exist for the U-Bass and I switched over. U-Bass Flatwound 4-String Set by Gallistrings. (KA-BASS-4FW). No more sticky feeling, no more sticky noise. I used it when I played bass for a Hawaiian dance group during a hula competition. Sounded awesome! Didn't sound warbly or rumbly as the rubber strings. Sounded like an acoustic stand-up bass! Definitely worth trying out.
Thanks for playing without the amp I’ve been trying to hear one acoustic. Sounds pretty good compared to what owner say it sounds like. That ebony fret less had been calling out to my wallet the last couple months
Which one would you recommend?
Well, for my money, Kala sounds much better with Ubass Strings, while Thunder reds just exacerbate its sounds adding very spiky and lofi tones as if from a bitcrusher mixed with oversaturation and too bassy EQ. Visually, Kala is better with black strings as well, not red ones.
Nice to hear some Jaco licks! I have to admit that I prefer the sound from the original black Kala strings, sounds cleane and even deeper. The sustain is close to zero, but that may be the charm also :). Maybe compressor/ sustainer will help this a little? Think I will pluck out my little Kala (slab type) from the closet very soon and give it a go! Always inspiring to see you Julia 🤹
I found spraying String Ease to help the stickiness of the rubber strings
Hi, I use Fast Fret on the strings to prevent the stickiness. Also slides are then less noisy.
Wow, never tried that before, thanks.
Cheers, Julia // Thomann
Came here to say why not just use Fast Fret, but assumed it killed these type of strings or something. Almost instantly makes you a better player when your fingers aren't sticking on anything.
I just wear really thin gloves. Those thin liners for under surgical gloves
La Bella has nylon core nickelwound and so do Tomastik
Actually.. A compressor with pretty agressive settings can help lots.
I like how she played Billie Jean the right way. #LouisJohnson
"Jaco only needed UKE!"
I was blown away by that! Sounded like a bit of "Teen Town". Jaco is the God of Bass for me, and this youngster is amazing. A real plus for Thomann.
I typically use baby powder on the strings (white thunderguts) to make them less sticky. Apply on new strings a few times, it gets better when the strings are played for a few weeks.
I use baby powder too.
Yeah I’m kinda surprised that dry lubrication wasn’t brought up more as an option along with rosin and water. Since the first days of those big noodle strings, various talc and corn starch etc have been experimented with.
Thanks Robert for you advice, never tried that before! :)
Cheers Julia // Thomann
Julia Hofer a ways back I had one of those little de armond basses with the silicone (latex? Idk, whatever) strings. There weren’t a ton of choices for strings and I remember the dude I bought it off of had mentioned that one or some of the powders he’d used ended up reacting with the string material in a less than ideal way over an extended period, weakening the strings.
That just popped into my head, but is likely no longer applicable information. Man, I miss that little monster of a bass. I tracked one down after hearing that (the beautiful) Tony Levin used it on a PG track. Lovetown, I think?
@@Terrible_Peril Talc from a pool room still works...
Wow. This bass actually sounds amazing. Has a cool vibe.
Which bass is this please?
10 for dressing style
Nice vid. I have a fretless and play with my thumb around the 12th fret .don’t try to make it sound like something it isn’t, you get a great double bass type sound. Also, talc the fretboard and your fingers will zip around . It is my go-to bass now. The Fender just pines in the corner.....neglected...
before playing my bass uke I like to dip both hands into large jars of honey....
N.A. McIntosh Same
I just like to take a leak on my hands before playing. I find my own pee has a better attack than water. Plus you don't always have water around but you nearly always have a bit of pee spare.
I credit card my palms through my crack, the oils add a great slide effect for getting that upright sound...
WHAT is going on in these replies
@@djabroni_brochacho4644 bringing back the ole' "skid mark" technique.... respect
YES! Pulling the dubble-stops on Billie Jean!!! Someone who knows how to correctly walk that baseline! You Rock!
What is the koa top looking bass she is playing in the beginning part of this video?
I love that she keeps playing Jaco
I bought a Kala Hutch Hutchinson UBass a few years ago. I've never been knocked out by the polyurethane strings that came with it. The intonation was a bit wobbly. I wasn't sure if it was the UBass or the strings. Then I saw your Ubass video and ordered a set of Thunder Reds. A bit dear, but man-o-man what a difference! The sound (plugged in AND unplugged), the harmonics (not all but most), and the feel are substantially better. You do great bass videos, but this one made me buy something, and I'm very happy with the results. Thank you, Julia, and keep up the great work you do!
Talcum powder make the strings easier to play and less noise.
1:25 - 2:00 looks like we have a heist soundtrack here
The sound is similar to vintage p-bass.
Oh those big rubba strings are crazy cool 😎 but no E bow 😂
Great video! I like the way Julia presents herself and the information!
She's one in a million
I've had thunder reds on my uke bass for some months now. It really sounds a lot more "punchy" and clear. The only problem is that my E string broke 2 times already (somewhere around the bridge). The first time I could continue using it in the "shortened" form (because I had enough leftover string to begin with), but now I had to toss it away.
Is there anywhere I can buy the thunder reds as single strings? I don't want to pay 40 € to just replace the E string. ;)
How are you normally setting your Ubass meds, treble, Bass setting on the Bass?
Not bad, some good info there, I play u-bass with the ukulele orchestra of Great Britain and use one made by Stevens of Munich with metal strings and it’s great. Btw, he coined the phrase u-bass first but it is just a short scale bass guitar. Kala now make a steel string version which is also very good. The two reasons I use this is firstly, it looks good with the other 7 Ukes, secondly, I can take it on a plane as hand luggage. I’ve played a vintage fender jazz for 40 years but I love the steel string u-bass also 👍
Hi Jonty, the reason I want one of these things is because every time I come and see you guys live I can't get over the fat sound you get! I have a Kala concert-size uke which I'm very happy with, but a Ubass would fill a little gap that my other three basses can't quite hit. Why do you prefer the steel strings over the rubber ones? Is it sound or feel?
PS. was great to meet you in Cambridge last year!
Thanks for this video and your ideas Julia! ...and for the Thunder Reds you guys sent me for Christmas :) I'd also love to hear a video comparing the acoustic sounds of the various fretless uke basses you have for sale. It's their gentle acoustic expressivities I seek. Their piezo amplified sounds are less interesting to my ears.
I started playing bass 7 years ago with a bass uke. I found the creme color Aquila Thundergut to have unacceptable noise and stickiness, even the Thunder Reds didn't help much, and I find it ridiculous to have to resort to putting something on your fingers. I went to black Road Toad Pahoehoe, which were much smoother, but all poly (not really rubber) will get very sticky in humid conditions, plus they stretch a lot and require trimming too often.
I decided to replace all my poly strings with either Gold Tone/La Bella all steel flat wound MBLS or Galli UXB910C nylon core flat wound 20.5" and 23" scale (have not been able to find 20.5" to 23" all steel flat wounds, not even custom). I also find round wound to be too noisy, I will only use flat wound, even on my guitars for almost 50 years.
All of your Playing sounds Great.!! ... If it's the Feel that concerns you, apply baby powder to some Cotton Fabric and Rub onto the Strings, (Made from any Plastic material) Hope this Helps.!!
I use olive oil on the strings that make them play better.
Also if your E string does not give much sound compared to the A,D,G strings. In my case it was because the saddle did not connect well to the piezo beneath it. I solved this by making a really thin strip of Bison Kombi Stick and place it between two thin sheets of kitchen wrap plastic in the saddle slot and press the saddle on it after I grounded a little of the saddle with sanding paper on a flat piece of wood to make sure the bottom of the saddle was straight. After Kombi Stick Putty strip dried out I took out the saddle, removed the excess plastic and all the strings sounded perfect. If the saddle after this comes up too high you can again sand a little of the bottom as done before until it reaches the desired height. Saddles are not expensive so you can try multiple times, just do not forget to put the plastic sheet in the saddle slot before putting the Kombi Stick Putty strip in the saddle groove or you cannot get the Kombi Stick Putty strip out of the slot if you need to. PS. do all of this at your own risk... This should work on any guitar with a saddle piezo.
My trick to get a nice crackle from a ukulele. You will need about 200ml of paraffin, a lighter and a hand full of tinder.
I’ve not got to the end of the video yet but I remember reading a review of the Ashbury short scale bass which also had rubber strings. The reviewer hated the sound until he slapped talcum powder on his hands, the strings and the fretboard. All made sense after that, apparently.
+1 on the talc. My late dad was the inventor of the Ashbory and would always slather the strings in talc before playing. He used to joke that he should have sold repackaged talc, branded as "Bass Dust"... but he was never sufficiently cynical to actually go through with a plan like that 🤣
Some years ago I got myself a pair of 'guitar practicing gloves'. Got them for open air gigs at the local christmas market. I don't like them for plucking my electric bass but caused by this video I tried them on my bass ukulele. Still have to try them with my amp, but unplucked it feels pretty good. The glove doesn't stick on the rubber.
"If anyone watches to the end of video..", as if anybody would not watch you to the end!!
awww... thanks a lot :)
Julia // Thomann
@@juliahofer8394 😁
Sounds amazing, what model uke is it and which amp did you use?
Ever figure out what ubasses models are being played? I'm curious too
The Thunderred stringscare not coated with coper the coper is mixed into the string.
Aquilas has 3 new formula Ubass strings, that came out in 2022. I think it is time for an update comparing these new options.
The new formula is designed to have less stretch, more stability, and be less sticky.
The new strings that Aquila have are
1. Thunderblack (new formula): with added Iron powder
2. Thunderred (new formula): with copper powder.
3. Thunderbrown: with coper powder. These have more powder mixed in and are the most stable of these.
Inventive and 🔥 🔥 🔥...
It's not just water. It's Rosen + water.
These are the origional thunderred strings.
Earlier this year Aquila released some new sets.
Thunderblack (new Formula) with iron powder
Thunderred (new Formula) copper powder
Thunderbrown copper power
Bass Ukulele brought me to you and I just ordered one, it speaks to me like no other...
That's pretty sweet. I've got a baritone uke as my travel guitar, but it's nowhere near as gorgeous as that bass with its bound koa. 😮
I still play my old ashbory bass with the old stretchy rubber strings and odourless talc. Seems to sound best on a small practice bass amp.
Cool video. I was thinking a parametric EQ could be useful in finding the offending frequency and notching it out.
Thats no longer a ukulele but a short scale guitar bass.
The name "short scale bass guitar" is already coined for 30" bass guitars (regular size=34") like the Hofner violin bass of Paul McCartney.
This one is much shorter.
@@LieuNoir anything under 34' I'm pretty sure
@@LieuNoir if scale length were tied to type of instrument, that if scale length was a defining feature, then both Gibson and Fender guitars couldnt both be guitars, but they are.
*THERE’S A BASS UKULELE!?!?*
My U bass came with bronze-wrapped round wound strings. Still stretchy/loose at the core, but the winding really adds snap.
The fretless is easier to play accurately than a fretted with the softness of the strings. I switched from a full sized freteless acoustic bass to a ubass fretless with zero issues after trying the fretted Ubass at a local music store and finding it supremely irritating.
The gray strings which are standard on the fretless rumbler ubass are much nicer than the black rubber strings. Also, a light palm muting will help with the noise from the piezo as will the use of a notch filter. It does well with pedals which can make it sound more normal. There are also flatwound ubass strings out which are still pretty new.
Kala with the black strings sounds wow.
Who is this girl? She is quite the bass player
ruclips.net/channel/UCD1n2yHQFpyYX94LF-oEQWA
She should start a band with Mary Spender 🙂
@@mikkohayhanen8668 thanks
I like the bit dirty sound , it's a bit like a old soundsystem , Jimmy Hendrix also sounds like that
Rosin is intended to add more friction to bows to get a better grip on the strings. This will do the opposite to get rid of noise. The water thing is a bad idea as well, as you will have to wet your hands frequently throughout your set. I've tried oils, and a few other things, and the best solution that I've found for the rubber strings is talcum powder.
I really dig that tapping on the bass strings. It adds a whole other element to the instrument!
i dont like that click noise overdrive sound.. is that from the bass or is saturated in the recording??
Love the video!!! I've always wanted to learn bass but I'm 5'2" and have teeny baby hands!! LOL I own a Soprano uke and am mostly a hobby strummer for relaxation, but I do love ukes!! :) Cool tips such as resin, water, etc. I love that it's fretless but you can SEE the marks!! Seems like the best of all worlds. Holy cats, the Aquila Thunder Red strings are smokin'. Not related to instruments, but I am sensing a Brazilian accent, is that right? You sound just like a friend of mine!
Nice to hear some Jaco have you tried climbers chalk ? I think Jaco used chicken grease from fried chicken legs although slightly impractical 😅
I really like that Ukulele Bass. you are the first one to show me that Bass. PS .I love your ways and Weather Report
Thanks for a great video Julia and Thomann! I saw that you were at the NAMM show, sorry we didn't have the chance to meet, next time!
I have been playin ubasses for almost 10 years and agree with most of what you're saying here! :)
For more info, reviews and lessons and more please check out playubass.com
Here's "a few" ubass videos too: ruclips.net/video/X1FXK4H2jZ8/видео.html
I NEED IT
I have an ukebass, from a cheap brand from amazon, ♪Doner, and it is not the best build quality, but does the job.
I totally recomend use the ukebass conected to an Vox Amplug (U$S40), and the headphone out of the amplug to a bluetooth speaker with good bass (I have a tronsmart element force U$S50).
It is perfect to jam outdoor or at the hotel, but somebody may hear you.
To get more slip on your fingers, did you try grease, oil, PTFE (spray) or graphite?
I'm no bass players that are just ideas that popped into my head.
Can you play an ukulele bass with something similar like one of those glas bottlenecks? Would that device need to slide or could it roll over the rubber strings? If so, PVC pipe might be an option if you put two different size over another and create a bushing or you could use a needle bearing.
I actually like the sound of the original strings better than the Thunder Reds. I want to get two, one fretted and one a fretless. This way I can take them both with a Hartke Kickback Combo to my gigs in a Smart Car.
Somehow if you get some Thundergut white strings, they won't fit thru the bridge holes of the Khala Bakhiti Kumalo. I though they were universals for Kala basses. Am I doing anything wrong here?
Cool instrument... in other people hand.
Like the ukulele.
Pretty funny at the first 30 minutes. Like the ukulele.
I had a Kala U-Bass for a while, and I thought it was fun to play, but ultimately I found the strings to be too sticky for accurate and comfortable slides, so I got rid of it. Maybe the "Thunder Reds" would have eliminated that problem?
I prefer not to call this instrument a bass-ukeleIe because although it has the shape and the size off a ukelele, it has nothing to do with normal ukelele-playing. I should call it a U-bass or a mini-bass. On my U-bass I’ve replaced the strings with ‘d Addario EXPPBB190GS strings with a nylon core and bronze winding wich are developed for the Taylor GS mini-bass. The 'd Addarios sound much better, more articulated and less muddy, and play more naturally than rubber strings, the only disadvantage is that they are quitte expensive.
tja, ich habe leider überhaupt keine Ahnung von Saiten-Instrumenten, habe nie Bass gespielt und schlichtweg wirklich NULL Ahnung. Den Klang einer Ukulele mochte ich persönlich nie so richtig, wollte aber immer mal Bass lernen - vor allem aber suche ich ein Instrument für Reisen. Also habe ich mir jetzt einfach mal eine dieser Ukulele-Bässe gekauft. Keine Ahnung, ob man da als absolutester Anfänger überhaupt eine Chance hat einen vernünftigen Klang erzeugen zu können oder etwas zu fabrizieren, was an Musik erinnert. Ich höte auch keinen unterschied bei den verschiedenen Dingen, die die junge Dame da versucht, aber vielleicht ja dann, wenn ich selbst mal ausprobiert habe. Ich frage mich, ob man nur mit Hilfe von RUclips überhaupt in der Lage sein wird, dieses Instrument zu erlernen? Irgendwie muss man ja anfangen. Und ich frage mich - da ich in einem Wohnmobil verreise, in dem die Temperaturunterschiede zwischen Tag und Nacht locker 30 bis 40 Grad betragen können - ob das Instrument das aushält. Ich bin sehr gespannt.
I love your video. I have the Goldtone fretless . I love the bass. Has that double bass sound but after hearing you on Thunder reds, I would love to switch from the sticky rubbers. I use talcum powder on my finger tips for a smoother feel.
Oh yeah! You are looking sleek in that black outfit. I am thinking about getting a bass ukulele for some time now. Unfortunately the Harley Benton Bass Ukuleles are soooo big 😢
Gonna save some money for a smaller one and the red strings. Does Thomann change the strings for me before they send it over?? 😁
I am interested in learning the bass ukelele. What would you recomend for a total beginer. Many thanks.
Alan
I have been trying to find a good video showcasing this tiny bass. Everyone just wastes so much time faffing around! Finally found this video, straight to the point, informative, succinct. Great job. Fastest I have ever subbed a channel.
That tapping noise you mentioned doesn't sound like a problem to me. It seems to add some character to the instrument.
I've been playing Yamaha 6 string fretted and fretless for 20 years... Make a 6 string (steel string) version that looks like an electric bass and I'm in !!
Can we see your demo of Harley Benton BZ and HBZ basses?
They are incredibly cool and very overlooked on RUclips.
I am a happy recipient of a U-bass this Xmas. Thank you for the advice. I would be interested to hear your (and others) opinion on putting flat wound steel strings on.
BABY POWDER ! On your hands and on the strings. It cuts the noises and gives a better feeling.
That so called "noise" doesn't bother at all, especially when compared to others, like the "hum" of single-coil pickups in guitars plugged into loud amps, or the friction of our hands over the thickest bronze strings in acoustic guitars, or how some weird cymbals sustain for too long
Does anyone know the name of what she's playing at 6:38? It sounds like a great practice tune
Hey Cameron, I am just playing a Blues in F // Julia
Sounded like a sped up version of the 4/4 section of Blue Rondo a la Turk.
@@JuliaCHofer Thank you Julia, keep putting out these great videos!
I've been playing bass uke for nine years. I absolutely don't believe in adding anything to your fingers or strings. I finally gave up on poly strings because they get sticky in humid weather, take very long to settle in and require trimming too often. I now only use flatwound nylon core, which in my opinion sound very good, not like round wound with the harsh zing noise they make.
Thanks Julia! I love all your bass videos. I was wondering how you feel about Hofner Basses? And if you've ever done a top 5 favorite Paul McCartney Bass lines video before? If not you definitely should. Oh yeah I got very curious about these Lil Uke Basses when they all started coming out and went out and tried out a few of the most popular Uke Basses out there and the one I liked best and settled with was the Gold Tone Fretless Micro bass 23' scale & so far I'm glad I bought it. I really love how small and comfortable it is to play and the tone is smooth but funky so that's awesome but so far I've found a few things I'm going to have to fix before it'll ever hit the stage or studio with me and what's up is the volume across the strings is way out if whack the E & G strings volume are Way loud but the A & D strings are super quiet, and the stock strings are too weird for me I'm having to use baby powder on my left fingers just to be able to slide without hearing an annoying squeeky noise, and then there's definitely intonation issues(with the Fretless version at least). So If anyone out there that has any advice for fixing these issues like intonation on a acoustic Fretless 23' short scale bass or what I could do to even out the volume across the strings please let me know I'd be very forever grateful. 🙏
I’m guessing that with rubber strings, there’s no concern about fret buzz? Can it be played unplugged (at least alone in a quiet place for practice)?
When it speaks to the camera, it uses the take of it speaking to the camera. When it uses the take of it speaking to something else, it looks vapid, pointlessly voyeristic, and blatantly incompetent with camera work.
I have a bass uke, basically a baritone uke with the silicone rubber strings. Seems smaller than yours. It’s got a piezo amp, made of zebrawood, and sounds so warm when plugged in.
You’re definitely right about finger preparation- a bit of hand lotion helps a lot, at least for me.
I love playing it. It really grabs people’s attention- looks really different than my usual bass but has mostly the same range. Very easy to bend and slide notes on, too.