Perfect timing. I have a Kala U-Bass and I just purchased Thunderbrown strings for it, but I have not yet installed them. I like the sound of the original strings, but the strings keep stretching. I find myself having to re-tune during a jam due to the stretching. In your video the Thunderbrowns are more noisy, but they have a more defined tone. With the U-Bass I find that I get less string noise by placing my fretting finger in the middle between the target fret and the fret above it, versus fretting very close to the target fret as I do on my full scale electric bass.
How about an instruction/tutorial video on that 12-bar blues walking bass line. That's exactly what I have been looking for on your channel. I'd definitely join your GBS Masters Membership for that video/tab. The new strings sound great.
On my acoustic Kala I've used all of the different non metallic strings and the Thunderbrowns feel and sound better than the others. On my solid body U-bass Subs I like the metallic strings.
I've been using Thunder Browns for months now and they are a much better string. A friend bought his Ubass once he played mine and put Thunder Reds which are also great but the Browns have a fatter tone that I prefer.
Thanks for doing the comparison demo. I’ve only tried the rubber type and they felt a bit too bouncy at first impression. I like the slight buzz of the thunderbrowns.
I have looked at them several times, just never pulled the trigger. They look and sound really good though. I was surprised to see this video with the U-Bass, really good - what style of music is it best suited for?
I’m pleasantly surprised at the strings and glad that I made the switch. The U-Bass has been really useful to me for quite a few styles. I used it for an ‘acoustic’ style band where we played covers of different styles. It actually works well for Jazz style walking bass lines too but it’s obviously limited in some ways because of how small it is.
Hi Greg can you do a video of how to change your string, I’ve got a p bass and not sure what strings ive got on my bass and what to put on cheers Darren uk
Hi Darren, I’ll put that on the list. In the meantime checkout my string reviews in my gear playlist below: ruclips.net/p/PL8NuE6bwYMXb66OpzGK3mWxPHhDN9tyVG&si=dAikVB4sbv-Mg8Kq
Great review Gregg. Thank you. I bought a Kala Journeyman U-bass which came with steel strings. I wanted that upright bass sound so I got the local music shop to change the strings to the black rubber ones you had there. They had to bodge the instrument to fit the thicker strings so I’m loathe to mess about with it. Also since buying a full size bass guitar I hardly play it. More wall art these days.
@@deebeeIM cheers. The Thunderbrown string are more similar in size to the black strings than the steel strings so the swap was pretty easy. I must admit that my kids were using this bass more than me at some points! 😀
I found on the u-bass I needed to fret away from the fret - more in the middle to stop buzzing. Is this unusual? Maybe because the Journeyman doesn’t like its new thick strings?
Greg, what is the composition of the Thunderbrown strings? Are they metallic? Also do you know if they can be bought from sources outside of the UK? Sweetwater and GC don’t sell ‘em. Oh and finally, what model Kala did you get? Thanks.
Perfect timing. I have a Kala U-Bass and I just purchased Thunderbrown strings for it, but I have not yet installed them. I like the sound of the original strings, but the strings keep stretching. I find myself having to re-tune during a jam due to the stretching. In your video the Thunderbrowns are more noisy, but they have a more defined tone. With the U-Bass I find that I get less string noise by placing my fretting finger in the middle between the target fret and the fret above it, versus fretting very close to the target fret as I do on my full scale electric bass.
I definitely need to play my U-Bass more as I've had a long break from it but I'll try what you suggested 👍
Interesting that you also find the need to fret more in the middle.
How about an instruction/tutorial video on that 12-bar blues walking bass line. That's exactly what I have been looking for on your channel. I'd definitely join your GBS Masters Membership for that video/tab. The new strings sound great.
Great suggestion! I'm doing a walking bass challenge this month anyway in the GBS membership. I'll have a think of a RUclips video on this too 👍
On my acoustic Kala I've used all of the different non metallic strings and the Thunderbrowns feel and sound better than the others. On my solid body U-bass Subs I like the metallic strings.
I have to try the metal ones at some point!
I've been using Thunder Browns for months now and they are a much better string. A friend bought his Ubass once he played mine and put Thunder Reds which are also great but the Browns have a fatter tone that I prefer.
I’m really impressed so far. Cheers 👍
Thanks for doing the comparison demo. I’ve only tried the rubber type and they felt a bit too bouncy at first impression. I like the slight buzz of the thunderbrowns.
Cheers Bill, I like the Thunderbrowns on first try. Need to get back into the Kala bass though, tricky to play!
Love the sound. Love the walking line as well. That is my favourite style to be honest.
Glad you liked it Merle, may have to put some walking in the next membership challenge!
Reminded me a bit of your jazz course…..which I haven’t finished…😬
@@MerlePeters 😂 there’s still time! I think I got this backing track from the Jazz course.
Glad you went for them, Greg!
They are brilliant!
Now time for a 'Solid Kala U-bass' . . . the make a 5 string and fretless with 'flats' of course . . . I'm incorrigible :)@@GregsBassShed
@@StevenDoyleLuke 😂 I best take out shares with Kala then! I’m pretty keen to try the flatwounds though 😀
@@GregsBassShed ❤
I have looked at them several times, just never pulled the trigger. They look and sound really good though. I was surprised to see this video with the U-Bass, really good - what style of music is it best suited for?
I’m pleasantly surprised at the strings and glad that I made the switch. The U-Bass has been really useful to me for quite a few styles. I used it for an ‘acoustic’ style band where we played covers of different styles. It actually works well for Jazz style walking bass lines too but it’s obviously limited in some ways because of how small it is.
There seems to be more finger noise on the new strings but they do ring out more in the mix.
They have a slight texture to them . . . which is why you a hear a slight finger noise
Definitely more finger noise but I think that adds to the tone and the 'upright' tone.
Thunderbrown strings sound could to me
Hi Greg can you do a video of how to change your string, I’ve got a p bass and not sure what strings ive got on my bass and what to put on cheers Darren uk
Hi Darren, I’ll put that on the list. In the meantime checkout my string reviews in my gear playlist below:
ruclips.net/p/PL8NuE6bwYMXb66OpzGK3mWxPHhDN9tyVG&si=dAikVB4sbv-Mg8Kq
Great review Gregg. Thank you. I bought a Kala Journeyman U-bass which came with steel strings. I wanted that upright bass sound so I got the local music shop to change the strings to the black rubber ones you had there. They had to bodge the instrument to fit the thicker strings so I’m loathe to mess about with it. Also since buying a full size bass guitar I hardly play it. More wall art these days.
@@deebeeIM cheers. The Thunderbrown string are more similar in size to the black strings than the steel strings so the swap was pretty easy. I must admit that my kids were using this bass more than me at some points! 😀
I found on the u-bass I needed to fret away from the fret - more in the middle to stop buzzing. Is this unusual? Maybe because the Journeyman doesn’t like its new thick strings?
@@deebeeIM I think I do that a bit and someone else suggested that in one of the comments, so I think that usual.
Greg, what is the composition of the Thunderbrown strings? Are they metallic?
Also do you know if they can be bought from sources outside of the UK? Sweetwater and GC don’t sell ‘em.
Oh and finally, what model Kala did you get? Thanks.
I'm pretty sure that they have copper in them. I know that some of my members from the US use them so I'm sure you can get them.
Thanks for your reply. It got me thinking. Amazon has them.
@@damnyankeex1 I think they might be easier to find in the US than the UK.
Haha, actually what Amazon had were Thunderblacks.
@@damnyankeex1 ah! 😀 there are Thunderreds too!!
kinda sounds like a double bass
Yeah I thought it sounded really similar too.