How to Make a Bass Ukulele Sound Good? | Gear Check | Thomann
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 มิ.ย. 2024
- Julia tries out different techniques on bass ukuleles to give you all the insight you need to apprehend the instrument. What makes them sound and feel so different? And how to get the best sound possible out of it? It's all here!
We use Triad-Orbit stands for our videos exclusively: tho.mn/triad
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 : Intro
0:40 : Regular playing
0:50 : Downside of rubber strings with a piezo
1:30 : Playing demonstration
2:13 : Using Rosin to add attack ?
3:18 : Sure, but it comes at a price!
3:40 : Let's try with water
3:46 : Water sounds like this
4:48 : Advantages and specs of a Bass Uke
5:04 : Disadvantages of a Bass Uke
5:16 : Some are also fretless !
5:43 : Low Strings matter
5:56 : Truss Rods matter even more
6:18 : The ultimate better sound trick! (with comparison)
8:06 : Conclusion and goodbyes
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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.
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 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.
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!
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!
Droppin Jaco on us like it’s no big deal! This girl can PLAY!
Yes, she's a genius. :D
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.
Wow. This bass actually sounds amazing. Has a cool vibe.
Bass Ukulele brought me to you and I just ordered one, it speaks to me like no other...
Dude, just the fact that she played Teen Town by Weather Report already deserves my thumbs up
Absolutely.
Yes!
Great video! I like the way Julia presents herself and the information!
She's one in a million
Great playing,great personality. Thanks Julia
I really dig that tapping on the bass strings. It adds a whole other element to the instrument!
YES! Pulling the dubble-stops on Billie Jean!!! Someone who knows how to correctly walk that baseline! You Rock!
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.
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.
Hello. I have been using Thunder Reds on my U-bass's for some time now. When I get a new one the first thing I do is put Reds on it. So far I have no problems with them. Thanks for confirming my faith in these strings.
I really like that Ukulele Bass. you are the first one to show me that Bass. PS .I love your ways and Weather Report
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 noise as you call it, sounds awesome and adds to your tone.
I really like the vibe of this bass... It sounds to me almost like a p bass with flat wounds... seriously love the vibe ...
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 🤹
Great playing for this demo. Good touch
Very good review. I have been playing a Kala Journeyman u-bass for a little over a year - my first bass instrument. In addition to the poly strings, you can get nylon strings with metal windings in round wound (which I have) or flat wound strings as long as the u-bass is an acoustic electric model with a truss rod. Less stickiness than the poly strings, slightly different tonal qualities.
I just got a bass fret Ukulele I love it, it’s easy to hold N less strings to play N your right less noise Thank U
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 have a Kala UBass Passenger. Great instrument.
I noticed when it comes to fretting... you have to be more precise (and slightly different position) with the rubber strings than with a traditional electric bass. They do sound wonderful for such a small instrument.
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.
Nice, thanks, I have one I just use to work out ideas in a quiet setting. I do have some friends that normally play up right basses but use these for small gigs, mostly they play Americana style of music.
Rosin I would have never thought of that.
My violin and viola will be jealous now😁😁
Very helpful. Thank you.
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.
Played one exactly like this. Strings are larger in diameter and tended to roll under my fingers. Personally I didn't like the feel of it. Fast forward several weeks and I now have a Gold Tone bass with "rubber" strings. It's got a larger body, built in tuner and tone controls. It works for me now. I play for fun with a local meetup group. Haven't touched a bass guitar since the 1960s.
I really love the UBass. Great bass!
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 love that she keeps playing Jaco
EXcellent piece! Thank you.
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 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.
U-bass sounds surprisingly good with a pick too!
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!
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’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 🤣
I've had a Kala U-Bass for about 5 years and love it. I play it about as much as my other basses. And it goes with me on business trips so I can practice in the hotel room. Like you said, no one can hear it and it's much easier to travel with (for non-gig travel) than any of the others. The only tip I have is that sometimes I use an equalizer between it and the amp, to cut out some of that noise.
I might try those Thunder Reds, but I have to agree, they seem a bit dull compared to the regular strings. As for changing the regular strings, if you don't have the access panel in the back of the U-Bass, be prepared to spend more time than you planned to change the strings. It's not easy, but it is worth it in the end.
I apply a very small amount of liquid silicone with cotton wool, periodical along the length of the Aquila red strings on my custom fretless 23 inch scale length solid bodied uku bass.
I use Galli synthetic core wire wounds on my hollow bodied fretless. Enjoy your posts and playing.
I Have a 23' Gold Tone microbass with that white rubber strings .. ThunderReds won't fit (20inch) but I see there are ThunderBrowns in store made for 23 - 26 inch basses. And there are flatwounds too for UBass and Microbass as well. A real improvement!!
Thank you dear very helpful tips
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.
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. 🙏
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
I always watch your videos to the end
Thanks for this video
You just got a new subscriber , congratulations 😁
Have got a couple of EUB,s use a boss graphic EQ GE7B you could probably notch out the click quite effectively. To get an authentic double bass sound from my electric upright under saddle pick up I just crank the mid and low mid around 85% cut some treble to stop hiss and slightly cut a very low frequency to stop rumble. Depending on the room I can add a bit of bass from the instrument tone control . You have to TAKE YOUR TIME the controls on the graphic are very powerful, USE YOUR EAR,, if you like a certain frequency don't be afraid to max it or cut it completely
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.
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.
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.
I took mine to a jam in the park a few weeks ago and everyone could hear it. We had acoustic guitar, flute and accordion. I'd not play a gig with it because it's sorta inconsistent but it is fun to play outdoors with friends.
I use finger ease spray on the neck and where I fret and my fingers don't stick at all.
@MorbidManMusic I only use it about once per week, I also put a paper towel under the strings when I spray it.
I use thundered reds on my solid body custom 23 inch scale fretless uku bass. I like to put a little silicone spray on a wad of cotton wool and apply it to the length of the strings.
It helps cancel the stickiness of the these strings. I think it also helps the strings last longer, depending on a persons body chemistry. Body oil can adversely effect some polymers.
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...
Reminds me of a old Guild Ashbury I had access to. Silicon rubber strings and I used talc powder to play it with.
Cool video. I was thinking a parametric EQ could be useful in finding the offending frequency and notching it out.
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.
Well that noise I love it since some drummers have weak feet to hit the kick drum it comes very handy to me to be percussive with my bass
Now this is what I’m looking for 😍
My U bass came with bronze-wrapped round wound strings. Still stretchy/loose at the core, but the winding really adds snap.
Francis Rocco Prestia has the best bass finger control. He uses the same method for fingers but he uses regular hand cream to smooth his fret and plucking hand on a fretted bass to get that gut sound
I dont like where that cup of water is sat.
😮🤷♀️🤔?
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.
As a fiddle player I was strictly taught never to get rosin on my fingers! Yuk! Nevertheless thank you for this useful, informative, professional made and charming video! Keep on uking guys!
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!
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.!!
The gentle crackling of a Ukulele fire sounds good.
You're rosin trick is interesting. I had discovered something similar when sitting down to play in the evening a while back. After grinding up some cannabis flower with my fingers, I was getting a lot more friction when plucking. Especially on my Hofner club bass with flatwounds!
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...
Love the video and what you were playing ❤️❤️❤️ Never heard of a base ukulele till today. Any recommendations for a new Ukulele Bass enthusiast ( Apprentice lol)
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.
This is a really cool alternative to the bass guitar!!!
*I want one!*
_And I’m sure they’re cheaper than a bass guitar_
Kala with the black strings sounds wow.
Oh those big rubba strings are crazy cool 😎 but no E bow 😂
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.
so very cool!
I've found that palm muting on the bridge is the best way to focus the tone and reduce the clicking sound... but i still have the original strings on (and they are about 5 years old) I'm keen to try other strings but I'm worried they'll just be more of the same.
I took the strings off mine immediately and replaced them with those kala wound strings. That's how I fixed the sound of my uke bass. 😂 My favorite bass tone is like Lemmy, angry and growly.
thank you Kanye, very cool!
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.
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!
I’m amazed at how much this Kala U bass sounds like my Hofner 500/1 Beatle bass that has LaBella flats on it.
Hi Julia. Thanks for the video! I just built myself a hollow body UBASS from a kit. I'm having a bit of fret buzz on the low E string. It just seems like the size of the string vs the positioning of the bridge invites this with these ubass'. Have you had this experience? I'm considering putting a flat wound on just the low E since I don't have a truss rod. Thoughts?
Great video Thanks! Just get rid of those gray strings and buy yourself a nice set of Thunder reds. Awesome sound, fixes everything.
I love the very first u-bass, its so beautiful! Which brand and model is it? Would love to know.. thanks!
Hi Julia, very cool video !!!! The part where you put rosin on your fingers made me laugh my ass off. It sounded like Ken and Barbie going at it !!!! Great lesson, keep it up. Cheers 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
I too have been tinkering with ways to find a sound I have been looking for My travels have brought me to using quartz for a bridge, and a nut. I still haven't found that certain sound yet but I have made a few improvements in the quality of what I already have. I once coated the inside of a violin with polyurethane. I called it my crying violin. Each time I played that violin it actually sounded like it was crying.
I likey da thunder red stringz Amiga. Gracias 👑
I also have that noise on a normal bass through the pickups sometimes.
Thank you for the review. Do those Aquila strings exist only in red ?
Great video, what do you recommend for a portable ukulele bass amp?
I found spraying String Ease to help the stickiness of the rubber strings
Can we see your demo of Harley Benton BZ and HBZ basses?
They are incredibly cool and very overlooked on TH-cam.