Ask for a setup in the shop. Even the more expensive ones are often not setup properly - typical high action, bad intonation. Don't buy fretless minibasses. The shorter scale, the bigger risk for playing out of pitch. Gonna be very difficult to play. I have a Kala U-bass, and swapped the rubber strings with some nylon core strings (like those for classical guitar, but alot thicker). Sounds and plays absolutely fantastic now!
That’s why I always recommend going to a specialist or at least a decent music shop for the set-up. I play fretless mini-basses and yes, you have to be careful with intonation but it’s the same with regular scale fretless too. 👍
I bought my bass back in the 60s - a Höfner violin bass I used in a couple of bands. I still use it regularly, playing along with recorded music. Sadly, my speaker column has been reduced to a set of ear phones but I rock on regardless.
Excellent advice. I was down in Southern Ukes this week trying basses and came away with a Kala SB to replace my Kala Zebrawood UBass. The Zeb uses piezo pickups and had a weak E string pickup. The SB is very well balanced, both physically and tonally. I'll be replacing the wirewounds with flats as I prefer the sound. I also have flats on my Hofner bass so I'm used to them. I don't know why Kala and Flight sell them with wirewounds as they make perfectly good basses sound 'twangy'. I suspect that a lot of bass players replace the wirewounds soon after purchasing the instrument, so why not just sell them with flats in the first place?
Glad you got as new U-Bass Phil, congrats. I do love the electro-acoustics but as you say, the piezo pickups can be a bit temperamental on some of them.
Oh dear. I bought my first bass years ago from a retailer more than 1000 km away without any guide. I went with Kala and I still have it 😎 Kala Rumbler with rubber strings.
My first small bass was a Denver fretless with poly strings off craigslist for $100Cdn. After I learned a bit I changed strings to Thunderblacks. Sold it on. Now I have a Ibanez GSRM20; I love the thin neck and shorter scale. Also a Hofner Club Bass short scale with flat wounds and a Kala solid body UBass. I've gone through a few amps, all used. I've settled with a Fender Bassman 25 wedge, older but pretty powerful, and a Carvin AG1000 which is versatile and rugged. Very good advice from Rachel all around. Spend some $$$ 'cause if you don't like bass you can always sell on a decent instrument, but a cheap bass will end up as firewood with a total loss of your money. Look for some reviews on the instrument you're interested in and don't rush it.
Thanks for your lovely comment (as always) Alan. Yes, I was that impressed with the Ibanez we bought for school, I had to get one myself - plus it’s purple! 💜
Can’t believe your timing Rachael haha I am just about to buy one and searched TH-cam tonight for help on an electro acoustic and once again you’re hear for me. Thank you so much. I am buying two basses , one solid body and one electro acoustic. Have just bought a solid body you own and showed in an earlier video ( Blackstar Carry on travelbass) so now to the electro acoustic recommendation from you 😊 Update I bought a Kala Journeyman so can’t wait for it to arrive 😁
I remember that you once told where to buy these beautiful pickguards. But I can't find or remember it. Would you please be so kind and tell us (me) again?
I have a Squier PJ Precision bass full size, a Kala Rumbler acoustic electric Ubass second hand of Facebook marketplace, a Richwood short scale Acoustic bass, and just got a red Squier Mini P bass. All excelent, If you want a uke sized bass get a Kala electro acoustic, otherwise get the Squier Mini P bass, Its great.
All great basses there. I love my Ibanez Micro which is the same scale as the Squier mini but I prefer the Ibanez TBH but overall much prefer the 23”scale mini basses.
Thanks for this! I just got my very first bass delivered last week - a Kala Wanderer U-bass, my Christmas present! I play ukulele in my church band and we don't have a bassist yet so I thought, why don't I try and learn a ukulele bass? That's when I found your channel and I've started using your beginner tutorials. Very excited to start my bass journey! Merry Christmas from sunny Western Australia 🎄❤
Thank you for making this video, since i've found your channels I'm intrigued to try U Bass. I've only found one local store with a AE micro bass, so playing a bunch isn't likely an option. Lots of used Kala AE on local Marketplace. I did get on a waiting list in USA for the new Flight JB Bass limited edition in Lake Placid Blue, however I am no where close to this well recommended UKE Store. So I'll await your review after Christmas :) I know of two local-ish uke groups so I will try to get out to them. I've no intention to play out in public, kinda trying to learn Uke, Banjolele and Guitar to keep my mind busy in retirement. Thanks again
Excellent video, Rachel - thank you! I have bass uke/micro bass 'twitch' - trying to decide between something like the Kala Journeyman (comes with roundwounds and I like the look of the black one) and something like the Blackstar Carry On bass (which I've tried in a local shop and got on well with). I'd already decided against a fretless. I have a good ear (and learnt violin for a while) but I think, in those 'Home for the Bewildered' moments half way through a gig/song, there's some security with frets!! Anyway, I've had my one and only UBass - sounding great with Thunderbrowns - for 15 years now. Hmmm - I feel a trip to Warwick's Bass Centre coming on after Christmas! Laura
Definitely go to Bass Direct Laura, they have a few to try and sooooo many pretty basses! Agree about the fretless option it is harder but maybe a future goal? Merry Christmas Laura 🎄
What a great collection of basses…. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great review Rachel. You have certainly covered all the Basses!
Very good Judi 👏😂
Ask for a setup in the shop. Even the more expensive ones are often not setup properly - typical high action, bad intonation.
Don't buy fretless minibasses. The shorter scale, the bigger risk for playing out of pitch. Gonna be very difficult to play.
I have a Kala U-bass, and swapped the rubber strings with some nylon core strings (like those for classical guitar, but alot thicker). Sounds and plays absolutely fantastic now!
That’s why I always recommend going to a specialist or at least a decent music shop for the set-up. I play fretless mini-basses and yes, you have to be careful with intonation but it’s the same with regular scale fretless too. 👍
As always sound advice Rachel. From your previous videos on bass Ukes, I purchased a Kala U-Bass, which I am totally satisfied with.
I bought my bass back in the 60s - a Höfner violin bass I used in a couple of bands. I still use it regularly, playing along with recorded music. Sadly, my speaker column has been reduced to a set of ear phones but I rock on regardless.
Excellent advice. I was down in Southern Ukes this week trying basses and came away with a Kala SB to replace my Kala Zebrawood UBass. The Zeb uses piezo pickups and had a weak E string pickup. The SB is very well balanced, both physically and tonally. I'll be replacing the wirewounds with flats as I prefer the sound. I also have flats on my Hofner bass so I'm used to them. I don't know why Kala and Flight sell them with wirewounds as they make perfectly good basses sound 'twangy'. I suspect that a lot of bass players replace the wirewounds soon after purchasing the instrument, so why not just sell them with flats in the first place?
Glad you got as new U-Bass Phil, congrats. I do love the electro-acoustics but as you say, the piezo pickups can be a bit temperamental on some of them.
Oh dear. I bought my first bass years ago from a retailer more than 1000 km away without any guide. I went with Kala and I still have it 😎
Kala Rumbler with rubber strings.
I’ve done it myself but I would always recommend trying if possible. 👍
Thanks Rachel. I made a long comment on Patreon so not much here except this was great 😊
I don’t play bass. Still working on my concert ukuleles!!! But they look cool. Great job Rachel as always
My first small bass was a Denver fretless with poly strings off craigslist for $100Cdn. After I learned a bit I changed strings to Thunderblacks. Sold it on. Now I have a Ibanez GSRM20; I love the thin neck and shorter scale. Also a Hofner Club Bass short scale with flat wounds and a Kala solid body UBass. I've gone through a few amps, all used. I've settled with a Fender Bassman 25 wedge, older but pretty powerful, and a Carvin AG1000 which is versatile and rugged. Very good advice from Rachel all around. Spend some $$$ 'cause if you don't like bass you can always sell on a decent instrument, but a cheap bass will end up as firewood with a total loss of your money. Look for some reviews on the instrument you're interested in and don't rush it.
Thanks for your lovely comment (as always) Alan. Yes, I was that impressed with the Ibanez we bought for school, I had to get one myself - plus it’s purple! 💜
Can’t believe your timing Rachael haha I am just about to buy one and searched TH-cam tonight for help on an electro acoustic and once again you’re hear for me. Thank you so much. I am buying two basses , one solid body and one electro acoustic. Have just bought a solid body you own and showed in an earlier video ( Blackstar Carry on travelbass) so now to the electro acoustic recommendation from you 😊
Update I bought a Kala Journeyman so can’t wait for it to arrive 😁
Glad I could help and it sounds like a good plan with the 2 basses 👍
I remember that you once told where to buy these beautiful pickguards. But I can't find or remember it. Would you please be so kind and tell us (me) again?
Use the contact through his website - pe-design.se His name is Per and is very helpful 👍
@@UkuleleWalesThank you so much, Rachel.
Thanks! I’m a ukulele player who’s been bass curious for a long time, and unsure what I should go for so this is really helpful.
Happy to help!
I have a Squier PJ Precision bass full size, a Kala Rumbler acoustic electric Ubass second hand of Facebook marketplace, a Richwood short scale Acoustic bass, and just got a red Squier Mini P bass. All excelent, If you want a uke sized bass get a Kala electro acoustic, otherwise get the Squier Mini P bass, Its great.
All great basses there. I love my Ibanez Micro which is the same scale as the Squier mini but I prefer the Ibanez TBH but overall much prefer the 23”scale mini basses.
Thanks for this! I just got my very first bass delivered last week - a Kala Wanderer U-bass, my Christmas present! I play ukulele in my church band and we don't have a bassist yet so I thought, why don't I try and learn a ukulele bass? That's when I found your channel and I've started using your beginner tutorials. Very excited to start my bass journey!
Merry Christmas from sunny Western Australia 🎄❤
Glad to be helping and have a very Merry Christmas 🎄
Thank you for making this video, since i've found your channels I'm intrigued to try U Bass. I've only found one local store with a AE micro bass, so playing a bunch isn't likely an option. Lots of used Kala AE on local Marketplace. I did get on a waiting list in USA for the new Flight JB Bass limited edition in Lake Placid Blue, however I am no where close to this well recommended UKE Store. So I'll await your review after Christmas :) I know of two local-ish uke groups so I will try to get out to them. I've no intention to play out in public, kinda trying to learn Uke, Banjolele and Guitar to keep my mind busy in retirement. Thanks again
I’ll be doing the review of the new Flight ASAP but also remember SUS (I know UK) but they do sell to US. Spoiler - I already think they are great! 😉
Excellent video, Rachel - thank you!
I have bass uke/micro bass 'twitch' - trying to decide between something like the Kala Journeyman (comes with roundwounds and I like the look of the black one) and something like the Blackstar Carry On bass (which I've tried in a local shop and got on well with). I'd already decided against a fretless. I have a good ear (and learnt violin for a while) but I think, in those 'Home for the Bewildered' moments half way through a gig/song, there's some security with frets!! Anyway, I've had my one and only UBass - sounding great with Thunderbrowns - for 15 years now. Hmmm - I feel a trip to Warwick's Bass Centre coming on after Christmas!
Laura
Definitely go to Bass Direct Laura, they have a few to try and sooooo many pretty basses! Agree about the fretless option it is harder but maybe a future goal? Merry Christmas Laura 🎄