Info on bass ukuleles

[Dom in Dorset]

Inspired by the release of "Black Sabbath for ukulele" myself and a couple of uke playing friends are planning a Sabbath bases camp fire sing song next summer. I thought about taking my acoustic bass but now I'm thinking of building a bass uke.
I've done some research some info but I'd rather hear it from the horses mouth.
They seem to tune EADG and use thick nylon (?) strings, what is the acoustic sound like?
Where can you get strings from
I've seen scale lengths from 20-25" , what's most popular/best?

Edited September 18, 2013 by Dom in Somerset

[lowdown]

Funny enough I am looking into getting one.
A couple of sites I have been checking out (You more than likely have seen them)
[url="http://www.bassuke.com/"]http://www.bassuke.com/[/url]

[url="http://www.largesound.net/community/index.php?topic=452.0"]http://www.largesoun...php?topic=452.0[/url]

And I have been looking at this.
[url="http://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/Product/992/Kala-uBass-Rumbler-Electro-Acoustic-Bass-Ukulele"]http://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/Product/992/Kala-uBass-Rumbler-Electro-Acoustic-Bass-Ukulele[/url]
[url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Tanglewood-TWRBE-Traveler-Electro-Acoustic-Bass-Guitar-and-FREE-Tuner/QMS"]http://www.gear4musi...-FREE-Tuner/QMS[/url]


Garry

Edit for wrong link.

Edited September 18, 2013 by lowdown

[tauzero]

The Kala U-Bass was the pioneer in acoustic-body bass ukes (the Ashbory is a similar scale but solid body). Tanglewood now make the TWRBE which is half the price of a Kala.

If you want to mod a uke, you need to start with a baritone, not a concert. Scale length on the Mk I Ashbory is 19", on the Mk II Ashbory and Kala 21", on the 5-string Kala solidbody (which seem to me to be ludicrously overpriced) it's 23.5".

[Dom in Dorset]

I'm actually going to build from scratch. I would seem there is a lot of variability in the scale length.

[Owen]

There is a huge thread on TB with all the info you could ever want. I am going to flog my Kala if anyone wamts one. Not cos I do not rate it, but I have a 5 string now.

[tauzero]

Any idea what the thread is called? Haven't had any luck hunting it down.

[lowdown]

This is the one I have been following.

[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-1-a-672089/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-1-a-672089/[/url]

[oggiesnr]

If you want to build one start with one of those cheap spanish guitars (about £10 at a car boot or charity shop) and adapt it. I'm part way through converting one to a fretless.

As far as the Kala etc are concerned, basic physics are against them, the body is too small to resonate and project well and in the company of more than a couple of ukes you need to use an amp. When I play in the local uke group I use either my double bass or Tacoma Thunderchief acoustic.

Steve

[Owen]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1379568017' post='2214214']
This is the one I have been following.

[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/kala-ubass-megathread-part-1-a-672089/"]http://www.talkbass....art-1-a-672089/[/url]
[/quote]

That's the one. You can pass HOURS in there