nash Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 I tried one out in a random music shop in Liverpool recently. I chant remember what brand but I totally loved it. I would’ve bought it if I hadn’t just bought a bass that day. Anyway I’m doing some research now and I’m looking for suggestions in the £200 or less bracket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 As always, Harley Benton do a good Bang-For-Your-Buck version of one: https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_kahuna_clu_bass_ukulele.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 30 minutes ago, BassApprentice said: As always, Harley Benton do a good Bang-For-Your-Buck version of one: https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_kahuna_clu_bass_ukulele.htm That looks sweet. Would it be worth upgrading the strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Countryman. Best value and you won’t want or need to upgrade. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Yeah probably, it's something I have planned to do with mine but just haven't got round to it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jposega Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Look for something in the 22” scale range, they intonate better and the string tension is nicer. Same great tone and fun playability but just better. Not sure if any in the under £200 range are longer than the typical 20” scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Kala not worth the money. The deko Harley Benton I have kicks my Kala's behind. I have Pyramid black tapewound strings on it and it's killer for what I paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 17 minutes ago, Bigwan said: Kala not worth the money. The deko Harley Benton I have kicks my Kala's behind. I have Pyramid black tapewound strings on it and it's killer for what I paid. Have you tried any other strings on you HB? I've read that they aren't all the same scale length so don't work on all Bass Ukes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 If you're looking for a fretless, this end of line deal is a bargain. I played one of these last year and thought it was on a par with the Kala, and sounded excellent when amplified through a PA. https://www.hobgoblin.com/local/sales/products/XXHO00013/ashbury-fretless-ubass/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 The Countryman basses are great, as mentioned. I put some of those metal Ubass strings on and it made it even better :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 2 hours ago, BassApprentice said: Have you tried any other strings on you HB? I've read that they aren't all the same scale length so don't work on all Bass Ukes Just the originals (Thunderguts I think) and the Pyramid tapes. I put the Thunderguts on the Kala and they're the best I've tried on it from 4 different sets. The pyramid tapes put the Harley Benton in a different league though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Another +1 for the Countryman. Great preamp and build - tried the Kala and couldn't justify the extra £250+. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 On 12/06/2018 at 19:55, Bigwan said: Just the originals (Thunderguts I think) and the Pyramid tapes. I put the Thunderguts on the Kala and they're the best I've tried on it from 4 different sets. The pyramid tapes put the Harley Benton in a different league though. Are the neck and top happy with the tension from the tapes vs the stock rubbery strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 8 hours ago, therealting said: Are the neck and top happy with the tension from the tapes vs the stock rubbery strings? The truss rod needed a half turn, but other than that there have been no issues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 13 minutes ago, Bigwan said: The truss rod needed a half turn, but other than that there have been no issues. Awesome. Can I ask what size / scale / tension you went for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 (edited) You know I couldn't even tell you off the top of my head! Whatever the standard Pyramid Black Nylon Tapewound Uke bass strings are. I bought them for my U-bass about 18 months ago, at which point it went in the corner in shame as it wouldn't play even close to in tune ANYWHERE one the neck. But I transferred them onto the Harley Benton about a month ago and I'm liking both basses much more now. Always liked the Benton, but have disliked the U-bass since I took the original black strings off it. The Thunderguts at least play more in tune than anything else I've tried on the U-bass. Edit: I will say that restringing the Harley Benton is a nightmare. Probably easier with virgin strings, but with the strings previously on the U-bass... let's just say there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth trying to aim the spiral end through those little holes blind and at the very end of my contorted wrist's reach. I don't have the smallest hands in the world and there's no rear access hatch like there is on the Kala. Interesting times. Edited June 14, 2018 by Bigwan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 These are the real U-Basses : Christophe LEDUC is simply fed up by trials and has patented it for close to 30 years, yes 30 years ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 7 minutes ago, Hellzero said: These are the real U-Basses : Christophe LEDUC is simply fed up by trials and has patented it for close to 30 years, yes 30 years ! Can't argue with that. Always liked the look of Leduc basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Another vote for the Harley Benton here, I went for the fretless version and it’s amazing, way better than we should expect at the price point. I restrung with Aquila Reds and whilst they have less finger sound they are not as loud as the stock white strings from Harley Benton that are also a little thicker than the Aquila’s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 On the subject of U-bass strings, be aware that the metal-wound Kala strings make any U-bass much more easily playable BUT they also make it sound far more like an electric bass. The fat rubber strings (of which there is quite a wide range available these days) can be a bit of a bugger to play but the U-bass will then sound surprisingly close to a full-sized DB. The solution is talc / baby powder / cocaine on your fingers, which counteracts the stickiness of the rubber strings. It also allows you to experiment with a variety of fragrances ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 22 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: On the subject of U-bass strings, be aware that the metal-wound Kala strings make any U-bass much more easily playable BUT they also make it sound far more like an electric bass. The fat rubber strings (of which there is quite a wide range available these days) can be a bit of a bugger to play but the U-bass will then sound surprisingly close to a full-sized DB. The solution is talc / baby powder / cocaine on your fingers, which counteracts the stickiness of the rubber strings. It also allows you to experiment with a variety of fragrances ... I use Simple Pure Fine Talc, as it's unfragranced. Mrs CP put some in a jar which I keep in the uke gig bag. If ever I get stopped on the way home from a gig and the police do a search it could be interesting.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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