naxos10 Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 That Kala 5 string looks really nice Smanth. I would think the wider neck probably feels better and easier to play than a skinier 4 string uke? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf1e Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Its a better model than mine. Mine is a Kala SUB 5 string But I love them as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted January 27, 2023 Author Share Posted January 27, 2023 Just now, naxos10 said: That Kala 5 string looks really nice Smanth. I would think the wider neck probably feels better and easier to play than a skinier 4 string uke? The string spacing is not too different to my 4 string ubass ... but it has a 23 inch scale length (rather than 21.5) and I find that a tad better. S'manth x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Just now, Ralf1e said: Its a better model than mine. Mine is a Kala SUB 5 string But I love them as well. Mine too. I'd have preferred a Cali as you can get them in fretless, unlike the SUB, and I prefer fretless for rubber-string basses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf1e Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 1 minute ago, Ralf1e said: Its a better model than mine. Mine is a Kala SUB 5 string But I love them as well. |They look suspiciously so much like the ones Harley Benton are now selling I wonder if it is the same overseas maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted January 27, 2023 Author Share Posted January 27, 2023 @Ralf1e @tauzeroI cannot express how blessed I am to have it, it is an early model California and ... was a gift! S'manth x 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted January 27, 2023 Author Share Posted January 27, 2023 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Ralf1e said: |They look suspiciously so much like the ones Harley Benton are now selling I wonder if it is the same overseas maker Visually it is. I reached out to Kala and they told me it was a First Generation CA Solid Body built in May 2014. Ash body, Maple neck and Rosewood 0 radius fingerboard. It has Hipshot tuners and MiSi electronics. The only thing I changed was popping on a set of Thunder Browns (Which are awesome!) and adding some more side marks using a paint based marker pen. S'manth x Edited January 27, 2023 by Smanth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 20 minutes ago, Ralf1e said: |They look suspiciously so much like the ones Harley Benton are now selling I wonder if it is the same overseas maker Possibly, but the body shapes aren't that similar - the top and bottom horns are quite different. They curve in towards the neck much more on the HB than on the Kala. IMNSHO the HB horns are better looking, but HB don't make a 5-string solid bass uke - yet. Come to that, Kala have abandoned the SUB. The HB does look very like another bass uke though - https://www.basscentre.com/bass-centre-ashbory-bass.html although I'm not sure if stocks of that will ever be replenished, and they're not doing a 5-string version (I asked them a few years ago). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Anyway good plan to hit them with a good thumping refund figure to start negotiations with, I'm sure you'll end up scoring it for a decent price in the end, looks a great lil' bass too.. .... Shame you're not slicing it's head off tho! 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf1e Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 27 minutes ago, Smanth said: Visually it is. I reached out to Kala and they told me it was a First Generation CA Solid Body built in May 2014. Ash body, Maple neck and Rosewood 0 radius fingerboard. It has Hipshot tuners and MiSi electronics. The only thing I changed was popping on a set of Thunder Browns (Which are awesome!) and adding some more side marks using a paint based marker pen. S'manth x Sorry we got overlapped I was talking about the SUB not your cali bass when I said it was like the Harley Benton. I actually tried a cali up at our friends in Warwickshire but it didn't seem right. Young feller asked me how you getting on with it. I said doesn't feel right. His answer was. If it doesn't feel right then its not leave it. I left with a Warwick thumb bolt on that wasn't even on the shop floor. Loved it. Loved it so much I have now given it to my grandson and he is loving it and making good progress with it. He is still only 15 not been playing more than 18 months. Bloody show off lol. So glad to help him on the journey. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 (edited) Thomann sells the 5 string Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro Bass (mind at the moment it says 5-7 weeks before they got them back in stock): https://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_gsrm25_bk.htm Edited January 27, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 4 hours ago, Smanth said: Not sure ... I'd backordered ordered one from Thoman who are currently quoting 5-7 weeks and they seem to still be available at a couple of US sites. S'manth x DV247 have changed theirs to late March now so who knows, might be worth emailing Ibanez so you know what your options are. I'm currently waiting for a very specific discontinued bass to appear on the used market (also an Ibanez) for a non ridiculous price and it's a bit frustrating! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 Personally I'd take the partial refund and spend it on some sand paper, etc . A few hours and you have a relic'ed bass. I have one of those rubber stringed basses...tuners are rubbish and the strings won't stay in tune. Fun to play though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted January 28, 2023 Share Posted January 28, 2023 20 hours ago, lemmywinks said: I'm currently waiting for a very specific discontinued bass to appear on the used market (also an Ibanez) for a non ridiculous price and it's a bit frustrating! I spent years waiting for an ibanez Artcore 5 string semi hollow to appear, everything turns up eventually 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2pods Posted January 28, 2023 Share Posted January 28, 2023 Quote I'm currently waiting for a very specific discontinued bass to appear on the used market (also an Ibanez) for a non ridiculous price and it's a bit frustrating! As am I + 2 hours ago, Woodinblack said: I spent years waiting for an ibanez Artcore 5 string semi hollow to appear, everything turns up eventually Certainly hope so 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 28, 2023 Share Posted January 28, 2023 Ha, sounds like Ibanez need to ditch the habit of making cool stuff then discontinuing it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted January 28, 2023 Share Posted January 28, 2023 Sales figures do not lie. For a big brand like Ibby, the bean counters will tell them to stop sellling a model if sales are poor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) 18 hours ago, Chienmortbb said: Sales figures do not lie. For a big brand like Ibby, the bean counters will tell them to stop selling a model if sales are poor. At least they dare every once in while making some really unusual innovating stuff available on the market, and at fairly reasonable prices considering, if usually only for a limited period of time (I guess until the main chunk of the niche segment of customers at that given time potentially interested in the given niche product in question has been supplied, and sales then as a result dips), despite clearly being a niche product, which is a lot more to say than of by far most other similar big corporate guitar/bass companies their size. They actually bother catering the more niche segment of their customers (hard to blame them for only doing so for as long as it is actually profitable, they are after all a business and not a charity organization). Edited January 29, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 18 hours ago, Chienmortbb said: Sales figures do not lie. For a big brand like Ibby, the bean counters will tell them to stop sellling a model if sales are poor. They're still making the cheaper (and also fretted) version of the bass I want so I guess they've found a price point where it's sustainable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 Well, I’m happy to report that Muziker have done me right. After reporting the damage, they offered me £100 refund, which I have accepted (I’d paid £238 + Duty Paid Shipping). Apart from the cosmetic damage around the bottom strap pin, I am really happy with ‘Ibby’. The neck is a nice profile with a smooth finish and nicely cleaned fret edges. The pups sound pretty good and seem noise free. She is light (for sure under 3kg) with on,y a small amount of neck dive. The tuners are OKish, tho the E unit is a bit stiff … I’ll probably swap in some new, black, lighter ones at some point (and probably black knobs and bridge). First she needs a setup to lower the action and sort intonation and then I’ll use some superglue to reattach the surface bits that have come away … I’ll probably also need to get something to fill in any little gaps and then polish up the area. Thanks all for your ideas and support. S’manth x 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Great result and a bit of a bargain in the end. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 That's brilliant, a cool 100 quid discount is a result I'd say 😁 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 £138 for a new bass that suits your requirements and you like. That's a solid result every day of the week. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 🙂 RESULT! 👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrinkleygit Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Great news, good that it’s all worked out well for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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