Thunder Reds on UBass
Hi!
This is part 1 in my new D-I-Y series! I will focus on stuff you can fix and do yourself. First up is one way you can string your ubass. This time the new Aquila Thunder Reds are in focus!
Next up! Preamp change in a Solid body UBass!
I will also do a string review of these strings. Coming soon!
Play UBass! 
hi. how do you find the red aquila ubass strings? thanks.
Hi, I think they are great! Used them at a festival this past weekend with great results! Review soon on the blog!
Hi Magnus, thanks for your wonderful site! I’m a new owner of a Kala Bamboo Ubass and found some of the information on your site very helpful. I’m really enjoying my new bass but had one issue for which I wanted your advice. I find the black polyurethane strings that come with the bass sticky, and hence difficult to play slides, or play reasonably fast. Do you have any advice on how to deal with this? Are any of the alternate string options less sticky / smoother?
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Hi Rohan,
Thanks for your kind words!
I’m glad you find useful info on my site and that you have started to play the ubass!
All of the Polyurethane (or similar) strings can take some time getting use to. They can feel a bit sticky and I have found that the Aquila Thundergut strings are even more sticky (for me at least).
My best advise is to play with a very light touch and let the amplification do the “heavy lifting”. If you play softer it can be easier to play faster and also get rid of some of the sticky feeling.
Slides are tricky but usually easier on the thinner strings.
A great option for the Pahoehoe sting is the Kala/Galli flat wound string.
It has a little bit of a brighter/upright sound but is also smoother.
Here’s a little test I did last year…
https://playubass.com/2019/07/29/playubass-string-test-july-2019/
Good luck!
All the best,
Magnus
Thanks so much for the feedback Magnus!! Yes I agree with you, a ”lighter touch” seems to really help, and also just getting used to the strings and the bass. It’s amazing how our hands automatically adapt over time.