Back in March I recorded some music at a friends house. This jam on the classic Wayne Shorter tune Footprints was some of the music that was captured. Hope you like it!
Daniel Björnmo, guitar and Mats Nyström, drums has been featured on this blog before. Please check these posts out if you want. Post 1 | Post 2
Wayne Shorter Documentary in the making!
If you want to help the people that are making the documentary about the life and music of Wayhe Shorter please hurry and contribute here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/wayneshorter Hurry up there are only 11 days left (until 6.20.13) of this pledgemusic.com opportunity!
On April 27th I played at a trade show in Gothenburg, Sweden together with my friend Marcus Måttgård on guitar. Here are some previous posts about me and Marcus. Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4
We did a Ubass showcase for the Scandinavian distributer of, among others, Kala Brand and Martin Guitars, Akustikken, playing a couple of jazz tunes and songs from our Jerry Reed repertoire.
First up was a rendition of a song made famous by Duke Ellington, ‘Take the A-train’ (Billy Strayhorn).
Our version is based around a groove built from quite a few layers of loops, all done with my acoustic ubass spruce fretless 🙂 For ease and simplicity (and also artistically challenging limitations) I used a new loop pedal from TC Electronic called Ditto looper.
The Ditto has a very straight forward approach to looping. It has only one knob and one foot switch. But with different combinations of foot switch ‘pushings’ you can do quite a lot with this little pedal. (I will try to do a comparison between different looper tools I use in a future post!)
We also played my version of the Charles Mingus composition, Nostalgia at Times Square, that features lyrics I wrote quite a few years back. I will probably include a trio version on my upcoming Ubass CD!
It is also featured in Jammin’ with my Kala UBass | 5
To round the set up we performed a few songs from the Jerry Reed songbook featuring the great guitar work of my friend Marcus Måttgård! Please check him out and spread the word to guitar playing and music loving friends!
This was the first trade show I played showcasing the UBass (besides a few quick jams at this years Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany). I really hope there will be more opportunities playing at these kind of shows to let people know about the beauty of a little portable bass with a huge sound 🙂
The annual Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany is the biggest music fair in Europe! Although it has been bigger, with even more exhibitors, it sure is big! I have been thinking about going there for many years but haven’t managed to go until this year.
So why go now? There are at least a couple of reasons…!
In Sweden there has not been that many opportunities to try out different Ubass models. The popular demand of the Ubasses is really nice but it has been a bit difficult to get enough Ubasses to Sweden. There is already been a change for the better and I hope the availability will be even better! The Scandinavian Kala dealer is Akustikken. Please check out their site!
In Frankfurt at Musikmesse there was a lot of different models in the Ubass booth! Seeing all these different models at the same time was a bit mouth watering 🙂
It was nice being able to try models I have only read about! Because of the cacophony of noise building up from the different exhibitors around the Ubass booth it was hard to try the instruments thoroughly. Initially I thought of doing some video reviews on the spot but it wasn’t possible 😦
I hope to do so in the future as more and more models arrive to Sweden!
A lot of nice ubasses to try out!
Another reason for my visit was to finally meet Mike Upton and Rick Carlson from Kala headquarters in Petaluma, California. It was great talking to them at the UBass booth! Thanks guys!
Mike Upton, me and Rick Carlson at the UBass booth!
I also met and got to jam with a great ubassist that played in the booth, Armin Alic. Please check out his band, Royal Street Orchestra!
Armin Alic and me jammin’ at the Ubass booth!
Besides hanging and jammin’ in the UBass Booth I checked out a lot of nice instruments and pro audio stuff!
The best booth jam I saw was probably with the great Etienne MBappe, his son Swaeli and a drummer. Sorry, didn’t get the drummers name. Great groove!
Etienne and Swaeli MBappe with a great drummer!
I got to meet a lot of great musicians. Among these was Gary Grainger (I met him almost 20 years ago in my old home town when he played there with the great Dennis Chambers on drums, a Norwegian keyboardist, Hakkon Graaf and Swedish guitarist, Ulf Wakenius. It was nice to talk to him for a bit!
When I was at the Ubass booth a great bass player and someone I have listen to a lot through the years stopped by. It was great seeing Billy Sheehan! A new Niacin record has just been released. It’s called Krush!
Me and Billy Sheehan at the UBass booth!
Steve Lawson, a great bass player that plays a lot of solo shows using looping and effects was also there. It was two years ago we first met at the Victor Wooten Music/Nature Camp that I have blogged about before.
Steve Lawson and me
Speaking of the Music/Nature Camp. I also met Ariane Cap and my danish friend Sune R. We all met for the first time since the 2011 camp but it felt like it was yesterday 🙂
Me, Ariane and Sune
Ariane plays Marleaux basses from Germany and I got to meet Gerald Marleaux and his staff. Great people and wonderful instruments!
Playing a Marleaux Consat Sopran!
I also got to jam with a great bass player from Israel, Or Lubianiker. Hopefully we’ll be doing some collaboration in the future! I didn’t get to play with Christopher Bolte this time but was also a great player!
Christoffer Bolte, me and Or Lubianiker at the DR Strings booth
As you can see there was a lot of new and old friends at musikmesse. I really hope I can go again next year to meet them and even more lovely people! Music is life, life is Music! 🙂
In this post I will compare the Kala California Custom Flame Maple Top (5-string)
with the Kala S.U.B. Sunburst (4-string)
I have been playing Kala Ubasses since the Summer of 2010.
If you’re interested in how I discovered these instruments please check the very first post on this blog!
On this page you can read about the different UBass models available in 2013.
Let’s get on with the review!
First up…
Kala SUB
Kala S.U.B. Sunburst (4-string)
Construction and playability
The Kala SUB has a bolt on neck with 22 frets. The scale length is 21″ inches (53,34 cm) (13″ less then a regular 34″ electric bass). Compared to the fretless acoustic/electric model I have played since 2010 there are a few differences in how it feels to play. In my opinion it was easier for me to play the fretless than the fretted. This is almost only because of the scale length. When I first started playing the SUB I tended to fret on the frets. It has however been a lot easier over time. When you fret ‘on-the-fret’ a not so pleasing sound will be heard. There is more ‘looking-at-the-right-hand’ than when I play a regular 34-35″ bass. This is simply because it feels more natural. (I have been playing electric bass for 25+ years). All in all I think it’s definitely nice to play. The only negative thing that I have to mention is that the fretwork is not top notch. There are quite a few frets that need some ‘more love’. But in this price range it’s quite common and the new SUB’s are hopefully even better. The one I’ve been playing was probably made 1-1,5 years ago or more.
Sound
I have played this Ubass almost a year now. It’s been used on different gigs. From cover band type of gigs to a Beatles tribute with a large choir and band in a concert hall.
I think it works really well in these situations. The sound suited these shows perfect and anywhere you would choose a Fender P-bass. A friend told me about a supposedly old Fender P-bass add that said: ”It’s got one sound – the sound you want” 🙂 The Kala Solid body’s has a really warm and full sound! This is one key ingredient that it blends so well with other instruments! The pre-amp in the SUB is designed to deliver a quite hot and ‘bassy’ sound hence the name SUB!
Kala California
Kala California Custom Flame Maple Top (5-string)
Construction and playability
This is quite new for me. I have only had it for about a month. There are a few differences between these ubasses.
The California model is built entierly in the US while the SUB is built in Asia. The final setup and check is made at Kala in California for both models.
Scale length. The California model is 23,5″ while the SUB is 21″ (More about this later!)
The preamp differs too. California: MiSi 60 seconds recharable system with 2 band (Bass, treble) active EQ SUB: Shadow 2 band (Bass, treble) active EQ. As I wrote earlier the SUB has a ‘hot’ signal with a lot of low end while the California model is voiced a bit ‘cleaner’ with not so much low end output.
Sound
The California model has the same stock strings as the SUB (Pahoehoe black polythene strings). These have some serious bottom end and is of cause one of the key ingrediences to the great sound of the UBasses. There are other strings on the market as well, I have tried the white Aquila Thunderguts on my acostic/electric for quite some time now (Read and listen to a comparison here: post 1post 2post 3) and the do feel a bit different to play and soundvise too. What’s best for you is not for me to say I think you have to try the different strings out and see ehat suits your playing style and prefered sound.
Ok let’s get back to scale length. Here comes one of the biggest differences between the 4 and 5-strings. Since the Califonia 5-string has a 3 inches longer scale length the spacing of the frets will be greater. Stretch out these 3 inches and you will of cause get a fretboard that is 10,5″ shorter than a regular 34″ electric bass. This makes the transition from the regular electric bass a lot easier. My friend Christian Wikstrom plays bass in a hiphop group where I play drums. He tried the Califonia on a recent gig. I brought it to the rehearsal (on the day of the show) and he just couldn’t put it down. He ended up playing it for the whole set!
He said it was quite easy to get used to the California because of the longer scale (compared to the 21″ acustic/electric he tried out earlier. He wrote this after the gig: – ”It is truly a great bass. I like the longer neck feature that makes is easy to swap from any bass. When I used it at a gig I didn’t have the time to practise first but it felt just great right from the start. And I love the ”sub-dub” sound from those rubber strings!” Well it’s hard to get a better review on a first hand encounter with the California 5! I tend to agree too! I have just done some recordings and I do feel the extra length gives you a slightly more defined tone and the string also feels a bit more ‘solid’ under my fingers.
Enough talking. Let’s here it!
Sound samples
I have recorded some bass lines with the Califonia and SUB. And since I referred to a P-bass earlier I’ve also recorded with my 1978 maple neck Fender Precision. (It has old flat wound stings).
TrackOne (A Blues shuffle)
A. Kala SUB
B. Kala California
C. Fender P-bass
Track Two (This is soul/funk groove. Main keyboard part is recorded by Peter Burell. Drums, guitar and ubass/p-bass by Magnus Sjöquist)
A. Kala SUB
B. Kala California
C. Fender P-bass
You can hear both these tracks in the video below!
Final words
I really hope you can have the pleasure of trying these solid body ubasses. I think they both are great instruments. It will take some time to adjust to the shorter scale but try to find the possibilities rather than limitations and you will be ‘up-and-running’ in no time! Having the option to buy the SUB and California 4-string models as a 23,5″ versions would be great…
Specifications
Kala SUB Specs
Scale Length: 21″ (Most regular electric basses are around 34″)
Recommended Tuning: EADG (like standard electric or upright bass)
Body Width: 9.25″
Body Length (from upper horn): 13.5″
Body Depth: 1.75″
Neck (Nut to Body): 13″
Fretboard Width (nut): 1.75″
Fretboard Width (end): 2 3/8″
Fretboard Length: 15.75″
Body Connects at 16th Fret, lower cutaway allows access to full 22 frets
Custom Hipshot-Licensed Tuners
Passive Shadow Pickup System w/4 Compensated Saddle and 2-band active EQ System
Rosewood Fingerboard, nut and Bridge
Poplar Body, Maple Bolt-On Neck
INCLUDES Deluxe Custom Padded Gig Bag
Limited Lifetime Warranty against defects and materials, 1 year on electronics and tuning machines.
Kala California Specs (for the 4-string)
Made in USA
Recommended Tuning: EADG (like standard electric or upright bass)
A while back I had the pleasure of spending some time with a great musician and super nice human being, Lars Jansson. He is considered one of the best jazz pianists in Sweden and has released a lot of albums through the years, toured all over the world with different jazz projects often in his own name.
Please check out his website for more info!
We had a quick jam at a friends house and naturally I brought my spruce fretless and small Aguilar/Promethean rig 🙂 I sure hope we’ll play together again soon! Thanks for a great time Lars!
A while ago (it was my first post this year) I blogged about ‘a couple’ of essential albums to check out with great bass playing. If you haven’t already please check it these albums out!
Just now I discovered yet another list! My friend Bruce shared this on his Facebook wall and I thought I should re-share it here for you to check out! (Some of the albums on this list is also on the first list. How many are on both lists? Well, it’s for you to find out if you want!)
The list is put together by Victor Wooten that I’ve also had the good fortune to meet and study with. Read more about that here.
I’m also including a Spotify playlist (as I did with the previous post) see the top of this post! Of cause I do encourage you to pick these albums up on CD or maybe even vinyl if you can find them!
Here’s a link to the article/list on musicradar.com
Yay! I won a 5-string custom shop UBass in the Kala UBass Giveaway! It has arrived and is really neat! I haven’t had the time to play it that much yet but I will record with it and bring it to some gigs too! I’m also thinking about doing some A/B testing with the Kala SUB.
This past weekend a new group was born, The Guitar Men.
I have written about Marcus Måttgård and my playing in the past. Please check out these earlier posts: Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3. But Simon Stålspets is (I guess) a new name for the readers of this blog.
Simon and I went to the University of Orebro back in 1993 (!) After one year Simon moved back to Stockholm and finished his music studies there. (Majors in electric guitar and composition). Thanks to Facebook we started talking about the possibilities of playing together. 20 years later, since we first met, it’s finally a reality! You can read more about him here and here.
Marcus and I spent past weekend at his house playing music and having a super great time. The result is a new band The Guitar Men. If you have read about Marcus and my duo project you might guess where the title came from… Our duo, M&M’s Honky S*** are heavily influenced by 60’s country and in particular the music of Jerry Reed. One of his most famous songs is called The Guitar Man…
The Guitar Men will start rehearsing soon and have plans for upcoming gigs later in 2013!
Here is our first video recorded last weekend. It’s one of Marcus Måttgårds originals called MarQ’s Breakdown. Enjoy!
Kala SUB and Spruce fretless at an outdoor gig August 2012
Hi!
I get a lot questions about what model to choose when thinking of buying that first Ubass!
I have blogged about these questions before. See these earlier posts from 2011 | Post 1 | Post 2
Some time have passed since I wrote those posts and I have been playing more fretted Ubass (Kala SUB) now. This makes it’s easier for me to compare fretless and fretted models and hopefully give you some new thoughts and perspectives about this matter.
Ok, so you’re thinking about whether you should get a fretless of a fretted Ubass?
If you want to buy any of the fretless models there will be an advantage if you have been playing a instrument without frets before, like a fretless bass, cello, violin or upright bass.
It is a matter of getting used to adjust your playing to what you hear. Most (or I guess all) fretless players don’t play exactly in tune the whole time. (It’s actually nice to be able to hear that it IS a fretless instrument. It would be hard if all notes were spot on all the time!)
On the other hand listening to someone that constantly plays out of tune is not really enjoyable. Not for the audience and not for the player…
If you buy a new instrument you probably want to use it in public as soon as possible. So if you are not used to the fretless fretboard of any instrument it WILL take time to get a consistent in-tune tone on your fretless UBass.
More things to consider: What styles of music do you want to play on the Ubass?
Playing the fretless model makes it a bit easier to get a more upright and jazzy sound. (But it is also possible to get a more rock sound from the acoustic Ubasses too, both fretless and fretted. It all depends on the technique used). This is something you can learn more about in my upcoming lesson packs for Ubass! Stay tuned for more info soon!
Because of the short scale (21 inch) the spacing of the frets on are a lot less than on a regular bass (most common on an electric: 34 inch). This will take some time to adjust to. Without frets you will be a bit forgiven if you fret the notes on the ‘fret’ (since it lacks fret wire!). Because of the rather short decay the notes you play will quite quickly ‘die’ and you can focus on the next note if the one you just played was a bit out of tune.
On the other hand if you play a fretted Ubass you have to play between the frets to get rid of fret noise (sometimes referred as ‘farting’ on some forums 😉 BUT to get the best possible tone you should play as close to the fret wire as you can. More about this in future lessons!
Summary
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What styles of music will I likely play on my Ubass?
2. Have I’ve got some experience playing fretless instruments (fretless bass, cello, violin, upright bass)?
If the answer to these questions are:
1. I want to emulate a upright jazzy sound.
2. I’m used to play fretless bass or another fretless fingerboard and because of that am used to really listen to the pitch my playing produce and can quickly alter my fingers to accommodate in-tune playing.
YOU should most definitely buy one of the fretless models (I have been playing the spruce fretless since 2010 and I really love the sound and the way it blends so great in the different situations I have tried it in. (This UBass has been used in most of my pics and videos on this blog)
Kala UBass Solid Spruce Fretless [SSMHG-FL]
(It’s now updated with a built in preamp, EQ and built-in tuner)
Read more here
…or…
Kala UBass Solid Mahogany Fretless [SMHG-FL]
(It’s now updated with a built in preamp, EQ and built-in tuner)
Read more here
If your answer to those questions are:
1. I want to play rock or blues based music or…
2. I have not played fretless instruments before and want to be able to use by Ubass RIGHT AWAY!
Well maybe you should go for the a fretted model OR maybe look into the solid body options.
Kala has quite a few models available now so there are a lot to choose from. Please check out the new instrument page at Ubass.com for more info.
Don’t hesitate to leave comments below this post or to send me questions about these matters to: ubasslessons@gmail.com
I’m also starting up a playubass.com newsletter. You will soon be able to subscribe to it!
Stay tuned! (Hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day!)
Play UBass! 