It would be helpful to further describe what the different comparisons are, i.e, I was looking for the slapping comparison again, but had to end up watching the video again to find it (no great loss!). Thanks.
For such a niche community like the U-Bass one, you make a surprising amount of quality and informative content. As someone who is looking to start, you answered so many of my basic questions that I thought would be impossible to find. Keep up the great work man.
@@stephencoxbass I'm an electronic player, and I pretty much put my own basses together, so I've had to take my fair share of blind jumps and hope that things work. Channels like yours help people like me make the jump without the fear of things not working out.
Thunder reds are high-tech. Formerly the only way to make a string deeper was to increase the diameter but these strings have in increased density by adding copper to the formula. They have a much more full sound, and are not sticky so they have less finger noise.
@kenstephanie8445, the three factors in string pitch are diameter, mass, and tension. Change any of those and you change the pitch. Change any two or all three, and that math you said you’d never use after high school comes into play!
@@stephencoxbass well I just bought the standard mahogany ubass stay comes with the rubber strings. I really like how the flatwounds sound and was wondering would it be a bad idea to put them on that ubass? I’m just worried it could be harmful to the pickup or fretboard since it was intended originally for the rubber strings.
Flats sound great, no wonder they're more expensive. would like to see a review of the nylon wounds. Which is the perfect travel /camping/ beach bass???
Great review. No story telling-bullshit upfront but an overview was given first and then you came up with some playable basslines that are then covered on each version of strings so that actual reproducable comparison was achieved. Thanks. Very helpful! If every review on youtube was so straight forward. Billions of GB on harddrives and a lot of time would have been saved. Best Regards
Many thanks for the comparison. It's really helped me decide to stick (no pun intended) with the polyurethane strings originally fitted to my Laka ukulele bass, as they really are best for the upright bass tone I bought it for.
I have the rubber strings on my Ubass and I solved the "sticky" problem with String Fuel from Music Nomad. I like it better than Finger Ease because you don't spray it on the strings. I can slide without detuning the note.
I saw someone asked about "is it possible to change from Roundwound to Rubber Strings" then I have the same question, so I asked Kala's support, their answer is - "The only issue would be the size of the nut and the holes in the bridge. The rubber strings are larger and may need both the nut widened and the bridge holes drilled out. The neck can handle the tension of either but it may need truss rod adjustments." So I am just posting here and I hope this information is useful :)
It's very accurate info :) I haven't had to widen the holes on any of mine, but the grooves in the nut did need to be widened for the flat wounds. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! I came searching the comments for info about this because I ordered rubber strings and the luthier said he couldn’t fit them… which had me perplexed as to why Kala would sell strings that didn’t fit.
Think I'll still use my rubber strings, as they give the natural bass sound. If the price were lower, I might have tried the flatwound, to give a bit more of an electric bass sound, with less scratchiness than the round strings.
I've got the striped ebony with round wound strings on the way, but I think flat wound will be my next purchase. Thanks for making informative videos, your channel helped me decide to purchase a u-bass to learn on.
Thanks for doing this comprehensive review on string types. My EKO Fretless U-bass came with Aquila Thunderguts and although it sounded warm and mellow, I had a couple of issues with them. As you said, sliding up on the strings affected the intonation, this seems to be unavoidable. The other issue for me was my fingers tended to stick on the strings. I had no intention of putting lubricant or powder on the strings, so I ended up wearing thin cotton gloves, a bit like Scott does. I play an Epiphone EB3 with Rotosound flatwound Jazz bass strings which slide and produce a warm tone. With that in mind, saved up and got a set of Galli black nylon wrapped flatwounds. They solved both my issues and play well, especially when amplified. The only downside is they are much quieter if unplugged.
I got the fretted model (Nomad a/e) with the rubbery strings - i'll be using this bass mainly for emulating the upright sound, which it does very well. Busking with my string band and not hauling the doghouse, yay! Sounds great through my old battery-powered Pignose, will be upgrading to a smaller better amp this year.
I removed roundwounds from every actual bass I have and went for flatwounds, but now I'll be putting them on my rubber-stringed ubass. Because I crave that volume.
Thank you so much for this extensive discussion on the difference between these 3 types of strings. I just ordered my Aquila Thunderguts and am very excited to try them out.
@@stephencoxbass My micro bass had those bronze round wound acoustic bass strings strung from the shop. It's so hard to find a replacement set. However, when I tried the Aquilas, I discovered that the slats of my string pokes were too small and could accommodate the very thick E string. Oh well.
Thank you. I needed that info. I bought a Ubass to noodle around on without having to pick up my full size bass. Mine came with the rubber strings, which to me feel so so weird. I’m having a hard time getting used to the feel of them. In your demo, as an alternative, I did like the sound of the flat wound strings and the warmth of the rubber strings.
I picked up my Kala Journeyman and it came with round wounds. Since I needed it for a gig the next day, the tone and feel were a selling point. The rubber strings are cool, but not for the gigs I'm playing. I would be interested in checking the flats out
Hi Stephen. I have used the Thunder Reds on my Kala Acoustic for about five years and they are by far my favorite non-metallic string for the U-Bass. They are thinner than the Thunderguts, not as sticky and have a punchier tone that is still very upright-like. I use a plastic container with a sponge soaked with mineral oil that I dip my fingertips in. This virtually eliminates string noise and lets the fingertips of my right hand release the strings smoothly which greatly improves the tone. On my solid body SUB I use the Galli UXB 810 Blacknylon strings. They sound and feel great and really last. I've had them on since last December and there is still no wear on them. I found that the Kala roundwounds are to soft and thin and the frets and my acidic hands tear through them very quickly. I also want top say that both the Galli flat wound and Galli nylon roundwound contain steel and should work with magnetic pickups for those with the skills to install them in a Kala solidbody.
Thank you for all the info! I never would have thought to use mineral oil. In the future I may have to see about trying to install the type of pickup you mentioned...that should reduce string to fret noise a bit, too.
I agree - the Thunder Reds are less sticky than the Thunder Guts. Thinner too. I've had hand issues so, experimenting, I've used Gorilla Tips on my left hand fingertips, then wear a tight-fitting silk (or cotton) glove over that - I can slide easily on the Thunder Reds and my fingertips are protected (which I need b/c of my injury). I'm considering the Flats but the added tension concerns me....
During normal playing where I never really slide up more than 2 semitones I've never really noticed the intonation/sliding problem on Rubber strings. I'm using the ThunderGuts btw on a Harley Benton, I don't know if the 21" scale makes much of a difference (longer scale = more tension, so in theory it could help). If I get sweaty hands the strings do get hella sticky, so it might be an issue then, but for casual 30 minute couch sessions it's not a problem for me. Oh yeah the red Aquila strings have a bit more brightness to them according to the website. And according to some reviews they're also less sticky than the thunderguts. Sorry for spamming your channel full of comments, as you can tell I've been binging a lot of your content :P
I think the longer scale does help, but it's also only super noticeable on long slides. Thanks for the info on Thunder Reds...I knew about the stickiness, but not the brightness. Thanks again for watching. Cheers!
I play uke and have been looking for a ubass for while. I wanted one with flat wound strings standard but got a Hadean with rubber strings 'cause the price was right. I thought I changed the strings but you make the rubber sound great. Gives me something to work towards.
I love this video Stephen, thank you. I like the Countryman bass body because of the jazz vibe of the f holes but I think I'd like the rubber strings the most because of the closer proximity to an upright bass sound.
@@stephencoxbass Unfortunately, the Thunder Reds dry out relatively quickly (few months) and then tear. That quickly becomes expensive to play Thunder Reds. ...sounding great and less sticky.
This was really instructive, great work! I had my rubber ones, and it has been kind of difficult find them, I wanted to know about the other options that I was seeing out there and this was the perfect video. I still love the upright bass sound from my Kala, so I just bought those again after have watched your video. But now I know about the other ones. Thanks!
Fantastic review. I very much appreciate the consistently carried-out technical-factors demonstrations (exactly the kind of thing I do when visiting a guitar shop). And informative comments too.
I have always loved how flats sound and feel but I did notice they almost sounded muted compared to the other two on this video. I love the ticking on the frets with the round wounds but that doesn’t work for all songs. And they are just too rough for my tender fingers. The rubber strings, I have no experience with but I really like that upright sound. I may give those a try since they’re so affordable. Thanks for the help!
The flats do sound a bit more muted, but I prefer them over all. The polyurethane strings are great, but the rubbery feel takes some getting used to. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this comparison. It's just what I was looking for. Each string type has it's own pros. This typed, what attracted me to this type of bass (ukulele) outside of the size is that with the "rubber" strings, it sounds akin to an upright bass... so those are my favorite sounding strings. As an aside, the coral colored Kala with the f-holes is nice. I've not seen that color before. All the best!
Great tutorial, thanks a million. But please, folks, stop calling Aquila strings "Aqueela" with the accent on the double ee. It's 'Ah-kwilah, accent on the A. 'A-kwilah. Means eagle, in italian. Thank you
@@e.miller8943 Aquila is not spanish, where eagle is aguila pronounced ['a-gwilah], but italian, pronounced ['akwilah]. Akeela pronounced like tequila is wrong and does not exist neither in spanish nor in italian, trust me, I am 100% certified italian, and guitarist. Aquila strings are 100 italian made in Vicenza, Italy. So please Aaron don't think you are smarter, do your own research on Google, and please simply call them by their name: 'Akwilah. What do you mean with "I don't believe you" ... Cose da pazzi ci tocca leggere, mannaggia, il primo che passa si inventa qualunque fesseria e monta in cattedra!
Thanks for the informative video, Stephen! I just bought the metal round wounds model, ebony as it was available. I wanted to buy the solid mahogany one - as long they are still available - but the store could not offer metal strings for it... My new Ubass works well with our garage rock band, the guys liked the sound and versatility of the acoustic model when amplified. No feedback issues so far, aside from the positive fact that the instrument has better sustain when amplified. I'm now considering to buy a mahogany and maybe change strings, or rather maybe not, now that I have the round wounds. Having many basses is... well, basic luxury :-)
Your videos are incredibly helpful! I'm really hoping to get a Journeyman Ubass(I love the look of the mahogany with the f-holes), but you can only seem to buy them with round wound strings these days, and I really want to use Thunderguts. Do you know if it's easy to switch the strings? I've heard the bridge needs some modification, and I'm not sure I'd trust myself to make any modifications haha.
I think you can switch them out fairly easily, but you'll probably have to replace the nut...I don't think the bridge needs anything. I hope that helps!
Thanks so much for this video, very informative! Question: if you plan to switch string types, are there limitations/issues regarding how they fit with a setup originally designed for a different kind of string set? For instance, the Kala round wound are considerably thinner than the ‘rubber’ style strings… does it affect tone and playability switching up on the same instrument?
It takes some work: when I put flat wounds on, I had to widen the groove on the nut under the E string. Once I did that, they played great. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the detailed info! I have a Hadean U-bass and I like the polyurethane strings, but some things (like slapping) just sound better with metal strings, IMO.
Wow, I really dig the flat wound strings sound! Question, Steven or others who know, I have a Kala U-bass, solid spruce top model that of course came with the Kala black rubber strings. If I switch to the flat wound, would I need to get a luthier to adjust the nut, saddle or action first? Thanks much!
With mine, I had to widen the nut, but the ones designed for the rubber strings should have the right sized grooves for the flats (they are thicker than the round wounds, so a bit more like the rubber). The only reason you might need any adjustments like that is if the string height is too high. I haven't put them on a U-Bass that had the rubber strings yet, but that's my thought on it. I hope that helps!
The acoustic comparison provided some info, but the basses being significantly different (sound hole vs. “f” hole top) was bound to be making a big difference in the sound we the viewers were hearing. Three identical basses each strung with one of string types would have provided a more sonically equal test.
True. For the rubber and the round wound's I have a video where I was able to compare strings on the same model (exotic mahogany): ua-cam.com/video/AXaHMow4fxQ/v-deo.html . However, I don't know anyone with one with flats. It's hard to just change the strings, as the nut has to be altered For The different strings. If you're curious about rounds verses flats I have videos of the journeyman with round wounds like this one: ua-cam.com/video/1JIDpxeguSw/v-deo.html that you can compare with the flat wound demo in the current video. I hope that can answer a few questions.
Just got a short-scale acoustic bass. it came with D’Addario EXPPBB190GS nylon core strings. Of course, now I have to go get other options just to hear the difference. Thanks for the great video.
Thank you! Best string review I’ve ever heard! I am a round wound fan on my electric basses as they are bright and punchy but on a Ubass, the flat wound are almost as bright and punchy but seem a little smoother.
This is interesting. There's not as much difference according to what I'm hearing as I expected. It's cool that there are string choices now for these things. Thanks for sharing this.
@@stephencoxbass Great comparison video, and this comment about flat wounds being easiest to play is also very helpful. Flat wounds are not available as a stock choice on a new instrument, so between round wounds and the Pahoehoe black strings which would be easier for a beginner to play (a beginner that has to order a UBass from one of the big online retailers without being able to audition it).
Really helpful, thanks. I have the black Aquila strings on the U-Bass I bought second- hand . I'm looking to replace them and this video has helped me know what is available and how the different strings sound.
Just got my Galli Kala flat wounds. Love them. I’m an upright player and liked the rubber strings but the flat wounds are the bomb. Thanks for sharing about them.
stephencoxbass I’ve been playing with them for a bit, but they are noisy. Slightest touching makes a tapping kind of noise. Wasn’t expecting that. Thoughts? Also the D and G string don’t pickup as well as the A and E
Hey Stephen! I come back to this video every so often when the urge to buy a U-bass comes up. I have a strong feeling I'm going to bite the bullet soon HAH. So I've been looking at a solid body fretless Hadean U-bass, I was thinking that perhaps the flatwounds would be best? My reasoning is that roundwounds would tear up the fretboard over time. Also, I feel that the flatwounds sound closer to that vintage p-bass sound which would make it a suitable alternative to those gigs where I don't want to lug my bass guitar. The music my band plays is 70's to 90's pop, funk, and rock. Could you share your opinions/thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I personally prefer the flatwounds as well. I know Kala recommended not putting them on their solid body U-basses for some reason...hopefully that same issue is not the case for Hadean. If you try it, let me know how it sounds! Cheers!
@@stephencoxbass Thanks a bunch!! I guess I can always buy a flatwound set to test out and save the stock strings if needed. I'm not experienced with piezos, so my theory is there could be stronger tonal changes on a solid body. I'll reply back if I find out!
Hey Stephen, thanks for these. Question: you mention EQ'ing out the finger noises on the rubber strings. Do you have a video where you talk more specifically about how you do that?
I'm not sure...it might be in a live stream somewhere. Basically it's just taking the treble out as much as possible. If you had an eq pedal with "8 bands" or "16 bands" you could find the specific frequencies that are causing the noise, but with just a bass and an amp, turn the hi or treble down and that should reduce the noise a bit.
Reality check: I have the red kala ubass with round wounds. If you already play a normal bass, in NO way are you going to 'rip your skin' with round wounds. The feel is in no way more rough than normal round wound bass strings. The round wounds are absolutely amazing. The sound is kinda like a hybrid between a very good Precision bass and a double bass
I was speaking from experience. Sliding a lot on the E string in particular is a bit more effort on that slightly larger gauge string. Think of it like sliding on the B string on a five string a bunch. There also seemed to be something about the silver plating that may have caused more friction. I'm glad that you didn't have that experience, but this might be different for different people.
Amazing review! Would love to see you use the flat wounds on the violin u bass you were using in that one video you made a while back. Wanted to know if that made any difference in the tuning and play ability of that bass in particular. I’ve looked around and haven’t really seen any other comprehensive videos about that bass. Keep it going you sound great !
I’m not sure if you mean the Hadean that looks like a Hofner, or the fretless Chinese bass. If you mean the 2nd one, I did put Flatwounds on that one and have a couple of videos with it. Thanks for watching!
thanks for uploading this. i'm planning to get u-bass some time this month and since it comes with round wounds i wasn't sure whether to leave them on the bass, but after watching this, i think i will. keeping in mind that, if i ever happen to purchase a fretless one, i might as well use flatwounds for that full-on upright sound :)
Personally I preferred the sound of the rubber strings, although I also liked the flatwounds. I own too U-basses, one fretted and one fretless. The fretted one has rubber strings and the fretless bass has roundwound strings. I found the action too high to play comfortably with the flatwound strings. A local luthier (at Max Guitar Scheveningen, they are the best) did some filing on the nut and lowered the action. It is now my favourite bass. Thank you so much for this very helpful video!
Round wounds are definitely louder. Are they loud enough to be in a jam setting with a guitar? Almost...they're still a little too quiet when acoustic, but they are louder than rubber.
thank you for such an informative lesson on the different strings. I have only used the rubber strings. I am only new, but I do like the sound and look of the rubber. The other 2 strings makes the Ubass look more like a bass guitar. I however, have a question which is left field. How do you know when to change the rubber strings on the Ubass?
@@stephencoxbass I broke one a few weeks ago. That was my cue. The only ones I could find that were immediately available were the white rubbery ones, the Aquilas. I don't like them as much as the black ones - I had to use talcum powder on them to get rid of the initial stickiness, and then today at an event (! outdoors!) they went sticky on me. I have just looked further down and see someone has recommended something for that; I haven't read your comment yet. My band mates don't like the sound as much, and there also seems to be more extraneous string noise. I could not tell from the Kala website that the pahoehoe ones were the smooth black ones - that's not what the picture looks like at all, to me. So thanks for that.
@@scandiperformers The Pahoehoes are the ones Kala had standard on the U-Basses for years, they might still on the ones above $400. They have less string noise and stickiness issues, but they do wear out quicker from what I've heard. I personally like the thunderguts, but I do have to EQ the high end out to get rid of some of the string noise, and the stickiness is a bit of a drag. Cheers!
Unplugged, I like thewarmer sound produced by the poly strings. Pugged in they all have their advantages and disadvantages that can be either accentuated or overcome with amps and what not. I've been looking for a little bass of some sorts to use as an accompanyment on a boat when we're hanging out on the water. A little Kala with rubber strings appears to be the ticket. Cool comparison, thanks.
Hi, thanks for the infos. I'm a beginner to intermediate player. Is it cool to change from rubber to metal strings on the same ubass? Do they come with a truss rod?
Most bass ukuleles (and all Kala acoustic/electric U-Basses) have truss rods in the neck already. Rubber to metal should be fine, although most people recommend replacing the nut with one suited for those strings specifically. Thanks for watching!
Hi Steven ,I have had all three strings however I tryed the ThunderReds. And found them much less "sticky" than the other non metalic strings. The tone is good.On fretless ubasses even better, vibrato sounds terrific. Bottom line:4.5 of5
Both the roundwound and flatwound 'metal' strings are metal windings around a nylon core. ..Reading on the Kala website... This is the same as the lower strings on a classical guitar; as opposed to a regular guitar or electric bass strings with a metal core and metal windings. (This is why a magnetic pickup won't work on classical guitar strings; no metal core). Kala also says that since the metal strings are lots thinner than the 'rubber' ones, one has to change out the nut, because the grooves are huge for the rubber strings. But that's pretty easy to do; or maybe i'd be lazy and just put a bit of folded up business card in the nut slot. I love the sound of the rubber strings on my Hadean (aquila nylaguts?), but the stickiness on the low E drives me a bit crazy. I can't slide on it much. But otherwise, i love the solid body hadean. So i may one of the metal strings. But great review!!
I chose the roundwound strings so that I could combine them with classical guitar strings for a GDAE tuning. I definitely want to give flatwounds a try, I think I would prefer a softer, darker tone.
@stephencoxbass Hello there, I'm late in the conversation, but I have a question. It'll probably sound strange, and it's because I don't play bass, ukulele or otherwise (at least not yet!). BUT, here it goes: When doing slides with the "rubber" strings, do you think it would be possible to figure out, like in a trial and error way, how to play the intended note on the wrong fret? Let's say the note is flat, like you said (and I understand it on a theoretical point of view): what if you played it on the next fret? Then, if it's still flat, you'd play it another fret further. If it's sharp, however, you could push a little harder on the string while sliding. Am I making sense? Anyway, thanks for your videos, I saw most of them and you're doing an awesome job.
Great idea! I've thought about things like this, and the main problem is that there are pitches between the ones we use. When we go further up to the next fret, the string hasn't adjusted quite the right amount to get that note in tune to either. The factor that affects this more is the amount of friction from the finger sliding up the string. Some people combat this with powder (or some liquid maybe?), which reduces the friction. However, on a fretless U-bass, your theory could work if the player has a great ear and a quick reaction time!
Re:flat wound strings. I just bought a Journeyman - Mahogany with f-holes - and they charge an additional $25 for a setup fee and $45 for the strings - Kala flat wounds by Gallistrings, though I suppose you may be able to save that cost if you provide your own.
Kala recommends not putting the flatwounds on the solid body U-Basses due to the bridge design. Magnus of Play U-Bass has a solid body with round wounds if you are interested in hearing him compare those. I have yet to get a solid body, but hope to fairly soon.
You should be fine with the same nut, but I'm not sure if you'll need the truss rod adjustment or not. I didn't, but some have had to adjust it a bit. Cheers!
For some reason I cannot fit the white Thundergut 68 U, thru the bridge holes of my Kaka Bakhiti Kumalo. By any chance do you use any other gages /brands or did you use a drill and make those string "cavities" bigger? thanks 🙏
Stephen... Great Comparison video! I just subscribed to your channel a couple of weeks ago, as I happen to come across some reviewing videos on the KALA U-Basses, as I was researching information on them. I have a question for you, Stephen.. I am looking into purchasing a KALA U-Bass to add to my 3 electric basses (and 4 Lap & console Steel Guitars.... and 9 harmonica's. lol), in my quest for as close to an Upright bass sound as I can get, for playing Country, Country Gospel, Western/Texas Swing & Bluegrass. Which of the Kala U-Basses and String combinations, would you consider to best fit that "wish list" for that Upright / Dbl Bass sound?? Also, is there Really any appreciable difference in sound, quality and overall longevity, between the "Fishman" (made in Mass. USA) electronics on the "higher end" ($429.+) KALA U-Basses, and those on the next step down ($300. - $400.), that would make it a "game changer" to "own the best they have"?? In other words, and besides the type of woods used on the different models.... do I really "need" to spend $449. to get the best Upright bass sound from the Mahogany or Ebony U-Basses, or can I get the same sound & Quality from a $300.+ U-Bass? Are the $449.+/- U-Basses with the Fishman electronics, and the HipShot tuners (as nice as they are) really worth the extra money, in comparison to the slightly lower price range and their components?? I CAN afford them.... but, is it really necessary to do so, and get what I'm looking for in sound and longevity?? I am Not currently playing with any bands... and am now 73 years "young", so I'm now playing for my own pleasure, and jamming with others, who are also "getting up there" in their years, but have also been playing for decades as well. Thank you in advance, Stephen... for your time and any experienced insights and suggestions you can make in helping me with my decision in acquiring my first (and most likely, Only) U-Bass from KALA... your response will be Greatly appreciated, and taken into consideration of which one I choose to purchase. I will let you know which one I get...... IF, it's even in stock. At the moment, it's seems they're Out of Stock on just about All of them (11.14.2022 on the KALA website store), except for the two High End models, and the one for $389.... unless they have more for sale on other online websites or dealers... like Sweetwater or possibly even Guitar Center, etc, etc.... but I would prefer to buy directly from them. Thanks Again.
Thanks for watching! You would probably be happy enough with any that come with the polyurethane strings, but I do feel like it can be worth the step up for quality and quality control on the more expensive models. I thought the Pahoehoe strings sounded the most like an upright, but there are more options at this point I have yet to try. I hope that info helps a bit. Cheers!
P.S. I don't know if any of it is a "game changer" specifically, but I would probably spend the extra for the upgraded pickup if I were only getting one.
@@stephencoxbassThank you Stephen for your reply.... I really appreciate it and your thoughts on it. I found a Mahogany U Bass used on a site, but it does Not have the Fishman electronics, I think it might be an "older" model, and it has Kala round wounds on it, although it comes with a New set of Aguila Thundergut strings (new, in package), as well as the Kala Custom Bass Bag, and a 2" Velvet strap (New) - all for less than $400. I haven't moved on it yet... but thinking I will... Soon. I was looking at some of the Rondo/Hadean versions.... and the prices are certainly "right".... but, I don't trust them for any kind of worth while quality. I also looked at the Luna line... No Truss rods... I don't like that. The Lanakai's looked good, but I don't care for the way they're set up with those Phosphorus Bronze strings.... not "bassy" enough for me. Not much sense in going "cheap" then have to turn around and spend another $150.+/- to make it "right". So, will most likely stick with the Kala.
Hi Stephen, very nice review! I was wondering if you could get the "mwah" sound of a fretless E bass if you put those metal round wounds on a fretless U bass. Have not really found any video experimenting with that combination... I don't really know if the piezo pickup of u basses creates enough sustain to get that sound... Cheers, Valentin
Hi Valentin, Thank you! The main reason you don't see that combination as often is because round wounds can create grooves in the fingerboard over time on a fretless. It happens on full scale basses as well, so some people that enjoy that sound coat the fingerboard (fretboard) with epoxy of some sort to keep it from damaging the wood. I believe most people are looking for an upright sound more than that purring fretless vibe, so it's definitely more rare to see on U-Bass. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Extremelly helpful. Thanks! Liking the upright sound and the higher tension so flatwounds seem like a good (and expensive) compromise for what I want to do. Any comment on which Kala U-Bass has a better upright sound? especially Rumbler, Exotic Mahogany and Striped Ebony. Or is the selection of string more important than the specific instrument? Thanks in advance.
It's more about the strings and the pickup, so those options might sound similar unless they have changed the pickups on one of those models since I last checked. Thanks for watching!
Hey Stephen great review. thanks! My wife has a u-bass (made by me :-)) with rubber (ok polyurethane) strings - I want to buy some flat wounds and see what they sound like and if easier etc. Two questions - if she hates them can she re-string with the old rubber strings? Or will it have to be a new set? And how much additional tension do the flat wounds put on? Her u-bass has not got a metal truss-rod - just a carbon fibre insert. cheers
Hi Simon, I think it's fairly easy to put the rubber strings back on if you want, but I'm not sure how much tension your design can take. They have a nylon core, but the flatwounds have a decent amount of tension in comparison. One day I might try them on my fretless that also lacks a truss rod, so I'll have a better answer then. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Thanks for the review, I pronounce Pahoehoe like you do and they are my favorite on my fretless, which works great for sliding. Pahoehoes are also not sticky like the Thundeguts, so sliding may not stretch the strings so much? I was considering trying the flats, but with the higher tension and my arthritis, I may just stick with Pahoehoe.
Thank you for watching! I remember borrowing a friend's ubass with Pahoehoes to do a different string comparison video. They were less sticky, but I think sliding still affects the intonation. If you push down very lightly it affects it less, and it's possible that lack of frets might help as well. Rubber are definitly nicer to the wrist, I would recommend playing the flats on someone else's bass to see if they are too rough for your arthritis. If the round wounds are too much, flats will be, so it may be easier to find a store with one that has rounds installed.
Hi Stephen, thanks for all the great information. Do you know if tape wound strings will work on a Kala? like D'addario flat tape wounds or Labella deep talking?
That's a great question. I personally would not try it for a few reasons: The gauge is different for full scale bass strings, so they would be very loose on a U-Bass. Also, the tape wounds have a metal core while U-Bass strings have nylon cores, and since the strings wouldn't taper at the ends soon enough, they would put stress on the tuners. If you were to get a 5 string pack to get around the first issue I mentioned, you might amplify the 2nd issue. Maybe one day they will make tape wounds designed for such a short instrument, but I have yet to see any on the market. Thanks for watching!
Honestly, I can see a use case for all three even at a professional level. They all sound like different instruments, at least through the pickup, and if I have to take three instruments to the gig, I'd rather it be three of these...
Thanks for the video. Very informative. Those galli strings are definitely not cheap. Wow! I think I would have to go with the Kala metal rounds. Still not a bargain but a little more than half the cost of the galli flat wound strings.
Many of the acoustic electric models will take any string, but you may have to change the nut or widen the grooves under certain strings. The strings will work as long as the bass ukulele is the right length and has a truss rod. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this second great review.
As an act of appreciation i made timestamps for you, feel free to use them (and/or adapt them)
00:00 Intro
0:27 Plugged In "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
0:35 Plugged In "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
0:43 Plugged In "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
0:51 Plugged In 2 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
1:02 Plugged In 2 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
1:12 Plugged In 2 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
1:22 Plugged In 3 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
1:32 Plugged In 3 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
1:43 Plugged In 3 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
1:53 Plugged In 4 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
2:00 Plugged In 4 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
2:06 Plugged In 4 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
2:13 Plugged In 5 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
2:16 Plugged In 5 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
2:20 Plugged In 5 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
2:24 Plugged In 6 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
2:38 Plugged In 6 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
2:49 Plugged In 6 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
2:58 Testing them Acousticly (Unplugged)
3:00 Unplugged "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:08 Unplugged "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
3:15 Unplugged "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
3:22 Unplugged 2 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:29 Unplugged 2 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
3:35 Unplugged 2 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
3:41 Unplugged 3 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:44 Unplugged 3 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
3:47 Unplugged 3 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
3:51 Unplugged 4 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:55 Unplugged 4 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
4:02 Unplugged 4 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
4:07 Talking about Differences between the Strings
4:12 String Tension "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
4:34 String Tension "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
4:54 String Tension "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
5:13 Sliding "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
5:41 Sliding "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
6:05 Sliding "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
6:49 Tone
7:42 String Noise "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
8:27 String Noise "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
8:48 String Noise "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
9:37 Pricing
10:22 Alternatives - Galli Round Wounds, Kala Pahoehoes, Aquila Thunder Reds
11:20 Outro
Thank you so much! That was very kind of you!
I just pinned your comment to the top so that others can find it easily while watching. Thank you, and I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
@@stephencoxbass you should try copying it to the bottom of your description, this way you get video annotations for each part
@@Sonstwer Thank you, I appreciate you teaching me how to do that! Cheers!
It would be helpful to further describe what the different comparisons are, i.e, I was looking for the slapping comparison again, but had to end up watching the video again to find it (no great loss!). Thanks.
For such a niche community like the U-Bass one, you make a surprising amount of quality and informative content. As someone who is looking to start, you answered so many of my basic questions that I thought would be impossible to find. Keep up the great work man.
Thank you! I'm trying...because I had a lot of the same questions before finding the answers!
@@stephencoxbass I'm an electronic player, and I pretty much put my own basses together, so I've had to take my fair share of blind jumps and hope that things work. Channels like yours help people like me make the jump without the fear of things not working out.
Agree, this seems to be THE spot to learn U-Bass, and the only reason that I feel I can even try in the first place. Really appreciate the channel 👍🏻
@@chaoticcollagen794 Thank you so much!
@@EnforcerX I'm glad I can help! Cheers!
Thunder reds are high-tech. Formerly the only way to make a string deeper was to increase the diameter but these strings have in increased density by adding copper to the formula. They have a much more full sound, and are not sticky so they have less finger noise.
I'll have to try them out sometime soon!
@kenstephanie8445, the three factors in string pitch are diameter, mass, and tension. Change any of those and you change the pitch.
Change any two or all three, and that math you said you’d never use after high school comes into play!
I definitely liked the sound of the flats best. If I ever get a U-Bass (or any copy thereof), flats will be going on it.
They've been a lot of fun so far! Totally worth the price in my opinion!
you can really tell the time and effort you put into your videos and that you really care about giving us fair standpoints. thanks man
Thank you, Henry! I greatly appreciate the time you and everyone takes to watch my videos.
@@stephencoxbass well I just bought the standard mahogany ubass stay comes with the rubber strings. I really like how the flatwounds sound and was wondering would it be a bad idea to put them on that ubass? I’m just worried it could be harmful to the pickup or fretboard since it was intended originally for the rubber strings.
Flats sound great, no wonder they're more expensive. would like to see a review of the nylon wounds. Which is the perfect travel /camping/ beach bass???
Great review. No story telling-bullshit upfront but an overview was given first and then you came up with some playable basslines that are then covered on each version of strings so that actual reproducable comparison was achieved.
Thanks. Very helpful! If every review on youtube was so straight forward. Billions of GB on harddrives and a lot of time would have been saved. Best Regards
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful!
Many thanks for the comparison. It's really helped me decide to stick (no pun intended) with the polyurethane strings originally fitted to my Laka ukulele bass, as they really are best for the upright bass tone I bought it for.
I'm glad I could help you stick to your strings! 😂
I have the rubber strings on my Ubass and I solved the "sticky" problem with String Fuel from Music Nomad. I like it better than Finger Ease because you don't spray it on the strings. I can slide without detuning the note.
Awesome! I'll have to look into that. Thank you for sharing!
I’ll check it out. The stickiness is the one thing I don’t like about my ubass.
String Fuel is awesome for any regular guitar or bass strings as well. If you use it regularly and wipe the strings they last about 3 times as long.
I saw someone asked about "is it possible to change from Roundwound to Rubber Strings" then I have the same question, so I asked Kala's support, their answer is - "The only issue would be the size of the nut and the holes in the bridge. The rubber strings are larger and may need both the nut widened and the bridge holes drilled out. The neck can handle the tension of either but it may need truss rod adjustments." So I am just posting here and I hope this information is useful :)
It's very accurate info :) I haven't had to widen the holes on any of mine, but the grooves in the nut did need to be widened for the flat wounds. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! I came searching the comments for info about this because I ordered rubber strings and the luthier said he couldn’t fit them… which had me perplexed as to why Kala would sell strings that didn’t fit.
Think I'll still use my rubber strings, as they give the natural bass sound. If the price were lower, I might have tried the flatwound, to give a bit more of an electric bass sound, with less scratchiness than the round strings.
Price does play a big part. Flatwound and rubber are my two favorites. I seldom use the round wounds these days.
Thank you for the effort and the time you have taken for this video! I like the sound of the flatwounds best!
Thanks for watching the video! I'm glad you got some value out of it!
I hear that you can use different sizes of weed whacker line.
I've got the striped ebony with round wound strings on the way, but I think flat wound will be my next purchase. Thanks for making informative videos, your channel helped me decide to purchase a u-bass to learn on.
You're welcome!
Thanks for doing this comprehensive review on string types. My EKO Fretless U-bass came with Aquila Thunderguts and although it sounded warm and mellow, I had a couple of issues with them. As you said, sliding up on the strings affected the intonation, this seems to be unavoidable. The other issue for me was my fingers tended to stick on the strings. I had no intention of putting lubricant or powder on the strings, so I ended up wearing thin cotton gloves, a bit like Scott does. I play an Epiphone EB3 with Rotosound flatwound Jazz bass strings which slide and produce a warm tone. With that in mind, saved up and got a set of Galli black nylon wrapped flatwounds. They solved both my issues and play well, especially when amplified. The only downside is they are much quieter if unplugged.
I'm glad you found this helpful! I still enjoy my flat wounds. Cheers!
Thank you so much for this detailed video.. so useful..
I'm glad I could help. Thank you for watching!
thank you for this! contemplating getting one of these but comparing string sounds isa big part of it.
Which strings did you like best? Thanks for watching!
I got the fretted model (Nomad a/e) with the rubbery strings - i'll be using this bass mainly for emulating the upright sound, which it does very well. Busking with my string band and not hauling the doghouse, yay! Sounds great through my old battery-powered Pignose, will be upgrading to a smaller better amp this year.
I removed roundwounds from every actual bass I have and went for flatwounds, but now I'll be putting them on my rubber-stringed ubass.
Because I crave that volume.
Thank you so much for this extensive discussion on the difference between these 3 types of strings. I just ordered my Aquila Thunderguts and am very excited to try them out.
You’re welcome! What strings did you have initially? Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass
My micro bass had those bronze round wound acoustic bass strings strung from the shop. It's so hard to find a replacement set. However, when I tried the Aquilas, I discovered that the slats of my string pokes were too small and could accommodate the very thick E string. Oh well.
great review thanks for including the acoustic recordings
Thank you. I needed that info. I bought a Ubass to noodle around on without having to pick up my full size bass. Mine came with the rubber strings, which to me feel so so weird. I’m having a hard time getting used to the feel of them. In your demo, as an alternative, I did like the sound of the flat wound strings and the warmth of the rubber strings.
I like all of them, but the flats are the best of both worlds for me. Thanks for watching!
I picked up my Kala Journeyman and it came with round wounds. Since I needed it for a gig the next day, the tone and feel were a selling point. The rubber strings are cool, but not for the gigs I'm playing. I would be interested in checking the flats out
The flats are the best of both worlds for me, but slap sounds better on the rounds. Cheers!
I'm a huge fan of the flat wounds. They feel and sound great. Cheers!
@@stephencoxbass Slap sounds better on nothing...
@@Nikosi9 Slapping nothing seems like a waste of effort, though 🤷♂️
@@stephencoxbass At least, you don't get to hear slapping... :-)
Thanks for the very analytical comparison. Finally someone that knows how to explain differences.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Hi Stephen. I have used the Thunder Reds on my Kala Acoustic for about five years and they are by far my favorite non-metallic string for the U-Bass. They are thinner than the Thunderguts, not as sticky and have a punchier tone that is still very upright-like. I use a plastic container with a sponge soaked with mineral oil that I dip my fingertips in. This virtually eliminates string noise and lets the fingertips of my right hand release the strings smoothly which greatly improves the tone. On my solid body SUB I use the Galli UXB 810 Blacknylon strings. They sound and feel great and really last. I've had them on since last December and there is still no wear on them. I found that the Kala roundwounds are to soft and thin and the frets and my acidic hands tear through them very quickly. I also want top say that both the Galli flat wound and Galli nylon roundwound contain steel and should work with magnetic pickups for those with the skills to install them in a Kala solidbody.
Thank you for all the info! I never would have thought to use mineral oil. In the future I may have to see about trying to install the type of pickup you mentioned...that should reduce string to fret noise a bit, too.
I agree - the Thunder Reds are less sticky than the Thunder Guts. Thinner too. I've had hand issues so, experimenting, I've used Gorilla Tips on my left hand fingertips, then wear a tight-fitting silk (or cotton) glove over that - I can slide easily on the Thunder Reds and my fingertips are protected (which I need b/c of my injury). I'm considering the Flats but the added tension concerns me....
During normal playing where I never really slide up more than 2 semitones I've never really noticed the intonation/sliding problem on Rubber strings. I'm using the ThunderGuts btw on a Harley Benton, I don't know if the 21" scale makes much of a difference (longer scale = more tension, so in theory it could help). If I get sweaty hands the strings do get hella sticky, so it might be an issue then, but for casual 30 minute couch sessions it's not a problem for me.
Oh yeah the red Aquila strings have a bit more brightness to them according to the website. And according to some reviews they're also less sticky than the thunderguts.
Sorry for spamming your channel full of comments, as you can tell I've been binging a lot of your content :P
I think the longer scale does help, but it's also only super noticeable on long slides. Thanks for the info on Thunder Reds...I knew about the stickiness, but not the brightness. Thanks again for watching. Cheers!
Awesome comparison video thanks, and thank you for all your Ubass vids. Great work and a great talent you have! Cheers!
Thank you so much! Cheers!
I play uke and have been looking for a ubass for while. I wanted one with flat wound strings standard but got a Hadean with rubber strings 'cause the price was right. I thought I changed the strings but you make the rubber sound great. Gives me something to work towards.
Thanks! Both strings are great. I'm really enjoying the flats the most, but rubbber do have a certain vibe you can't get from either metal string.
I went with the roundwounds. My U-Bass came yesterday, and I can't believe how clear it sounds!
Awesome! The roundwounds are definitely the clearest sounding. They're the best for slap and harmonics. Congrats on your new U-Bass!
Very thorough and comprehensive. Thanks for answering every question I had.
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!
I love this video Stephen, thank you. I like the Countryman bass body because of the jazz vibe of the f holes but I think I'd like the rubber strings the most because of the closer proximity to an upright bass sound.
Some people like the Journeyman that came with the rubber strings best. Thanks for watching, Andy!
I use Aquila Thunder Reds and I am very pleased with them, they are not sticky and sound excellent.
I still have yet to get a set, but I hear good things about them every time. I should get some soon! Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Unfortunately, the Thunder Reds dry out relatively quickly (few months) and then tear. That quickly becomes expensive to play Thunder Reds. ...sounding great and less sticky.
This was really instructive, great work! I had my rubber ones, and it has been kind of difficult find them, I wanted to know about the other options that I was seeing out there and this was the perfect video. I still love the upright bass sound from my Kala, so I just bought those again after have watched your video. But now I know about the other ones. Thanks!
I'm glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Fantastic review. I very much appreciate the consistently carried-out technical-factors demonstrations (exactly the kind of thing I do when visiting a guitar shop). And informative comments too.
Thank you! I'm glad I could give an in depth review. Cheers!
I have always loved how flats sound and feel but I did notice they almost sounded muted compared to the other two on this video.
I love the ticking on the frets with the round wounds but that doesn’t work for all songs. And they are just too rough for my tender fingers.
The rubber strings, I have no experience with but I really like that upright sound. I may give those a try since they’re so affordable.
Thanks for the help!
The flats do sound a bit more muted, but I prefer them over all. The polyurethane strings are great, but the rubbery feel takes some getting used to. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this comparison. It's just what I was looking for. Each string type has it's own pros. This typed, what attracted me to this type of bass (ukulele) outside of the size is that with the "rubber" strings, it sounds akin to an upright bass... so those are my favorite sounding strings. As an aside, the coral colored Kala with the f-holes is nice. I've not seen that color before. All the best!
Now this is what I call informative content. Thank you!
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Great tutorial, thanks a million. But please, folks, stop calling Aquila strings "Aqueela" with the accent on the double ee. It's 'Ah-kwilah, accent on the A. 'A-kwilah. Means eagle, in italian. Thank you
Thanks for the info! I never knew that's what it meant.
Aquila "a-keela" means eagle in spanish.
@@e.miller8943 Aquila is not spanish, where eagle is aguila pronounced ['a-gwilah], but italian, pronounced ['akwilah]. Akeela pronounced like tequila is wrong and does not exist neither in spanish nor in italian, trust me, I am 100% certified italian, and guitarist. Aquila strings are 100 italian made in Vicenza, Italy. So please Aaron don't think you are smarter, do your own research on Google, and please simply call them by their name: 'Akwilah. What do you mean with "I don't believe you" ... Cose da pazzi ci tocca leggere, mannaggia, il primo che passa si inventa qualunque fesseria e monta in cattedra!
@@Lanternamagika Lol vero
@@Lanternamagika How do you say DOUCHEBAG in italian? Just look at your driver's license. I'm sure it's on there somewhere.
Love the comparisons especially because you play the same song on all the various strings.
Thanks, I do my best to make the comparison straightforward. Thanks for watching!
This is actually more helpful that some of the bigger subscription channles who've commented on strings.
I'm glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
This is a great and very informative video, you should totally have more subscribers!
Thank you! I think this channel will grow as more people get U-Basses :)
Thanks for the informative video, Stephen!
I just bought the metal round wounds model, ebony as it was available. I wanted to buy the solid mahogany one - as long they are still available - but the store could not offer metal strings for it...
My new Ubass works well with our garage rock band, the guys liked the sound and versatility of the acoustic model when amplified. No feedback issues so far, aside from the positive fact that the instrument has better sustain when amplified.
I'm now considering to buy a mahogany and maybe change strings, or rather maybe not, now that I have the round wounds. Having many basses is... well, basic luxury :-)
I think the ebony model looks great, I'd love to get a fretless one! Congrats on the new U-bass!
Excellent video, very comprehensive and complete comparison!!!
Thanks, and thank you for watching!
Great video! I'm just getting ready to own one of these things and this was super useful in making my decision. Thanks!
I’m glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Your videos are incredibly helpful!
I'm really hoping to get a Journeyman Ubass(I love the look of the mahogany with the f-holes), but you can only seem to buy them with round wound strings these days, and I really want to use Thunderguts.
Do you know if it's easy to switch the strings? I've heard the bridge needs some modification, and I'm not sure I'd trust myself to make any modifications haha.
I think you can switch them out fairly easily, but you'll probably have to replace the nut...I don't think the bridge needs anything. I hope that helps!
Nice review.
Have seen another vid showing the thunder reds and they sounded great.
Thank you! I still need to try those and the thunder browns. Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for this video, very informative! Question: if you plan to switch string types, are there limitations/issues regarding how they fit with a setup originally designed for a different kind of string set? For instance, the Kala round wound are considerably thinner than the ‘rubber’ style strings… does it affect tone and playability switching up on the same instrument?
It takes some work: when I put flat wounds on, I had to widen the groove on the nut under the E string. Once I did that, they played great. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the detailed info! I have a Hadean U-bass and I like the polyurethane strings, but some things (like slapping) just sound better with metal strings, IMO.
I agree, each have their strengths. That's why I have all 3 :)
Wow, I really dig the flat wound strings sound! Question, Steven or others who know, I have a Kala U-bass, solid spruce top model that of course came with the Kala black rubber strings. If I switch to the flat wound, would I need to get a luthier to adjust the nut, saddle or action first? Thanks much!
With mine, I had to widen the nut, but the ones designed for the rubber strings should have the right sized grooves for the flats (they are thicker than the round wounds, so a bit more like the rubber). The only reason you might need any adjustments like that is if the string height is too high. I haven't put them on a U-Bass that had the rubber strings yet, but that's my thought on it. I hope that helps!
Awesome comparison. Thanks for posting. It's really helpful to hear the difference
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
The acoustic comparison provided some info, but the basses being significantly different (sound hole vs. “f” hole top) was bound to be making a big difference in the sound we the viewers were hearing. Three identical basses each strung with one of string types would have provided a more sonically equal test.
True. For the rubber and the round wound's I have a video where I was able to compare strings on the same model (exotic mahogany): ua-cam.com/video/AXaHMow4fxQ/v-deo.html . However, I don't know anyone with one with flats. It's hard to just change the strings, as the nut has to be altered For The different strings. If you're curious about rounds verses flats I have videos of the journeyman with round wounds like this one: ua-cam.com/video/1JIDpxeguSw/v-deo.html that you can compare with the flat wound demo in the current video. I hope that can answer a few questions.
Just got a short-scale acoustic bass. it came with D’Addario EXPPBB190GS nylon core strings. Of course, now I have to go get other options just to hear the difference. Thanks for the great video.
Congrats on the bass! Have fun trying different options!
Thank you! Best string review I’ve ever heard! I am a round wound fan on my electric basses as they are bright and punchy but on a Ubass, the flat wound are almost as bright and punchy but seem a little smoother.
Those flat wounds sound incredible, definitely gonna put some on mine when I get it
I think you will like them. I'm still enjoying them, for sure! Thanks for watching!
This is interesting. There's not as much difference according to what I'm hearing as I expected. It's cool that there are string choices now for these things. Thanks for sharing this.
There are some big differences, but the playing is the biggest difference. I find the flat wounds easiest to play. Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Great comparison video, and this comment about flat wounds being easiest to play is also very helpful. Flat wounds are not available as a stock choice on a new instrument, so between round wounds and the Pahoehoe black strings which would be easier for a beginner to play (a beginner that has to order a UBass from one of the big online retailers without being able to audition it).
Really helpful, thanks. I have the black Aquila strings on the U-Bass I bought second- hand . I'm looking to replace them and this video has helped me know what is available and how the different strings sound.
I'm glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Just got my Galli Kala flat wounds. Love them. I’m an upright player and liked the rubber strings but the flat wounds are the bomb. Thanks for sharing about them.
You're welcome! They're great for sure!
stephencoxbass I’ve been playing with them for a bit, but they are noisy. Slightest touching makes a tapping kind of noise. Wasn’t expecting that. Thoughts? Also the D and G string don’t pickup as well as the A and E
Hey Stephen! I come back to this video every so often when the urge to buy a U-bass comes up. I have a strong feeling I'm going to bite the bullet soon HAH. So I've been looking at a solid body fretless Hadean U-bass, I was thinking that perhaps the flatwounds would be best? My reasoning is that roundwounds would tear up the fretboard over time. Also, I feel that the flatwounds sound closer to that vintage p-bass sound which would make it a suitable alternative to those gigs where I don't want to lug my bass guitar. The music my band plays is 70's to 90's pop, funk, and rock. Could you share your opinions/thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I personally prefer the flatwounds as well. I know Kala recommended not putting them on their solid body U-basses for some reason...hopefully that same issue is not the case for Hadean. If you try it, let me know how it sounds! Cheers!
@@stephencoxbass Thanks a bunch!! I guess I can always buy a flatwound set to test out and save the stock strings if needed. I'm not experienced with piezos, so my theory is there could be stronger tonal changes on a solid body. I'll reply back if I find out!
Hey Stephen, thanks for these. Question: you mention EQ'ing out the finger noises on the rubber strings. Do you have a video where you talk more specifically about how you do that?
I'm not sure...it might be in a live stream somewhere. Basically it's just taking the treble out as much as possible. If you had an eq pedal with "8 bands" or "16 bands" you could find the specific frequencies that are causing the noise, but with just a bass and an amp, turn the hi or treble down and that should reduce the noise a bit.
Turning down the treble took out all the weird noise in mine. Boosted the mid a bit
It's pronounced pah-ho-eh-ho-eh, every vowel in Hawaiian is always pronounced, no silent vowels.
Thank you. I had no idea, and have never heard it properly pronounced.
best ubass string vid on youtube.. thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Thunderguts for me! Awesome video. Super helpful
I keep hearing good things about the Thunder reds. Have you tried those? Thanks for watching!
What a well done comparison, thanks. I'm thinking about building my own resonator bass, but want to go shorter scale if I can make it work.
Reality check: I have the red kala ubass with round wounds. If you already play a normal bass, in NO way are you going to 'rip your skin' with round wounds. The feel is in no way more rough than normal round wound bass strings. The round wounds are absolutely amazing. The sound is kinda like a hybrid between a very good Precision bass and a double bass
I was speaking from experience. Sliding a lot on the E string in particular is a bit more effort on that slightly larger gauge string. Think of it like sliding on the B string on a five string a bunch. There also seemed to be something about the silver plating that may have caused more friction. I'm glad that you didn't have that experience, but this might be different for different people.
Amazing review! Would love to see you use the flat wounds on the violin u bass you were using in that one video you made a while back. Wanted to know if that made any difference in the tuning and play ability of that bass in particular. I’ve looked around and haven’t really seen any other comprehensive videos about that bass.
Keep it going you sound great !
I’m not sure if you mean the Hadean that looks like a Hofner, or the fretless Chinese bass. If you mean the 2nd one, I did put Flatwounds on that one and have a couple of videos with it. Thanks for watching!
I think the flat wounds had a little upper harmonic sound adding a little extra texture.
I think the rounds and flats both do. I’ve found it to be more pronounced on the round wounds, though. Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Thanks for the reply.
I really like your program. You are a natural born teacher.
@@marcdeckard7064 Thank you!
thanks for uploading this. i'm planning to get u-bass some time this month and since it comes with round wounds i wasn't sure whether to leave them on the bass, but after watching this, i think i will. keeping in mind that, if i ever happen to purchase a fretless one, i might as well use flatwounds for that full-on upright sound :)
Cool! Which model are you looking at?
@@stephencoxbass either the exotic mahogany or the wanderer, not quite sure yet
Great comparison!
Thank you, Adrián!
Personally I preferred the sound of the rubber strings, although I also liked the flatwounds. I own too U-basses, one fretted and one fretless. The fretted one has rubber strings and the fretless bass has roundwound strings. I found the action too high to play comfortably with the flatwound strings. A local luthier (at Max Guitar Scheveningen, they are the best) did some filing on the nut and lowered the action. It is now my favourite bass. Thank you so much for this very helpful video!
Thanks for watching! All of the string types have their own personalities for sure! I still like each depending on what genre I’m playing.
nice video man, what about volume (acoustically of course) ? Do you also find round-wounds to be louder than rubber strings ?
Round wounds are definitely louder. Are they loud enough to be in a jam setting with a guitar? Almost...they're still a little too quiet when acoustic, but they are louder than rubber.
very informative, very clear explanation. thank you
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful!
I like them all. The flatwound are my favorites though.
I go back and forth, but I'm also still enjoying the flat wounds a lot.
Do you know which Kala Jacob Collier was playing in his Boogie On Reggae Woman video?
thank you for such an informative lesson on the different strings. I have only used the rubber strings. I am only new, but I do like the sound and look of the rubber. The other 2 strings makes the Ubass look more like a bass guitar. I however, have a question which is left field. How do you know when to change the rubber strings on the Ubass?
I honestly haven't had to yet...they seem to last for a very long time!
@@stephencoxbass I broke one a few weeks ago. That was my cue. The only ones I could find that were immediately available were the white rubbery ones, the Aquilas. I don't like them as much as the black ones - I had to use talcum powder on them to get rid of the initial stickiness, and then today at an event (! outdoors!) they went sticky on me. I have just looked further down and see someone has recommended something for that; I haven't read your comment yet. My band mates don't like the sound as much, and there also seems to be more extraneous string noise. I could not tell from the Kala website that the pahoehoe ones were the smooth black ones - that's not what the picture looks like at all, to me. So thanks for that.
@@scandiperformers The Pahoehoes are the ones Kala had standard on the U-Basses for years, they might still on the ones above $400. They have less string noise and stickiness issues, but they do wear out quicker from what I've heard. I personally like the thunderguts, but I do have to EQ the high end out to get rid of some of the string noise, and the stickiness is a bit of a drag. Cheers!
Unplugged, I like thewarmer sound produced by the poly strings. Pugged in they all have their advantages and disadvantages that can be either accentuated or overcome with amps and what not. I've been looking for a little bass of some sorts to use as an accompanyment on a boat when we're hanging out on the water. A little Kala with rubber strings appears to be the ticket. Cool comparison, thanks.
The one downside with the rubber is that they are much quieter than the others unplugged. Keep that in mind if you plan to play acoustically. Cheers!
Hi, thanks for the infos. I'm a beginner to intermediate player. Is it cool to change from rubber to metal strings on the same ubass? Do they come with a truss rod?
Most bass ukuleles (and all Kala acoustic/electric U-Basses) have truss rods in the neck already. Rubber to metal should be fine, although most people recommend replacing the nut with one suited for those strings specifically. Thanks for watching!
Excellent, informative video. Liked and Subscribed.
Thanks for watching!
Hi Steven ,I have had all three strings however I tryed the ThunderReds. And found them much less "sticky" than the other non metalic strings. The tone is good.On fretless ubasses even better, vibrato sounds terrific.
Bottom line:4.5 of5
I still haven't tried them for some reason, though I often hear people say they are some of the best strings. Thanks for sharing! Cheers!
Both the roundwound and flatwound 'metal' strings are metal windings around a nylon core. ..Reading on the Kala website... This is the same as the lower strings on a classical guitar; as opposed to a regular guitar or electric bass strings with a metal core and metal windings. (This is why a magnetic pickup won't work on classical guitar strings; no metal core). Kala also says that since the metal strings are lots thinner than the 'rubber' ones, one has to change out the nut, because the grooves are huge for the rubber strings. But that's pretty easy to do; or maybe i'd be lazy and just put a bit of folded up business card in the nut slot. I love the sound of the rubber strings on my Hadean (aquila nylaguts?), but the stickiness on the low E drives me a bit crazy. I can't slide on it much. But otherwise, i love the solid body hadean.
So i may one of the metal strings. But great review!!
Thank you for watching! What did you end up doing?
I chose the roundwound strings so that I could combine them with classical guitar strings for a GDAE tuning. I definitely want to give flatwounds a try, I think I would prefer a softer, darker tone.
I enjoy the flatwounds a lot. They are definitely better for a soft/darker tone.
❤Great analysis - thank you. I prefer the sound of the round wound strings.
@stephencoxbass
Hello there,
I'm late in the conversation, but I have a question. It'll probably sound strange, and it's because I don't play bass, ukulele or otherwise (at least not yet!).
BUT, here it goes: When doing slides with the "rubber" strings, do you think it would be possible to figure out, like in a trial and error way, how to play the intended note on the wrong fret?
Let's say the note is flat, like you said (and I understand it on a theoretical point of view): what if you played it on the next fret? Then, if it's still flat, you'd play it another fret further. If it's sharp, however, you could push a little harder on the string while sliding.
Am I making sense? Anyway, thanks for your videos, I saw most of them and you're doing an awesome job.
Great idea! I've thought about things like this, and the main problem is that there are pitches between the ones we use. When we go further up to the next fret, the string hasn't adjusted quite the right amount to get that note in tune to either. The factor that affects this more is the amount of friction from the finger sliding up the string. Some people combat this with powder (or some liquid maybe?), which reduces the friction. However, on a fretless U-bass, your theory could work if the player has a great ear and a quick reaction time!
Re:flat wound strings. I just bought a Journeyman - Mahogany with f-holes - and they charge an additional $25 for a setup fee and $45 for the strings - Kala flat wounds by Gallistrings, though I suppose you may be able to save that cost if you provide your own.
To me that would be great if they did it well.
It would be interesting to hear the differences between these strings on a solid body UBass.
Kala recommends not putting the flatwounds on the solid body U-Basses due to the bridge design. Magnus of Play U-Bass has a solid body with round wounds if you are interested in hearing him compare those. I have yet to get a solid body, but hope to fairly soon.
I have journeyman shipped with polyurethane strings. I’d like to go flat round strings will I need to change the nut and make truss rod adjustments?
You should be fine with the same nut, but I'm not sure if you'll need the truss rod adjustment or not. I didn't, but some have had to adjust it a bit. Cheers!
For some reason I cannot fit the white Thundergut 68 U, thru the bridge holes of my Kaka Bakhiti Kumalo. By any chance do you use any other gages /brands or did you use a drill and make those string "cavities" bigger? thanks 🙏
This is very helpful. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
Stephen... Great Comparison video! I just subscribed to your channel a couple of weeks ago, as I happen to come across some reviewing videos on the KALA U-Basses, as I was researching information on them. I have a question for you, Stephen.. I am looking into purchasing a KALA U-Bass to add to my 3 electric basses (and 4 Lap & console Steel Guitars.... and 9 harmonica's. lol), in my quest for as close to an Upright bass sound as I can get, for playing Country, Country Gospel, Western/Texas Swing & Bluegrass.
Which of the Kala U-Basses and String combinations, would you consider to best fit that "wish list" for that Upright / Dbl Bass sound??
Also, is there Really any appreciable difference in sound, quality and overall longevity, between the "Fishman" (made in Mass. USA) electronics on the "higher end" ($429.+) KALA U-Basses, and those on the next step down ($300. - $400.), that would make it a "game changer" to "own the best they have"??
In other words, and besides the type of woods used on the different models.... do I really "need" to spend $449. to get the best Upright bass sound from the Mahogany or Ebony U-Basses, or can I get the same sound & Quality from a $300.+ U-Bass? Are the $449.+/- U-Basses with the Fishman electronics, and the HipShot tuners (as nice as they are) really worth the extra money, in comparison to the slightly lower price range and their components??
I CAN afford them.... but, is it really necessary to do so, and get what I'm looking for in sound and longevity??
I am Not currently playing with any bands... and am now 73 years "young", so I'm now playing for my own pleasure, and jamming with others, who are also "getting up there" in their years, but have also been playing for decades as well.
Thank you in advance, Stephen... for your time and any experienced insights and suggestions you can make in helping me with my decision in acquiring my first (and most likely, Only) U-Bass from KALA... your response will be Greatly appreciated, and taken into consideration of which one I choose to purchase. I will let you know which one I get...... IF, it's even in stock.
At the moment, it's seems they're Out of Stock on just about All of them (11.14.2022 on the KALA website store), except for the two High End models, and the one for $389.... unless they have more for sale on other online websites or dealers... like Sweetwater or possibly even Guitar Center, etc, etc.... but I would prefer to buy directly from them. Thanks Again.
Thanks for watching! You would probably be happy enough with any that come with the polyurethane strings, but I do feel like it can be worth the step up for quality and quality control on the more expensive models.
I thought the Pahoehoe strings sounded the most like an upright, but there are more options at this point I have yet to try. I hope that info helps a bit. Cheers!
P.S. I don't know if any of it is a "game changer" specifically, but I would probably spend the extra for the upgraded pickup if I were only getting one.
@@stephencoxbassThank you Stephen for your reply.... I really appreciate it and your thoughts on it. I found a Mahogany U Bass used on a site, but it does Not have the Fishman electronics, I think it might be an "older" model, and it has Kala round wounds on it, although it comes with a New set of Aguila Thundergut strings (new, in package), as well as the Kala Custom Bass Bag, and a 2" Velvet strap (New) - all for less than $400. I haven't moved on it yet... but thinking I will... Soon.
I was looking at some of the Rondo/Hadean versions.... and the prices are certainly "right".... but, I don't trust them for any kind of worth while quality.
I also looked at the Luna line... No Truss rods... I don't like that. The Lanakai's looked good, but I don't care for the way they're set up with those Phosphorus Bronze strings.... not "bassy" enough for me.
Not much sense in going "cheap" then have to turn around and spend another $150.+/- to make it "right". So, will most likely stick with the Kala.
Hi Stephen,
very nice review!
I was wondering if you could get the "mwah" sound of a fretless E bass if you put those metal round wounds on a fretless U bass. Have not really found any video experimenting with that combination... I don't really know if the piezo pickup of u basses creates enough sustain to get that sound...
Cheers,
Valentin
Hi Valentin,
Thank you! The main reason you don't see that combination as often is because round wounds can create grooves in the fingerboard over time on a fretless. It happens on full scale basses as well, so some people that enjoy that sound coat the fingerboard (fretboard) with epoxy of some sort to keep it from damaging the wood.
I believe most people are looking for an upright sound more than that purring fretless vibe, so it's definitely more rare to see on U-Bass.
Thanks for watching.
Cheers!
Extremelly helpful. Thanks! Liking the upright sound and the higher tension so flatwounds seem like a good (and expensive) compromise for what I want to do. Any comment on which Kala U-Bass has a better upright sound? especially Rumbler, Exotic Mahogany and Striped Ebony. Or is the selection of string more important than the specific instrument? Thanks in advance.
It's more about the strings and the pickup, so those options might sound similar unless they have changed the pickups on one of those models since I last checked. Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Thank you.
Subscribed today from Philippines. Hard to get a Ubass in these times hopefully i could get one.
I hope you can soon! Maybe someone is making bass ukuleles there?
@@stephencoxbass yeah but its hard to get one now because of this covid19 issue all essentials are closed now except only food and medicine.
wow the flatwounds rock!
I agree! They even sound pretty cool slapped: ua-cam.com/video/qfF26SUjDfc/v-deo.html
Hey Stephen great review. thanks! My wife has a u-bass (made by me :-)) with rubber (ok polyurethane) strings - I want to buy some flat wounds and see what they sound like and if easier etc. Two questions - if she hates them can she re-string with the old rubber strings? Or will it have to be a new set? And how much additional tension do the flat wounds put on? Her u-bass has not got a metal truss-rod - just a carbon fibre insert. cheers
Hi Simon, I think it's fairly easy to put the rubber strings back on if you want, but I'm not sure how much tension your design can take. They have a nylon core, but the flatwounds have a decent amount of tension in comparison. One day I might try them on my fretless that also lacks a truss rod, so I'll have a better answer then. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
man, i’m from Brazil, and i’m thinking about buying some uBass, thanks for the review!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching the live stream, too!
👍 *6:00** Coat round wound strings with vaseline to avoid hurting your fingers*
They have all sorts of products that can help, too: Finger ease and fast fret are 2 I've heard of. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review, I pronounce Pahoehoe like you do and they are my favorite on my fretless, which works great for sliding. Pahoehoes are also not sticky like the Thundeguts, so sliding may not stretch the strings so much? I was considering trying the flats, but with the higher tension and my arthritis, I may just stick with Pahoehoe.
Thank you for watching! I remember borrowing a friend's ubass with Pahoehoes to do a different string comparison video. They were less sticky, but I think sliding still affects the intonation. If you push down very lightly it affects it less, and it's possible that lack of frets might help as well. Rubber are definitly nicer to the wrist, I would recommend playing the flats on someone else's bass to see if they are too rough for your arthritis. If the round wounds are too much, flats will be, so it may be easier to find a store with one that has rounds installed.
It's pronounced pah-ho-eh-ho-eh, every vowel in Hawaiian is always pronounced, no silent vowels.
Hi Stephen, thanks for all the great information. Do you know if tape wound strings will work on a Kala? like D'addario flat tape wounds or Labella deep talking?
That's a great question. I personally would not try it for a few reasons: The gauge is different for full scale bass strings, so they would be very loose on a U-Bass. Also, the tape wounds have a metal core while U-Bass strings have nylon cores, and since the strings wouldn't taper at the ends soon enough, they would put stress on the tuners. If you were to get a 5 string pack to get around the first issue I mentioned, you might amplify the 2nd issue. Maybe one day they will make tape wounds designed for such a short instrument, but I have yet to see any on the market. Thanks for watching!
Honestly, I can see a use case for all three even at a professional level. They all sound like different instruments, at least through the pickup, and if I have to take three instruments to the gig, I'd rather it be three of these...
Agreed! I had to get all three because of the versatility. Well said!
Every time i hear one of these i feel like they'd sound better fretless.
I finally got a fretless bass uke! more videos to come soon, but there is an unboxing video up already. Cheers!
Great video.
I think I'll buy one for me and my son
They are fun! I'm not sure how young your son is, but kids seem to love the rubber strings!
Thanks for the video. Very informative. Those galli strings are definitely not cheap. Wow! I think I would have to go with the Kala metal rounds. Still not a bargain but a little more than half the cost of the galli flat wound strings.
I hear you, they aren't cheap! But they are so worth it to me! The round wounds are still great, though!
Thanks for the great videos. Are there models that can take either strings, or are you committed to the stye of string that came with the u-bass?
Many of the acoustic electric models will take any string, but you may have to change the nut or widen the grooves under certain strings. The strings will work as long as the bass ukulele is the right length and has a truss rod. Thanks for watching!