Aklot Fretless Bass Ukulele Review

In this video, I review the Aklot AKBU30 fretless bass ukulele. It a nice bass ukulele that is well built and well finished. It is a great value!
After I recorded the video, I realized, I did not have the G string in its nut slot. D'oh! I must have pulled it out when I was lifting it out of the slot while tuning it and did not realize it! I did the same thing in the unboxing video! When the strings are in their slots, they are properly aligned.
It is available from eBay: www.ebay.com/i...
My channel focuses on these topics:
• Stringed instruments
• Stringed instrument building
• Stringed instrument reviews
• Cigar box guitar building
• Ukulele building
• Ukulele reviews
• Ukulele unboxing
• Banjolele building
• Canjo building
• Banjo building

[@judyarfa2240]

Great review from both of you. I never considered a uke bass until I watched this video.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I hope you found this useful!

[@GameOfDepth]

I picked this up as an alternative to my fretted bass ukulele and i enjoy the upright bass like freedom and sound to make the strings “speak”.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I’m glad you like it! There’s a lot to like about it! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@richdavis4007]

Very striking instrument!! I'm super impressed with Aklot ukuleles. They do a great job.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I agree! I have been very impressed by all the Aklot instruments.

[@Emberlocks]

I ordered it on amazon and it never arrived so I asked for a refund and it’s not available in my country anymore, so sad! I had to spend some more money and buy another brand 😶

[@stevesstrings5243]

That sucks! Have you contacted Aklot customer service directly? Which other brand did you decide upon?

[@charleschamberlain53]

@@Emberlocks what brand did you get? And was it fretless?

[@CircuitsAndStrings]

Nice review. I love taking a bass uke to ukulele groups. It balances out the treble with some low end thump. But I’ve only played fretted versions. I need to try out a fretless.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! We are fortunate that we have someone who plays bass for us at our uke group. It really improves our sound.

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

nice job Steve. I 'm so glad that you clarified that it was indeed fretless ( I didn't notice that they were just inlays..very clever) Nice job reviewing and playing. i'm just teaching myself now too!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I really like it! Unfortunately, I’m not practicing as much as I should so my progress has been very slow.

[@MariaCalfaDePaul]

@@stevesstrings5243 i hear ya

[@SlapNSniff]

Thanks for the video. Just ordered mine today! Can't wait!

[@stevesstrings5243]

I hope the review was helpful. I think you will like it!

[@SlapNSniff]

@@stevesstrings5243 So I've had this bass uke for going on two weeks now. At first I was thrown off by the strings. I just couldn't get into playing it. I hated the feel. But I kept picking it up everyday anyway and now I've gotten to the point where I can't put this thing down! It took some time but its pretty awesome and I do recommend.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for commenting! I’m glad you like it! I have not been as diligent as you so I’m still no very comfortable with it. But I do like it!

[@SlapNSniff]

@@stevesstrings5243 I also bought one of these for my 18 year old nephew for Christmas who also plays bass. He loves it! I gave it to him Monday and he's been playing it everyday since. Hahaha

[@stevesstrings5243]

I’m glad to hear he likes it! Merry Christmas!

[@kristian.perez_]

You should place your fingers where the fret lines are instead of in the middle unlike a fretted instrument. I play both double bass and bass guitar and just wanted to give a lil tip!

[@kristian.perez_]

Like how your friend did

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for tip! I will have to learn to change old habits.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I'm sure she appreciates that.

[@MountainHomeJerrel]

Fascinating! Thanks for the in depth review.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I hope you found it useful! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@DavidBeede]

I just received one of these yesterday. The A string tuner was stiff and as I tuned, it became frozen and wouldn't move. It was like the gears weren't meshing properly. I tuned the rest of the strings and plugged it in. The volume of the strings were very different. A couple of strings were really loud and a couple were very soft. Seems Aklot has a quality control issue. The finish was decent and the electronic tuner worked fine, but due to the rest of the issues I'll have to send it back. Glad you got a good one.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sorry to hear you did not have a good experience! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@BensUkeTutes]

I've just ordered an Aklot bass, but in Bambou ! so excited, I wonder if it'll have much of a tone difference with this one

[@stevesstrings5243]

I just unboxed the bamboo ubass today! It is difficult for me to tell a difference in tone since the sound really comes from the amplifier.

[@LarkVsOwl-de3op]

Just got one. They are sweet sounding.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I’m glad you like it! I also love it’s looks! I wish they made a baritone just like it!

[@edmorgan960]

I just bought a bamboo Aklot. I love it!

[@stevesstrings5243]

I'm glad to hear it! I just posted an unboxing video of it today! Post a comment there and let folks know what you think of it! Thanks!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Wow. That finish is nice. A lot of instrument for the price.

[@stevesstrings5243]

It’s a nice one!

[@furanseyon7762]

Thank you for this I might buy one this month!

[@stevesstrings5243]

You are welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@FleksiTV]

The biggest issue I find with this bass is that it takes two button cell batteries as opposed to the standard 9v battery. The inlays feel a bit hit and miss intonation wise. The low E string is much quieter than others which can be remedied by putting 2mm piece of plastic under the saddle on that side but that of course will make the action higher. Overall I’m not impressed at all. I also have a Batking uke bass which is about the same price, looks better and runs off a 9v rechargeable battery which makes a massive difference.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for watching and commenting! This was the first I had seen so comparisons are welcome!

[@SergeUnplugged]

solid cover Steve!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for watching!

[@richardkimball4171]

Hi Steve. I was fortunate to run across your excellent review of the Aklot UBass! :) What made me decide to start looking is I took a couple of UBass courses and thought it was something light to learn. However, I was using my brother-in-law's electric guitar bass. I then knew that I wanted a flat-wound, fretless UBass....and I definitely wanted to make sure it had a truss-rod in it. Aklot checked off all the boxes with the exception of the strings (which I have on order). But...after looking at this UBass, I found there was no back plate.... Any idea how to change the strings on this? Thank you!

[@stevesstrings5243]

To be clear, this instrument is designed for the rubber "Thundergut" strings. It is not designed to be used with wound strings. Here is a review I did on an Ohana Ubass that uses wound strings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHa6l55nqs55f5Y This is a link to a video that shows how to change the strings on the rubber stringed ubass'. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHa6l55nqs55f5Y

[@richardkimball4171]

@@stevesstrings5243 Thank you Steve. I appreciate the comment. The new Galli strings were made to replace the rubber strings on the acoustic/electric UBasses from Kala. kalabrand.com/products/ka-bass-4fw I'm hopeful that they will work on the Aklot. If not, I may switch. I'm sure I can recover most of my money from the Aklot if I need to. It is a good instrument. The second link in your comment appears to be pointing to the first link. I'm looking for instructions on how to change the rubber strings on this Aklot specifically...since it doesn't have a back plate. If I can't find any, I will try to feed them through the body and fish them out like other ukes I have....all the electronics to get around make it a little risky.

[@thiskingswingsthings]

@@richardkimball4171 did you work this out? I was also wondering the best way to change strings on this unit. Seems a bit of a design flaw. Cheers

[@Emberlocks]

Very useful video! I had a bad experience with a donner ubass that I had to return, I’ll give this one a go 😊

[@stevesstrings5243]

Brassylocks, I’m glad you found it helpful! Let us know how you like it.

[@BethechangeRoytheshizmaben]

Just got my allot acoustic seen it on your page first...only downside is they have it printed on the front that it is a acoustic guitar... Deff wasn't thinking it was a uke. Lol but very decent tone

[@stevesstrings5243]

I hope you like your new instrument! Please post my page where you first saw it so other viewers get to hear your opinion of it as well!

[@704munk5]

Great video! Is the tuning that of a standard bass? I'm really considering purchasing

[@stevesstrings5243]

Yes! It has standard bass tuning. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@silentgd]

chalk up those fingers so you can slide easier on those rubber strings (talc or cornstarch will work)..it's a great instrument..I have both fretted and unfretted Bass ukes

[@stevesstrings5243]

Great advice! Thanks! Those rubber strings and be sticky!

[@greenhornedrhino3046]

Mines on the way

[@stevesstrings5243]

It’s a beauty! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@steveharris2589]

Great video U 2!!!!!!!))))😊😊

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks Steve! I’m glad you liked it!

[@DarranJHankey66]

I love the Uke, and Banjo uke, I've played various size ukuleles over 45 years, then when the Uke craze hit a all time high, welcome *The Bass *uke,,,, all I can say, if it is Kanela to Martin, to Snail, whatever price,,,,, the Bass Uke are a pointless instrument.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for watching! I know some folks really like them.

[@fiendishthingy1630]

DazA H - No musical instrument is "pointless". If it makes music/musical sounds, and makes the player happy, that's the point.

[@h.b1035]

Are all ubasses fretless ?

[@stevesstrings5243]

No. Some are fretted.

[@ifiddle2]

Most that I have checked out are fretted. If you are a novice a fretted bass might be a better way to go. If you are a seasoned string player fretless could be cool. Really great price AND it has a TRUSS ROD. I wouldn't buy one without a truss rod. There's a kit on Etsy for $45 to convert a small guitar or baritone uke into a u-bass if you've got the skills.

[@ChrisGorman87]

Gotta spend more then $300 to sound decent.

[@stevesstrings5243]

It is often the case that more money can buy you better sound. That said, I have no doubt a better amp and a more skilled player would definitely make this instrument sound better than I was able to show. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@rickbogan4631]

Interesting bass. Terrible bass playing.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I completely agree on both points! Lol!