Do Kala Flat Wound Strings Fit Other Mini Basses?

Do Kala Flat Wound Strings Fit Other Mini Basses 23 1/2" Scale?
Whilst changing strings and putting the Kala Flatwound strings on my Kala SB UBass I thought it might be useful to see if the strings might fit any other mini basses / solid body ukuleles with magnetic pickups.
I try them the Flight Mini Bass, the Blackstar Travel Bass Guitar, the Fanner Pee Wee Bass and my Flight Mini JB Bass.
I did a live stream talking about these upgrades. Check it out here: www.youtube.co...
The full video where I fit the flatwound strings to my Kala fretted solid body U-Bass: • Kala U-Bass Change Of ...
You can currentlly buy these strings here: kalabrand.com/...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🚀 Want to support the channel - join my Patreon page here - / ukulelewales
✔️ Kala Solid Body Fretted U-Bass Full Review - • Kala Solid Body U Bass...
✔️ Kala Solid Body Fretless U-Bass Full Review - • Kala Fretless Solid Bo...
✔️ Kala Solid Body Fretless & Fretted U-Bass Comparison - • Kala SB U-Bass - Frett...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 1/2 scale mini bass or bass ukulele with passive magnetic pick ups, steel flat wound strings.
Do Kala Flat Wound Strings Fit Other Mini Basses?:
00:00 Intro to Do Kala Flat Wound Strings Fit Other Mini Basses
01:19 Kala SB U•Bass Tobacco Burst
02:39 Flight Mini Bass
04:06 Fanner Pee Wee Bass
04:45 Blackstar Mini Bass Guitar
05:20 Flight Mini JB Bass
06:42 Conclusion and overview of whether Kala Flat Wound Strings Fit Other Mini Basses
‪@kalabrandmusic‬
Instruments and equipment used:
Kala SB U•Bass Tobacco Burst
Flight Mini Bass
Fanner Pee Wee Bass
Blackstar ST Carry On bass Guitar
Flight Mini JB
Genzler MG350 Amp head
Barefaced One10 Cabinet
Website: ukulele.wales/
T-Shirts & Merch: www.redbubble....
Ukulalien Play Along Channel: / ukulaliensukuleleclub
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you.
Sponsored videos and brand sponsored content on this channel will be clearly disclosed within the videos and/or descriptions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[@AnarchyInTheUkuleleTV]

You look cowin lush in that T-shirt Rach! ❤

[@UkuleleWales]

It’s cause the t-shirt is proper lush. Thank You so much. Xx PS Loved Abbie’s “lookie likie” 😂

[@ChrisGorman87]

There is a company called Dogol and they make the strings for the TinyBoy Bass! Ther are a 23inch scale and go from 45-105. The round wounds sell for about $60usd and the flat wounds sell for just over $100usd. They are the best sounding strings i have heard so far! The TinyBoy Bass is a very high end instrument and I can guarantee you will love it! The tone is unbelievable!

[@MithoPiroMusic]

Thanks Rachel, now I know what to get for my blackstar carry on bass ☺️🤟

[@UkuleleWales]

Glad to have helped. The cotton braiding as close to the nut but I think they should be fine. Let me know if you do change them. 😊

[@juliehall3331]

Thank you Rachel for this video! I’m very curious to know if these strings will fit the Flight mini bass. It looks like the gauge of the Flight strings are a little bit smaller than the Kala flat wounds so that would be great to know if they fit. Thank you again for all the great videos on these mini basses!💜🤘🏼🎸

[@UkuleleWales]

Going on length I would say yes Julie, maybe a little altering of the nut. The shipping for just strings from Kala direct are silly expensive so I’ll have to wait a while before I can try them on the Flight but I really do think they would be good. Let me know if you go for it. 👍

[@RockerProf]

Just a word of warning, Kala makes two different kinds of flatwounds that come in the same-looking packaging, both for 23.5" scale. Only one of them will work on the solid body because they have a metal core. So if people have a passive instrument that requires metal strings, don't get the wrong kind, because I did and now I have a set of strings I can't use on my solid body. Be sure it says for "solid body" on the packaging. And the correct ones are much pricier. I tried to post a photo of the two kinds, but I was not able to post the photo.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Anne, great point. Maybe I should have mentioned this more in the video, the problem I find is once you start talking about the different bass ukulele strings people (me included) can get very confused. Did you actually fit them before you realised? The reason I ask, there are some strings that are meant for piezo pickups that do actually work on the magnetic pickups. Just a thought.

[@randybarrios2383]

Your absolutely awesome thank you for the videos

[@UkuleleWales]

You are so welcome, glad you are enjoying. 😊

[@billmumbo2697]

Hi Rachel believe it or not i have an old Framus Starbass that has a scale length of 24 ish inches that i bought in about 1973 in a junk shop it has a single sliding pickup and sounds different ( I've fitted ghuitar strings and played it as a banjo and also a tenor guitar) the strings are roto sound and 45 years old but i still use it it sounds sixties (thud !) I'll never sell it best £4 i ever spent never saw another till recently on KZbin but that wasn't quite same ( i tried flatwound strings black nylon tape wound actually hated them !) enjoyed the video as usual,,,,,,😅👍

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks as always Bill and wow, a Framus starbass! As a Warwick owner I already knew what you were talking about although I’d never really thought about just how short scale they were! £4 WOW 🥰

[@Hornyderp]

Finnaly, I actually hate the roundwound felling, they are quite expensive

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes, I much prefer the feel of the flatwounds too Joao. They are expensive unfortunately, especially when you have as many basses as me to change! 😉

[@Hornyderp]

@@UkuleleWales In your case it must be like 300€ on strings every few year's

[@andymarshman9546]

OMG. I just went to buy a set of these for my new Kala U-Bass 23.5" scale. Here, in Canada, the cost ranges from $99 on Amazon to $121 from a major retailer. I'm kind of in shock. I've paid big dollars for my 30" and 34" basses, both flats and tape wounds but this price tag really surprised me. I'll probably make the purchase one day because I love flats but for now, I'll just enjoy the round wounds that came on the instrument.. good video as always Rachel.

[@UkuleleWales]

I know Andy, exactly the same here too which was why I made sure I got the strings sorted when I bought the bass from them so at least it was just one BIG bill! The strings are not here in the UK yet but I know they will be expensive even then because of all the import tax. I often buy strings from Strings By Mail in the US and they have very reasonable prices for shipping too but the Kala SB strings are not on their site (yet!?). Having said that, I love these strings enough to spend but I am going to look at any alternatives first. 👍

[@ludwigvanzappa9548]

I have a cheap Kmise ukulele bass that I defretted, change the nut and I put Kala flatwound and I like it very much but I miss the sound of my thunderblacks. Won't change them back but might buy another one and put the thunderblacks. Love your videos, Thank you!

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks and I have to say, LOVE your KZbin name!! What does the Kmise sound like with the Flatwounds. Like you though I like to have the option of rubber too although Thunderbrowns are my favourite. 😎

[@ludwigvanzappa9548]

@@UkuleleWalesIt sounds good. I prefer the sound of the thunderblacks but the feel of the flatwounds. I changed the nut, put the flatwounds and the A string buzz was gone. Thanks for the name, they're my two favorite composers.

[@UkuleleWales]

@@ludwigvanzappa9548 LOVE the name reason and good to hear you sorted the buzz out too. Another bass for the thunderblacks then! 😉

[@bonniedavidson936]

Love that t shirt Rachel !!! Great video!!

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Bonnie and yes great t-shirt eh! And always good fun too. 🤘

[@nasty_jams]

I love the Kala u bass chrome flatwound strings on my HB Ubass. Just wondering if you have tried fitting and playing the Kala flatwounds on an electric bass - the big question being - do they work with electric pickups ? Definitely worth a video. Thanks !

[@andysaxton9232]

I bought the 23.5 U Bass flat wounds for my Flight Jazz Bass Mini and my local guitar tech, who tried to fit the strings, reckon that the D and G are not long enough (due to the 2+2 and inline 4) head stock. I also emailed Flight for a flat wound suggestion and have heard nothing. Shame because I love the Flight but really want flattys on it! I did look at the Rotosound 77 short but I'm not sure anymore and think it's time to ditch the Flight and get a Kala instead! This flat wound malarkey is a bit of a nightmare. I once tried chopping down a set of LaBella flatwounds to fit a short scale bass and ended up with a big tangle of spiraled wire! A very costly mistake.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Andy, yep, done the ruining strings by cutting them thing! Have you seen my latest video? If you have the Kalas already, maybe use the E string from that then the MBLS Goldtone strings for the others or you might even have better luck with the E. I got them from Stringsbymail. 👍

[@mannishboy1]

Rachel, Does any of the actual string go around the tuner when tuned to pitch, or is it just the silks? Thanks for all you do!

[@UkuleleWales]

In theory it is better for just the wound silk bits but it can work with a small amount of unbound string sometimes, just eed to be careful when winding them up.

[@yukihyostar]

Hi Rachel. I'm contemplating buying the Flight solid body, but am totally confused regarding which flats to buy. Down Under we have little selection, and have heard that La Bella make a set (which I can't find anywhere online), and the Kala ones I've seen online seem to be outrageously priced! Any idea on where I might find the right scale length ones, as the only set I've come across are a 31" set! HELP!! 👍

[@UkuleleWales]

Check out the website - StringsByMail and search Kala KA-BASS-4FW-SC. Very reasonable shipping costs. 👍

[@Stick3x]

I wonder if they make 5 string flats for the new 5 String Solid body Kalas?

[@UkuleleWales]

Coming very soon. kalabrand.com/collections/solid-body-electric-u-bass-strings/products/stainless-steel-solid-body-u-bass-flat-wound-5-string-set

[@k_levande]

Are there tapewound strings for U-basses ?

[@UkuleleWales]

There are but it’s all about the size / length of the strings. I haven’t used tape wounds but I believe Pyramid might make some.

[@mikelond3337]

On a slightly different note....do you have any tips on whether talcum powder, silicon spray etc are good for sticky poly strings? Ive put a set of aquila on my kala, and theyre SOOOO sticky compared to the Pahoehoes that were on there before..☹️

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Mike, I have often suffered with sweaty hands over the years but have akways stayed away from talcum powder as it hts gets messy. I know it can be difficult with the poly strings but I've found both the Thunderbrowns (especially) and the Thunderblacks are better and cause less problems with it.

[@mikelond3337]

@@UkuleleWales Hi Rachel Thanks for the response - since posting my original question, I did a bit of lateral thinking and bought a tin of Mr Sheen furniture polish (safe on rubber as well as wood, glass, plastic etc). I have to say it works a treat when sprayed onto a rag and wiped down the strings. Obviously it wears off eventually, but I managed a 2 hour rehearsal session with my newly polished thunderblacks without issue. They felt exactly the same as my old pahohoe strings that were on my Kala Rumbler previously........ I have now moved on to a pack of Mr Sheen furniture polish wipes, as they're lots easier to carry in my Fusion gigbag than an aerosol and rags! I'll keep you posted as to any further progress, but so far it looks promising......

[@UkuleleWales]

@@mikelond3337 Cool solution!