Kala U-Bass Change Of Strings & Pickguards ::: Mini Bass Flatwounds Testing

Kala U-Bass Change Of Strings & Pickguards Mini Bass Flat Wounds Look
Some upgrades / mods to my 2 Kala solid body U-Basses. I change the roundwound strings on the fretted mini bass to flatwounds and change the pickguard / scratch plate on both.
I did a live stream talking about these upgrades. Check it out here: www.youtube.co...
Custom Pickguards Here: pe-design.se/
Instagram: / pe_design_nora
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23 1/2 scale mini bass or bass ukulele with passive magnetic pick ups, steel flat wound strings and round wound strings.
Kala SB U-Bass - Flatwound Strings & Pickguard Changes:
00:00 Intro to Kala SB U-Bass - Flatwound Strings & Pickguard updates
02:46 Removal of pickguard on Fretted Kala U-Bass Solid Body Bass
07:00 Fitting new pickguard - is it easy?
17:58 Flatwound strings by Kala and cleaning the fretboard
18:43 Looking at the Flatwounds with the Kala SB U-Bass
20:26 Looking at the Flatwounds with the Flight Mini Bass Ukulele
21:53 Looking at the Flatwounds with the Fanner Pee Wee Bass
22:32 Looking at the Flatwounds with the Blackstar Mini Bass Guitar
23:07 Looking at the Flatwounds with the Flight Mini JB Bass
24:33 Comparing cut round wound strings to new flat wound strings
25:35 Fitting the flatwounds to the Kala Solid Body U-Bass
31:06 Fitting a purple pickguard to my fretless Kala U-Bass SB
41:45 Conclusion and overview of fitting flatwound strings and new pickguards to my mini basses by Kala
‪@kalabrandmusic‬
‪@bassMAGics‬
Instruments and equipment used:
Kala SB U•Bass Tobacco Burst - UBASS-SB-TB-FS
Kala SB U•Bass Jet Black Fretless - UBASS-SB-BK-FL
Genzler MG350 Amp head
Barefaced One10 Cabinet
Website: ukulele.wales/
T-Shirts & Merch: www.redbubble....
Ukulalien Play Along Channel: / ukulaliensukuleleclub
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[@anuschkafenner9386]

Wow, I thought the purple pickguard was so beautiful. I had to try it too, without the video I would never have dared. So I ordered a blank and made it with a fretsaw and sandpaper. It went really well and looks great. Thanks for the idea!

[@gjmmusic7559]

Oh Rach, that Purple plate POPS! Proper Lush!

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Geraint and yes, proper proper lush! 💜

[@peterbradley4391]

A very interesting video even for a none bass player and really enjoyed it, i just love your love your enthusiasm for helping others and as usual please keep them coming Rachel ❤

[@UkuleleWales]

Awww Thank Peter, that is lovely to hear.

[@pslorenzen]

Just got my Purple pick guard from Per. Looks amazing. thank you for the video.

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

Totally love the purple pickguard, love your channel . . .

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks so much Steven 😊

[@kansasref]

Thanks so much for this video, Rachel. The new pickguards look brilliant, so much more eye-popping than the originals. It sure is handy to know somebody who can do that sort of work for you. I have a friend who once worked for a plastic fabricating shop and he made a custom replacement for my Ovation Breadwinner guitar. I appreciate you taking the time to check the fit of the new flatwounds on your other basses. I intend to get a set for my Fanner PeeWee as soon as Kala has them in stock once again. It’s good to know that the length and fit seem compatible. Oh, and I got a real kick out of watching the lava lamp during the sped-up segments! One more thing. Here’s a tip for anyone who is replacing a pickguard and accidentally strips out one of the screw holes. Jam a toothpick into the hole with a small dab of white glue and break or cut it off at the guitar body. The screw will now fit snugly again.

[@UkuleleWales]

Great tip about the screw holes, Thanks. Glad the strings measuring helped, yes I would certainly use these if I need to change the Fanner Pee Wee Strings. Let me know when you fit yours and what you think. 😎

[@garywood7503]

Hello Rachel. Thanks for your mail. Kala Galli have made those strings in both21" and 23" scale for as long as I can remember. The opinion seems to be they don't work mag pickups. I found they work very well several years ago. Almost by accident.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Gary, good to know but I'm just happy they've brought out flatwounds designed for the magnetic pickups.

[@michaelray9576]

@@UkuleleWales i ordered the KALA U-BASS FLATWOUND SET KA-BASS-4FW for my solidbody Kala and they are toooooo SHORT

[@UkuleleWales]

@@michaelray9576 It sounds like you have ordered the strings designed and made for the 20" U-bass models not the 23" solid body. You need KA-BASS-4FW-SC Do you think you can return them?

[@andymarshman9546]

May I suggest, for people not as familiar with this detail - tighten the nut on the volume and tone controls BEFORE you install the pick guard screws. That way there's no risk of the potentiometers spinning around and breaking the wires off.

[@UkuleleWales]

Great tip there Andy, Thanks 👍

[@nsavage24]

Love your upgrades! The purple pickguard looks amazing! I just got a Kala SB UBass and I've been thinking flat wounds would be so cool but not having any prior experience with metal strings I wasn't too sure about doing it myself. Your video is wonderful and makes me think, yeah, I can do that.

[@UkuleleWales]

Awesome! Thank you and yes, you CAN do the string change, it really is straight forward, I promise.

[@loree3212]

Wow Rachel, you have made those basses so richer looking. The plain white pick guard doesn’t add anything to the bass appearance. The ones you’ve added created a great look. And I have been a flat wound fan from the beginning. Great video, thanks. Sorry I couldn’t make the livestream.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Loree and yes, totally agree, they make the bass look so much better. I missed you on the live stream but there will be more. 👍

[@Spoiled_bats]

Flatwounds look so clean, I need to try them

[@UkuleleWales]

They really are sooooooooo nice 🥰

[@randallmoore4000]

Good morning from the USA. Love your content. Would your ever consider doing a tab version of your test tunes you do for your basses? Love the consistancy, and also make me look like I know what I'm doing. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi the TAB and notes are on the screen during “Bass Tabs On Bass Ukulele) video if you do a search for it. 👍

[@PerEklof81]

Great video :) They are really looking good. My design has been modified a bit so the next model will not be so tight. Regards Per

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Per, and yes lots and lots of great comments about them. I have added your website address to both the livestream and this video descriptions so hopefully you will have some orders. 🤞 Cool you have altered the design a little, I will have to get another pick guard now (and bass) to try it out! 😉 Thank you again for making me 2 beautiful pick guards and for coming on the live stream chat. 🫶

[@titichartay7216]

Beware string whiplash ! been caught a few times myself. Purple pick guard absolute stunner with black body.

[@UkuleleWales]

Yay, the doggies say woof! Yes, bass strings hurt when they whip you, this one was more a jam finger!? I still smile every time I see it! 💜

[@marybikes8470]

I’m not normally a fan of purple but that looks awesome 👏

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Mary, yes it is a looker! 🤩

[@garywood7503]

Hello Rachel. Flat wound 23" scale strings are available that fit perfectly and sound AWSOME. They are for the magnetic pickup. Also the Kala strings that most people believe they wont work with mag pickups. I an assure they work perfectly. Because I have used them with mag pickups.. I checked the if the were available on Thursday 14/03/2024.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Gary. Are you talking about eh Galli Flatwounds? I thought they were for 21”?

[@judih.8754]

I love your Lava Lamp. I have one that my cat just loves watching in the AM when it's on. I wonder if the pick guard was put on the body prior to the neck being attached? That may account for the tightness. It looks nice. I do love the purple one!

[@UkuleleWales]

LOL Yes, I love the lava lamp too Judi. 🥰 I did wonder about the neck being fitted after the pickguard too. It is very doable but a bit more fiddly than I had anticipated.

[@ChrisGorman87]

I’m disappointed you didn’t try the D’Addario ECB81S Floutwound strings. As a fellow Bassist I can assure you that they are a way better option over the Kala brand strings. They fit without being cut too short and the tension is mind blowing perfect. Also the string gauge is exactly what a these 23 inch scale basses need which is 45-100. Anything bigger doesn’t sound good as they tend to sound too low as these are considered sub-octave basses. Just my thoughts lol

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Chris, I will try the D’Addario ECB81S at some point but having messed up one set of flatwounds I just want to swap to flats and it was easy to use the Kalas as they fitted them for me before being shipped.

[@kennethcondon7744]

Where did you get the purple pickguard?

[@dabrigalive]

Unfortunately the ubass solid body strings by Labella are not available anywhere. Sweetwater in the U.S. stated they are scheduled to receive them in July.

[@dabrigalive]

Flatwound that is…

[@UkuleleWales]

HI, try Stringsbymail, I’ve just managed to get some from there. Depending where you are living, Sweetwater won’t ship them to the UK or Europe. 👍

[@dabrigalive]

@@UkuleleWales , I had read a few posts about the Aquila Flat Spirals bass strings. They are copper flat wounds for 22” - 24” flat wounds. Also bought through Stringsbymail. I’m going to try them on my 22 7/8” Cordoba mini bass.

[@joefortune5040]

Hi Rachel, Brilliant video as always and very helpful. I am hoping to change the round wounds on my SB to Flat wounds. I did see somewhere however that the Flat wounds have a higher tension than the Round wounds and that the truss rod might need adjusting. Did you find that this was the case?

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Joe, don’t worry about the tension on these, I remember seeing that too but it was for the nylon core flatwounds for the piezo pickups, it’s why I’ve been wary about putting them on my California U-bass. The ones for the SB basses are fine, just make sure you go to the correct page on Kala. kalabrand.com/products/ka-bass-4fw-sc

[@joefortune5040]

@@UkuleleWales Thanks Rachel, I’ve ordered the flat wounds from Thomann. They have the steel core ones in stock at the moment. I have the nylon core flat wounds on an acoustic Kala uBass that I have and they are very nice. My steel core flat wounds have been dispatched and I should have them next week. I’ve also recently bought a Roadie bass tuner which works very nicely on the solid body ubass and on the acoustic also. All the best from Ireland. Joe

[@UkuleleWales]

@@joefortune5040 Thomann has the Kala Flatwounds?? Do you have a link please?

[@TheQuietpanda]

Yoo the vid from the stream lol nice

[@brentlarson2206]

I need a better link to find the place where I can get a replacement pickguard for my Kala solid body fretless bass. The bright white one it came with does not make it for me. Thx! - Brent

[@brentlarson2206]

Unable to find Kala Pickguard replacements on that site.

[@UkuleleWales]

If you use the contact link on the site Per will know what you are talking about.

[@michaelray9576]

Hey Rachel...what is your source the KALA 23.5 Flatwound Bass Strings for the solid body...NOBODY HAS THEM IN THE STATES....✌❤ from HAMPTON VA

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Michael, have you tried Strings By Mail? www.stringsbymail.com/kala-ka-bass-4fw-sc-stainless-steel-solid-body-ubass-fw-4-string-set-28720.html

[@michaelray9576]

@@UkuleleWales FYI Rachel...got an email from KALA and they just got flatwounds in and I ordered them and they arrived and they now adorn my ubass...Thanx for your help and suggestions...CARRY ON GAL!!! CARRY ON!!!

[@TheQuietpanda]

This is like adult lego

[@UkuleleWales]

😂

[@Hornyderp]

Flight has yet realesed flatwounds

[@UkuleleWales]

Not yet Joao, soon hopefully but the Kala flatwounds should fit them. 🤞

[@MariUSukulele]

💜🖤💜

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes indeed 🫶💜🫶

[@PandaPlaysUkulele]

First

[@TheQuietpanda]

Lol I am you so I'm first