Uke-Style Basses vs. Standard Long Scale Instruments: A Personal Journey

As an active and casual social bass player, my experience with Uke-style basses (often referred to as U-Basses) contrasts sharply with the standard long scale basses I normally play. This article shares my personal insights and experiences based on owning and playing several U-Basses and standard basses, from a folk/roots/country jam band perspective.

The U-Bass Experience

I have been fortunate to have 28.5, 32, and 34 inch electrics, a 32-inch acoustic bass, and a Kala U-Bass with rubber strings. My band, a folk/roots/country jam band, meets every Saturday morning, featuring 20 regular members and occasional sit-in players. I play a Fender CB-60 or my Kala U-Bass, depending on the situation, such as whether I bike or drive to our venue, my fingers feeling from the previous week, or a bit of whimsy.

The Kala U-Bass, which I primarily use, comes with round wound steel over synthetic strings, providing a sound more familiar to traditional bass guitars. The string feel is notably different and more comfortable compared to the rubber strings they were originally fitted with. However, the Kala U-Bass suffers from intonation issues that become noticeable above the 7th fret, and there is no easy way to adjust it, particularly for those playing higher up the fretboard.

Additionally, when playing my Kala U-Bass 5-string version, the lower B string feels somewhat floppy and less comfortable. I have found that the lower string tension makes it less ideal for my playing style, as it doesn’t feel quite right. My absolute favorite bass in my collection is my little hollow-body fretless bass, which I adore for its playability and sound.

The Hollow-Body Fretless U-Bass

The hollow-body fretless U-Bass is my go-to bass, offering a sound similar to a standard upright bass but in a more portable format. Unlike the Kala models, it avoids intonation issues, even though it may play out of tune as one moves up the higher frets, it is my personal choice for its unique sound. The lightly fretted nature of this bass allows for a versatile sound, similar to an upright bass, capturing the rich and woody tones that are often associated with them.

Interestingly, the hollow-body fretless U-Bass has much more in common with a standard 34-inch electric bass in sound and playability. My Godin A4 Ultra, a large fretless bass, is superior in achieving the same sound but larger in size, with chambered construction. The difference in size may not be as significant as cubic inches or string length, but the sound profile is more similar than any solid-body fretless bass.

Playing a fretless instrument also requires more attention to one's right-hand technique, as even a small mistake can be exaggerated. However, this is a challenge I am willing to face for the unique sound the instrument provides.

Conclusion

While Uke-style basses like the Kala U-Bass have their challenges, particularly in terms of intonation and string feel, they offer a unique and smaller-scale perspective on bass playing. For those looking for a compact and fast bass that can sound like a standard upright, a hollow-body fretless U-Bass might be the perfect choice. Each bass offers its own set of advantages and challenges, and the choice ultimately depends on one's personal preferences and playing style.