|
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I'm so excited! I have two of these coming into the shop next week. A friend has one and I honestly think this is the most innovative, radical stringed instrument invented during my lifetime - I'd put it on a par with the very first electric guitar ever made.
The thing is tiny - the size of a baritone uke, but it really does sound like an upright bass! The secret is in the strings. They are made of silicone, they're really fat, and they feel like gummybears. Plenty enough volume to play along with an acoustic guitar or two, but if you're playing with a bluegrass band, (banjos and fiddles and mandolins are LOUD), you can also plug it in. Even plugged in it sounds like an upright bass that has been miked.
I was talking to my rep this morning and we were speculating on what these silicone strings would sound like on an acoustic guitar. SOMEBODY is going to try it, I'm sure. I would if I could get the right guages. As a matter of fact, I may order a couple of sets of the bass strings (the only ones they make so far) and see if I can cobble together something to try on a six string.
I predict that it won't be long before NOBODY buys regular acoustic basses anymore.
http://www.eddyfinnukes.com/products/Eddy-Finn-Acoustic-Electric-Uk... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | How is this different than the Kala U-Bass except for being more expensive?
I have been contemplating a Kala and wonder how this compares. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 849
Location: Canada | Interesting for an acoustic instrument, but I wonderif it actually cuts through due to basic physics of resonance for low frequencies. For a small electric bass I am intrigued by the Ashbory basses, though thhey don't seem to be built anymore ...
http://www.ashborybass.com/
http://www.dearmondguitars.com/ashbory.html
Edited by d'ovation 2013-08-16 3:56 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Stephen, that price you see is the list price. List on a Kala is higher. As to how they compare, I'll let you know when they get here. So far the only one I have played is the Kala. I was going to talk to my rep to see if this company was planning on making them but before I got around to it I got an email saying they had them. I think they should be pretty good. Eddie Finn ukes have a great reputation. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I look forward to hearing your impressions once you get the chance to compare them. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | From what I have heard, these are the only two companies making them - so far. Once words gets around I bet everybody will be making them. I can't wait 'til they come in!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4050
Location: Utah | I think I want one! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | There's a regular jazz quartet that plays at one of my local Open Mic Nights consisting of banjo, clarinet, drums and ukelele bass.
Unbelievable bass sound coming from such a tiny toy of a thing. No idea what brand it is. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Check out the Ukelele Bass(es) in this video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgD5p1XiVT0 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 741
Location: Fort Worth, TX | OT reply coming here. I recently learned for the first time in my 60 year long life how cool ukes are to play. A guy came over to my house to buy a guitar from me and after awhile of chatting said he had a uke in his car he wanted to show me. I had zero interest until he started playing it! I dug everything he did on it and it was exciting to listen to him playing jazz on it. Still have zero interest in ever having one though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I'll stick my neck out and say it....
I prefer banjos to ukes! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 849
Location: Canada |
Neat video of fellow canucks, but I assume you realize that what yuo see and what you hear are not necessarily the same instruments. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | There's a bunch of reviews on Youtube. Nothing on the Eddy Finn that I'm getting in, but here's one on the Kala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNPx6RS8PiM |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4050
Location: Utah |
That looks like a lot of fun and perfect for travel. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 849
Location: Canada |
Nice, I always thought about getting a bass or a ukulele. I assume the bass is eadg tuned and not ukulele tuned. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Yep, tuned like a regular bass. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Played a Kala in the music store recently.
Definitely something I'd want in the studio for upright bass sound on the cheap.
Be wonderful for an act touring light and fast too. with a cocktail drumkit. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | They came in. I LOVE them! The strings on this one are Aquila Thundergut strings. They say they are made out of rubber. The strings that come with the Kala are made of polyurethane. I had a guy come in who had a Kala and he said he likes the urethane strings better but he likes the neck on the Eddie Finn better. The Finn also has sliders and a volume control. Cheryl (my other friend who has a Kala) said hers doesn't. I don't know if the Kala has a built-in tuner but the Finn does.
Strings at juststrings.com are $21 for the urethane and $19.45 for the rubber. Not a bad price IMO.
I just sold one of these to a lady from Kansas, and the other one sold the day they came in (Monday). I will definitely be ordering more of them. I only got two and within two days I sold them both. I think eventually they will become common, but for right now they are so new and so darned cool it's going to be hard to keep them in stock.
And yeah, I'm going to have to get one for myself too. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | That's amazing! Now I want one! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | This cute and talented gal is playing a Kala bass..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkrSsUOF4fg&feature=youtu.be&... |
|
| |
OT: Ukelele bass
