Starter U Bass?

[maki66]

Any thoughts on a decent starter u bass for a bass n00b?

Thanks!

[Booli]

Rondo Music's Hadean Omega Uke Basses are going to be your least expensive starting point.

Go to http://www.rondomusic.com

and at the top of the page put

uke bass

into the search box

and then where it says SORT BY, change it to FROM LOW TO HIGH and see what they have in stock now.

cheaper than other brands and 'good enough' for my home recording efforts, having played bass and guitar in various bands for 25+ yrs

I have one of the acoustic/electric models and also one of the solid-body models and they work fine.

I would replace the strings with the black Road Toad Pahoehoe strings (~$25 from most places like Strings By Mail, Amazon), as the white strings they come with tend to 'sausage' and get indentations from the frets easily.

I'm sure brother Mike (kohanmike) will also have some great info about how these hold up over time, as he has many of them and uses them weekly in his uke group and in regular performances.

Hope this helps!

[maki66]

Thanks Booli, that's very helpful. As always.

BTW, I haven't heard the term Pahoehoe in a long time. It takes me right back.

basaltic lava forming smooth undulating or ropy masses.

Pinatubo_005.jpg

[UkerDanno]

I've been eyeballing this, even though I already have a Kala Rumbler that works just fine...BAS starting!?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Ubass-D...53.m1438.l2649

[kohanmike]

Thanks Booli. I just bought a Rondo acoustic walnut cutaway from Amazon for $185.90, about $10 less shipping cost than Rondo. It's very nice, especially for the price. The Pahoehoe strings are much smoother and will last a long time, but they're difficult to install and take a couple of months to settle in. Whatever acoustic bass you get, be sure it has an access panel on the back to make string changes much easier.

As you see in my signature, I have a bunch of solid body that I modify to look like other commercial basses. I buy them specifically to modify, none are original looking. I also get the longer scale version, 24 inch.

[UkerDanno]

I was in Sam Ash yesterday and saw a Carlo Robelli Ubass for $99.95. Doing a google search, I can't find any more info. But, I did find that Rondo has the Violin body Ubass in stock...tempting.

[kohanmike]

I think I may have been the inspiration for that violin bass uke at Rondo (not really). a couple of years ago I bought one of the solid body bass ukes and had a solid violin body made, then sent photos to Kurt at Rondo. Recently I saw that they were importing that style. I actually wish I would have waited, I like the look of the Rondo.

[UkerDanno]

I'm tempted to get one, always loved the Hofners. I could have UBAS!!!