NUBD: Violin Ubass...

UkerDanno

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2012
Messages
3,081
Reaction score
218
Location
Arizona
Well, Hadean finally had some Violin body Ubasses in stock and I couldn't resist. Haven't tuned or played it yet, but looks really nice! There is something rattling around inside, haven't tried to look in there yet. :confused:

UVBass.jpg
 
I would like to think I that I inspired Rondo to add that bass to their lineup because about 2 years ago, I had a Hadean solid body modified with a violin style solid body and sent this photo to Kurt, but I really believe that the Chinese manufacturer added their own and Rondo just chose it on their own. If I didn't have mine made, I know I would have bought one of these. (I posted this recently on another thread, was that yours too?)

Violin Herron done 700.jpg


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos
 
Last edited:
I opened the back plate and there's a 9 volt battery loose, rattling around in there! It's attached to wires but, not tied down. There is a twist tie and a piece of foam, I wonder if the battery was supposed to be in the foam and tied to the wires? Also I have the three knobs for the pre-amp, but have no idea what they're for. Probably bass treble and volume? It all works, doesn't sound too bad depending on where the knobs are set. Over all, it looks nice, the loose battery and sound aren't that impressive. :confused:
 
@UkerDanno - congrats! did you get that from Rondo?

@Mike - I agree and I too think that you inspired Rondo to get interested in this shape and start carrying them.

I like the shape, but would rather not have folks compare me or ask me about Sir Paul McCartney as one of the most famous players of an original Hofner Violin Bass, even though The Beatles are one of my all-time favorite bands.

Limiting hubris is something I am very aware of, and I am nowhere near a good enough bass player to put myself in the same camp as Paul.

I am happy with both the sunburst version of this bass uke, and the acoustic version that I got from Rondo, and they serve me well for songwriting and recording at home.
 
Also I have the three knobs for the pre-amp, but have no idea what they're for. Probably bass treble and volume? It all works, doesn't sound too bad depending on where the knobs are set. Over all, it looks nice, the loose battery and sound aren't that impressive. :confused:

The front knob is volume, the middle is treble, the back is bass. I leave the two tone knobs on zero. You might want to consider changing the strings to Gold Tone flat wound steel, which Paul used on his Hofner bass, or a set of Pahoehoe.

https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/accessories/mbls

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos
 
Last edited:
The pickup fades in and out on the E string, the strings aren't centered on the fretboard, I can push it over, but it likes to move back over. The tail piece needs to be moved over about 1/16", which would be difficult to do. Mike, have you changed out the pick up on any of your Hadeans? I kind of figured it would need some tweeking, but I'm not good at this type of thing. I can do it, but sometimes my craftsmanship isn't up to par with my expectations. ;-D

It's probably worth keeping for a little over $200, it's pretty cool looking! :shaka:
 
I would like to think I that I inspired Rondo to add that bass to their lineup because about 2 years ago, I had a Hadean solid body modified with a violin style solid body and sent this photo to Kurt, but I really believe that the Chinese manufacturer added their own and Rondo just chose it on their own. If I didn't have mine made, I know I would have bought one of these. (I posted this recently on another thread, was that yours too?)

Violin Herron done 700.jpg


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos

Is that a hollow body?
 
Is that a hollow body?

No, as I mentioned; "...Hadean solid body modified with a violin style solid body..."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos
 
Last edited:
No offense intended.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos
 
No offense intended.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos

None taken...:shaka:

I played at a jam yesterday and the pickup kept cutting in and out on different strings!? Not sure how the pickup is attached to different strings. I'm thinking of returning it.
 
Very sorry to hear that. It seems they don't do any testing before they send out the product, too bad. They're very good about returns, you can do it online.
 
Yeah, too bad. I like the look, but it doesn't sound good. The knobs are super sensitive too, volume goes from low to loud with just a hair adjustment.
 
More pic's, before it goes back...
IMG_20180128_142144032.jpgIMG_20180128_143531018.jpgIMG_20180128_142220315.jpgIMG_20180128_142410914.jpgIMG_20180128_142326473.jpg
 
Last edited:
Did you use it with the Orange? If so does yours have a gain knob? My Orange has a really nasty compressor that does all sorts of things I don't want it to, because of the builtin non manageble compressor. It might not work so well with the piezo. With my Orange the only way to get the sound I want is to just have the gain on 10 and use the master to control overall volume (it does have a real rock sound then, but for me that is great ;)). I might be worth trying.
 
Oh, yeah, I used with with the Orange. Love the Orange, it has a Freq knob that I don't use. It also has a built in preamp, works great with my Kala with piezo pickup. The Orange is not a problem at all.
 
Top Bottom