Bass Uke strings and tuners?

Posted by Bluesheart on April 5, 2013 at 6:59am

Anyone know where I can buy the strings and tuners like on the Kala Uke Bass? My wife wants a bass out of a cigar box but the box is pretty small so I thought if I do it like a uke bass she can have full size bass in a smaller package.

Thanks for any help, Bluesheart

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Replies

  • Bluesheart April 12, 2013 at 3:02pm

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    Estrings2.JPG

    ziptie1.JPG

    • Bluesheart > Bluesheart April 12, 2013 at 3:24pm

      Here are some pictures of the "standard" bass tuners I got on Amazon and the E string of the Pahoehoe strings. I'm finding out there really is not much standard in standard tuners! I think I can get the D and G strings into the slots with no problem but the E and A look like they are not going in. The photo called ziptie is maybe a possible way to just strap the fat strings to the outside of the post?? I don't know if it will hold under tension?

      Thanks for any help or ideas.

  • CrocBite April 11, 2013 at 4:56pm
    I haven't used the hipshots, but the economy bass tuners from cbgitty or stewmac worked fine for me with those poly strings. Both at normal tension and tuned up a whole octave.
    Trust me, those strings stretch like you will not believe! 1/8" sounds small though, These are the amazon tuners?
    • Bluesheart > CrocBite April 11, 2013 at 7:36pm

      Yes they are from Amazon, I did not measure them , just eyeballing it.I'm sure they are metric. I guess I'l find out. So it sounds like you just stretch them enough till you can squeeze them into the slot. Filing the slots a bit may help too I guess but I would not want to take off too much for fear of breakage, maybe brass under the chrome. Maybe I'll post a few pics so you can see what I'm working with tomorrow. Thanks again for al the help!

  • Bluesheart April 11, 2013 at 4:31pm

    ps. what little info I can find about the tuners on a Kala Ubass indicates that they are a "custom" made version of the Hipshot Ultralight , but I do not see them for sale anywhere including Kala. Don't want to buy them either if I can avoid it cause they are gonna be pricey.

  • Bluesheart April 11, 2013 at 4:27pm

    OK, so I got my Pahoehoe strings and standard (electric I guess)  bass tuners today. At least two members here assured me that those kind of tuners would work with those strings ( I was unable to find a picture that verified that). Now that I have them in hand I see no way that those strings are going to work with those tuners without some major modification. Did I just miss something  or did you guys send me up the wrong street? The slots in the tuners are about 1/8" and the low E string is about 1/4" diameter. I understand they are going to stretch , but will it stretch enough to slip into that slot?? I don't see it happening. Help please??

    Thank you.

  • Bluesheart April 6, 2013 at 9:06am

    Full Steam Ahead! I just ordered a set of 4 bass tuners on Amazon for 5.50! and the Ubass strings from Kala for 25., now I am ready to roll!

    Thank you all again for the help!

  • Bluesheart April 5, 2013 at 11:32am

    And yes, it will be fretted. Will Med size frets be OK or will I need something bigger for the Poly strings?

    • CrocBite > Bluesheart April 5, 2013 at 11:35am

      i used med guitar frets and haven't regretted it.

  • Bluesheart April 5, 2013 at 11:24am

    Cool, thanks! Wow bass tuners are expensive! 75. bucks plus shipping for a set of those Hipshot Ultralights. Anyone know if the ones Gitty has are reversible to make  left and right? Looks like they are right only? I guess I can just design the head around that. Love all the help folks! and so fast!

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