Strings for Double Bass:  Strings for Electric Upright Bass (EUB)

String Sets: String Options for KALA U-Basses

Manufactured by: Kala

If you've got one of the U-Basses already, you know how it sounds right out of the box - the strings provided by Kala/Road Toad Music have an impressively big, deep sound. While the OEM strings are very durable and should last a long, long time - it's sometimes worth it to have an extra set in the bag to stave off Murphy's Law (meaning, if you have extra strings, you'll never break one.) And you can get the same killer tone in a multi-colored "Dreads" set, if you want something a little flashier.

New for 2012 are some alternate string options - The new Aquila Thundergut set from Italy, and the Pyramid metal-wound set for a more traditional Electrified Acoustic Bass Guitar tone.

All strings are compatible with all models, including the acoustic and solid-body versions of the U-Bass. More details below!

The OEM "Pahoehoe" black polyurethane strings are Original Equipment on the Kala U-Bass. These durable strings obviously sound remarkably big on the incredible little instruments!

I also have a set of them on my Ashbory Bass (mine is made by DeArmond/Fender - they were also originally made by Guild). They were a bit tricky to string up on the Ashbory, but they work pretty well. They're a little thinner than the original strings, but more stable and less "sticky."

Pretty much identical in sound and feel to the standard black strings, the "Dreads" set features multi-colored strings (Black, Yellow, Red, Green) for the four different strings.

They offer the same great tone with a funkier "island" look.

Aquila strings of Italy introduced this new set, which is made with a proprietary plastic compound; a dense elastic-plastic blend. "The result is a string with density, stability, and the ability to resonate at very low frequencies,” Kala says.

Suitable for both the Kala U-Bass and the Ashbory bass. Some users prefer these strings, saying that their intonation and volume is improved over the stock strings; they also reportedly take less time to "stretch and settle" than the stock strings. They have somewhat of a higher tension and stiffer feel.

If you dig the small size and playability of the U-Bass, but are hankering for a more traditional "electric" vibe and feel, these strings may be what you're looking for.

They have a nylon/silk core, wound in silver-plated copper. They have an overall tension, sustain and tone of a more traditional electric-acoustic bass, so if you're looking for the U-Bass to fill that particular role, these are the strings to use.



The folks at Kala have created this video to provide you with their special stringing tips for their U-Bass instrument. Since its strings are a bit unusual, we highly recommend that you check out the following video (supplied by Kala) before changing strings/restringing your Kala U-Bass. You may also be able to use this info if using these strings on an Ashbory bass.

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