Kala U-Bass demo

[themonkeybuttster]

youre the man

[rockersun]

this is a fretless?

[justinbernal1]

Thanks man, mines on the way, I can't wait! :)

[SoundueMag]

Where do you buy replacement strings?

[chamcham123]

Are the strings really thick? Is it easy to play chords on a U-Bass (compared to a normal bass guitar)? 

[theamazingzivmaster]

About your comment that its built on a baritone ukelele body. Does that mean I could buy the polyurethane strings and just attach them to an existing bariotone ukelele? Its just that my bass playing friend has a baritone ukelele and liked the look of one of these, might aswell save a good 300!

[steeljazz]

No. The strings are much too large. There would be no way to attach them to the bridge or tuners. The neck is also wider on the U-Bass to accommodate the larger strings.

[theamazingzivmaster]

@steeljazz Damn, worth a try asking though, thanks.

[kkfcheung123]

Thanks for sharing!

[coolguitars]

At least somebody who gets TONE out of it. Most other demos are rather crappy plastic. Thanks for posting!

[CryptoPlanet]

I've watched a number of UBass videos and I'm wondering about the intonation. With great and due respect for the musicians (I'm not a bass player), the thing seems hard to play in tune? Is it the ultra-short neck-length? It seems more on-pitch the higher people go up the neck. Anybody else hear that? Or am I being fooled here?

[3234718]

I WANT ONE!!!!! Has anyone seen it anywhere for less than 400 bucks?

[TheMau5keteer]

I was at my uncle's guitar and skateboard shop today, and he happened to actually have a fretted Kala ukulele bass there. As a novice to most string instruments, I can say that it has definitely caused me to have an interest in learning to play a bass; and this video gives me even more motivation to acquire said ukulele.

[FritzOmnibus]

I like the compact portable facility. Not such a fan of the sound or the way the strings feel though.

[nomonkeymind]

great sound and chops!

[pbaudinat]

Amazing, but ....totally out of tune !!!

[Nongamblerpokerfan]

It sounds a bit like a double bass ... but compact :D

[ve3vpc]

Fantastic Video. I've been looking at these via the web, and I think your video just tip the scales futher towards the purchase side.

[colouredbloodred]

Holy crap it's George Lucas!!

[TheRealFatassFilms]

I play in a hardcore band, but our bass player and I have also started an acoustic folk punk project. He's buying a U-bass to play for that project. However, I can promise I'm going to try and convince him to, just once, play a show with our hardcore band using this thing. So incredible.

[bigjimallen]

I'm a big fan of the U-Bass. I play uke and guitar professionally, and am very familiar with them. "Can't put them down"...right on.

really nice demo video...congrats

[zbs28]

incredible how that sounds like an upright. awesome instrument. thanks!

[EliasCrowe]

I want one so bad. Too bad they cost more than I can afford right now.

[joejjc]

I just bought one and totally love it. The review here is toally accurate and the sound is just as incredible live. Thanks for putting this up; it certainly made my decision to buy this easier. About the only thing I added was a belt-clip preamp to give me a volume knob and some quick EQ.

[numanuma20]

Do you also play a bass guitar?

[Quack4Zac]

@numanuma20

uh, DUH

[moochincrawdad]

A brilliant player who knows how to get the most out of this instrument. The best demonstration I've ever experienced, only a die hard double bass fan could tell the difference!

[tornmask]

an amazing full sounded instrument!..very impressive! =0)

[metalheadneji]

i want one of these so that i can play bass everywhere

[Florrezmax]

I didn't know George Lukas was such a Jazzer.

[andyincov]

The bass player in my bluegrass band just bought one of these and firstly, it sounds worlds better than the electric bass he was playing. Secondly, it looks the business. the sound is so similar to a double bass that I can't quite believe it.

[adamstevensbass]

I have been having issues with the pickups, (mostly when the u bass is going through an amp/or DI i can;t get any signal from the G string!!) have any suggestions?I would greatly appreciate it, thanks Adam!!!

[boogybass]

I just got one for my birhday after my wife knew I wanted one. This a super instrument. One of its greatest features is its portability. I can easily take it anywhere in my suitcase rather than packing around one of my electric basses. Sounds great too!

[ferminetxe]

One person plays the bass to overcompensate

[CooperLee]

Great video, steeljazz. I have a question if you don't mind. Is it possible to emulate the upright sound WITHOUT the Acoustic Image Clarus and the A.I Contra cabinet? I have the same Kala U-bass as you do and it sounds nothing like an upright bass when plugged into a regular amp. Are there any other ways, without a specific acoustic amp, that would make it sound more organic? Perhaps playing style, amp settings, D.I / mic combo? Thanks, any advice you could offer would really appreciated!

[steeljazz]

@CooperLee I think that getting an "upright bass" type of sound has more to do with playing technique than any particular amplifier. Try plucking the string up higher, near the top of the sound hole, and using the side of your finger rather than fingertips. If you have the sound concept in your head, you can experiment to figure out how to excite the string to give that type of sound.

[Lecretois]

@steeljazz Thanks for sharing !

Sounds really fantastic !

You and your video made me mad of this bass.......and I've got mine now and really appreciate it !

Thanx again

[nisornt]

@CooperLee I have a solution now !

[ox092]

this thing sounds great thanks so much for demo/review!

[SherryPM72]

As a bass player of 20+ years I haft to say that is the coolest thing I have ever saw!

[InuvikPhil]

My credit card was out of my pocket before you even SPOKE

where can I buy this thing?!

[easop71]

How cool is that!

[cajundawgedd]

I have had one for a few months and use it to work out bass parts. It is even better in person!

[MarlonOwnsYourCake]

Sounds SO much like an upright.

ridiculous!

[DarthVultar]

that's fantastic!

[robbyahh]

You may be able to replace audio on this video if you are not happy with the garble sound.

Youtube's algorithm;s have improved a little.

[linclmsilva]

Excellent, thanks for sharing!

[DesmonJones]

I've seen those strings. They are ridiculously thick.

[alioscja]

what is the best wood? acacia or mahogany?

[PassiveFlow]

Wow, just wow.

[scottdylan20]

holy tits!!! how much and where to buy it?

[erix0699]

Nice sound indeed. The concept is quite similar to the old Ashbory bass.

[scottboomboomboom]

Thanks for this video! I am interested in acquiring this to my collection, but I have questions: what is the vital difference between the 100% mahogany and the spruce top Kala's? Does the mahogany bass have a deeper sound? Also, any MAJOR difference between the fretted and fretless? Thanks in advance for anyone's response!

[Beatlefanone]

These are so much fun! But, pretty expensive for how little I would use it. :( Oh, well! I guess I have one more excuse to go to music stores!

[JohnMcD19]

Wow. Didn't want this thing to sound so good. How am I supposed to not buy it now?

[ProDigit80]

very nice demo!

Eventhough I don't like the instrument, it makes me almost wanna have one too for jazz gigs, though I probably prefer the upright, or my ashbory bass.

[GUARDIANtrooper]

I just got one like dat and it is so awesome and very easy to play, so nice!

[matterphases]

is it tuned like a normal ukulele

[steeljazz]

@matterphases No, it is tuned like a bass-  E,A,D,G.

[ticijev]

this is awesome!

[yellofury]

Sounds amazing!! and I know you dont always drink beer but when you do its Dos Equis

[steeljazz]

@Celticpsalm It works fine with a DI. Mine is fretless, so the intonation is in the hands of the player, but I don't have a problem playing it in tune.

[Lecretois]

sounds fantastic !!

[MildewPeriwinkle]

is it the fretless model ?

[J040Z1NH0]

@MildewPeriwinkle yeah it is he says that at 1:40, the frets are still marked tho

[1Doz]

Wow, sounds uncannily like an upright to me. I'm thinking this would be a great way for a home studio gnome to get 80% of the upright tone without having to actually buy/store an upright.

[Harbec]

600 bucks???!!! Aaaaaaarrrrrrrghhhh (dying)

[steeljazz]

Several people have asked about the setup in this video. The amp I used was an Acoustic Image Clarus through an A.I. Contra cabinet. It was miked with an Electro-Voice RE-20 microphone. I used an EV RE-18 mic, just out of the shot, to pick up my voice. The mixed audio, along with the recorded track, was recorded separately, then synced with the video in software. This pristine audio was then garbled by YouTube after the upload... oh, well, it gets the point across.

[Lecretois]

@steeljazz realy nice sound......and nice played

Thanx and cheers from France !

[nevernamed1234]

Excellent demo!

[sketchleysnewboat]

The excellence of your video is only exceeded by your playing. Thank you Sir. I'm sold. Kala, send this man some free strings! :)

[archivestereo]

You've sold me! Exellent playing!

[jazzbiker]

As someone who loves the Ashbory and I really want one of these!

BTW, I don't know about the U bass, but with time the Ashbory stays in tune just fine. When replacing the strings, they do need time to stretch.

[yellofury]

thank you for this excellent video

[MingusBass]

Did you add a strap peg to your UBass? Mine did not come with one.

[steeljazz]

@MingusBass Hmm, I can't remember, actually.  If it didn't come with one, it would have been the first thing I did after getting it.

[TheEraeradrums]

This sounds great! Do you mind telling what amp and any other things (mixer?preamp?etc?) you used to get that sound?

[slyfusion]

@TheEraeradrums - I agree, I'd love to hear the rest of the setup.

[corysallen]

thanks man!

[thezs1]

It sound uncannily like an upright bass. Todally cool

[dbarber1000]

Great Demo video, helps alot. The bass player in our band just bought one and used it on our gigs this weekend, sounded great!! He bought his at Pro Music in Jacksonville, Florida. 2-Ukes on stage, people love it!! Thanks for the vid!!!

[steeljazz]

I have never had a feedback issue with mine, but I don't play very loud in any of the situations I play in.

[DRoscoeable]

@steeljazz

Hi, I'd like to know if the U-bass suffer of the same flaws as for the Ashbory bass...I remember it was impossible to get it in tune.. thanks a lot

[steeljazz]

@DRoscoeable I have an Ashbory bass, but I don't use it much. The U-Bass is much easier to play in tune, the strings aren't sticky, and it sounds better.

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

@steeljazz

"the strings aren't sticky"

You can use the same polyurethane strings on an Ashbory as well. They sound a bit deeper and you don't need talcum powder to play them.

[nedirnedir]

I'm sold!

(almost ;)

How about the feedbacking issues? (Compared to the ABG's)

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

What does it cost? I looked on the Kala website but all I can find are accessories, not the instrument itself.

[kengojames]

@MomoTheBellyDancer 500 for a mahogany one and 400 for a spruce top

[happyslappysoong]

Great video and playing!

[TomBlackthorne]

Superb video. Great sound. I just received my fretless U-bass. This video had a lot to do with my choice. They should have you on commission!

[wilemm]

Excellent video review. Terrific production quality too! My fretted U-Base will be here tomorrow. What amp size do you recommend for gigging?

[Darcon88]

you should!!!

[musicguymic]

absolutely great video review  I really like the playing with the track

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Excellent demo/review.

[heymelbs]

Is it possible to make neck adjustments, change action, etc.?

[lemongonggong]

Sounded really gd....now i want too!

[blackgurdy]

Great video, it made me order a fretless u-bass of my own. Thanks

[gblan]

Nice demo!