2020s Kala 5-String Solidbody U-Bass Ukulele Bass

February 25, 2024

2020s Kala 5-String Solidbody U-Bass Ukulele Bass

I'm going to admit that I find this little guy endearing and I'm not a very big proponent of U-Basses in general. I like the roundwound, classical-style-construction strings a lot better than the "flubby rubbery" strings these instruments usually have and I think the solidbody build makes it a little more practical and comfortable to hold. A low B seemed like a completely bizarre thing to have on such a short scale instrument but due to the string type and build style, it really does work. I'm pretty shocked.

Aside from all that, this instrument is very much what it is. It has a few specific sounds that work but the most useful of these specific sounds (per its onboard EQ straight into a bass amp) is a generic "boom-boom" tubby upright-like sort-of voice. It doesn't have much of a mids-forward attack so to get the sting of an electric bass in the middle you'll need to look into either an EQ pedal or a bass amp that lets you boost the mids a lot. This is ironic for a piezo-pickup-loaded instrument as usually the mids are too emphasized!

Anyhow, it's in good order, almost new save very minor usewear throughout, and has had a fresh setup so is playing quick and easy. Quick and easy with this string type means about 3/32" at the 12th fret, however. The strings are so springy that you need a little more clearance than om steel-string instruments.

Repairs included: a setup.