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This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt
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Availability:
Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Oct 13 – Oct 15
Color: Natural
Features
- Exotic Mahogany back and sides
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- 21 inch scale
- Kala electronic system with an active EQ and built in tuner
- Separate compensated saddles for each string
Description
If you closed your eyes and heard the Kala U-Bass, you may think you're listening to a real-deal acoustic upright bass. When you opened them and saw this pint-sized package, you may think someone was pulling a trick on you. The Kala Exotic Mahogany U-Bass gives you the sound of an upright bass full of the warmest, most vibrant low end possible. Kala built this U-Bass entirely from exotic mahogany, whose remarkable look is almost a match for its decadent tone. Another classic tonewood, rosewood, makes up the fingerboard and bridge. If you're a bassist on the go... traveling, backpacking, whatever - don't leave your music at home. Take your Exotic Mahogany U-Bass with you. And if you happened to get a gig along the way? Use the built-in piezo pickup system with active EQ to plug in and play!
Brand: Kala
Size: small
Color: Exotic Mahogany
Item dimensions L x W x H: 31.89 x 32.28 x 11.81 inches
Top Material Type: Mahogany, Rosewood
Back Material Type: Basswood, Mahogany, Rosewood
String Material Type: Composite
Instrument: U-Bass
Item Weight: 2.5 pounds
Operation Mode: Electronic
Brand Name: Kala
Instrument: U-Bass
Number of Packs: 1
Manufacturer: Kala
UPC: 812040016268 779177466819
Global Trade Identification Number: 68
Unit Count: 1 Count
Number of Items: 1
Hand Orientation: Right Handed
Included Components: with bag
Item Type Name: UBASS-EM-FS
Model Name: UBASS-EM-FS
Model Number: MAIN-46151
Manufacturer Part Number: KA UBASS EM FS
Instrument Size: small
Item Dimensions: 31.89 x 32.28 x 11.81 inches
Item Weight: 2.5 pounds
Top Material Type: Mahogany, Rosewood
Back Material Type: Basswood, Mahogany, Rosewood
String Material Type: Composite
Body Material Type: Mahogany
Color: Exotic Mahogany
Operation Mode: Electronic
Number of Strings: 4
Connector Type: 1/4" jack
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Oct 13 – Oct 15
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
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Top Amazon Reviews
I know there will be differences of opinions with KALA U-BASSES and not everyone will agree but here is my humble 2 cents worth. I wanted to spend a little time with the instrument to get to know it. So after a couple of months, my thoughts are that this is lot of bass in a small package. It is a bit of a different creature. The obvious advantage of this U-bass is in it's convenience and portability. For 40 years, I played mostly Fender Jazz and Fender Precision basses, running them almost exclusively through Fender Amps. I will always love Fender products but for a while now, I have been looking for lighter, easier options, without sacrificing the farm in tonal quality. Playing this bass has been a nice surprise. I bought the Exotic Mahogany U-Bass Model and it is beautiful!!! It came straight out of the box, ready to play with no setup required, so that was a nice surprise. The short scale of the fretboard (20.375 inches) can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. While limiting your range to basically “12 playable” frets, it also opens up a “longer and wider finger reach” within the fretboard, opening more creative ways to finger your scales and riffs. The total length of the Kala U-Bass is 29.375 inches. For me, the weight, length and portability are the primary reasons I bought it with the thought that if I were able to produce the type of tone that I am happy with, then I would be willing to sacrifice the limitations of the shorter scale. As far as sound and tone, the type of strings that you put on this bass will make all the difference in the world. It is shipped with polyurethane strings and right out of the box, when amplified, it does give you a really nice upright bass tone. There is a somewhat fun learning curve with the fat and rubbery strings, which tend to roll on you. They are just flat out weird, easy of the fingers but weird!!!! There is a bit of muscle memory retraining as well, due to how the strings tend to "roll" on you and also the shorter scale. You will need an amp to run this thru or you will not be heard unless you are in a very quiet environment. The poly strings also take a while to stretch out and will require a bit more tuning at first but then will "settle in" after a week or two. Another feature to mention is the built in tuner which can come in very handy. It is hard to hear an unamplified bass in a room with any kind of noise going on and the beauty of the built in tuner is all you have to do is look at the nicely lit digital screen. It seems that most of the bassists on here, after a few weeks of playing and messing around, are leaving nice comments in their reviews. The deeper upright bass sound is a nice style and I am still learning and will add that the KALA definitely has it's charm but for me personally, after playing with the poly strings for a couple of months, I will most likely switch over to different strings. One negative thing that I have noticed is that the E string through the pickup is quite a bit weaker and does not sound nearly as strong as the other strings, which I have read the same observation also from other reviewers. I am not sure if this is because of the property of the strings or if it possibly has something to do with the placement of the pickups but I am looking into it. I am an old rock and roller and prefer a little less muddy thump and a bit more "clarity and drive" so I have purchased a set of nylon core metal round wound strings especially made for the Kala U-bass that will project a brighter, clearer tone and with more harmonics that are missing in the polyurethane strings. I want to play this thing just a bit longer with the poly strings but am definitely curious to hear the difference in the strings. Most likely, I will opt out for my U-Bass to sound more like an electric/acoustic bass and less like a double bass and once I switch out, will probably stay with the metal round wounds but we shall see. It is nice having options Also, if you use a strap, you will need the ukulele or mandolin type that ties itself to the headstock near the nut. With my model, there is only one strap button, on the bass itself, located at the end of the guitar, which is also the plugin for your ¼ inch jack. One minor disappointment for me is, apparently, this hollow body U-bass is not compatible with my Line 6 Relay wireless system. While this is probably not that big of deal for most, it should at least be pointed out that for amplification, you will need to plug in with a traditional cord with a ¼ inch jack. For players that are using cordless or wireless systems, you might want to get a bit more clarification from Kala regarding wireless compatibility. Perhaps anyone reading this or someone from Kala might offer some options regarding the use of wireless system or even better, offer some type of “fix”. Also, one more inconvenience on my model is in the placement of the input for the ¼ inch jack. It is on the very end of the instrument, so when it is plugged in, you cannot just sit the instrument down on it's end, like you might normally do. You will either need a stand that has enough clearance to the floor that will clear the ¼ inch jack or just lay the instrument on it's back to set it down. Having said that, this is one nice instrument, with the ability to offer a variety a tone options from it's “signature” upright double bass sound to a more “classic” electric bass sound. Definitely, worth checking out. Personally for me, the pro's far outweigh the con's and I am enjoying playing bass again.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2017 by Mr. James
Since I first saw one of these in a music store I knew I had to have one. About the size of a baritone ukulele -- just over 2-feet long -- it sounds remarkably like an upright bass fiddle when properly amplified. The funky rubberized strings take a little getting used to, but they're the secret of the deep sound coming from this tiny instrument. The short scale (21") makes possible stretches you could only achieve in your dreams on a full-scale bass -- which may explain some of the eye-blink inducing bass solos I've heard on a few albums in recent years. Workmanship on the instrument is good, and the frets true (there are fretless models, but I've not tried them yet). The instrument can be played acoustically, but doesn't put out a great deal of volume that way, though it could probably hold it's own beside a classical guitar or lute. It comes with an under-saddle pickup and built-in preamp which, while unspectacular, is still adequate to the task. The preamp unit includes an electronic tuner, which is a handy touch if you're trying to tune in a noisy place (like on-stage at a gig...). Don't know how "exotic" the mahogany top and body are, but I found the figuration in the wood aesthetically pleasing, and enhanced by the semi-matte finish. Tuners are solid and accurate, though be warned: you're going to have to spend several days playing, stretching the strings, playing, stretching, playing, stretching ... before the instrument will finally stay in tune for a while. The strings are *really* stretchy -- they feel kind of like the material used for rubber o-rings on kitchen faucets, albeit much thicker. At any rate, after about a week and a half, the instrument did stay in tune, and was even pretty close the next day, after being left in a much too cold studio overnight. I've had a great deal of fun with this instrument already, and enjoy it enough that I may well get a second ... perhaps a fretless? Recommended for bassists looking for something a little different; for guitarists who always thought that basses were a little too big for comfort; and for anyone who wants a good bass sound without having to drop thousands of dollars (this one ran about $400), or whose hands aren't quite up to getting around on an upright instrument. Add to that the very concept of a "bass ukulele", and the U-Bass is just too cool. :)
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Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014 by Dr H
I really like this thing! It has a tuner built in, really great tone and plays well. The highest note is a b on the g string when tuned standard EADG. The biggest negative is that the special strings don't stay in tune very well, and when fretting at the 12th fret, I don't get the expected tone, which I assume is due to another fret mating with the string in the wrong place. I don't know if the neck is adjustable, but if so I can fix that, otherwise I can just use 12th fret harmonics. Acoustically, it can be used to play along with acoustic guitar and uklulele, but it's not very loud. I personally love it and would buy another one in the future. Super fun. I also wish the input wasn't smack dab in the center of the body so I could stand it upright against the wall while plugged in, but either way, this is a fun instrument.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2016 by Vanessa Leventhal
The intonation on the bass I received was so far off that I returned it immediately. Clearly, based on other reviews, this isn't always the case. But the bass I received was unplayable. All strings were off, but the D & G strings were particularly bad. The D string got flatter and flatter as you moved up the neck. The 12th fret was so flat it wasn't even a C#. It also arrived with batteries in and dead. I'm suspicious that I received a unit that someone had already returned. I ordered a less expensive model from another manufacturer and am quite impressed. Love the idea, maybe someday I'll give Kala another shot.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018 by R. Winfield
I've only had my mahogany U-Bass for over a month now, but already it's my favorite instrument ever. It took a few weeks for the strings to settle in, they still need tuning every time, but not as much now. The workmanship is beautiful, with a very comfortable and playable neck, with good action and no fret buzz. The body is solidly crafted, well reinforced with bracing inside, and produces sweet, thick bass tones. The small size and light weight of the instrument are also perfect for older players or anyone with limited strength or reach. I'm disabled, no strength or reach, so finding a manageable instrument has been great! It's more than manageable, it's a blast to play. The big urethane strings have a tactile response that's just plain fun, and best of all the tonal richness really exceeds my expectations for any instrument, much less one of such a diminutive size. This isn't a compromise, it's everything I want. Still some cons & requests though: Intonation gets a little dicy for me at the octive and higher; Wider fretboard inlays would be helpful, the little dots sometimes get lost behind these thick strings; I'm investigating thumb rest options, my fingers sometimes squeak moving on the deck which sounds frightful, ordered the pack of sticky ones from Kala so we'll see if they'll stick. This is a choice I highly recommend, and would make again for myself. Thanks, Kala! You made it possible for me to play bass again, and sound better than ever!
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Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2014 by MaxPower
This thing sounds great. Fit and finish are very nice. However, the E and A strings are about three times as loud as the D and G strings, which renders the instrument totally useless. This is caused by unequal pressure on the piezo chips. From what I can tell, there is no easy fix for this. It's just poor workmanship and/or assembly for the piezo and saddle. Apparently this is a common problem with these instruments. Guess I'll roll the dice and try again.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023 by S. Green
I just received this on Friday...it's Now Monday...and I've played it about 15 hours so far. I Like it. It really does have a sound reminiscent of a Double Bass, yet it is Tiny. Un-amplified it's Volume is low, fine for sitting around by yourself and practicing, but plug it in and you will be very impressed with the Tone and the Flat Out Bigness of the Sound! This one looks to be nicely made, both inside (as far as I can see) and outside. The neck and frets are very nice, it appears to be a quality instrument. The U-Bass has a built in Tuner, along with Volume and Tone (single) Controls. Since the frets a bit closer together than a normal 34" Scale Bass, you have to be careful with your finger positioning, because I found myself overshooting the fret I meant to figure, but I'm getting used to it. I noticed some people mentioned having problems with intonation up the neck, but if you place your finger DIRECTLY behind the Fret Wire it sounds fine...however, if your finger is closer to the middle of the fret (between the fret wires) the note will be Flat. The strings have a unique feel, but it's a good feel and Very Easy on your Fingers. Most Steel Strings will start to bother my fingers, especially my Right Hand, after 3 or 4 hours of heavy playing (I do have Diabetes so I'm a bit more sensitive to this than most players) and the U-Bass is certainly Not Like any other Bass Most People have...it's Different, But in a Good Way.... Even though I've only had the U-Bass for a short time, I am enjoying it, a lot.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2015 by Tom.
I love this thing. I've been playing bass for almost 50 years, and still have my '65 Fender Jazz I bought new in 65, as well as 4 other basses, but this is the one I reach for first. It has amazing tone. The neck is set up perfectly and is true all the way up. It is very easy on the fingers, and I love the built-in tuner. Be sure to unplug when you aren't using, since the batteries are in use when it's plugged in. Not a bad idea to keep some spare batteries in the gig bag. It also travels well. I had no problem taking it as my second, smaller piece of carry-on luggage on a coast-to-coast flight. It fit nicely in the overhead, sideways, in front of the other bag. The gig bag is of good quality and is well padded. Of course you will have to amp it, and to get the sweet, fat bottom this thing produces you will need a tuned, ported speaker that has decent bottom. But that doesn't mean the speaker cab needs to be big. For instance, I once played my UBass through a powered Klipsh subwoofer of a surround-sound system for a family sing-along, to accompany one acoustic guitar and one piano, and the sound was terrific. This thing puts out quality sound which deserves a quality amp and speaker.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2015 by R. Posey