Bass Ukuleles - Comparison Of Four Bass Ukes Including Kala U-Bass

As I had 4 different bass ukuleles in the house I thought it would be fun to compare and review them all. I play each and give a quick explanation of each uke.

Bass ukuleles featured:

J&D Bass Ukulele - UKBMIR FL - 1:13

Gear4Music Bass Ukulele - UK400NTE - 5:28

Laka Bass Ukulele - VUB60EA (fretless) - 7:54

Kala U-Bass - SMHG FL - 10:48

All bass ukes played through a Warwick CCL ND 4 250 Watt Bass Combo Amp

[colinwilson]

What a fantastic, simple, honest and informative review ... i tried a fretted Ubass a while ago and discovered buying cheap for a first instrument doesn't work too well as the bass was a little shabby in quality (thank goodness for online returns) .... been searching for a lower priced, fretless version on and off since then.
After watching this, you've spiked my interest again ....

[vprice]

Thank you for this video! I'm shopping for a ukulele bass right now and this is very helpful.

[stevepethel]

Great " work" finding that fretless bass a string nut buzz.
You do great videos excellent playing and analysis .Thanks and God continued blessings...

[okanaganguy]

Very nice presentation!
I'll take the Kala, thank you...

[ianmackenzie]

I've been seriously considering a Kala bass. Thanks for the great reviews!

[superben]

Those j & d ones are amazing for the price. A few modifications on it and it sounds better than a kala. As a owner of one I'm really happy with mine

[TeenieeWeeniee_]

Thanks so much - for ALL your great videos. Could I ask you which bass ukulele you would recommend for, not a complete beginner but not an advanced player? I’d really appreciate it! Keep up all the great work 🙌

[tiptonbrett]

I have a Kala bamboo fretted model. After hearing all four, I do think the Kala sounded the best and suspect most of the Kalas sound similar. I did find changing strings helped the sound. It originally came with the Aquila Thunderblack. I put on the Aquila Thunderbrown. The strings had a bit more tension and a cleaner sound. They also weren't as sticky to the fingers and allowed sliding much easier. I think with the bass ukuleles, the various strings do make a difference in how they play and sound--at least in my limited experience. This is a great review!

[computerscientist]

Kala seems more balanced in terms of sound and overall looks like a high quality instrument

[countzero]

I have read many people have luck fixing the quieter strings by inspecting and re-seating the piezo pickup. FYI. They all sounded pretty good. I would not spend the full price of a new KALA as they seem very over-priced compared to great options at half that cost. I think the LAKA sounded the nicest to my ears, the Fishman preamp was pretty good! Thanks for a great vid for us bass-heads and tech/gear geeks

[marvelousmaker]

Just got the Kala Nomad after the tuning peg stripped from my "old" U bass(owned just over a month) I am quite happy with it.

[daviddiamond]

Are those original Kala strings on the SMHG? All the Kala U-Bass models that I have seen have the black sticky floppy rubber-band strings.

Thank you for your comparison. The Kala (to my ears) sounds the most like an acoustic upright bass.
I have never played bass (other than washtub bass), and I would like to learn to. An upright bass (even an electric upright) would not fit in my sub-compact car. So the Kala sounds like the best option for me. I do play ukulele, and several other instruments. I do not like the sound of a bass guitar (it does not sound anything like an upright bass). I also do not like rock at all. (My favorite genre to listen to, is jazz ballads, although I do not have a jazz background).

Would the Kala SMHG be a good starter bass for me? I do want to eventually use it in a group with a keyboardist, percussionist and vocalists. What do you think? And do you offer remote lessons? (I am in New Jersey, USA). The local instructors that I have found teach either bass guitar, or upright double-bass. I have not yet found any U-Bass instructors.

[ChrisGorman]

Your last sentence “ I just need a solid body kala ubass “ and believe it or not just a bit over three years later and you now have one! Amazing prediction lol 😮

[sheetalshah]

Many thanks for this review, really enjoyed it. I have been teaching myself the ukulele for some months now and would dearly love to learn the bass equivalent. Any thoughts on a good bass ukulele for a beginner? I have been looking at the Kala Wanderer and the Hadean range but would very much welcome an expert opinion.

[ifiddle]

Thanks! I play concert/soprano uke and will buy a u-bass soon. How do you feel about fretted vs. fretless for beginners (kinda)? I also play banjo, fiddle & guitar - just a not-so-old folk singer (67). They really make a great addition to a ukulele club/group.

[spacepodi]

What a lovely fun instrument. I want one!

[emergencyremedialtruth]

sweetheart I love that bass player's face expression you get when you're in the groove 😎, Thanks I am getting interested in this instrument and am learning. Good show.

[petedorito]

Hi, i play (concert)ukulele right handed, but bass (and guitar) left handed.
Im guessing a bass uke is more similar to a regular bass guitar, so my question is, is it possible to string a right handed bass uke left handed? I guess id need a custom nut... any other issues you can fhink of playing a uke bass 'upside down'? Would the eq get knocked easily while playing?
Left handed bass ukuleles seem hard to come by, and demand a premium price from what i can see.

[lostin_bass]

to make the strings sound even, you need to take out the pick up at the bridge and saw it down the e string pick up so its independent from the rest.. worked on my bass uke i had the same issue with the g string

[mikeclarke]

Great review, what is your thoughts on resting your thumb on the e string?