Kala Nomad U-Bass Demo and Review

Here is the most affordable Kala U-Bass of 2021: The Nomad! In this video I first demo the Nomad directly plugged into a Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface, then acoustically through a Perception 120 microphone. After the demo comes the review. Thank you Mike and Donna at Uke Republic for letting me review this instrument!

[angel-fcdr]

absolute gold and super helpful ! gonna buy this instrument

[Elwooddudes]

Only had a go on one of these once… when I was buying a bass cab, someone kid my left this bass to plug in, to test the cab out…. It felt so fun all round! And sounded cool. Think it’s finally to buy one 🙂

[Hic_Rhodus]

Stephen your YouTube channel is a treasure trove! Can I ask... is it possible (and straightforward) to put flatwound strings on the Nomad in place of the rubber strings?

[SethIzenzon]

Great Review as you always do. Round Wounds on the Wander to differentiate the two? I wonder if the price is going to go up on the Wanderer as a result? I will tell you I do like the look of the Thunderblacks on the Nomad. I also like the color of the Mahogany finish on the Nomad vs. the Wanderer. I know the Thunderblacks are just a color change vs. the regular gut strings so we'll see how the redone Wander looks with the Metal Round Round strings. I do love that they use the Rosewood accents and the Bone type nut. As far as the Tuner/Preamp, it's the same one I have in my Donner just labeled Ubass vs. Ukulele. with that said 3 things.

3 Quick Thought Type Things. LOL.

1) If this Nomad was available even at the regular list price point when I bought my Donner back in the fall of late summer of 2019, I would totally have bought the Nomad instead. 1) Even though my Donner is allot more fancier as far as the look in having an actual rosette and Binding, for the Thunderblacks (the look at least), and the fact that this model has a Truss Rod alone would be a reason, and 2) The quality of an actual Kala Ubass vs. Donner in general.

2) I wonder if Kala will ever make a Ubass Model that is offered with a set of the Flat Wound Metal Strings out of the box if you will eventually. They do the Round Wound. Why not the Flat? Interesting Question I would pose to them if nobody has already?

3) Is the person that runs the Kala Ubass line a Gypsy? LOL. What's with their model naming scheme LOL? Wander?, Journeyman?, Nomad? I feel like if I own one of them, I might as well be some kind of backpacker refugee going place to place, playing town to town, like they sing about in some of them Country type Western songs. LOL.

My Donner and my OscarSchmidt by Washburn just have Model Numbers. No fancy model names as well as model numbers like the Kala Ubass's have, si I have to name them myself.LOL. With that said maybe on one of the live streams we should think of names for your Ubass's beyond the model names and maybe make a contest out of that? LOL. Allot of Musician's give their instruments names. If Willie Nelson can name his main Guitar he plays "Trigger"; if B.B.King can name his main Guitar "Lucille"; the possibilities are endless LOL. This could go so many wrong ways or be completely clean LOL. I'll start :) For your Personal Red Journeyman with flats I like the name "Betty". Thought? LOL.

I'll see you Thursday on the Live Stream whatever you have planed. Even if it's just another no real plan one of them Questions and Hang live streams. Those are always spontaneous and depending on whom is in the room besides me, those can go in any direction and be as long as the short hour, or even longer as most have been these days.

Finally: Cheers :)

[prestonh.]

Very nice U-Bass! I also ordered Victor Wooten's transcriptions book.. Can't wait to learn a bunch of his songs!

[AnotherAlly]

I just watched another video of yours...the Journeyman. These sound great.

[vn]

Hi! Thank you for your helpful reviews of the Kala series 😊
Do you plan on doing one for the Scout?

[peedrowchan-man]

Hey Steven, thanks for all the great reviews you do on U-basses! Around 2/3 through the video you said that with the Nomad, they fixed the issues with the Wanderer (gut strings). I am interested in the wanderer with round wound strings as you mentioned. Do you know if that newer version has any of the issues you spoke of?

[blarkey]

Hi, Appreciate your videos. Just bought one and like it. But the action gets quite high going up the neck, so would challenge you on not needing truss rod adjustment. Wrote to Kala and reply was "generally the action is 3.5-4 mm at the 12th fret". Will try to adjust, but hope buzzing doesn't start.

[SteveV]

Hello, I just got this bass as a gift from my wife, this will be my first Uke bass…any advice on strings?
Are there different brands and gauges? Are Kala strings the only ones available?

[juanfelipearteaga]

Hello bro first of all your content is amazing. I have a question. I bought a Kala Nomad like the one in your video but I want to change the strings for metal ones (Ka-bass-4). Would I have a problem with it?...would my U-bass be damaged?...should I make any changes to my U-bass to change the strings?...thanks for the answers bro.

[OlaOla-soil]

Thank you for your great videos! Can you do a review please just play each ubass after each other please?🙏

[rebeccamyers]

How does it compare with the Kala bamboo ubass? Have you done a video on that model?

[hide]

Which kala ubass would you recommend? Including fretless model😊

[sotunesmusic]

Hi. Just wondering which uke bass to get? Do you know if theres much different between the Nomad and the Scout and which one would you recommend? Thanks

[tedrkillian]

Hi! I just bought one of these and I have a pressing question. Is it possible to switch to flat-wound strings on this instrument? I am pretty happy with it as a basic entry-level instrument. But, I am finding the "rubbery" strings to be kind of problematic. I do not want to put more strain on the neck and bridge than they can stand. But I think that I really would prefer strings that I can slide around on without pulling them out of tune. What do you think?

[prestonh.]

Been thinking about buying this bass. Thoughts?

[olivierchateau]

Hi,
Not a good english, sorry.
Which flatwound is compatible with the nomad u bass ?
Gallistrings EADG?

Ty for all u bass vidéo ;)

[ChulLeeSung]

Can I change the strings to D'Addario strings for the GS Mini Bass? I'm considering this affordable model, but the sound of rubber strings is not to my liking

[rastabooze]

Hello. Do you need less power to press the strings with the Thunderblacks than with Round Wound Strings?