Kala SB U-Bass - Fretted & Fretless Mini Bass Comparison

Kala SB U-Bass - Fretted & Fretless Mini Bass Comparison
** There will be a live stream on Tuesday 12th March at 9.00pm GMT where I discuss the fitting of the flat wound strings and the pickguards to these basses. **
Taking a look at my Kala solid body U-Basses or mini basses. These are both magnetic pick ups but one is fretted with round wound strings and the other is fretless with flat wound strings. I look at the specs and features, the similarities and the differences and full sound demos.
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✔️ Kala Solid Body Fretted U-Bass Full Review - • Kala Solid Body U Bass...
✔️ Kala Solid Body Fretless U-Bass Full Review - • Kala Fretless Solid Bo...
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23 1/2 scale mini bass or bass ukulele with passive magnetic pick ups, steel flat wound strings and round wound strings.
Kala SB U-Bass - Fretted & Fretless Comparison:
00:00 Intro to Kala SB U-Bass - Fretted & Fretless Comparison
01:57 Specifications, price and availability of the Kala Solid Body U-Bass
04:02 Sound demos of the fretted and fretless Kala Solid Body U-Bass models
09:20 Conclusion and overview of the Kala SB U-Bass - Fretted & Fretless Comparison
‪@kalabrandmusic‬
‪@BarefacedAudio‬
‪@Genzleramplification‬
Instruments and equipment used:
Kala SB U•Bass Tobacco Burst - UBASS-SB-TB-FS
Kala SB U•Bass Jet Black Fretless - UBASS-SB-BK-FL
Genzler MG350 Amp head
Barefaced One10 Cabinet
Website: ukulele.wales/
T-Shirts & Merch: www.redbubble.com/people/ukul...
Ukulalien Play Along Channel: / ukulaliensukuleleclub
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[@judih.8754]

No metal frets and possibly a difference in wood density might account for the weight variance. Listening on headphones the fretless seemed a bit warmer, the fretted possibly a tad brighter. That purple scratch guard is going to give the fretless a whole new vibe. Can't wait to see it! Excellent choice Rachel 😊.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Judi. Yes, I was really surprised about the weight, you could well be right! I think the strings do sound different but of course now I have already changed them. 👍

[@ElveyGooch]

Rachel, you are costing me money!! I just ordered the fretted version. Thanks for the vid.

[@UkuleleWales]

Sorry Elvey but can’t wait to hear about what you think with your new bass when it arrives! 😉 PS what colour?

[@ElveyGooch]

@@UkuleleWales It came yesterday - Tobacco sunburst; sounds awesome on my Rumble 40

[@USDcarbon]

Just got my fretless, not sure why I went that route but thank you for the video, hopefully I can manage to play it

[@UkuleleWales]

Love that you are tring fretless and please feel free to ask if you have any questions.

[@USDcarbon]

@@UkuleleWales It is a completely different feel and I love the sound of it. I think it might be a good intro to fretless with how easy it is to play. Thank you!

[@jazzman1954]

They sound exactly identical. Even on the slides! Perhaps the fretted has a little more attack and is slightly more in tune but marginal.

[@ludwigvanzappa9548]

That fretless will look super nice with that pick-guard!

[@UkuleleWales]

It does! 🥰🥰

[@jillgeary1313]

Thanks Rachel! I have one of the first tobacco fretted solid body basses. I really want to change to flats, AND that pearly pick guard! Looking forward to your KZbin discussion next week (March 12, 2024). Thanks!! Oh, btw, the fretless fretboard is AWESOME without the fret dots!

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks for joining in the live Gill it was great fun and hopefully was useful too. Plus of course now the complete video is also uploaded. Agree, love the look of the fretless fingerboard. 😎

[@MariUSukulele]

✨Danke Rachel & BRAVO KALA 👏🏻 i‘m sold on the fretless version

[@UkuleleWales]

Agree with you 100% Marius. 🥰

[@jensbomholt4529]

Wonderful!

[@UkuleleWales]

Many thanks! 😊

[@Rwjudy48]

Rachel, very helpful. As you know, I have one of the early release fretted SBs. With my eyes closed, I often wasn’t sure which bass I was listening to - except on slides. I am looking forward to the sound demos after you change to the flat wounds on the fretted SB. I’m guessing that I’ll want to change to flat wounds 😂

[@UkuleleWales]

Honestly Robert, the flatwounds are soooooo nice to play but yes I agree, very similar sounding even before I changed the strings. 👍

[@IanJones942]

Your review was a very big influence on my getting one - should be here Sunday! I already have the Nomad model with the Thunderblack strings, but I love the form factor of this one. Very curious as to how I will like the round wound strings.

[@UkuleleWales]

Awesome to hear Ian, hopefully it has arrived safe and sound and you are loving it? 😊

[@stevesstrings5243]

They look nice. You really showcase your bass chops on these! I wonder why Kala calls these U-basses. With a 23.5 inch scale and being solid body electric instruments, I think they have left the realm of ukulele’s and are just short scale electric bass guitars.

[@jillgeary1313]

Hi Steve - Mike Upton tells us that the "U" in Ubass is really for Upton Bass - so, there you have it! 🙂

[@UkuleleWales]

Something i have talked about quite a bit and do tend to call them mini basses Steve but as Jill has mentioned U-Bass is Upton Bass.

[@joefishNY]

Rachel these really sound beautiful! Where can I get different pickguards for these?

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Joe, if you check the description of the pickguard video the link to the website is on that and yes, they are GREAT basses.

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

There is also a 'transparent-sapphire -blue' with an ash body available (fretted)

[@UkuleleWales]

From Kala?

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

Yes, it is a Kala . . . A special edition from one of the big box vendors . . . (If I write the name here, KZbin will take it down, but it begins with 'Sweet' . . . ), if you can't find it, let me know I will send you a message another way . . . @@UkuleleWales

[@paulclare6589]

Hi Rachel, Greetings from Thailand, Where do you get your strings from? Paul

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi, I have been getting them from Strings By Mail - cheap worldwide shipping, just make sure they are the 23.5" scale strings

[@Stick3x]

I am purchasing the 5 string fretless. Just wondering if there are any 5 string flats that will fit?

[@UkuleleWales]

Coming very soon - kalabrand.com/collections/solid-body-electric-u-bass-strings/products/stainless-steel-solid-body-u-bass-flat-wound-5-string-set

[@jeanettehattan3168]

I am a second year fretted ubass player looking at moving into a 5 string Would you suggest a fretted or non fretted? I take weekly lessons and my local teacher said fretted. Just looking for more thoughts….thanks for your time. Jnet

[@UkuleleWales]

If you are used to fretted I would also say stick to it for 5 string at least to start with as you’ll find the transition easier. You could dive right in with it being fretless but it might put you off both fretless and 5 string?? Good luck though and would love to know what you decide to do. 😊

[@jeanettehattan3168]

@@UkuleleWales Rachel. Thanks for the encouragement! I had to send the bass back due to feedback coming from the bass when my hands were not touching the strings. But I did have a week or so with it and my biggest challenge was getting accustomed to the new spacing of the strings, and which strings where which. Literally I couldn’t remember my string names! I will be ordering the new Kala cali bass that’s coming out in June as a 5 string for sure. Sounds so good with the band!

[@ludwigvanzappa9548]

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaank Yoooooooooooooooooouu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@UkuleleWales]

My pleasure!

[@nicolasmoreno9143]

What wound are the strings?

[@UkuleleWales]

In this video the fretted bass has round wound strings and the fretless has flatwounds. I have since changed the fretted bass to flatwounds too. 👍

[@nicolasmoreno9143]

@@UkuleleWales Sorry I meant the gauges

[@TheQuietpanda]

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