The Kala U Bass offers exemplary craftsmanship and tone quality, but does it live up to the hype? Read on to find out!
Written by Jay Searle / Published August 2, 2024
Last updated: August 1, 2024
Renowned as the birthplace of bass ukuleles, Kala’s line of U Bass instruments took the best elements of traditional ukes and basses, mashed them together, and created a product with a unique tone, look, and feel.
Today, we will review the Kala U Bass “Nomad” – one of the original U Bass models, which also happens to be one of the cheapest in this uke-bass series.
At its core, the U Bass Nomad is a semi-electric instrument with a scale length similar to that of Baritone ukulele and an all-mahogany construction. This instrument’s exquisite sound, well-roundedness, and portability have earned it quite a reputation, so let’s see why this combination of features works so well.
Kala U-Bass Nomad Ukulele – REVIEW Summary
This instrument features all the characteristics you look for in a bass ukulele at an affordable price. It is still one of the best value for money options out there on the market after more than a decade.
Our Kala U Bass – Nomad Review
Specs
| Top: Mahogany | Bridge: Rosewood |
| Back and Sides: Mahogany | Nut: GraphTech NuBone |
| Neck: Mahogany | Saddle: Composite Wood |
| Fretboard: Rosewood | Strings: Aquila Thunderblack |
| Scale length: 20.8125 inches | Electronics: Proprietary U-Bass pickups with an active equalizer |
Build Quality
On the surface, Kala’s “Nomad” is a simple Baritone-size semi-acoustic ukulele made of laminated mahogany, which could also describe thousands of low to mid-tier ukes. The thing is, the Nomad doesn’t exactly feel like a mahogany uke. Its tonewoods aren’t as dense or heavy as contemporary alternatives, yet it visually doesn’t stand too far apart from an average Baritone.
And then we’ve got rosewood on the fretboard and the bridge; again, this is fairly normal for ukes in this price range. The way Kala refined the tonewoods of the U Bass Nomad and assembled them resulted in perfect harmony from the perspective of structural integrity and flexibility.
The main reason we rated the Nomad’s build quality 5 out of 5 stars is that it eclipses the performance of an average mahogany uke while emulating an ultra-lightweight upright bass. The engineering behind this is still considered innovative even 15 years later.
Tone Quality
The true advantage of the Kala U Bass Nomad lies in its unique, vintage-esque tone. If you’re enamored with the old-school tone bassists used to have in big bands throughout the 30’s, you’ll be able to achieve it on a much smaller instrument like this one.
“Thumpy and bombastic” are the main attributes of Nomad’s tone, fully and naturally derived from the trusted blend of quality mahogany and rosewood.
Its soundhole is actually a lot smaller than average but that doesn’t really matter when plugged into a good amp. If you plan on using the U bass unplugged, you may find that its tone is not quite as nuanced as when amplified. It’s not a particularly loud uke which doesn’t help bringing out the full richness of its low end sound.
If you don’t particularly need an electrified ukulele, you’ll probably find Kala’s KA-B Baritone more to your liking. Not only is it a bit cheaper but it offers the same quality, albeit a different kind of tone.
Playability
If we stripped Kala’s U Bass Nomad of its explosive tone and electronics, we’d get a solid Baritone ukulele (minus the thick strings). As far as playability is concerned, it is best suited for people who are already accustomed to wide frets and necks – namely, Baritone and traditional bass players.
We had to deduct a single star from its playability rating because the scale length of the U Bass ukulele is nearly two inches above average (20.8125 inches, to be precise). This makes playing a little easier at the expense of intonation stability (which marginally affects the tone).
It simply feels different, at least when compared to normal ukuleles. Its learning curve isn’t too steep, though, so whether you’re playing for the first time or transitioning from another instrument, it’s fairly easy to get going.
Value
The Kala U Bass – Nomad is barely any more expensive than an average Kala Baritone, not to mention that it’s a semi-acoustic instrument. Even if its performance was mediocre across the board, the sheer fact that it offers an easy way to emulate an upright bass on a petite uke makes it worth the money.
It sounds, plays, and looks great, though, so from an objective standpoint, it ticks all the boxes of a great instrument.
Why We’d Buy the Kala U Bass
First of all, its authentic tone should be enough for most fans of rhythm-oriented instruments to at least consider buying it. Even if you end up not liking how it plays, you’ll always have a different color to add to your palette when writing, recording, or playing certain songs.
The Nomad truly represents Kala’s impeccable craftsmanship. Considering it’s a relatively cheap instrument, it is a road-worthy ukulele bass that can serve as your primary or backup instrument.
Finally, its electronics are beyond good. Equipped with active pickups calibrated by highly experienced engineers, it consistently delivers on the promise of quality.
Why We’d Avoid the Kala U Bass
Different isn’t always better, and this especially rings true for instruments that stray a bit too far from the norm. It’s “not” an average ukulele or a bass. It is not a simple double bass replica, nor is it a traditional semi-acoustic bass. Yet it’s a bit of all of the above.
The only type of musicians we don’t recommend Kala U Bass to are immediate beginners (and possibly people who’ve never played an instrument before). Nomad tends to have an “identity crisis” when players don’t know how to harness its unique features and tone properly, but it absolutely shines in the hands of an experienced player who knows what they’re looking for.
Conclusion
While doing this review, we knew that Nomad was a different beast, but we were still surprised by how remarkably versatile it is. It’s important to understand that it is more than just an electrified bass-heavy Baritone – it’s a standalone category, a hybrid between ukuleles and basses specifically designed to bring something new to the table.
In terms of raw quality, it doesn’t stack too well against boutique-level baritones like KA-SA-B or the coveted KA-CTRG, but since it’s not even in the same genre, comparing it with the latter doesn’t have much merit.
Overall, this Kala bass ukulele is a formidable instrument, but it’s just a glimpse into what this series of ukulele basses has to offer. As its manufacturer describes it, the Kala U Bass Nomad is “stripped to bare essentials” and a perfect gateway into electrified short-scale basses.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & WriterJay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.
