Kala Announces Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass
Bakithi Kumalo and Kala Brand Music have teamed up to released the Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass. Kumalo, who first made his mark on Paul Simon’s Graceland album, has been a U-Bass endorser for several years and helped to create the new signature model.
The B.K. U-Bass is solid-body fretless four-string with a 21″ scale. It’s built with a select ash body in an Espresso Brown finish, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. As with all U-Basses, Kumalo’s version utilizes the company’s proprietary polyurethane strings. It also sports a custom L.R. Baggs active EQ and pickup system. The bass is rounded off with Kumalo’s signature atop the headstock.
The Kala Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass is made in the U.S. and ships in a custom deluxe gig bag. It will carry a list price of $1,099. For more info, check out the Kala U-Bass website.
Kala Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass Specs:
- Made in USA
- GRAPH TECH Black TUSQ nut
- Tuners: Custom Hipshot
- Neck wood: Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fretless
- Electronics: Custom LR Baggs
- Body wood: Select Swamp Ash
- Finish: Espresso Brown
- Scale Length: 21″
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
I love it. PS does anyone know where you can go to actually TRY a U Bass in person? No stores near me have them, but they have tons of other Kala ukes.
Not worth 1000 bucks
iI actually live by Bahkithi and I was playing with him and he let me try the U-BAss a few months ago, it sounded massive and it was so much fun, it would be worth it
1000 bucks for a mini bass with rubber bands on it
it’s sooo tiny! Is this what happens when a Ukulele company makes basses?
Have tried other Kala U-bass models. The strings are very hard to keep in tune.