I just bought a 5 string Kala off Reverb, in shipment ... my left shoulder requires less weight. My Hofner is great, this should be an excellent addition!! Thanks for the content!!

I don’t know about overtones, but I’m not fond of the fret buzz. Can that be adjusted out via the truss rod or the saddle height?

I had a Gretsch Junior Jet short-scale bass for a couple of years that I purchased because the frets on my first bass, which was a Hagstrom Viking, were too wide, making it difficult for me to play. Like the Kala, there were more overtones on the Gretsch than a standard bass which I found to be sonically problematic. I ended up selling my Gretsch recently because it wasn't as much fun to play as my Hagstrom replacement, a P Bass. Having said this, your point about the Kala catering to a whole new market, i.e., young kids, makes a lot of sense.

The reference to children's increased interest reminds me about the Suzuki method of music teaching. Students start out with real instruments their size and move up.

Have had one of these for 3 months - the sunburst/tobacco coloured one - and I love it. Totally agree with you James about the versatility of it. I play it very often in my Ukulele band but I wouldn't have any doubts that it could perform in my rock band as well. Thankfully, wire-wound strings, not the polyurethane ones. And the case is so handy with straps to carry on your back too. 100% recommend it. Finally, no back-ache either as it's a ton lighter than my Fender!!

Per the comments...I really like my gretsch junior jet with tapewounds...no overtones I notice

Great video. Finally a eBassGuitar KZfaqr who makes a positive video about short- and shorter-scale bassguitars! I started on tenor ukulele and came to a rubber string uBass (Casha): I then added a Ibanez Gio miKro shortscale, in order to follow "real" eBass lessons on KZfaq. The one time I got to play a "real" eBass (Fender Mexico), it felt intimidating and unconfortable and too big for handling within my small room. Not my cup of tea, although i am tall (185 cm). I get a lot of fun out of playing my small instruments. I do not need to add another instrument into my collection, but am very happy to see that more and more producers (also Flight) make beautiful small eBasses which make the eyes shine when one looks at them. Your son is right and the perfect example: One gets hooked as soon as one encounters such a perfect, beautiful and simple instrument. It brings joy and fun. It is handy. It is easy to transport, to store, to grab ... Again: Great video. I enjoyed it immensely! Thanks!

I bought one for my son: Put custom shop fender '62 pickups in there, sounds great/plays great

I love the sound and the versatility of the thumb technique you were using, right at the 6:00 minute mark. Please do an entire video on that technique! I suspect a lot of us would find it a huge help!

Thanks for another fantastic video James!

I own one of the new crème coloured ones. In my opinion the best colour choice because the black guard matches the pickup colour and gives it a Yin/Yang look. Mine also came with some fret buzz but one quarter turn on the easy access truss rod wheel fixed everything. The bass can sound monstrous through a Fender Rumble especially with some EQ tweaks and amp sims. I’ve played an entire 4 hour rock gig with it right out of the box and also travelled with it by plane - carried on with no issues. I do prefer my Kala Journeyman for hotel rehearsals as they can be played without an amp and sound better through headphone amps.

I have an acoustic-electric Kala U-Bass. I have found that it sounds much better to fret in the middle between frets instead of up against a fret. The between-frets position reduces the clanky metallic overtones.

sounds cool, thanks for the review

Loving my Sterling Stingray SS-4. I did some minor work-on-it ( proper set-up & fret end file with rolled edge ) and it plays like a Custom Shop. oNe LovE from NYC

yeah....sounds real good....a cool way for youngsters to get into bass playing

I started out with short scale basses. Harmony, guild semi hollow. It was a good while before I got a 34in scale fender jazz bass. I still like playing 3/4 30 in short scale.

Cool! got one myself but need to source some flatwounds for it, and ideas?

I saw one of these on a recent visit to Hawaii. I might of purchased it if I didn't already have an Ibanez Mikro. Good review. Although this sounds adequate as does the Mikro, I still prefer the sound of a long scale even though I don't own one. (yet).

Sounds good. I have one of their acoustic/electric models. Nicely made and fun to play. Of course I'm not trading in my p or j any time soon!

If Kala were to make 5 string version it would be interesting to try a 5 string set on this 4 string. Tune the B string to E, t he E string to A etc. The tension would be more like a standard 34" scale bass. I wonder if that would work.

I have a Kala U Bass as well as a Fender P-bass. I love them both for different reasons. I saw that the solid body Kala is available as a 5 string. The E string on my U Bass is already really thick which can cause some tuning issues as you play higher frets. Does anybody have experience with the solid body five string? I want one but not if I have to avoid most of the B string.

Can you do a review on wah pedals for the bass. Specifically the cowboys from hell dimebag wah vs the Morley Cliff Burton

I have had one on order since February-still has not come in (ordered through a Music Store in Canada, not from the Kala website.) Kala has a big advertising push on these right now, so I hope they can meet the demand.

Yes, quite a bit of buzz. I would dampen it with foam.

Yeah, those overtones would drive me nuts.

What are the strings like?

I have that Kala Solid Body for half a year, as I have a Kala Journeyman for some years more now. They both are my favourite go-to basses meanwhile. Sure, my fretless Fender Precision sounds different, thats why there is still a place for it, but my first choice is the new Kala. Not only kids benefit from the small size and the light weight, old farts like me also appreciate that. Good quality, good sound, good price, good choice.

The Blackstar Carry-on ST Bass look a better deal to me 218 USD against 350 for the Kala. Unless you may be fortunate enough to get one as a promo from Kala of course .

I don't know how you have this set up, but over high-quality earbuds there is an awful lot of string rattle. I wouldn't call it an overtone. I love short scales. I rock an Ibanez mikrobass, lots of tonal options there.

- You showed a Fender Jazz Bass when you probably meant to show a Mustang. - That Kala bass is more of a mini bass/kids bass than a short-scale bass, I wouldn't put them in the same class - The fret buzz on that thing is horrendous and not set up properly

Love it... and nice review James. BUT... More than other (30") short scale basses I own (Squire Jag P/J, Mustang P/J, and Musicman Stingray SS) it absolutely *needs* flatwounds IMHO. The overtones of roundwounds on my Squire are problematic for any type of music except for the OG punk I play exclusively on it (Buzzcocks, Clash, Ramones, et al for a 'old rockers milestone birthday parties' band) and the Kala sounds way worse. I have a Kale U-Bass with thundergut Reds and it is great for acoustic style stuff (and even soul/Motown), but the solid-body version with flats *could be* a very versatile all-rounder. Kala (or La Bella, or Thomastik)... some flats for this PLEASE?! Then I would buy... especially as I have a lad who is fascinated by bass but intimidated by even a 30" scale... partially weight and kinesthetics related I suspect, rather than hand span/arm reach specifically (unwieldy). How much does it weigh, btw? All my SS basses (and guitars) are < 3kg (bad back, multiple surgeries...) I play only short-scale basses now, or I wouldn't be able to play (live) at all.

Nice review, however I still believe it's tough to beat the sound of the classics our ears all crave. I know someone locally who plays the Kala acoustic version through a Fishman amp and the tone is mediocre at best in my opinion. I tear into a simple blues line with my Fender JMJ Road Worn Mustang pumped through a Fender Rumble 100 amp and it almost immediately receives praise for it's smooth tone. I will say the funk music in your demo is rather enticing and Kala provides a nice option for portability with perhaps something such as an Everse 8 portable PA. However, on that same note, Squier's Mini P could easily dominate because it can be upgraded with genuine Fender parts and aftermarket accessories for basically the same price as a stock Kala. It's tough to compete against the dominate bass manufactures. Looks great with nice design, but I'm thinking a Fender pickup with CTS pots would make this little bass become candy to the ears.

Buzzing some what 😅

sounds awful - that action is criminally bad!!!

No way is that bass worth 350 bucks. Smoke more crack.