History of the U•BASS®

The Kala U•BASS®, the original short scale bass, was designed by Owen Holt from San Jose, CA. Owen and Kala founder Mike Upton formed a friendship in 2007 and together brought the Kala U•BASS to the masses in 2009. Known for its immense low end, the compact U•BASS packs a thunderous punch and is suited for any genre of music or style of play. The portable U•BASS makes a great addition to any bassist’s arsenal. With the player always in mind, Kala strives to find a balance between innovation and tradition to support you on your musical journey.

2007 Kala owner Mike Upton meets U•BASS ® architect Owen Holt at a luthiers convention.

2008 Mike and Owen develop and finalize the definitive design of the original U•BASS.®

2009 The fretted Solid Mahogany U•BASS® debuts at Summer NAMM. The fretless Solid Mahogany U•BASS follows soon after, debuting at Bass Player LIVE!

2010 The fretted Solid Acacia U•BASS® and the Solid Spruce Mahogany U•BASS in fretted and fretless models are added at Winter NAMM. The first left-handed U•BASS hits the market.

2011 At Winter NAMM, the Hutch Hutchinson Signature U•BASS® is introduced. In the spring, the U.S.-made California Series U•BASS arrive featuring fretted and fretless 4-string and 5-string Solid Body models. The 4-string SUB Solid Body U•BASS follows at Summer NAMM.

2012 Fretted Exotic Wood U•BASS® models, including Exotic Mahogany and Spalted Maple models, are presented at Winter NAMM. The U•BASS is celebrated at the Musicians Institute with a workshop featuring Abraham Laboriel Sr., Bakithi Kumalo, and Stuart Hamm, and at U•BASS Day at Berklee College with Hutch Hutchinson accompanying Abraham and Bakithi.

2013 The fretted Rumbler Mahogany U•BASS® is released at Winter NAMM along with Silver Rumbler strings. Exotic Top Solid Body 4-string and 5-string models join the California Series at Summer NAMM, featuring Koa, Walnut, and Maple tops. A custom-designed Shadow® pickup system with EQ and built-in tuner becomes standard on each imported U•BASS. 2007 Kala owner Mike Upton meets U•BASS® architect Owen Holt at a luthiers convention.

2014 On the 5th Anniversary of the debut of the original U•BASS®, the Bakithi Kumalo Signature U•BASS is announced at Winter NAMM. The California Series adds Solid Koa and Maple AcousticElectric models equipped with an exclusively designed LR Baggs® pickup and preamp system. The LR Baggs system also becomes standard for every California Series Solid Body U•BASS. Bass Player LIVE! hosts a U•BASS clinic featuring Abraham, Bakithi, and Hutch.

2015 The 5-string SUB Solid Body U•BASS ® along with the fretless Rumbler Mahogany U•BASS are introduced at Winter NAMM. The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA features a U•BASS in their exhibit “LOW: The Power & Beauty of Bass.”

2016 At Winter NAMM, the fretted Bubinga U•BASS® and the fretted Exotic Mahogany U•BASS with Round Wound strings are released.

2017 The redesigned California Series with updated neck, body, and string alignment are shown at Winter NAMM. The 4-string Nik West Signature Purple U•BASS® debuts in August and is followed by the 5-string model at Bass Player LIVE! The Musical Instrument Museum begins displaying a 2012 Solid Spruce Mahogany U•BASS.

2018 At Winter NAMM, the Wanderer, Passenger, and Journeyman are introduced along with the Striped Ebony U•BASS® in multiple options. The Exotic Mahogany line expanded with Fretless and Left-handed models, and the Rumbler, Solid Mahogany, Exotic Mahogany and Solid Spruce Top lines all received aesthetic upgrades. At Summer NAMM, Red and Black Journeyman models with Round Wound strings debut.

2019 The Flame Maple U•BASS® and Solid Cedar Top Pau Ferro U•BASS are introduced at Summer NAMM. The Wanderer, Passenger, and Journeyman were updated and now all come equipped with a GraphTech TUSQ® nut.

2020 New U•BASS® designs for 2020 include a Tamo Ash Burl, Spalted Maple, Solid Bamboo, and the Nomad, all in fretted models. The Wanderer now comes with Aquila® Thunderblack Strings and all Journeyman models come with Kala Round Wounds. The Wanderer and all Journeyman models now come with Laurel fingerboards and bridges.

NEW FOR 2021 Exclusive partnership and design with Fishman, in 2020, results in a new Fishman EQ for U•BASS coming standard on all higher-end basses $399 and up. 2015 The 5-string SUB Solid Body U•BASS® along with the fretless Rumbler Mahogany U•BASS are introduced at Winter NAMM. The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA features a U•BASS in their exhibit “LOW: The Power & Beauty of Bass.”