LeftyBassist.com

Hey all,

I've been in contact with Rick Carlson over at Kala for some time now, and he has just hooked me up with the first of a small batch of lefty U-Bass models to take out on the road with me. They're actually the U-Bass 2 (spruce top model). The U-Bass is a ridiculously unique little thing. It sounds really close to an upright when plugged in and totally practical to throw over your shoulder and carry around, especially if you're a composer or anything needing pitch reference and all you play is bass. The only thing you need to get used to is how thick the polyurethane strings are. I reviewed one of the prototypes last year for Bass Frontiers, and I would totally advise you to grab one of these while they have a few in stock!

For those not familiar....

http://www.kalaukulele.com/Detail_KA-UBASS-2-FS.asp

Let me know if you're interested, and I can put you in touch about getting one.

Yep I'm interested. Do you know the price and if it is a fretted model?

Syl

What the hell- I just emailed these guys last week and they said lefties would not be available.

Yes, I'm interested.

Jerry's Lefty Guitars has had them listed for a couple of months now pending arrival and I've been in contact with him, but he doesn't have them in stock yet either.

Those things are the bomb.

Kind of OT - but I thought Jerry went out of business since he never returned any of my e-mails...

pete

Jerry has had a lot of email communication issues since he is more focussed on completing his bricks and mortar shop. he's doing it all himself, so it is taking a heck of a lot of his time.

Best way to reach him is via the phone.

I am interested

I am interested too. Is it available fretless w/ no lines??

I'm interested too, but skeptical. The company told me just a few days ago that there wouldn't be any left handed models. What's the deal?

Looking at the pic it might be easier to restring as a lefty no?
If someone can confirm, I wouldn't mind to do that

No it's a pain in the ass, I already consulted Kala. Bridge has to be redrilled etc.

Getting word directly from my contact at Kala for you, but I can 100% confirm this is happening.

So real lefty basses then ????

If you look at the holes in the bridge, you can see they have been drilled specifically for each string's diameter, so it would be difficult to re-string without doing something like filling in the existing holes with dowls, then re-drilling for left-hand stringing. Not impossible, but necessary skills/tools would be required...

Glad to hear they are making lefties... I had written to the company about six months or so ago, and at that time they weren't plans for making left-hand models. I believe the price at that time was somewhere around $450-$499 for the right-hand model.

There are a couple of videos on the net, and they sound remarkably like an upright. Got to make some cash fast, so I can get one!

Ok, so I just spoke with the president of sales at Kala, and he said that if you simply get in touch with any retailer of Kala, you should be able to order a lefty U-Bass. I have been told mine will be in my hands in no later than 3-4 weeks, so if they tell you there won't be any, they'll find out differently in about a month.

What are these running price wise?

I called Jerry's Guitars yesterday after receiving an e-mail from Kala indicating that lefties were shipping out this week. He said he's still waiting on his order. He ordered 2. He also told me that he is only receiving fretted spruce top models, however, and he wasn't sure that Kala was offering anything other. My preference would be a fretless mahogany, so I'm holding out hope. If anyone hears otherwise, please let us know.

Should be placing my order tomorrow. Will keep you all posted.

Please do! In the meantime, I e-mailed Kala to see if they will be offering mahogany and fretless lefties soon. TBA

I asked about that and the dealer said possibly next year. I wanted fretless myself.