The Small But Mighty Kala Journeyman U-Bass (And Did It Topple Pisa?)
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Let's address the question that has puzzled historians, architects, and bass players alike: did the Kala Journeyman U-Bass cause the Leaning Tower of Pisa to tilt? Almost certainly not. But then again… nobody's ever disproved it.
While we leave that conspiracy to the academics, let's talk about what the Kala Journeyman U-Bass can definitively do — and it's quite a lot for something that fits in a backpack.
Small Package, Serious Bass
The Kala Journeyman U-Bass is a genuinely remarkable instrument. At roughly the size of a baritone ukulele, it produces a deep, warm, full-bodied bass tone that will raise eyebrows — and possibly structural concerns — wherever you play it. The Journeyman delivers that unmistakable upright-like thump that has made the U-Bass a cult favourite among bassists, session players, and travelling musicians the world over. And those f-holes give it the look of a traditional jazz guitar. Awesome!
Built for the Road
The Journeyman is the road-hardened sibling in the U-Bass family. Key features include:
- Solid spruce top — responsive, resonant, and built to last
- Mahogany back and sides — warm mid-range character with excellent projection
- Shadow NFX-U preamp system — plug in and go, with onboard tuner and EQ
- Compact 21" scale length — comfortable for players of all hand sizes
- Gig bag included — because the whole point is to take it everywhere
Whether you're busking in a market square, recording in a studio, or playing a late-night session in a Pisan piazza, the Journeyman U-Bass is ready.
The Pisa Theory (Revisited)
Construction on the Tower of Pisa began in 1173. The U-Bass was invented in 2008. We'll let you draw your own conclusions about the timeline. What we can say is that if a U-Bass had been played at the foundation-laying ceremony, the soft ground of Pisa's Campo dei Miracoli would have had absolutely no chance. Those Aquila strings generate a sub-frequency rumble that is, frankly, disproportionate to the instrument's size.
Innocent? Probably. Capable? Absolutely.
Who Is It For?
The Kala Journeyman U-Bass suits a wide range of players:
- Travelling musicians who refuse to leave the bass at home
- Acoustic session players looking for something unique and portable
- Ukulele players ready to cross over to the low end
- Experienced bassists wanting a compact, characterful second instrument
Hear It to Believe It
The U-Bass is one of those instruments you genuinely have to hear — and ideally play — before you fully appreciate what it does. Pop into the shop and we'll plug one in for you. We promise it won't affect the building's foundations. Probably.
Browse our current stock of Kala U-Bass instruments in store and online, or get in touch if you'd like to know more.
Kala Brand Black Journeyman Mahogany Acoustic-Electric U•BASS with F-Holes