Bakithi Kumalo
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Bakithi's Favorite U-Basses


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​​Bakithi Kumalo Signature California U•BASS®
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The Bakithi Kumalo Signature California U•BASS® was born from a collaboration with our friend, music legend, and Paul Simon bassist, Bakithi Kumalo. Paul Simon and Bakithi Kumalo formed a relationship over 35 years ago, and was made famous from his extraordinary bass sound and groove on Paul's Album "Graceland", most noteably on the song "You can call me al"

Bakithi was one of the first musicians to champion the U•BASS when it was first released in 2009 and was the first Kala Artist to have a signature model made to his specifications. In 2013, we collaborated with Bakithi to create his Signature California U•BASS®. This model is the same U•BASS that Bakithi Kumalo plays today.

This four-string, fretless California U•BASS® comes in with a rich espresso brown stain over a Swamp Ash body with a custom pickguard that sets the look of this instrument apart from other basses. One of the most stand-out features about the California U•BASS Series is the custom LR Baggs EQ system which we developed specifically for this collection. By customizing our pickup system, we have dialed in the sound on these basses to a science, and the huge low end this U•BASS can produce as a result is perfect for unique high-quality studio recordings or stage performances. The smooth, easy-to-tune custom Hipshot Ultralite ™ tuners are the icing on the cake for this beast of a U•BASS.

The California U•BASS® Series is played by legends around the world. With the California Solid Body U•BASS you have all the tools you need to stand out and sound amazing, all that’s left is to go out and create something awesome!

Our completely redesigned California U•BASS® is now available! With every California U•BASS® order you'll receive:
  • FREE Deluxe U•BASS® Gig Bag
STRING DISCLAIMER All California U•BASS® are meant to be strung with proprietary, polyurethane Road Toad Strings. Kala Round Wounds, Flatwounds, and High C Strings will not work on the California Solid Body U•BASS.

BAG AND CASE INFORMATIONFits BARITONE Ukulele Bags: UB-B, UB-B-LOGO, DUB2-B, TSUB-B
Fits U•BASS Bags: DUB-UBASS, DUB-UBASS-SB
Fits U•BASS Hard Case: HC-SB4
SPECS
BODY:Swamp Ash
NECK:Straight Grain Maple
FINISH:UV-Cured Satin
FINGERBOARD:Rosewood
BRIDGE:Rosewood
NUT:Graph Tech Black TUSQ®
SADDLE:Rosewood
TUNERS:Custom Hipshot Ultralite™
STRINGS:Road Toad Pahoehoe
ELECTRONICS:LR Baggs Custom EQ
SIN:Espresso Brown
STRAP BUTTON:Black x2
mEASUREMENTS

​Scale Length: 21 inches, Overall Instrument Length: 28.75 inches, Body Length: 13.75 inches, Number of Frets: 24, Body Depth: 1.5 inches, Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1.8 inches, Fingerboard width at 12th Fret: 2.12 inches, Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 0.88 inches, Fingerboard Radius: 12, Body Width: 9 inches, Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 0.9 inches
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Road Toad Pahoehoe U•BASS® Strings ​
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Road Toad Pahoehoe Polyurethane U•BASS® strings for a U•BASS®. Set includes EADG.​

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Striped Ebony Fretless Acoustic-Electric U•BASS® ​
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The beautiful Striped Ebony U•BASS® has a deep brown color with reddish-brown striping. One of the finest woods for instruments, Striped Ebony is a high-density wood that has superior tonal qualities. The light Maple binding creates a striking contrast with the dark Ebony body, that makes the variants in the striping stand out. Comes in a Fretless model with Proprietary Polyurethane Strings, Custom Hipshot® Ultralite Tuners, GraphTech TUSQ® Nut, Custom U•BASS® Pick-up, and a Deluxe Padded Gig Bag.
BAG AND CASE INFORMATIONFits ALL Kala BARITONE Ukulele Bags, UB-B, & Sonoma Coast BARITONE Cases

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Fits U•BASS specific bags and cases: UB-UBASS, DUB-UBASS, HC-UB, & HCT-UB

SPECS
TOP:Striped Ebony
BACK & SIDES:Striped Ebony
BINDING:Maple
NECK:Mahogany
FINISH:Satin
FINGERBOARD:Laurel
HEADSTOCK:Standard
BRIDGE:Laurel
NUT:Graph Tech TUSQ®
SADDLE:Composite
TUNERS:Custom Hipshot Ultralite™
STRINGS:Road Toad Pahoehoe
ELECTRONICS:Fishman U•BASS® EQ
INCLUDES:Deluxe Padded Bag
STRAP BUTTON:Black x1
MEASUREMENTS


​Scale Length: 20.375 inches, Overall Instrument Length: 29.375 inches, Body Length: 14.031 inches, Number of Frets: 16, Width at Upper Bout: 7.75 inches, Width at Lower Bout: 10.25 inches, Width at Waist: 6.625 inches, Body Depth: 3.25 inches, Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1.75 inches, Fingerboard width at neck/body joint: 2.125 inches
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Kala Flatwound 4-String Set -
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Chrome steel wrapped around a nylon core, the U•BASS® Flatwound 4-String Set by Gallistrings enables fast and stable intonation, bringing a warmth and consistency to your U•BASS® like never before.
These high-tension U•BASS® strings offer a timbre and maneuverability akin to the double bass. Smooth to the touch, the chrome flatwound tape allows your fingers to glide around the fretboard and helps protect the neck from wear and tear—perfect for any acoustic fretted or fretless U•BASS®. 
Not intended for solid body U•BASS®.


Material: Flatwound Chrome Steel / Nylon Core
Gauges: .060 (1.52 mm), .080 (2.03 mm), .100 (2.54 mm), .130 (3.30 mm)
Have questions? Comments?
​Email: kumalomusicmgmt@gmail.com
​We'd love to hear from you!
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Want to get Bakithi's sound? Click any logo to find out what he uses to get his famous sound.
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Bakithi has dedicated over 50 years of his life to living his dream and helping others to live theirs. He lives by his words, "Be Kourageous", and encourages you to do the same everyday!
Copyright Bakithi Kumalo Music 2020.
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