Case Study- Kala Solid Body U-Bass pickguard upgrade!

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Here’s a case study on how a simple upgrade can massively improve the look of an already handsome instrument!

The Kala Solid Body UBass is making waves in the ukulele bass world; not just for its striking looks, but also the way it feels, plays, and sounds much more like a full-size bass guitar than regular U-Basses.

However, general consensus is that the stock pickguard on the U-Bass SB series, shown below, is a bit of a blank canvas- on this striking candy apple red bass, the 1-ply white scratchplate is seen by some as a little underwhelming compared to the depth of the finish.

Here it is below:

Kala Solid Body U-Bass
Kala Solid Body U-Bass, as stock- with 1ply white pickguard

Bass looks awesome, but the pickguard could be upgraded, right?

After some careful consideration, we decided that a simple upgrade to 4-ply white pearl would be just the ticket, and upgraded our bass with a handmade, bespoke pickguard from our chosen sheet material.

We feel it’s a massive improvement!

click here buttonClick to order yours

Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply white pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply white pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply white pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply white pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with 4-ply white pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body UBass with 4-ply white pearl pickguard

But what do you think? Is our guard an improvement, or was the minimalism of the original single-ply white guard better? Or should we have chosen something crazier, like the legendary 4-ply Leopard Print Pearl..?!

If you have one of these awesome basses, or anything else with a pickguard that you think could be improved with a fancier material, here’s the only link you’ll need to order your new favourite scratchplate: SCRATCHPLATE ORDER FORM

(and for you U-Bassists, I’ve specially added this exact model on as an option!)

 

[update] …couldn’t resist. I made one in 4-ply Leopard Pearl too. Feast your eyes! -Steve

Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply leopard print pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply leopard print pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply leopard print pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply leopard print pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply leopard print pearl pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone 4-ply leopard print pearl pickguard

 

We’ve manufactured several of these for customers already- here’s another we made for a customer in the UK, this time from Black Bakelite:

Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone black bakelite custom pickguard
Kala Solid Body U-Bass with Tiny Tone black bakelite custom pickguard

 

 

 

Closed for a week or so!

Normal work will resume on the 18th Sep once Jack and Steve are back from holidays,

Please feel free to place new orders we’ll catch up and chat to you then

Existing orders, some are still on their way to you – thanks for your patience! Hang tight, we’ll get your goodies to you

Jack and Steve