Good news! If you're in the UK, there's a couple of online shops that sell the new Countryman U-Bass! It's a pretty nice quality one, similar to Kala ones I've tried, and only costs about 150 quid at Southern Ukulele Store and Omega Music, which is much much cheaper than other similar ubasses. So affordable! I just couldn't resist.
It has a nice classic binding, a rope rosette, built-in tuner and pick-up. Comes with Thungergut Aquila strings, which I like so far but I haven't tried that many other strings so I can't really tell the difference. The sound is good (baaasssss!), it's easy to play and has good intonation. Good to go.
Only downsides are that there isn't a fretless version afaik (I would have preferred it personally), and that it doesn't come with a gig bag, but it will fit in some baritone ones (check with the seller). Otherwise, a total steal.
It has a nice classic binding, a rope rosette, built-in tuner and pick-up. Comes with Thungergut Aquila strings, which I like so far but I haven't tried that many other strings so I can't really tell the difference. The sound is good (baaasssss!), it's easy to play and has good intonation. Good to go.
Only downsides are that there isn't a fretless version afaik (I would have preferred it personally), and that it doesn't come with a gig bag, but it will fit in some baritone ones (check with the seller). Otherwise, a total steal.