Picking the best ukulele is crucial for a rewarding playing experience. A top-notch ukulele will give you great tone, eye-catching looks, and excellent playability for fun and inspired playing from practice to performance.
Best Soprano Ukulele | Best Soprano Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 94 | 5500+ | |||
 | 94 | 1000+ |
Best Pineapple Ukulele | Best Pineapple Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 91 | 425+ | |||
 | 92 | 225+ |
Best Concert Ukulele | Best Concert Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 93 | 225+ | |||
 | 94 | 6525+ |
Best Tenor Ukulele | Best Tenor Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 92 | 225+ | |||
 | 93 | 1450+ |
Best Baritone Ukulele | Best Baritone Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 91 | 125+ | |||
 | 93 | 15+ |
Best Bass Ukulele | Best Bass Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 89 | 200+ | |||
 | 90 | 50+ |
Best Electro-Acoustic Ukulele | Best Electro-Acoustic Ukulele Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 95 | 400+ | |||
 | 95 | 100+ |
*Gearank = Rating score out of 100.
**Sources = Number of gear owner and user opinions analyzed for these product Gearank Ratings.
Research Process: How Gearank Works
The ukulele has earned its spot as one of the coolest and most accessible instruments around, known for its lighthearted sound and fun, laid-back vibe.
Its compact size, affordability, and ease of learning make it an instant favorite for beginners and seasoned musicians alike. But if you’re really looking to get the most out of this little wonder, investing in the best ukulele can take your playing experience to the next level.
First, a better ukulele offers superior sound quality, with rich tones and clear notes distinct to a ukulele. This means even your simplest plucks and strums will sound fuller and more engaging, which is a big confidence booster for beginners and a must-have for pros.
Second, high-quality ukuleles are more comfortable to play, with smoother necks, better fretwork, and solid tuning stability, allowing you to focus on your music rather than constantly adjusting your instrument.
Finally, a well-made ukulele isn’t just about performance—it’s also about inspiration. Beautiful craftsmanship and premium materials can spark creativity and make you proud to show off your instrument, whether you’re jamming at home or performing on stage.
So, whether you’re picking up your first ukulele or adding another one to your collection, choosing the best quality you can afford is a decision you won’t regret.
In this gear guide, we’ve rounded up two of the best ukuleles in each ukulele category. We’ve taken all the measurements for you and provided you with important details, including each ukes pros and cons.
Best Soprano Ukulele Options
The soprano ukulele is the smallest and most traditional type, known for its bright, cheerful sound.
Kmise KMU21S 21 Inch Mahogany Soprano Ukulele
With a smooth finish and comfortable playability, this soprano uke strikes a balance between warm and bright tones. It’s praised for its clarity and affordability, making it a great ukulele for beginners and seasoned players alike.
Pros:
- Produces a bright and resonant sound with good sustain
- Well-constructed laminate mahogany body
- Attractive appearance with a rope-shaped rosette
- Comes with the basics (gig bag, a tuner, extra strings, etc…)
- The included gig bag has minimal padding
- Not as punchy or bright as some other types of wood, like maple or spruce tops
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This Soprano Ukulele from Kmise comes with some nice features for the price.
Its laminate mahogany body gives this ukulele a smooth finish with clean inlays. The neck and the fretboard, when pressed with your fingers and thumb enable comfortable playing. This is why I think this fits beginners and intermediates alike.
Aside from the technicalities of this uke, many reviewers also appreciate the rope-shaped rosette appearance of the uke.
Soprano ukes are known for their bright tone and I could say that it’s a mixture of both warm and bright tones. Some users have reported though that for them it’s not as punchy compared to maple and spruce tops. Regardless, the consensus, and even in my take, is that it has good clarity.
What I particularly like is the bundle that they put here. include extra strings, a strap, a clip-on tuner, a padded gig bag, and an instruction book. For the padded bag, however, some have echoed the sentiment that it might be too thin to give substantial protection.
Overall, this is the best ukulele for beginners and even season uke players who want affordability plus good sound quality. Check out the Kmise KMU21S.
- Size: 21″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Walnut
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
Ranch Soprano Ukulele UK-21 Beginner Kit
Combining polished sapele wood and a mahogany neck, this ukulele delivers bright highs and warm mids. Despite its compact size and narrow string spacing, it offers great playability and a complete package, making it a good ukulele for beginners.
Pros:
- Offers a good bundle for its price
- Delivers a loud and but warm sound
- Sound is comparable to other popular brands
- Can be challenging for people with rounder fingers
- The finish is not as high-quality as more expensive models
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The soprano ukulele of Ranch, the UK-21, comes with a complete package with great playability and sound.
This uke includes extra picks, a strap, and a quick reference guide for notes and chords. With all the resources, they’ve made it convenient to get started.
The craftsmanship of this ukulele is top-notch. The body consists of polished sapele wood and a mahogany neck. This combination of wood gives this uke a good blend of bright highs and warm mids and lows.
As for the overall resonance, it can get loud and can be at par compared to other brands in terms of tone.
For its finish, however, it doesn’t look as high quality compared to the expensive ones.
This is primarily made for kids and adults with smaller hands. However, people with rounded fingers might need to adjust their technique. The spaces between each string can be a bit narrow due to the soprano size.
Even the best ukulele can’t be perfect, but what it offers is great playability, good tone, and a complete package, I can’t recommend the Ranch UK-21 enough.
- Size: 21″
- Top: Sapele
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Weight: 2.14 lbs
Best Pineapple Ukulele Instruments
Named for its shape, the pineapple ukulele is a variation of the soprano or concert ukulele offers a slightly different tonal quality.
Kala KA-MK-P Makala Pineapple Soprano Ukulele
With a sturdy all-mahogany body and beginner-friendly playability, this pineapple-shaped ukulele offers great value. Despite its low action potentially causing string buzz, it delivers a surprisingly good tone, making it a great ukulele for younger players on a budget.
Pros:
- Well-made fretboard; low action
- The wood looks and feels sturdy and stylish
- Easy to play
- Great ukulele for starters
- The low action height can lead to buzz
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The Kala KA-MK-P is an entry-level “pineapple” shape soprano ukulele with mahogany body.
Given its price, this one has a more streamlined appearance, with the most basic specs.
When it comes to its design, the all-mahogany body feels sturdy and stylish.
The neck is also crafted from mahogany and is fitted with a 12-fret walnut fingerboard.
Being an entry-level instrument, the action and tension of the strings are meant to be beginner-friendly. The low action allows for easy playability. What I find as a downside, however, would be that low action can lead to string buzz. Strum this too hard and the string would probably touch the fretboard.
What’s the most surprising aspect of this uke? This ukulele sounds good, for an affordable price point. Some even compare it positively against ones that are priced higher.
It shows that while there are upsides to buying more expensive brands, it’s possible to get the best-sounding ukuleles at an affordable price point. This makes it ideal for younger players.
For the money, it’s hard to beat the value of the Kala KA-MK-P.
- Size: 20.875″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Weight: Not specified
Flight NUP310 Pineapple Soprano Ukulele
Visually striking with a balanced, warm tone, this ukulele stands out for its smooth playability and solid resonance. Despite its laminate sapele construction, it delivers good volume and protection, making it a good ukulele for beginners and artists alike.
Pros:
- Neat construction, tidy joints, and a thinner laminate top
- Good resonance and sound quality
- Traditional and visually appealing
- Produces a balanced, warm tone with good volume and punch
- The neck is fantastic to grip with no hard edges
- Laminate sapele might not appeal to everyone
- Not a full package
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The Flight is a ukulele company based in Slovenia and their aim is to build a community of artists with a common passion for playing this portable musical instrument.
The NUP310 is certainly a testament to their common goal. It’s visually appealing and has a neat construction with a hand-drawn rosette and laser-engraved soundhole design.
It features a thin, laminate African sapele wood and a mahogany neck. The neck is one of those wonderful ukuleles that doesn’t have any hard edges. In terms of playability, it’s easy on the fingers.
Aside from its visual appeal, I find its tone pretty balanced, a bit on the warmer side as well. Regarding its dynamics, some reviews vouch for its good volume and punch.
The laminate sapele might be a dealbreaker for ukulele players who want solid wood. However, its resonance is still great, given that it’s affordable.
The bag it comes with is padded and thick enough to offer good protection. However, if I have a minor complaint, it would be that including a tuner, strap, and extra picks would be a great addition.
The Flight NUP310 is definitely a great contender for the best ukulele in terms of design, affordability, and resonance. It is a good ukulele made for artists and even beginners.
- Size: 21″
- Top: Laminate African Sapele
- Neck: African Okoume
- Fingerboard: Walnut
- Weight: 0.33 lbs
Best Concert Ukulele
Concert ukuleles are slightly larger than the soprano, offering a fuller sound with more frets.
Balnna Concert Ukulele 23″
With its eye-catching design and all-maple wood construction, this concert size ukulele is both durable and sweet-sounding. The colorful fretboard serves as a helpful visual aid for beginners, making it a great ukulele for players of any skill level.
Pros:
- Once tuned, the ukulele stays in tune for hours, requiring minimal adjustment.
- Aesthethically-appealing with vibrant colors, multi-colored frets and strings
- The fretboard has no sharp edges and is easy to press
- Some imperfections around the headstock and tuners
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What makes this great ukulele stand out? The Balnna Concert Ukulele has earned itself a niche for having a multi-colored profile. I think it is well deserved as each of its specs is certainly well-made.
It’s made to be durable and won’t give up on you if you’re carrying it around. All-maple wood construction of the top, sides, and back. The padded bag provides enough protection to handle bumps as well.
Tune this ukulele and you can play for hours with minimal adjustment. I also find that the flat fretboard makes it easy to do melodic leads. It’s sweet and fairly mellow in tone, almost reminiscent of mahogany-topped ukes.
Visually, this great ukulele has colored fingerboards, strings, and a body that captures attention. It feels great to the hands, playable at any skill level. For beginners, I find the color scheme accommodating because it serves as a visual aid.
For a rainbow-colored, visually stunning, and sweet-sounding instrument, The Balnna Concert Uke is one of the best concert ukulele options in the market. I can’t recommend it enough.
- Size: 23″
- Top: Maple
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Weight: Not specified
Ranch UK-23 Concert Ukulele
This great ukulele stands out with its warm, rich sound and comfortable low action, making it easy to play. While the neck may feel a bit chunky for small hands, it offers excellent fret spacing for players of all sizes.
Pros:
- Has low action, smooth fret ends, and a comfortable neck
- Produces a pleasing sound after some initial tuning adjustments
- Offers free online lessons and chord charts, which are helpful for beginners
- The tuning pegs work efficiently
- Chunkier-than-average neck
- Tuning pegs need durability improvements
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At first glance, the aesthetics of this ukulele is nothing short of elegant and organic. And, the sound it produces, among many user reports, describes it as having good quality mids and highs. It’s due to the Sapele top that gives this top-rated concert model uke its warm and darker sound quality.
Reviews have raved about how comfortable pressing the strings against the fretboard was. The low action makes it easy to play and allows any player to struggle less.
This great ukulele has nickel-silver frets that are smooth in the middle. However, some have reported that some of the frets did have rough edges.
While it does fit the criteria for one of the best ukulele options for beginners, the string action gets a bit higher as you go up the register. While the tuning pegs do succeed in working efficiently without loosening, some have commented that they need durability improvements.
Another noticeable aspect of this uke is the chunkier-than-average neck it has. The fretboard has good spacing that it accommodates people with small to large hands. However, it could be a minor inconvenience for kids with smaller fingers. It’s a little detail to keep in mind.
Regardless, I’d recommend this to anyone in need of a concert uke.
- Size: 23″
- Top: Sapele
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Weight: 2.4 lbs
Best Tenor Ukulele Options
Larger still, with a deeper, richer tone, and often preferred by professional players. Tenor ukuleles are known for their warmth and forward sound projection.
Vangoa Mahogany Professional Tenor Ukulele
This good ukulele offers a balance of affordability, durability, and playability, making it an ideal choice for players of all levels. Its warm tone, long sustain, and solid construction shine, though the neck’s thinness may require adjustments for larger fingers.
Pros:
- Good construction with no major finish or joint issues
- The fingerboard edges are built for comfort
- Has a good volume, sustains resonance
- Neck construction is solid and durable
- Plain-looking
- Too focused on components
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On the “About Page” of Vangoa’s website, they referred to their name as being “inspired by a famous artist, implicating an ambitious vision.” Their vision is indeed reflected in the quality that they put into their products
Vangoa’s Tenor ukulele stands out as one with the same qualities that we’ve mentioned here before. It’s a trifecta of affordability, durability, and playability.
Even with tenor ukes or any stringed instruments, the price point is competitively low but it demonstrates qualities that you can see in high-end brands. It has a good finish with no joint issues and the fingerboard edges won’t snag your skin. More importantly, the neck construction of this good ukulele is robust.
The only complaint that’s frequently mentioned about its neck though is how thin it is about 35mm in nut width. For people with bigger and broader fingers, some playing adjustments might be needed.
Due to its all-mahogany body, you’ll find that it gives off a warm tone with a pristine-sounding resonance. Since the body is bigger than its smaller counterparts, it sustains longer and has a good volume.
For some feedback, reviews did echo that it does look too plain appearance-wise. It’s too focused on the components and tone but left out the overall design. Maybe adding a few design options will be helpful for this one.
For those looking for a ukulele that has a great sound at an accessible price point, this best tenor ukulele earns a spot in our list. I urge you to check it out.
- Size: 26″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Not specified
- Weight: 3.34 lbs
Ranch Tenor Ukulele
This best ukulele offers a blend of affordability and quality, featuring a solid build and a smooth, rich sound in the mid-range. While it may require frequent tuning early on, its playability makes it great for beginners and seasoned players alike.
Pros:
- Great mid-range
- Simple, clean design and attractive color
- Top-notch craftsmanship
- Missing accessories in Amazon every now and then
- Tuning difficulties the first few days
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Ranch continues to reach out to the affordable and easy-to-play ukulele niche and delivers consistently in its endeavors. The Ranch Tenor Ukulele is indeed crafted with care for uke players of all skill levels.
Regarding its craftsmanship, each part of this is solid from the tuning pegs down to the neck and body. It’s 26 inches in length with a Sapele top with a clean design and an attractive color.
Bar none, this ukulele sounds fantastic. It produces a superior sound in the mid-range and has that characteristic blend of mellow tones and silky highs found in tenor ukuleles.
The downside(s) that pops up would be its tendency to go out of tune for the first few days of playing. A few have also echoed that the accessory bundle on Amazon isn’t complete at times with missing tuners, straps, etc. I just want to reiterate that these are isolated cases that you need to be aware of.
By far, the Ranch Tenor Ukulele is one of the best tenor ukuleles among the products we’ve reviewed just by its quality and affordability. I recommend this for artists who are particular with the sound quality, as well as for kids who have yet to start their musical journey.
- Size: 26″
- Top: Sapele
- Neck: Okoume
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Weight: 1 lbs
Best Baritone Ukulele
The largest type, tuned differently from other ukuleles, with a sound closer to a nylon string guitar. Its resonance is also more potent compared to smaller ukes due to its larger surface.
Ranch Baritone Ukulele Instrument Kit
If you’re looking for a mellow, rich tone this best baritone ukulele delivers just that, blending a guitar-like warmth with the playability of a ukulele. It’s well-built, easy to tune, and designed for comfort, making it a solid choice for all players.
Pros:
- No fret sprouts or sharp edges
- Binding on the body is smoothly finished
- Tuning machines function well
- Tone–a blend of ukulele and nylon guitar
- Looks higher quality than its price suggests
- The included tuner bit jumpy and has a screen flicker
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The Ranch Baritone Uke is what I would describe as the oldest brother to the other Ranch ukes in terms of form factor.
This uke looks almost like a downsized version of acoustic guitars by design. It has a smooth finish from top to bottom with no sprouts and sharp edges. The tuning pegs and gears work as intended and are locked into the tune for long periods.
Adjusting the truss rod is pretty straightforward as well and they’ve included an Allen key for those fine tuning.
Speaking of accessories, it does come with a complete package from straps to Aquila strings.
However, some buyers did find that the included tuner was too finicky to operate due to the screen flicker and the jumpiness of the screen.
For the sound, I find it to be a blend of a concert ukulele and a nylon string guitar. It’s mellow to the ears. The mahogany body did work its magic here when it came to the tonal warmth of this musical instrument.
Users also praise it for its easy playability despite having a bigger profile. It accommodates small and big fingers.
This best baritone ukulele is for people who prefer soft-sounding deep tones over the high frequencies of smaller ukes. The Ranch Baritone is also a good ukulele for all skill levels, but I recommend this to intermediate and advanced players.
- Size: 30″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Weight: 3.84 lbs
Lanikai FM-CEB Baritone Acoustic-Electric Ukulele
With its flamed maple top and premium features, this great ukulele delivers punchy, well-rounded sound and solid volume, even without amplification. Though the built-in tuner can be a bit laggy, it’s a solid choice for serious players who value sound quality.
Pros:
- The sound carries well enough without the electronic
- Stays in tune well
- The pickup on the maple sounds perfect through the PA
- The build looks very tidy and professional
- The tone is mellow and pleasant
- Tuner is a little laggy but functional
- The wiring in the body rattles with movement
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The Lanikai FM-CEB made it to our list because it stands out as having premium parts and good sound quality. Though significantly pricier than others in our list, it’s marketed towards serious ukulele players.
The sheer look of this ukulele is striking. It features a flamed maple top and a satin finish. This is not just an instrument for jamming in the living room but is made for gigging.
The sound quality of this baritone ukulele is also a blend of ukulele and nylon guitars. The advantage that it has over the Ranch Baritone Ukulele, however, is it sounds punchier and more rounded. Its midrange is potent compared to solid mahogany but not to the point of muddiness.
It is an acoustic-electric guitar but even without amplification, you’ll get good volume out of it. It’s all thanks to the NuBone XB nut and saddle that maximizes the sustain and tone.
It’s also armed with a Fishman Kula preamp and tuner and the sound quality sounds great regardless.
Some things to be aware of: The tuner is a bit laggy and is sometimes jumpy. Some have reported that the LED does jump way too much before you get the green light. Others have also commented that the wiring inside can rattle with movement.
Overall, if you’re a serious ukulele player, I can’t recommend Lanikai FM-CEB enough.
- Size: 30″
- Top: Flamed Maple
- Neck: Okoume
- Fingerboard: Fretboard
- Electronics: Fishman Kula Preamp with Tuner
- Weight: 3.19 lbs
Best Bass Ukulele Options
Among the main ukulele types the bass uke resembles the bass guitar playability-wise.
It’s considered the miniature version of a bass, producing rich low tones. Best used with an amplifier due to its size.
Kala U-Bass Nomad Acoustic-Electric Bass Ukulele
This great ukulele bass combines portability with deep, punchy tones. Its all-mahogany body and built-in Active EQ allow for easy tonal adjustments, though it performs best with amplification. Despite some buzzing from low action, it’s a fun and unique option for bass players.
Pros:
- The short scale length, much easier to navigate
- The fret ends are nicely smoothed
- Rounded and punchy sound
- The Black Rubberband strings are easy to get used to
- Best used with its pickup
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Kala is a known ukulele brand in the music world of standard soprano or concert ukes. They’ve done the same for the Kala U-Bass but this time they’ve gone “deep” Into the low end.
What makes this bass uke great is it’s essentially a barebones and downsized version of a normal bass. Navigating through the frets would also be easier because of the size. Plus, it’s way more portable. Yet it could still deliver those low notes with little to no compromises.
It features an all-mahoogany body with a rosewood fingerboard. I could describe its tonal quality as rounded and punchy. You can further tweak its tone with its built-in Active EQ.
Without the amp, it still does well in a small room, almost like a double bass. However, this bass uke shines better with a pickup. Due to its limited size, it won’t resonate compared to a bigger acoustic bass.
The action of this is low and is gentle on the fingers. However, doing a bass slap or hitting the strings too hard will cause it to buzz. It’s a common issue with the ukulele design. It will also depend on the musical context to correctly use this bass.
Nonetheless, if you’re a bass player and you find yourself gravitating towards alternative designs, this will be a treat to play with.
- Size: 29.375″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Electronics: U•BASS® Active EQ
- Weight: 1 lbs
Kala Journeyman Acoustic-Electric U Bass Ukulele
The Journeyman bass ukulele impresses with its rich, full tone and improved resonance, thanks to its slightly higher action. It performs well live and offers solid control with its Active 3-Band EQ. While it’s great for stage use, recording can be challenging due to its f-hole design.
Pros:
- Small and easy to handle, making it convenient for various settings
- Resonant
- The piezo pickup offers good recording quality
- Buzz when hit too hard
- Better recording with the piezo but not with the mic
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The Journeymen is another one of Kala’s best bass ukulele instruments. It’s reported to have great playability and tone.
One key difference it has with the U-Bass Nomad is that the Journeyman resonates better because of the slightly higher action. It still buzzes if you hit it too hard but way less due to the gaps between the fretboard and the strings.
The tone it produces is full, closely resembling a full-sized bass guitar. Like the Journeyman, it’s still better amped up than bare. However, it still produces decent volume on its own.
It features an Active 3-Band EQ for tonal shaping, a built-in tuner, and volume control.
Surprisingly the piezo pickup stands holds its own when it comes to recording. Micing up this bass, however, isn’t the most ideal because of its f-hole design
Regardless, many have positive sentiments with this bass being a good instrument in live performances. Surely, this great ukulele bass belongs at the top of the niche.
- Size: 29.625″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Electronics: UK-500B
- Weight: 1 lbs
Acoustic-Electric Ukulele
Electro-Acoustic Ukulele is a ukulele equipped with pickups for amplification, suitable for live performances.
Cordoba 15CM-E Concert Acoustic-Electric Ukulele
This model offers impressive playability and tone, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a great ukulele. Though it lacks accessories, its natural volume and balanced high and low end make it a solid option for both beginners and seasoned performers.
Pros:
- Has a natural volume with nice highs and lows
- Made from laminate mahogany wood
- Has a fuller sound with more sustain and tone levels
- Passive pickup
- Lacks accessories
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The Cordoba 15CM-E is essentially the same as the Cordoba 15CM, with the only real differences being the inclusion of the pickup and the finish.
So to quickly reiterate the features of the 15CM, the uke has an all-mhogany (laminate) body. It has a sweet and warm tone. It also has a tone of quality that is considered impressive for its price, though this is pretty subjective. What makes this ukulele well-liked, in general, is its natural volume with a nice high and low end.
The electronics in the Cordoba 15-CME are good enough to gig with. They are passive, though they do include a volume control. It’s not specified where it’s placed, but it’s most likely inside of the soundhole.
The main point of contention is its lack of accessories, which can be a downer when compared to others in this price range. There are also a few who report tuning issues. However, most of them say it gets better as you play the instrument more or after replacing the strings.
Unfortunately, this ukulele doesn’t come with any extras. So, if you want a case, strap, and tuner, you’re going to have to buy all of those things separately.
For what it’s worth, it’s a great ukulele with excellent playability and tone. And for that, we highly recommend the Cordoba 15CM-E.
- Size: 23″
- Top: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Pau Ferro
- Electronics: Cordoba Ukulele Pickup with Volume Control
- Weight: 1 lb
Fender Fullerton Tele Uke
Blending Fender’s iconic Telecaster design with ukulele craftsmanship, this great electric ukulele delivers both style and solid performance. Its warm, bright tone, adjustable pickup system, and built-in tuner impress players, though the lack of strap buttons and higher price might be drawbacks.
Pros:
- Visually-appealing Butterscotch Blonde color and Telecaster shape
- Top-notch build quality and finish
- Great-sounding tone
- Lack of strap buttons
- Passive pickup
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This ukulele takes full advantage of Fender’s electric guitar legacy by taking the form of the popular Telecaster.
The single-cutaway shape is reminiscent of the familiar Tele headstock profile. The two popular Tele finishes, butterscotch blonde and black, make it a fan favorite among telecaster owners. After all, who doesn’t want a “mini-me” version if you have extra dollars to spare?
However, don’t let the toy-like design fool you. It plays well and has a great-sounding tone–a mixture of warmth and brightness. In terms of its tone, the Fullerton Uke is a bit warmer compared to Epiphone Les Paul Uke.
Some even go as far as plugging this uke into guitar rigs and applying effects like overdrive, and they are happy with the results. Regular uke players are just as pleased with its familiar design, but their positive feedback focuses mainly on its good build quality and sound.
Some have complained, however, about the lack of strap buttons, which should’ve made it stage-ready out of the box. It’s also a bit pricy when compared to other concert ukuleles.
The headstock comes with Fender’s label and is equipped with 4-in-line setup electric guitar-style sealed tuners.
Other features include having a walnut bridge & fretboard, and the use of a synthetic bone saddle.
Finally, the pickup and preamp system comes with two knobs that let you adjust tone and volume, and it comes with a built-in tuner.
This is one of the best electric ukulele options out there, but it’s not just for Telecaster fans. It’s for everyone who wants to play the uke with a stylish design. It brings with it great build quality and easy playability.
- Size: 23″
- Top: Laminated Spruce
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Walnut
- Electronics: Fender® FE-U01 Preamp
- Weight: 2.3 lbs
Things to Consider When Buying The Best Ukulele
If you’re not sure which ukulele is going to work best for your needs, or if you want to brush up on your knowledge before making a purchase, check out the information below.
Ukulele Comparison Table
Which ukulele type suits you better? With so many ukulele brands popping up, it’s important to take note of their differences so you could make an informed decision on which to buy. This comparison table serves as a reference for the key factors of each ukulele types.
Here’s a table comparing the main types of ukuleles:
| Ukulele Type | Size | Sound | Cost | Ideal For | Tuning | Other Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | Smallest (21 inches) | Bright, traditional ukulele sound | Generally the most affordable | Beginners, traditional ukulele players | G-C-E-A (standard) | Lightweight, portable, fewer frets (12-15), narrow fret spacing |
| Concert | Slightly larger (23 inches) | Fuller sound with more mid-range | Moderate, slightly higher than soprano | Players looking for more room on the fretboard | G-C-E-A (standard) | More frets (15-20), wider fret spacing, good balance between size and sound |
| Tenor | Larger (26 inches) | Deeper, richer sound, more projection | Higher, suitable for serious players | Performers, players wanting a deeper sound | G-C-E-A (standard) | Wider fretboard, more frets (15-20), often used by professionals |
| Baritone | Largest (30 inches) | Deep, mellow tone, similar to classical guitar | Varies, can be more expensive | Guitarists, players seeking a lower tone | D-G-B-E (like the top 4 strings of a guitar) | Different tuning, more similar to guitar in playability, usually fewer frets (18-21) |
| Bass Ukulele | Comparable to baritone | Low, deep bass sound, like a bass guitar | Higher, especially for quality models | Bass guitarists, players wanting bass tones | E-A-D-G (like a bass guitar) | Requires amplification for full effect, niche instrument |
| Pineapple | Varies, typically soprano or concert | Slightly different tonal quality, more resonant | Similar to other types of the same size | Players looking for something unique in appearance and sound | G-C-E-A (standard) | Distinctive shape, may have a slightly larger soundboard area |
| Electro-Acoustic | Varies by base type | Same as its base type when unplugged, amplified sound when plugged in | Higher due to added electronics | Performers, those needing amplification | Varies by base type | Requires an amp for full use, good for live performances |
A Quick Primer on Tonewood
Tonewood is a controversial subject because everyone’s ears are different. One person might hear mahogany as a warm and darkly voiced wood, while others might think it sounds relatively bright. The most important thing to remember is that you need to listen to an instrument because if you like the tone of whatever uke you’re playing, the wood it’s made from doesn’t matter.
With that in mind, collected below are some of the most commonly found tonewoods and the general consensus on how they sound. Your experience may vary, but the information below will give you enough information to start the process of making an informed decision.
Spruce
Spruce is the brightest tonewood commonly used in ukuleles, making it a good choice if you’re looking for an instrument that can easily cut through a mix. The only bad part about this wood is that because it lacks the warmth of other tonewoods it generally won’t sound as good when playing by yourself.
Mahogany
Mahogany is a very warm tonewood, though it has a strong enough mid-range response that your tone will still have some “punch”.
Koa
Koa is often described as having a “woody” tone, sounding warm and full. The wood is still focused, but it rarely sounds overly bright. The response of the wood pairs well with the ukulele, as it retains a warm tone but slightly more focused than mahogany. Another reason why the typical ukulele enthusiast likes this wood is its nice looking wood grains.
Cedar
Cedar is arguably one of the warmest tonewoods commonly used, with a strong low and low-mid response. It’s great for solo play, but has the potential to sound a bit muddled when played in an ensemble setting.
Laminate vs. Solid Wood
When shopping for a uke, something you’re going to hear a lot is the terms “solid” and “laminate(d).” Laminate, or laminated wood, is several thin pieces of wood glued together. This makes laminate wood more cost effective, so they are found on cheap ukes. Laminate wood resonates less, so you get a less complex tone (fewer frequencies are produced) and less volume.
Solid wood is exactly what it sounds like, a solid piece of wood. Because it’s one solid piece, it resonates more than laminated wood. This gives you a tone that contains more frequencies, giving you a more complex and “musical” tone.
The soundboard, which is generally called the “top” of an instrument, creates the majority of your tone. This is why many instruments use a solid top and laminated back and sides. An entirely solid instrument still gives a better tone overall, but an instrument with a solid top and laminated back and sides can still give you a very respectable tone. Even better, these instruments are generally more affordable compared to their all-solid counterparts.
Size and Its Relationship to Tone
You can think of the different ukulele sizes as occupying different ends of a tonal spectrum. Small ukuleles have a bright and focused tone, while larger ukes have a fuller and warmer tone, with more depth. Note that the difference in tone would generally be subtle, and can be overcome by adjusting playing technique, or by EQ and other tone adjustments. Surprisingly, a Bass Ukulele sounds quite full even with its small size, because of the lower notes they produce and their projection. After hearing one, you won’t mistake a bass ukulele for a regular one.
Best Ukulele Selection Methodology
This guide was first published on September 6, 2024.
We began by looking at all the different-sized ukuleles available from major American online music equipment retailers. For this edition, we ended up with an extended list of 53 of the most popular and best-rated among what’s available. We then collected and analyzed ratings and reviews from retailers, forum discussions, and expert recommendations. For this edition, the data piled up to over 77,000 sources, all of which were processed via the Gearank Algorithm. This resulted in a rating score out of 100 for each of the short-listed ukes. Finally, we selected the highest-rated ones to recommend above, along with a special section for top-rated pineapple soprano version ukuleles. For more information about our methods, see How Gearank Works. To receive regular updates on our real-world data driven gear guides, join our email list.
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide’s production – click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Contributors
Jerry Borillo: Product Research.
Allen Articulo: Supplemental Writing
Media / Image Credit
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials, or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.
The videos above have been embedded in accordance with YouTube’s Terms of Service.
More Best Ukulele per Classification 2024 – Category Winners Related Posts
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Publication of our January 2022 Edition resulted in the following ukuleles coming off the recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:
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Our March 2021 update resulted in the following ukuleles coming off the recommend list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:
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As a result of our January 2020 update the following ukes came off our recommended list above but you can still read about them here:
More Ukulele Guides
Disclosure
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Alexander Briones
I have been writing about and researching music gear for many years, all while serving as a music director at my local church. I engage in guitar playing and singer-songwriter stints, in addition to mentoring young musicians and teaching guitar and bass.
Drawing from his experience in performing and recording, he teaches guitar and bass and mentors young artists to be better musicians. And when he is not busy playing or tinkering with musical gear, he puts on his entrepreneurial hat, which helps fund his passion for collecting guitars, mecha figures and Gunpla kits.
Contributors
Alden Acosta: Product research.
Mason Hoberg: Supplemental writing.
Jason Horton: Editing and Illustrating.
Media
Main/Top Image: Created by Gearank.com using photographs of the First Act Blippi, Donner DUS-3,Cordoba 15SM,Luna Vintage Mahogany Pineapple and Enya X1.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.
The videos above have been embedded in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.
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