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20 Best Ukulele Brands For Beginners (2023 Updated)
The ukulele is a Hawaii-born instrument that has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. It’s a great instrument for beginners because it’s relatively easy to learn and relatively inexpensive.
There are a number of ukulele brands that are geared towards beginners. Some of the more popular brands include:
• Kala: Kala is one of the most popular ukulele brands and offers a wide range of options for beginners. Their entry-level ukuleles start at around $50 and they offer a wide range of models, including acoustic and electric options.
• Mahalo: Mahalo is another popular brand that offers a wide range of ukuleles for beginners. Their entry-level ukuleles start at around $30 and they offer both acoustic and electric models.
• Lanikai: Lanikai is a Hawaii-based company that offers a wide range of ukuleles for beginners. Their entry-level ukuleles start at around $100 and they offer both acoustic and electric models.
When choosing a ukulele for a beginner, it’s important to consider what type of music they want to play. If they’re interested in playing Hawaiian-style music, then a traditional acoustic ukulele is a good option.
If they’re interested in playing more contemporary music, then an electric ukulele might be a better option.
Once you’ve decided on the type of ukulele, the next step is to choose the size. Ukuleles come in four different sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. The soprano is the smallest and most traditional size, while the baritone is the largest and most suitable for playing lower-pitched music.
Once you’ve decided on the size and style of ukulele, the next step is to choose the brand. As mentioned above, there are a number of brands that offer ukuleles for beginners. Do some research and read reviews to find the best option for you.
Cordoba 15CM Concert Mahogany Ukulele – The Cordoba 15CM is a concertsize ukulele that has all mahogany top back and sides. The fingerboard and body are bound with ivoroid binding giving this entrylevel ukulele an elegant oldworld appearance unlike most instruments in this category.
The Cordoba 15CM utilizes an authentic abalone rosette and satin finish that make this an exceptional ukulele for both beginners and enthusiasts alike Completely handmade. Features:- Mahogany top back sides.
Kala Ukulele, known for high quality instruments, is the most recognized and sought after ukulele brand in the world. Kala ukuleles are the instrument of choice for schools more people learn to play on a Kala than any other ukulele brand The kit includes a Kala logo tote bag, a 20 page Quick Start Guide with information about your new ukulele, and all the tips you need to get started Learn to play songs in minutes with Kala’s FREE, easy to follow online lessons through the Kala Brand Music website.
It includes a high quality Mahogany Soprano Ukulele with traditional Polynesian Shark Teeth laser etched rosette, Aquila strings from Italy, quality open gear tuners, and GraphTech NuBone nut and saddle.
What makes the ukulele a great instrument to begin on is that you don’t need a lot of accessories to be successful. SOPRANO UKULELE This is the most common size of ukulele, and the smallest, with the shortest scale length and tightest fret spacing tuned G C E A.
All-Mahogany ukuleles are some of the most favored wood construction among uke enthusiasts today. Luna continues its unique stride in creativity by introducing a full family of Vintage ukuleles dressed in a Red Satin finish.
Adding on to the already popular Vintage Series, the Vintage Mahogany Pineapple in Red Satin offers a pineapple shaped body, walnut bridge and fretboard, 13 scale length and beautiful pearl triangle inlays.
The signature laser-etched rosette design around the sound hole compliments its already vivid Red Satin color. Expect sharp yet vibrant sound from the all mahogany pineapple body and easily keep that rhythm in tune with the sturdy black open gear tuners.
Take the eye-catching Pineapple Red Satin ukulele with you everywhere you go! This is a wonderful instrument for players of all skill levels. Join the Luna Tribe!.
23-Inch Mahogany Ukulele With Set Strap Nylon String Tuner Rosewood FingerboardProduct Description: Product Description The Donner DUC-1 Ukulele is a great way to take laid-back tropical atmospheres anywhere.
Whether you’re strumming in a hammock on the beach or kicked back in a recliner in your living room, a ukulele is a great way to spread some good vibrations. The Donner DUC-1 offers great sound, great play ability, and a great price.
The rosewood fingerboard and mahogany body make the Donner DUC-1 a great Ukulele for beginners or four-string strumming professionals. Including everything a beginner needs to get started. Pick up it to join in the growing ukulele fanfare! Enjoy your own fun and colorful life.
Donner Concert Ukulele DUC-1, A Very High Quality Sounding Beautiful Looking Ukulele With All Accessories Included For FREE! Includes all these FREE accessories: 1. A High Quality Accurate Tuner Donner DT-2, battery included; 2.
A Good Ukulele Bag; 3. A Colored Ukulele Sized Strap; 4. A Carbon Nylon String. Specifications Size: Concert 23 inch Body & Neck: AAA African Mahogany Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood Bridge: Indian Rosewood Donner unique design Rosette: ABS Weight: 1300g (with box)Package included 1 x Donner DUC-1 Ukulele 1 x Ukulele Bag 1 x Ukulele Strap 1 x Carbon Nylon String 1 x Donner DT-2 Tuner Features: Traditional Concert Ukulele with mahogany body and four advanced carbon nylon string Mahogany body and neck bring you richer and brighter sound; Rosewood fingerboard and bridge provides a comfortable playing feel Smooth and accurate, Donner patented chrome-plated guitar style tuners to keep your ukulele always in tune 18 Brass Frets with Fret position Marks at 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets on neck and top of fingerboard Comes with ukulele bag, ukulele strap, carbon nylon string and digital clip-on tuner as gifts ceugev.
Traditional Concert Ukulele with mahogany back&side and spruce top bring you richer and brighter sound. Smooth and accurate, Donner patented chrome-plated guitar style tuners to keep your ukulele always in tune.
Unique design on fingerboard : Chinese Auspicious Clouds and the top mark Sun Logo. Comes with ukulele bag, ukulele strap, carbon nylon string and digital clip-on tuner as gifts. Concert ukulele with ukulele strap, carbon nylon string and digital clip-on tuner as gifts.
Uke players everywhere will fall in love with Fender’s Montecito Tenor Ukulele! It has a beautiful look paired with a warm, resonant tone. The Montecito has a solid koa wood top, back and sides. Its abalone binding and gloss finish make it a head turning instrument.
The 4-in line headstock and vintage tuners are a nod to other Fender favorites. Its tenor size is comfortable and easy to play! You won’t want to put it down! Please note: This instrument is stamped “used” on the back of the headstock and was given a new serial number by the manufacturer-authorized refurbisher.
It may have had a cosmetic imperfection or to need a repair. It now has been expertly repaired, shows no wear and plays like new.
A great sounding uke, but suffers from some poor design choices. The “no tie” bridge is brittle and thin, and the high string in particular seems to have a knack for popping out and chipping the bridge! This could be a one-off issue, but the display uke they had up was also missing the same string.
Other than that though, it’s a good sounding uke if you can get one that isn’t built poorly! The solid Koa top sounds warm and rich, and the neck is reasonably comfortable to hold.
Overall I have to say this ukulele sounds really good I think great for the price The solid Koa top really sounds like a good Koa uk. Should. The look is beautiful. Really nice looking Koa. A little on the glossy side but still really beautiful The abalone is not real but if it were this would be way more expensive Okay the Fender headstock: Not what I would want but at least it looks kinda old and wood is natural.
That helps a lot. As for the tuners, they work great but do not belong on a ukulele ( the headstock is already pushing it) a electric guitar yes, but, yeah they work great. All and all probably the best ukulele at this price point Looks beautiful, sounds beautiful, and I love the solid top Koa for sound and look.
Comes set up with low G. I may change to high for more traditional sound but the low G is still good for some songs and styles.
This is a high end ukulele model from Fender. It sounds amazing. The instrument is like new. Only played a few times. It comes with the original gig bag in perfect condition. It doesn’t include any other accessories.
The 15CB is a hand-made concert ukulele built with exotic bocote woods that offer a well-rounded and rich tone that is as delightful as its distinct appearance. Stunning appointments like the 15CB’s abalone rosette and cream binding set this ukulele apart from other models in this modest price range.
Additional features include a subtle satin finish, silver tuners with pearl buttons, and premium Italian Aquila strings.
Cordoba 24T Tenor Ukulele The 24 series ukuleles feature exotic spalted maple, offering a unique look and tone. These ukes feature a solid cedar top paired with spalted maple back and sides resulting in ukuleles that project their voice, regardless of the size.
Padauk body and fingerboard binding, combined with a padauk rosette add a beautiful pop of red to their already striking appearance. Additional features include a mahogany neck and spalted maple headstock veneer.
It is hard to say no to a ukulele that plays as sweet as it looks. With the Kala Novelty Series, though they look delectable, you can’t satisfy your stomach’s needs but, you can certainly get your fill of an affordable uke that stands out in the crowd, sounds fantastic, and becomes a conversation piece wherever you take it.
Try to be sad while strumming a Kiwi, Watermelon, or a Pineapple uke; it just doesn’t work. Play them and laugh or just hang them on the wall and see what your friends say.
Our Signature Tenor Ukulele has a beautiful Archtop/Archback design with classic F-holes. Fitted with a spruce top and Mahogany back and sides, this instrument resonates with a warm, mellow sound. An active EQ provides amplification.
The uke is trimmed with white pearloid binding around the body and fretboard. A stylish Mother of Pearl Palm Tree inlay decorates the fingerboard. Features: 17” Tenor scale solid spruce. Top Mahogany back and sides (Satin finish).
The Kala KA-KIWI Soprano Ukulele brings the attention to you for all the right reasons. This model features a green textured body with a kiwi design printed around the sound hole. The design doesn’t stop there.
For a uniformed look, the headstock is also green and crafted into the shape of a kiwi. Featuring a mahogany crafted body and neck, this model delivers warm and rich tones. The mahogany is complemented by a walnut fingerboard and bridge, which provides a well-balanced voicing that offers a diverse sound and adds a unique layer to your music.
The soprano shape is ideal to achieve a bright, warm sound with emphasised highs. For anyone searching for a ukulele that is as fun to look at as it is to play, look no further than the KA-KIWI.
The Donner DUS-1 Ukulele is a great way to take laid-back tropical atmospheres anywhere. Whether you’re strumming in a hammock on the beach or kicked back in a recliner in your living room, a ukulele is a great way to spread some good vibrations.
The Donner DUS-1 offers great sound, great play ability, and a great price. The rosewood fingerboard and mahogany body make the Donner DUS-1 a great Ukulele for beginners or four-string strumming professionals.
Including everything a beginner needs to get started. Pick up it to join in the growing ukulele fanfare! Enjoy your own fun and colorful life.
Alluring and enticing, like the Southern California beach it’s named after, the Limited Edition Zuma Ukulele is an inspiring instrument. Equally at home at the beach or the studio, this concert-sized uke is crafted from sapele, with an open pore finish for balanced earthy tone that blends well with other instruments.
The Zuma falls between the smaller soprano and the larger tenor sizes, providing a full sound and comfortable playing experience for players with larger hands. The easy-playing 16-fret neck extends the range, while its no-tie bridge makes changing strings quick and easy.
The Limited Edition Zuma Concert comes with a striking abalone rosette, bound top, back and fingerboard and 4-in-line Tele headstock, stand out from the crowd with plenty of Fender vibe. Whether you’re following in the sandy footsteps of those who came before or blazing your own musical trail – the Zuma Ukulele is the perfect companion for all your creative adventures.
Alluring and enticing, like the Southern California beach its named for, the Zuma Ukulele is an inspiring instrument. Equally at home at the beach or the studio, this concert-sized uke is crafted from sapele, with an open-pore finish for balanced earthy tone that blends well with other instruments.
The Zuma falls between the smaller soprano and the larger tenor sizes, providing a full sound and comfortable playing experience for players with larger hands. The easy-playing 16-fret neck extends the range, while the no-tie bridge makes changing strings quick and easy.
A striking abalone rosette, bound top, back and fingerboard and 4-in-line Tele headstock, stand out from the crowd with plenty of Fender vibe. Whether youre following in the sandy footsteps of those who came before or blazing your own musical trail the Zuma Ukulele is the perfect companion for all your creative adventures.
Traditional soprano Ukulele with mahogany body and four advanced carbon nylon string Mahogany body and neck bring you richer and brighter sound; Rosewood fingerboard and bridge provides a comfortable playing feel Smooth and accurate, Donner patented chrome-plated guitar style tuners to keep your ukulele always in tune.
15 Brass Frets with Fret position Marks at 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets on neck and top of fingerboard. Comes with ukulele bag, ukulele strap, carbon nylon string and digital clip-on tuner,ukulele picks as gifts.
17. Donner Dut-4e, Electric Tenor Acoustic Ukulele Built-in Tuner Solid Top Mahogany Arm Rest 26 inch Beginner Kit with Online Lesson EQ Gig Bag, Strap,
Professional tenor ukulele with built-in 3 band EQ works easily on tuning. Easily adjust tone you want. 18 Brass Frets with Fret position Marks at 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets on neck and top of fingerboard.
Solid top Mahogany body produces more sustainable, stable sound and pure tone and better resonance. Highly polished smooth Aquila ukulele strings with elevated resistance to wear under tension. Solid top Mahogany body and neck bring you much richer, brighter and warmer sound; High density bone nut and saddle combine with 4 advanced Aquila carbon nylon strings to gain clear and nice resonance and more sustain from Mahogany body.
Smooth rounded beveled edge lets forearm rest comfortably when playing. Well polished smooth rosewood fingerboard and bridge provides a comfortable playability. Sami-Open finish with 9-cycle grinding and polishing process.
Gretsch Guitars brings their luthier mastery to the world of ukuleles with the G9121 Tenor acoustic-electric ukulele with a cutaway. Featuring a solid quartersawn mahogany top and laminated mahogany body with an ovangkol fingerboard, this beautifully designed uke delivers great tone and feel.
An ovangkol bridge and genuine bone nut and saddle provide even more resonance and tone support. With a long, 17-inch scale and a cutaway, you have even more fretted fun to play with a feature uke enthusiasts here at Sweetwater really appreciate.
And when you are ready to plug in, the G9121 has a Fishman Kula preamp onboard for stellar amplified tone.
If your heart is set on a long neck, skip/ pass this. I bought this version instead of the regular soprano neck thinking I would have a clear advantage since it would have what a concert sized neck would be.
However, the uke could clearly not handle the string tension from having a long neck to bridge ratio. The ukulele arrived with a lifting bridge already- and it kept lifting during the time I’ve had it.
No, humidity was not an issue as I have plenty of guitars and ukes who fair well with a current 45 relative humidity. It’s simply that the bridge is too tiny and not reinforced enough to hold the tension thus lifting.
It looks like it’s a common issue as there are a lot of these long neck versions being resold as refurbished or have had repairs. I can commend on the tone though- it sounded great. However, it’s a uke that’s not meant to last long.
I play tenor Uke and I wanted another AE to tune low G for playing blues. I’d seen some early reviews for this uke that complained of rough frets and fingerboard but I didn’t find any such problems with this one.
On my other tenor I have Worth brown medium strings which are quite mellow and the Aquila’s fitted to this Gretsch give exactly the brightness I was hoping for to play blues. The action is good out of the box, I may drop it slightly at some point once the strings have settled in but that would just be personal preference.
Following the recommended fitting instructions, I fitted an Aquila Red low G and the tone fits well with the other strings. I did have to open the slot in the nut a bit to accommodate the Red string and it is important to smooth the slot with 600+ sandpaper.
I’ve had fun with the effects on my Peavey Vypyr amp but it sounds great unplugged too. The body is quite deep so it gives a good full sound. The onboard tuner is adequate. The build quality is good for the money and I’m sure it will give years of service.
I have given it five stars as a stand-alone review rather than in comparison to other ukes because it does what I want of it. I’m sure there’s other cheaper ukes which are as good, if not better but I’m very happy with it.
My 11 year old son is really digging his ukulele unit in music class, so he asked for one. As an amateur musician and former music retail professional, I knew what I was looking for: a uke with decent tone that can hold its tuning.
When I worked in at the music store, I was always disappointed by how poor the tuning mechanisms on student instruments are. How can someone learn if the instrument goes out of tune all the time? This is especially difficult for students who are still working their way through poor technique that can exacerbate tuning issues.
Given Gretsch’s name and the price point, I figured this ukulele was worth a roll of the dice, so I ordered it without having played it, which I swore as a music retailer I would never do. But the boy was getting antsy, and I didn’t have time to go out to the local shops.
To my delight, not only are the tuning mechanisms rock solid, but the tone is fantastic. Warm, clear, good projection. I’ll definitely be playing around with it. if my son ever puts it down.
Stretch out and be heard with the all new G9110 L A. E. Concert Long Neck Ukulele, which features a long scale and an onboard Fishman Kula pickup preamp system. Most popular for its delicate tone, the concert size body is now available with a 17 scale and tenor mahogany neck that provide two more inches of string length and two more frets clear of the body for even better tone and even more room in the upper register.
Other features include a mahogany top, back and sides, an ovangkol fingerboard and bridge, a bone nut and saddle, open back geared tuners and Aquila Nylgut strings. The G9100 L A. E. boasts an organic vibe with its open pore semi gloss Vintage Mahogany Stain finish, and comes in a fitted gig bag.
The Fender Zuma Exotic Concert Ukulele is designed to take you to a world of tranquil tones. Its all-spalted maple back and sides make for a big, bold voicing, which really exudes bightness and punch.
Complete with a beautiful spalted maple top, this ukulele projects each note with interest. The satin-finished nato neck lets you zoom along the walnut fretboard, whilst feeling superbly smooth in your hands.
Finally, the comfortable concert shape will sit snugly in your arms, but still provide a grander resonance than that of a soprano. You’re set for life with this pristine instrument.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a ukulele brand for beginners. Some things to keep in mind are quality, playability, and price.
Some of the best ukulele brands for beginners include Kala, Cordoba, and Pono. These brands offer high-quality instruments that are easy to play and reasonably priced.
When choosing a ukulele brand for beginners, it is important to read reviews and ask for recommendations from experienced players. It is also a good idea to try out several different brands before making a purchase.
