Best Ukuleles

Why would you need a guide to the best ukuleles we hear you ask? Well, whether you're looking for a cheap, easy-to-learn instrument to keep you entertained over the coming months, something to add to your busking or live music setup, or a portable instrument to take on future travels, the ukulele has been growing massively in popularity with guitarists, young and old, as well as being the go-to for people who want to learn a stringed instrument.

And there’s no denying that the sound of a ukulele is enough to transport you to the Hawaiian beaches from where the instrument originated. Right now that sounds like a pretty amazing prospect.

In the UK, the uke has made its way into schools for use by school bands – a far cry from the humble recorder lessons of yore. In Canada, we're told, the ukulele has been a staple of music classes for decades.

Other than getting your head around the high 'G' on the lowest string, ukuleles are pretty straightforward for guitar players to pick up, and they're tuned in fifths as well. You can even get a 'guitalele', a 6-string uke that's strung A-A like a baritone guitar.

What is the best ukulele to buy right now?

If money is no object, there's no reason not to splash out on the Martin T1K Tenor ukulele. Although there are pricier models out there, this represents the best sounding uke we've tried that's not rare, vintage, or a custom order. If the ukulele is your main instrument, then perhaps it’s worth spending more, but for most players, the benefits above this price will be marginal enough that you probably won't hear or feel them.

How to buy the best ukulele for you

When it comes to ukuleles, the main things to consider are the construction, the voicing or range, and the neck feel. It's also generally worth noting whether or not the uke is in re-entrant tuning. Electric ukes, and deeper voiced models like baritones are often strung with a low 'G', rather than the more common high 'G'.

Construction
In terms of construction, the woods used drastically alter the sound of the instrument. What appeals to your ear will be different from person to person, but as a rule of thumb, 'darker' woods work better on the higher soprano ukulele, while 'brighter' woods work better on tenor and baritone ukuleles.

Voicing
The voicing of ukes is radically different too. The most common is soprano, the highest. Then there's concert, followed by tenor and baritone. By the time you get down to baritones, the voicing is not dissimilar to a half-size guitar, especially if it's steel strung. 

Though there are many things that change the sound and feel of a ukulele, including body size, string type and whether or not it's in re-entrant tuning, voicing is the most important variable to consider when choosing the best ukulele for you.

These are the best ukuleles to buy right now

Whether it's stuffed on a friend's bookshelf or above the bar at a Hawaiian-themed club, if you've seen a uke somewhere, chances are it's a Mahalo. The basic models won't set the world on fire, but they're durable, hold their tuning okay, and sound fairly decent. 

If you have the additional cash, then you'll notice a big difference stepping up to the Fender and Kala models on this list, but if not, this is an excellent ukulele for beginners.

With a range of designs, from printed patterns on a traditional-shaped body, to 'flying V' ukes, and everything in between, there's probably a version of this uke to suit your personality.

If the pickup on the Grace VanderWaal isn't of interest, but the regular Zuma is well within your price bracket, then the Kala Mahogany could be worth the additional outlay.

The Kala doesn't go in for bells and whistles; rather it's a solid instrument from a company with decent form. A very noticeable step up from the rung above entry-level ukuleles, the Kala is more than enough for most uke players to play at home, or go out and play with others and never feel short-changed.

The mahogany construction offers a darker tone, which complements its concert voicing, and a subtle body binding adds to the good looks.

Though we've selected the tenor variant here due to its rich, full range, Martin also makes a concert variation of this excellent ukulele design. There's no soprano version, but Martin does produce the S1, which has an all-mahogany construction perhaps better suited to the higher range of that instrument.

Well-known for their fantastic range of high-end acoustic guitars, it's no surprise that a Martin should be the top of the pile. While there are more expensive ukes from both Martin and other manufacturers around, for most people the T1K will be more than good enough, and should last a lifetime.

With a stylish finish like the Grace VanderWaal signature, the Fender Venice is a smashing option if you're looking for the plunk of a soprano uke, but don't mind paying a little more than the entry-level price bracket.

The surf green option brings to mind iconic Fender solid-body electric guitars and is likely to be a talking point even if it's just hanging on the wall. As for how it plays, it benefits from a slim 'C' neck to aid comfort, even if it's not quite in the same league as the Taylors and Martins of this world.

If you've always wanted a guitar but are unsure about the size of a three-quarters, or even half-sized axe, then a guitalele could be for you. Alternatively, if you're already a guitar player and you can't say goodbye to those two extra strings, then this could be a gateway to the uke.

Released by Yamaha a decade before the current uke boom, they're only just now becoming more widely available. Tuned to A, and without the re-entrant 'G', it really does sit perfectly half-way between guitar and uke, hence the name.

In terms of voicing, it's in the ballpark of a baritone, resulting in thick tones, with a better bass end than most ukes.

For an electro-acoustic uke that doesn't compromise on quality but is still relatively affordable, it's hard to do better than this signature beast. With a Fender headstock modeled on the Telecaster and a Fishman pickup, this uke not only sounds good unplugged, but can be run through a PA or amp for gigs.

It's voiced as a concert, so fingering will be a little easier than a Soprano - at least with our big fingers - and the sound is a little fuller in the bass, too.

Fender also make a variant without the pickup, but the addition of the Fishman elevates this from a decent ukulele to a perfect all-rounder. There's a good chance even a serious player would never need another uke.