Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: May-07-2019
There were some recent changes in the sub-$500 uke market, so we decided to give this article a bit of a reshuffle. We removed the Oscar Schmidt OU55CE and Kala KA-KTGE-C, as they were both out of production. In their places came the Kala KA-SA-B Baritone ukulele and Martin's cute S1 Soprano ukulele.
While the ukulele is an instrument often associated with the lower end of the market (for example, you can actually pick up something pretty good for
under $100!), cheaper ukuleles don’t always cut it with serious musicians.
That’s why we’ve put together this page. Here, we focus solely on the higher end of the ukulele market, aimed at ukulelists with more than a passing interest in the instrument. Such as those who write songs and music, and regularly perform and record with their uke.
Of course, you can buy a handful of ukuleles for anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500. However, the majority of the premium ukes in today’s market can be found for around $500 or under.
Naturally, there is a good range to consider, but our chart below looks at a handful of excellent high-end ukuleles that prove the most popular, focusing on at least one from each
soprano,
concert,
tenor and
baritone size categories – a good snapshot of the current market.
Top 5 Ukuleles Under $500:
Who Actually Wants a $500 Ukulele?
Perhaps a better question – who doesn’t!?
However, the more expensive ukuleles tend to be favored by the more serious ukulelist, whether that’s an experienced player or a professional musician. These players can appreciate the intricacies and qualities of a premium uke, and would benefit from the advanced technology and better tonewoods on offer.
That’s not to say someone with no experience or intermediate player wouldn’t enjoy a premium uke. In fact, given the right ukulele, it would be an advantage for a complete newbie to play on a ukulele that felt smooth as butter, with a perfect tone and beautiful looks. It would help them practice and improve quicker than learning on something that cost twenty bucks, that’s for sure.
However, some of the advanced features on these high-end instruments – whether that’s electronics or adjustable intonation – are just not necessary at lower levels of playing. If you are just starting, you’d probably be better off with something that features in our guide to buying a ukulele, which offers advice as well as a chart on
the best ukuleles for beginners.
What to Look for in a Premium Ukulele
As we arrive in the premium category, you can demand a lot more from your ukulele. For example, on an
entry-level ukulele, you can forgive plastic components, rough finishes, and a sharp fret here and there. If you’re paying up to $500 for a uke, there’s little room for error from the manufacturer.
Ultimately, when spending a good chunk of dough, you want a ukulele that plays smoothly, sounds exceptional, feels flawless in construction, and has the wow factor – whether that’s a soprano, concert, tenor or baritone. In a nutshell, it should look and sound near perfect.
When it comes to the wow factor, this is usually down to the interestingly grained woods and decorations, like rosettes, purflings, and inlays. Of course, more standard tonewoods like mahogany and spruce are used in body construction, but you’ll also see some more exotic woods in use. Koa is more popular in this range – with its wonderfully warm tone and luxurious grain – as are woods like Hawaiian Mango and Monkeypod. Needless to say, you’ll also find more use of solid woods in the bodies, although some all-laminate models still appear.
Like
lower-priced categories, having electronics on your uke will still depend on your aspirations. Are you performing? Are you recording? If so, the pickup and preamp systems on ukes in this range should be top notch, with 3-band EQ, built-in tuners, and – in some cases – have digital connectivity capabilities.
New or Used Uke?
Across this site, whether buying an electric, an acoustic, a classical or a bass guitar, we always advise that buying used instruments can have great benefits – if you are careful. And buying a used ukulele in the sub-$500 price range is no different.
You can find a used model for a couple of hundred bucks less that you’d pay for it new, depending on the age and wear of the instrument. You can even find some great value genuine vintage instruments, if that floats your boat. Bargains are to be had when buying used.
However, if this is the route you go, make sure that you are able to thoroughly test the ukulele before buying – both playing it, to ensure it sounds as you’d expect, as well as inspecting it for any damage. This is particularly important if electronics are involved, as you’ll want to plug it into an amp for testing.
If you can’t test the ukulele for any reason, make sure you purchase from a reputable online store, such as Amazon or Guitar Center, where fair returns policies are clearly outlined.
The Final Word
Buying a ukulele, especially if you are an experienced player, shouldn’t be too difficult. But when dropping up to half a grand on a single instrument, you want something that will not let you down – whether recording or playing on stage, or just relaxing at home.
So make sure you don’t rush your decision. Create a shortlist of your favorites, read plenty of reviews, watch videos, and – if possible – test out your potential ukuleles in a local guitar store.
Your perfect premium uke is out there – good luck!