Ukuleles have become very popular over the past few years. There are many types of ukuleles, including soprano, concert, tenor, baritone, etc. Although, the most popular among them is the soprano ukulele.
It is the one whose picture comes to our mind first when we think of a ukulele. It is a cute and compact instrument which produces authentic tone.
To choose a good soprano, it is important to consider many factors including its material and size. There are a lot of options of different sizes, styles and price ranges.
A combination of all these factors has been taken into account while preparing this list of the best ukuleles of 2024.
So, let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
- 1. Lohanu LU-S Soprano Ukulele
- 2. Kala MK-S Makala Soprano Ukulele
- 3. Hola! Music HM-21 BU Soprano Ukulele
- 4. Luna Vintage Mahogany Soprano Ukulele
- 5. Kala KA-15S Soprano Ukulele
- 6. Luna High Tide Koa Acoustic Electric Soprano Ukulele
- 7. Martin Smith 712 Soprano Ukulele
- 8. Cordoba U100SM Soprano Ukulele
- 9. Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele
1. Lohanu LU-S Soprano Ukulele
This is a perfect ukulele for beginners.
The main body is made with sapele mahogany which makes it strong and sturdy. It sounds perfect and doesn’t produce any buzzing noise.
As opposed to other ukuleles which need constant tuning, this one stays in tune even with higher frets. The length is a classic 21 inches. It sounds quite close to more premium quality ukuleles.
It features an arched back which helps it to sustain for longer time and gives it a full and rich tone.
One important advantage of this one is that it comes with almost all required accessories including strap, tuner, case, extra set of strings and picks.
However, if you want a more traditional and genuine sound then use your fingers instead of using picks. It is powered by a lithium battery.
It has gorgeous handmade ABS white bindings in body and neck, which gives it a unique and stylish look. It is perfect for adults with smaller hands and children.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Good construction.
- Good quality Aquila strings.
- Pre-installed strap buttons.
Cons
- No Intonation up the neck.
- Some notes not well balanced.
- Resonance reduces as you move up the frets.
This ukulele delivers excellent sound quality and has a strong body and it comes with pre-installed strap buttons. It is a complete package with all the useful accessories so that you don’t have to spend time looking for them.
2. Kala MK-S Makala Soprano Ukulele
This is one of the best entry level ukuleles out there. This soprano ukulele set comes with everything you need including gig bag, strap clips and extra strings.
The quality of the gig bag is pretty great with an exterior zippered pocket. There are strap clips. It has Aquila strings which ensures the best tone and are preferred by most experienced musicians.
A chromatic tuner is also provided which works off vibrations. These tuners are geared and are really easy to use.
You can use it to tune the instrument in any setting, even very loud ones. The size is small enough for children and beginners.
It produces the traditional ukulele sound. The talk back and sides are made up of mahogany.
It features walnut fingerboard. They can be turned on by pressing and holding the button for a few seconds and it turns off by itself when not used for some time, which really helps to save some battery.
Pros
- Great tone quality.
- Easy and comfortable to play.
- Terrific tuner quality.
Cons
- Strings could have been better.
This one is for anyone who loves some good old traditional ukulele tone. It also has a gear tuner and saves a lot of battery by turning off by itself when not used for a while.
3. Hola! Music HM-21 BU Soprano Ukulele
Do you love bright colors?
Then, this ukulele which comes in a wide range of bright colors, will surely catch your attention. It’s perfect for children too who would love to play with cute little things.
It features a strong maple body and has a length of 21 inches. The bridge, fingerboard and neck are made of walnut.
It comes with a set of all the necessary accessories including a canvas tote bag, strap and three picks.
However, you may need to buy a better case for safely carrying around your ukulele. It has good quality Aquila strings which is preferred by most musicians.
Moreover, the prepositions are marked at 5th, 7th and 10th on the fingerboard which makes it very convenient while playing, especially for the beginners.
The sound quality is brilliant and can be compared to other more expensive ukuleles. It is very comfortable to play even for long durations.
Pros
- Comfortable to play.
- Clear and loud tone.
- Pretty look.
- Good for beginners.
Cons
- Edges of the fret bars are a bit sharp.
- Fret board appears slightly sloppy.
This ukulele provides a very smooth experience for beginners as it has soft fingerboard with markings. It is also very comfortable to play for a long time and comes in a wide range of beautiful colors.
4. Luna Vintage Mahogany Soprano Ukulele
Luna was founded by prominent stained-glass artist, Yvonne de Villiers, who was inspired by her bass playing mother to make instruments that would have a unique design.
Since then, they had manufactured many quality instruments including guitars and ukuleles.
This ukulele is a part of the Luna Vintage Series. It comes into gorgeous colors: Black Satin and Red Satin. Featuring a Mahogany top and body, it produces warm and lush tone.
It is great for both beginners and more advanced players alike. Being compact and small makes it perfect for travel.
It also features cute triangle inlays and a laser-etched rosette around the sound hole which makes it look vibrant.
It also has fret markers on the 3rd fret on front, which makes it convenient.
However, the 3rd and 4th strings are slightly odd, but you can easily restring according to your preferences.
The strings will stay in tune if you play it for a long time.
Pros
- Good quality construction.
- Easy to tune.
- Great sound quality.
- Gorgeous look.
Cons
- Slightly sharp frets.
This ukulele has a vintage look and provides a warm and lush tone. It is great for travelers because of its small and compact size and strong body.
5. Kala KA-15S Soprano Ukulele
This ukulele features a traditional body made of mahogany and has the perfect classic look. It has quality gear tuners that helps to keep the ukulele in tune.
The look is completed by sophisticated satin finish. It is very sturdy and durable featuring ebony construction.
It produces very loud sound compared to its size. It feels so similar to its big brother, the guitar.
It has low action and really easy playability. The tone is so pleasing to hear that you won’t want to put it down.
However, the strings may go out of tune in the beginning, which is a common problem with most nylon strings and is temporary.
It gets stable within a few days to weeks. It best for people with small fingers or hands.
Pros
- Loud sound.
- Great intonation.
- Easy to play.
Cons
- Sharp frets.
This ukulele packs all the best features at a very affordable price. A body made of a resilient wood and stylish look with great sound quality makes this instrument a stunner!
6. Luna High Tide Koa Acoustic Electric Soprano Ukulele
This gorgeous ukulele belongs to Luna’s “High Tide series” which produces premier range of ukuleles. It sounds as beautiful as it looks.
No wonder it was played by celebrities like Tyler Joseph of Twenty-One Pilots.
According to the company, the inspiration for this instrument is taken from the full moon.
It features excellent craftsmanship which put attention to every intricate detail. Its body is made of exotic tropical hardwood which makes it strong and durable.
Neck is made of mahogany while the bridge and fretboard are made of walnut which makes them sustain for longer and deliver clear tone.
Sound hole is framed by an abalone ring. It stays in tune because of the gorgeous open-style pearloid tuners.
It is equipped with an on-board amp too to make sure you can easily dial in to get some amplification.
Pros
- Pearloid open gear tuners.
- Beautiful workmanship.
- High quality preamp and pickup.
- Great sound quality.
Cons
- Intonation.
This ukulele has been preferred by some well-known artists because of its great features. It stays in tune pretty well and also has an onboard amp which can help you to amplify your tone easily.
7. Martin Smith 712 Soprano Ukulele
This Ukulele has been produced after many years of testing to put together all the qualities that is required by the professionals.
It is made with sapele which provides a lower and middle end similar to mahogany with extra definition at the higher end.
It comes with Aquila strings which is made in Italy and made from Nylgut. These strings are known to stay in tune for longer and create a very warm and full sound.
The unique cutaway design makes it very convenient for use.
It also comes with extra strings, a padded case, tuner, strap and more.
This is one of the best ukuleles at lower price range. The strings may need more time to stretch and set itself
It is really comfortable to play with straight neck and well-functioning gear tuners. The action is great too.
The fret board is made of basswood and so is the neck and body.
Pros
- Comfortable to play.
- Neck straight.
- Well-functioning geared tuners.
- Stylish look and design.
Cons
- Built quality is not good enough.
This ukulele stays in tune for a long time and comes with great hear tuners and great action. It is also really comfortable to play since the fret boards are made of basswood.
8. Cordoba U100SM Soprano Ukulele
This one is great for all ukulele lovers and features a mahogany top, back and sides.
It has a beautiful natural satin finish with them an abalone style rosette.
This one too contains the strings which are present in any good ukulele, that’s the Aquila strings made of nylgut which producers crisp and loud sound.
The tuners can be easily used to adjust the tone according to your needs. It has great action for the price.
It is small and compact and it’s really comfortable to play.
However, you can get a more efficient tuner for optimum performance.
You wouldn’t want to put it down once you start playing it.
The gig bag which comes with it, is decent with enough padding, but you may want to buy a harder box for better protection.
Overall, it’s a great choice for the price.
Pros
- Good for beginners.
- Nice sound quality.
Cons
- Sharp frets.
- Quality of strings.
This one is great for anyone who likes to have a new twist into a classic thing. It is perfect for both beginners and experienced musicians.
9. Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele
The look of this beautiful ukulele from Fender is inspired by the unique and beautiful sights of the city of Venice.
It is really comfortable, and has great action. It is small in size so that you can easily carry it anywhere you want from tropical forest and beaches to the studio room.
It features a C-shaped neck profile which is really slim and comfortable to hold.
Another great feature about this is that it has a no-tie bridge which makes it really easy to change strings.
The headstock features the iconic telecaster style which is unique to Fender. This is the perfect instrument for travelers.
The body is made of laminated wood. It stays in tune really well.
However, this doesn’t come with any other accessories which can be a plus because sometimes kits have certain accessories which you may not need but still you have to pay for them as they’re a part of the kit.
It also may not stay in tune for a long time but it can be a decent choice for beginners as it produces good sound.
Pros
- Amazing sound quality.
- Gorgeous color.
Cons
- Needs to be retuned too often.
It is a perfect choice for beginners or those who want to taste the waters without breaking the bank. It produces amazing sound.
The type of wood used to make the ukulele makes a huge difference to its sound. While those made of mahogany produces softer sounds, the ones made of koa will produce loud and sharp sound. Rosewood is preferred for making fingerboard. If you want a long-lasting ukulele then go for the ones made of solid wood but if you want something cheaper then laminated wood could be a good option. Before buying a ukulele consider for whom you’re buying. If you’re getting one for a beginner or a child, you might get a cheaper one while an experienced musician would like a professional one. The color and looks are also important. Children would love bright colors while some adults may prefer a traditional look.
