The 15 Best Concert Ukuleles

New to ukuleles or thinking about an upgrade? We’re here to help with a guide to the five best concert ukuleles on the market right now.

Compared with other ukulele sizes, concert ukes are larger than soprano ukuleles and smaller than tenors. They have a clear, bright island sound, and they typically have more room between frets so players with larger hands find it easier to hit all the right notes.

While the concert ukulele isn’t the smallest you’ll find, it is still sized for easy portability. The strings are arranged exactly like those on a soprano or tenor uke, so if you started out with a different size or are thinking about transitioning later, you’ll be able to play all the same songs.

Quick Links: Our Top 5 Picks For the 5 Best Concert Ukuleles

1. Romero Creations ST Concert Daniel Ho Signature Ukulele & Case
2. Ohana CK-35CG-CL Cynthia Lin Concert Ukulele
3. KoAloha Hukalele by Pops KoAloha
4. UkeSA PAUS-CL Long Neck Concert Ukulele
5. KoAloha KoAlana Trembesi Concert Ukulele

Top Picks Explained

Now that you know a little bit about the concert ukulele and why it’s such a popular choice with musicians everywhere, let’s take a look at some things to consider when deciding which concert ukulele is best for your needs.

Romero Creations ST Concert Daniel Ho Signature Ukulele & Case

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Want something completely unique? Here it is: Designed by none other than world-class luthier Pepe Romero, this Daniel Ho ST Concert ukulele combines the comfortable, convenient scale of a concert ukulele with the body of a tenor, so you get plenty of warmth and depth. Meanwhile, it’s got the length of a soprano, which enhances portability.

Master the ukulele in 30 or less at ukelikethepros.com, Guaranteed!

We know… It’s pretty confusing (not to mention absolutely ingenious!) You’ve got to see this ukulele for yourself. When you do, you’ll understand why it recently made it onto Terry’s personal top 5 concert ukuleles list!

Ohana CK-35CG-CL Cynthia Lin Concert Ukulele with Cutaway “Aloha”

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SPECS:

• Top: Solid Mahogany
• Back: Solid Mahogany
• Sides: Solid Mahogany
• Headstock: Cynthia Lin signature
• Sound-hole: Rosette in black/ white/ black
• Finish: Gloss
• Body: Cutaway
• Body Binding: Wood w/ white/ black purfling
• Neck: Mahogany
• Finish: Gloss
• Frets: 14 to body; 19 total
• Fretboard: Hardwood; Pearloid Side Markers on Frets # 5, 7, 10 & 12
• Scale Length: 15 Inches
• Nut Width: 1 3/8 Inches
• Headstock: Mahogany
• Tuners: Grover open geared
• Strings: Aquila
• Nut & Saddle: Bone

Ohana means family and with this concert ukulele, Ohana honored Cynthia Lin, a treasured member of the ukulele family. In case you’ve never heard of Cynthia Lin, here’s a quick intro: She’s a singer/songwriter and creator one of YouTube’s most popular ukulele channels. Drop by when you get a chance! As expected, this beautiful Ohana ukulele is outstanding. Let’s take a look.

The Ohana Cynthia Lin concert ukulele is crafted of solid mahogany. It has a contrasting black and white rosette surrounding the sound hole, plus black and white purfling on the wood binding. Perloid side fret markers are located at frets 5, 7, 10, and 12, plus the 12^th fret is embellished with Cynthia Lin’s hibiscus logo. Her signature is displayed on the headstock.

Sound-wise, this ukulele exceeds expectations, particularly for this price point. The cutaway body lets you access the entire fretboard and potentially expanding your repertoire while making the most of your talent.

KoAloha Hukalele by Pops KoAloha (One of a Kind!)

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Specifications:

• Solid Spruce Top
• Premium Hawaiian Koa Sides and Back
• Concert Body with Tenor Length Neck (Longneck Concert)
• Mahogany Neck
• Macassar Ebony Fretboard and Bridge
• Birdseye Maple Fret Markers
• Fish Hook Pyrography by Dino Muradian
• TUSQ Nut and Saddle
• Signature Pops 5-point Headstock (NEW)
• 17-Fret Fretboard joined at the 13th Fret

One look and he was in love. Terry saw this one of a kind KoAloha hukulele before Pops KoAloha (Alvin Okami) was even finished making it. And by the time Dino Muradian was done creating the stunning handmade pyrography artwork on the front, he couldn’t resist any longer.

We’re a little surprised that Terry is letting this one go. As he says, “ I have played hundreds of the finest instruments made by some of the best builders and I can tell you that this is the most unique sounding, in a good way, ukuleles you will ever have the pleasure of playing. The sound is live and explodes off the spruce soundboard with incredible sustain and resonance.”

Just take a listen, even if it’s out of your current price range. Everyone needs to see and hear this masterpiece.

UkeSA PAUS-CL Long Neck Concert Ukulele Acacia “Maui Special”

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Here’s another standout, easily one of the best (and most unique) concert ukuleles we’ve had the pleasure of playing!

Designed by none other than the famous Pops KoAloha (Alvin Okami), this Pineapple Sunday long neck concert ukulele is made with acacia wood. It’s a big step down in price from the koa wood version, but thanks to similarities between acacia and koa, it offers plenty of warmth and richness.

Take a close look at the top and you’ll see that it’s got a double-lined diamond pattern that pays homage to everyone’s favorite Hawaiian fruit. There are maple wood pineapple eyes fret markers, plus there’s a pineapple Sunday logo inlay in the headstock, nicely embellished with yellow and green dye. The same pineapple Sunday logo is on the ukulele’s friction tuners, adding even more whimsy to this eye-catching design.

Fun to play? Absolutely – and it gets a ton of attention wherever it goes. This ukulele is protected by a semi-gloss finish that helps every little detail stand out, and let’s not forget about the long neck, which helps you make the most of this incredible instrument. Just in case you’re curious, the long neck concert ukulele has a concert-size body and a tenor-length neck, so you get the best of both worlds.

Terry’s demo is well worth a listen! We hope you like the sound of this ukulele as much as we do.

KoAloha KoAlana Trembesi Concert Ukulele

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FEATURES:

• Concert Scale Length 15 Inches
• Trembesi Top, Back, and Sides (Laminate)
• Solid Nato Neck
• Black ABS Binding On Body & Neck
• Merbau Torrified Fretboard & Bridge
• Trembesi Headplate
• KoAloha 5-pointed Crown Headstock
• OZ Tenor Shape
• KoAloha’s Patented “Musubi” Soundhole
• PPS Nut and Saddle
• D’Addario Titanium Strings
• 4-Strings – Standard GCEA, Setup with High G
• New and Improved High gloss finish
• Made in Indonesia
• 2 Year KoAloha Limited Warranty

One of the best affordably priced concert ukuleles we’ve found, this model from KoAloha features beautiful trembesi wood construction. The wood has stunning light and dark tones that are beautifully highlighted by the clear gloss finish. Black ABS binding adds contrast to the body as well as to the nato wood neck.

KoAlana ukuleles offer lower pricing than the rest of the KoAloha line but they sound almost as good, with plenty of richness, vibrancy, and volume that’s not very easy to find in more affordably priced ukuleles.

This line offers the same KoAloha patented Musubi soundhole as the company’s pricier instruments. The fretboard and bridge are made with merbau, the strings are D’Addario Titanium, and the open tuners are by Grover. KoAloha’s signature 5-pointed crown headstock is a fantastic finishing touch.

Kala KA-C Concert Ukulele Mahogany “Wrangler” – Low Price Pick

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On a budget? Brand new to the ukulele and not sure if you’re planning to stick with it? We’ve tried more than our fair share of cheap ukuleles and while some of them are pretty good, most of them leave something to be desired.

Then there are the instruments that surprise us just a little. Of course we’ve come to expect great things from Kala, but the Kala KA-C concert ukulele managed to leave us just a little bit speechless with the combination of nice features, good sound, and super affordable pricing.

This is one of the best cheap concert ukuleles we’ve found, hands down. It all begins with the mahogany laminate, which offers a nice warm sound with a touch of sunny, cheerful ring. The satin finish looks fantastic – it’s not fancy, but it does bring out the wood’s natural beauty. Simple cream binding adds a touch of contrast, as does the walnut fingerboard. Aquila Super Nylgut strings are standard.

Be sure to listen to Terry’s demo. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, like we were.

Ohana PK 70G Pineapple Ukulele

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Looking for something different? Be sure to take a peek at this fantastic concert pineapple ukulele from Ohana. It gets its sweet, rich sound from a solid cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides. This lovely concert uke shines in the looks department, too: It is beautifully accented with abalone inlays. A padded hard shell case is included, so there’s no need to worry about how you’ll get it from one place to the next. Want to hear it? Just listen to Terry’s demo!

KoAloha KCO-10 Opio Concert Ukulele

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KoAloha’s Opio series offers a gorgeous, bright, beachy tone that’s sure to remind you of sunny days even when cloudy skies keep you indoors. This concert ukulele is hard to beat, particularly if you’re into traditional looks and solid, durable woods that will stand the test of time. Take a quick listen and you’ll see why this ukulele is one of Terry’s favorites in this category! A solid spruce top contributes to this concert uke’s warm, clear sound, and a solid acacia body lends the look of koa wood at a more affordable price point.

Kala Solid Flame Maple Cutaway Concert Ukulele

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Last but not least, take a look at this solid flame maple concert uke! This is a gorgeous little instrument – and it’s got a lot going for it. There’s no denying that the cutaway style looks incredibly cool – but that’s not all: It gives you easier access to the entire fretboard so you can expand your musical stylings and truly uke like the pros.

As always, you can count on Kala for reliability and stunning sound quality (take a listen!) Solid maple wood gives this ukulele beautiful clarity so even the simplest songs are a pleasure to play. Little details including a slotted headstock, contrasting purpleheart binding, and a clear finish add up to an instrument that’s as beautiful to look at as it is to listen to.

Additional Top Picks for Best Concert Ukuleles

Best of the Best	Best of the Best	Kala MK-C Concert Ukulele	Sweet, pleasant sound Accessories included Affordable	VIEW LATEST PRICE
		Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele	Warm, rich sound Handmade Mahogany top	VIEW LATEST PRICE
Best Affordable	Best Affordable	Lohanu Cutaway Electric Ukulele	Sapele/mahogany top Rosewood fingerboard Pre-installed strap buttons	VIEW LATEST PRICE
Best Affordable		Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Ukulele	Hawaiian Koa wood, Mustache style bridg Rich, deep tone	VIEW LATEST PRICE
		Kala KA-SCG Solid Spruce Mahogany Concert Ukulele	Solid wood components Nice extras including a bag and a tuner Beautiful design	VIEW LATEST PRICE

Kala MK-C Concert Ukulele

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The Kala MK-C concert ukulele features a mahogany top, back and sides with a nice satin finish that doesn’t pick up a lot of fingerprints. The neck is mahogany, and the fingerboard is walnut. The nut and saddle are plastic, however there aren’t a lot of complaints about them and they can easily be replaced. The strings are Aquila super nylgut, great right out of the package.

This ukulele offers a scale length of 14.875 inches; just a touch shorter than average. It has 18 frets and it measures 1.38 inches at the nut. This ukulele has a sweet, pleasant sound that’s as it should be. It comes as part of a kit that includes some nice extras like a gig bag, a tuner, and a neck strap. For beginners or those on a tight budget, this is one of the best concert ukuleles around.

Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele

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Cordoba has a great reputation for building quality instruments, and we’re happy to see that the Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele keeps the company’s standing high. This is a gorgeous ukulele with mahogany top, back, and sides, a pretty abalone-style rosette, ivoroid binding on the body and fingerboard, and pearl buttons on the silver tuners. Aquila Nylgut 7U strings are provided.

As anticipated, this ukulele offers a warm, rich sound that’s a pleasure to listen to. Its nut width is just over 1.37 inches and its scale length is 14.76 inches. This ukulele is handmade, with careful attention to all components and finishes.

Lohanu Cutaway Electric Ukulele

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If you’re looking for an acoustic electric concert ukulele and you like the idea of easily accessing all the frets on the fingerboard, then you’re probably going to like everything about this cutaway ukulele. The Lohanu electric cutaway ukulele features a sapele/mahogany top, back, and sides, a rosewood fingerboard, and handmade ABS bindings. The chrome diecast tuning machines add even more value, as do pre-installed strap buttons.

This lovely ukulele features built-in electronics including an onboard tuner. It is sold as part of a package that includes some useful extras such as a gig bag, an extra set of strings, and a neck strap. There are occasionally quality control issues with these instruments however Lohanu ukuleles come with a lifetime warranty and customer service is top notch.

Overall, this is one of the best concert ukuleles in its price range and a fun upgrade from a basic acoustic model. It delivers plenty of rich “Aloha” sound and there’s a lovely quality to its tone.

Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Ukulele

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A beautiful instrument from every angle! The Oscar Schmidt OU5 concert ukulele is made with select Hawaiian Koa wood, and offers a glossy finish, which is easily maintained using the accompanying polishing cloth. Grover chrome tuning machines add convenience. The nyatoh neck supports a contrasting rosewood fingerboard, and the mustache style bridge is also made with rosewood. An abalone rosette and abalone binding add to this uke’s visual appeal.

This ukulele offers a 15 inch scale length and 16 frets. The nut and saddle are made with durable ABS. The Oscar Schmidt OU5 nut width is 1 7/16 inches. This ukulele offers a rich, deep tone with plenty of volume and all the sweetness you’ve come to expect from a quality concert uke. Overall, this is one of the best concert ukuleles available in the mid-range department, and it’s one of the prettiest at this level as well.

Kala KA-SCG Solid Spruce Mahogany Concert Ukulele

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Wow! It’s always amazing to find a great price on a ukulele with solid wood components. The Kala KA-SCG features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, along with a mahogany neck. The black binding is simple but offers some pleasing visual contrast. The walnut fingerboard and bridge look and feel fantastic.

This ukulele features chrome tuners. The nut and saddle are made with Graph Tech NuBone. There are 18 frets on the neck, and the scale length comes in at 14.875 inches. The nut width is 1.39 inches, just a touch wider than average. Thanks to the spruce top, this ukulele sounds a touch brighter than average. It’s a beautiful option and it comes with some nice extras including a bag, a tuner, and more.

Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Concert Ukulele

As with all other instruments, quality is the number one consideration when choosing a concert ukulele. We’d like to mention up front that this guide intentionally omits high-end and custom ukuleles from the lineup.

These are clearly superior and if your budget has room for one, you should definitely make the investment. There’s nothing like a custom ukulele made just for you.

Many of the best concert ukuleles available in music stores and online fall right in the middle of the scale.

These are the ones we’re focusing on and the competition is intense! We had to do a lot of comparing to come up with our choices and not everyone will agree since many factors are a matter of personal preference.

Again, choose the instrument that’s right for you. If it’s one of our choices, we’re glad that we were able to help! If not, we’re thrilled that you found the best concert ukulele for your needs. After all, you are the one who’s going to be playing it.

At the end of the day, make quality your main consideration and you won’t go wrong. Look for overarching themes as you check into reviews, as there are some definite “duds” out there. Let’s take a look at some other things to keep in mind.

Sound

When choosing a concert ukulele, be sure that you like the way it sounds. The best way to do this is to either visit your local music shop and try ukuleles until you find one you like, or create a shortlist of ukes available online and see if you can find clips of those ukuleles being played.

Most manufacturers add videos to their websites and there are tons of great clips on YouTube and similar sites.

Action / Setup

String action impacts your playing experience. High action means you expend more effort, while low action means that it takes less effort to press the strings. There’s more to the story, though.

High action reduces the odds of strings buzzing against frets, so many manufacturers intentionally set the action a bit on the high side so that most players will be able to produce a pleasant sound right away. Action is adjustable so don’t let it be the final deciding factor.

The strings themselves have a major impact on the way your ukulele sounds. Don’t worry if you find a ukulele that you like but you aren’t particularly impressed with the strings. These are cheap and easy to change.

If you visit a luthier, they’ll be able to do this for you and in most cases, they can adjust the nut and/or saddle, or perhaps even replace these parts with better ones. As your skills develop, you may even wish to learn how to set up a ukulele on your own.

Playability

Playability refers to how easy it is to play the instrument once it has been set up. We’re rigorous in this regard, looking for faults like rough edges, weird sticky finishes, and other factors that tend to take some of the joy out of playing.

The good news is that even the cheapest ukuleles can often be rendered playable with a little bit of TLC and some upgraded components.

Get a better one if you can afford it and you’ll enjoy your playing experience a whole lot more.

Type of Materials Used

Once upon a time, most ukuleles were made with Hawaiian koa wood. These days, acacia, mahogany, cedar, spruce, and other woods are more common.

You’ll find a few great solid wood concert ukuleles on the market, but these tend to come at a premium. Laminates are more common, and they have the added advantage of durability.

Our advice here is to get something you like, that suits your budget. If you’ve been playing for a while now and you love the idea of owning a real koa wood ukulele, then you should invest in one!

Be sure to check out the rest of the instrument. The neck should be made with a nice hard wood like mahogany, and the fingerboard and bridge ought to be a good tonewood like walnut or rosewood.

The tuners should be of good quality with no room for compromise. The frets can be filed if they’re a little bit rough, but they need to be straight and level. Decorative components like shell inlays, beautiful binding, and special finishes are nice to have, but not necessary.

Overall Quality

Many mass-produced concert ukuleles are of decent quality, and they’re easy to improve by replacing bad strings with good ones and adjusting the setup to suit the player’s needs.

In case your budget isn’t quite ready for one of the best concert ukuleles on the market, you can weed out the really bad ones by checking for major issues that seem to recur from one customer review to the next. Bad fret positioning, a faulty bridge, split wood, and warped neck are a few things to be on the lookout for.

If you’re buying your ukulele at a music store, you shouldn’t have to look for defects; brick and mortar shops protect their reputations fiercely and most will only carry good products. If you’re buying online, be sure to check reviews and look for a warranty if you’re on the fence about anything. Even if you’re opting for a cheap concert ukulele, you’re not saving any money if it’s not something you enjoy playing.

Scale Length

Concert ukulele scale length is usually 15 inches. The scale length might vary a bit from one brand to the next, however don’t let this concern you as it’s a matter of preference rather than an indicator of quality.

Nut Width

Most of the time, concert ukulele nut width is between 1.38” and 1.5” the wider the nut, the wider the neck, and the more room for your fingertips between the strings. This isn’t a huge concern for most players although larger-statured people with big hands often find that a wider nut makes for easier accuracy. Some manufacturers don’t mention nut width, so you might want to move on to the next brand if you’re concerned about this factor.

Whether you’re hoping to relax and play some mellow tunes or if you’re hoping to take to the stage at some point, a quality ukulele is always the best choice. Not only does it sound great, it feels fantastic in your hands – you might even feel like it’s hard to put down! Unless you’re going with a custom instrument, you’ll find that the best concert ukuleles are quite affordable. Like us, you might not be able to stop at one!