Category: Amazon Best Sellers

Tattoo Acoustic-Electric Cutaway

1,488 Reviews

Luna Tattoo Spruce Top

1,488 Reviews

Luna Tattoo Tenor Mahogany

191 Reviews

UKSS-3 Solid Spruce Top Tenor

Build Quality & Materials

The Luna ukulele I purchased for this review is nicely crafted, with no obvious flaws or defects. The joints and seams were all tight, and the craftsmanship was clean and crisp. Given the price, I couldn’t find anything to complain about.

It’s nice and light, which is a quality I look for in any ukulele. In the world of acoustic instruments, light is good because it means there’s less resistance to vibration when you pluck the strings. The result is a more resonant, lively instrument with a better tone.

Woods

The top, back, and sides of this Luna concert ukulele are laminated mahogany. As I’ve mentioned in other ukulele reviews, I don’t think laminated wood has an impact on the tone in the way that solid wood does. In my opinion, laminated mahogany sounds very similar to laminated Sapele, laminated koa, and so on.

The fingerboard and bridge are walnut, which is a durable hardwood that I’ve now seen on several high-end instruments.

Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele

1,488 Reviews

$99.00

Check Current Price

Nut & Saddle

On Luna’s webpage for the Tattoo ukulele, they state the nut and saddle are graphite. It looks and feels just like TUSQ, which is a manmade material designed to simulate the properties of bone.

I can’t tell for sure what the nut and saddle are made from, but it feels very hard and tough. It’s much better than the plastic parts often found on very cheap ukuleles.

Frets

No issues here. The frets on my Luna concert uke were smooth, level, and even. I didn’t have any fret ends sticking out, which can sometimes be a problem with budget ukes.

Luna Tattoo Design

This ukulele’s most unique design feature is the large tattoo pattern on the front.

The laser-engraved pattern is based on traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian tattoo styles. Apparently, it’s inspired by a Hawaiian turtle design, although to be honest I don’t really see it.

Still, I think it’s a cool design that is tastefully done. The pattern is subtle and doesn’t overpower the rest of the uke, which is fairly light on decorations.

The laser engraving is very crisp and looks surprisingly natural. When looking closely, you can see that the engraving process exposes the grain of the mahogany top, which I thought was kind of neat.

I did notice some random light flecks inside the laser-engraved areas. It wasn’t too obvious and didn’t bother me, but I still wanted to point it out.

Tone

Tonally, my Luna Tattoo is very open, airy, and sweet. It has great volume and lots of sustain. Overall I’m really happy with the way this ukulele sounds, especially considering the price tag.

It has a nice, rich low end, but the trebles are also very strong. The treble register is often the weak point of a budget ukulele’s tone due to the laminated wood construction.

Thankfully, this uke doesn’t suffer as much from that issue. I think this is partly due to its slightly oversized concert body. I checked it against a Lohanu LU-C concert ukulele I own, and the Luna was slightly bigger all around.

Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele

1,488 Reviews

$99.00

Check Current Price

I actually thought the Luna Tattoo I ordered was a tenor when I unpacked it, but it’s clearly designated as a concert size uke on Luna’s website.

Playability

My Luna Tattoo came with decent action (string height) from the factory and was easy to play without adjusting anything.

The neck was perfectly straight, and the frets were even and level. I didn’t detect any high or low spots that would cause buzzing and rattling.

About Action & Beginner Ukuleles

As is often the case with beginner ukuleles, I would have preferred for the action (string height) to be a little lower from the factory.

However, it’s important to have realistic expectations of an entry-level instrument like this Luna concert uke.

Some Variation Is Normal

As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, entry-level ukuleles usually have some variation in string height. If you order a Luna uke, it’s possible your action will be slightly higher or lower than mine.

A bit of variance is normal for instruments in this price range. However, if you receive a uke that feels unusually high or low, you should contact the seller with your concerns.

Tuners

The tuners were good, but not great. The tuning action was a little gritty, and a couple of the tuners had small tight spots.

Many of the other entry ukuleles I’ve played and reviewed had far better tuners than the ones that came on my Luna.

Still, they got the job done, and I don’t anticipate them having any major issues. One nice thing was that they didn’t have too much slack before the gears engage, which is something that drives me nuts.

Gig Bag

The included gig bag is just OK. It’s pretty thin and has minimal no padding.

Compared to the awesome bag that came with the Hricane UKS-3 I just reviewed, the Luna’s bag seems cheap and flimsy.

It’ll guard the uke against light scratches and dings, but if you want more serious protection, I’d consider investing in something more substantial.

Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele

1,488 Reviews

$99.00

Check Current Price

Accessories & Extras

This Luna concert ukulele doesn’t include any extras or accessories, which is a little disappointing. There are lots of great beginner ukes that cost less than the Luna but include a tuner, strap, and extra strings.

There are sellers on Amazon who package this model with a tuner and heavy-duty case, but these items aren’t standard from Luna.

Warranty & Customer Service

Luna offers a lifetime warranty on all of their instruments, which is a good thing on its face.

However, the warranty claim process looks it’s a bit of a hassle. From what I understand, you have to find an authorized Luna dealer then pay the shipping to and from Luna. This process will likely cost as more than what you paid for the uke in the first place, so it kind of defeats the point.

If you buy through Amazon, you’ll have the usual 30 days. After that I’m not sure what the support is like.

The truth is that mass-produced, entry-level instruments can have issues or can develop issues over time. The only way to guard against this is with a customer-focused warranty that doesn’t cost you anything if something goes wrong.

I still think it’s tough to beat Lohanu’s rock-solid warranty and insanely good customer service. To learn more, check out my full Lohanu ukulele review.

Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele

1,488 Reviews

$99.00

Check Current Price

Other Resources

Hricane Ukulele Review

In this Hricane ukulele review, I’ll be covering three of the company’s top models: the UKS-3 tenor, UKS-2 concert, and UKS-1 soprano.

Hricane UKS Series Ukulele

772 Reviews

$67.99

Check Current Price

Hricane’s ukes are some of the top-selling, best-rated ukuleles on Amazon. Do they live up to the hype? Read my full Hricane ukulele review to find out what I think.

A Few Quick Notes

This review is based on my impressions of Hricane’s tenor-sized UKS-3. The smaller UKS-2 (concert) and UKS-1 (soprano) are identical except for the body size, so most of my remarks should apply to these models as well
For this review, I purchased a brand new UKS-3 from Amazon using my own funds. The uke in the pictures is the actual instrument I received
This review is part of a series on Amazon’s top-selling ukuleles

Summary

772 Reviews

$67.99

Check Current Price

I think the Hricane UKS-3 is a well-built ukulele and a good value for the money.

The UKS-3 is a priced a little lower than other ukes in its class. However, its tone, playability, and build quality were on par with most of the other good starter ukes I’ve reviewed.

The included gig bag was one of the best I’ve seen in a budget ukulele package. However, the UKS-3 doesn’t include a clip-on tuner, which is really useful for beginning players. Luckily, you can get a great uke tuner for less than $10.

I think the UKS-3, UKS-2, and UKS-1 are all good candidates for people seeking a good entry-level ukulele

Oddly, the label on my UKS-3 reads UK-26, which I’m assuming is because it’s a 26-inch tenor ukulele. Similarly, the Hricane concert and soprano ukes are labeled UK-23 and UK-21.

Other Hricane Ukulele Models

Hricane offers a handful of other interesting ukuleles, such as a koa concert with faux-pearl inlay or a solid-spruce top model.

I haven’t played these models, but I thought they were worth highlighting.

Hricane Concert Ukulele 23 Inch Koa Professional Hawaiian Ukuleles for Beginners with Gig Bag Strings

Hricane Tenor Ukulele 26 inch Spruce Sapele Professional Ukuleles for Beginners with Ukulele Tenor Gig Bag Strings Set

Ukelele Hricane Concert Ukulele 23inch Professional Mahogany Ukele Hawaiian Uke UKM-2 Pack with Gig Bag

UKK-2 Koa Concert

UKM-2 Mahogany w/ No Binding

UKSS-3 Solid Spruce Top Tenor

18 Reviews

UKM-2 Mahogany w/ No Binding

672 Reviews

Build Quality & Materials

The Hricane UKS-3 I received is very nicely built. Lines are sharp and clean, and all joints are tight and solid. Nice fit and finish, especially at this price. Overall I’m impressed with the build quality and can’t find anything worth complaining about.

This uke is also nice and light, and that’s a good thing. A light instrument provides less resistance to vibration when the strings are plucked, and more vibration results in a bigger, richer tone.

Wood

The UKS-3 has a laminated Sapele top, back, and sides. Sapele is similar to mahogany, but since this is a laminated ukulele, the “tonewood” used doesn’t affect the tone (in my opinion).

The fingerboard and bridge are walnut, which is a nice-looking hardwood that I’m starting to see on more high-end instruments.

Nut & Saddle

I was surprised to discover that the UKS-3 has a bone nut and saddle. Bone is a material you usually only find on more expensive instruments. Some people feel that bone is the best material for these parts due to its hardness and density.

Many good-quality ukes in this price range use Tusq, which is a synthetic bone-like material. I can’t tell the difference between real bone and Tusq. They both sound fine to me, and either material is much better than the soft plastic nuts and saddles found on very cheap ukes.

Hricane UKS Series Ukulele

772 Reviews

$67.99

Check Current Price

Binding

The body has black-and-white plastic binding on the top and back. Many ukes in this price range don’t have any binding at all, so it was a nice feature to have.

The quality of binding work on budget ukes can be rough, but the Hricane’s binding was crisp, even, and smooth.

In addition to protecting the edges of the body from nicks and dings, binding helps the uke “pop” a little more by visually defining the edges.

Finish & Decoration

The UKS series of Hricane ukuleles have a light satin finish. I think it looks great and feels nice during play. I prefer this style of finish to the thick, plasticky finishes on some other entry-level ukes, which I feel look cheap and deaden the tone.

A laser-engraved rosette and headstock logo are the only real decorations on this uke. The laser work is nice and sharp, and it adds a little flair to the ukulele without bumping up the cost. However, I kind of wish Hricane used a simpler rosette pattern–but that’s just a personal opinion!

Tone

I really like the tone of my UKS-3. It’s warm, sweet, and had good sustain. Overall I’m really happy with the way it sounds.

Since I was playing on a tenor size, I got plenty of volume. The smaller concert and soprano body sizes won’t project as much.

The uke has a nice low end, but it gets a little thin on really high notes. Of course, this is pretty standard for a laminated ukulele. Nearly all of the laminated ukes I’ve played are a bit weak in the higher registers, so I can’t hold it against the UKS-3.

For the money, I think this is a great-sounding ukulele. Of course, it’s not going to sound as rich and full as a high-end solid wood ukulele from builders like Kamaka or Martin. But, at this price point, I think it’s very good.

Hricane UKS Series Ukulele

772 Reviews

$67.99

Check Current Price

Playability

My Hricane uke plays well and had reasonably low action (string height) right out of the box. The neck was straight and I didn’t detect any buzzes or rattles as I played up and down the neck.

I might have preferred slightly lower action from the factory. Still, I don’t think most players would have any major issues with the string height.

Variation in Entry-Level Instruments

As I’ve mentioned in other reviews of beginner ukuleles, instruments in the entry-level price range usually have some variation in string height. If you order a UKS-3, it’s possible your uke’s action will be slightly higher or lower than the one I got.

A bit of variance is normal for instruments in this price range. However, if you receive a uke that seems unusually high or low, you should definitely contact the seller with your concerns.

The Importance of Action

In the world of acoustic instruments, “action” simply refers to how high the strings are in relation to the fingerboard.

Ukuleles with very high action are harder to play but less likely to have string buzz. Ukuleles with very low action are easier to play but more prone to buzzing.

Building an affordable instrument with comfortable action that doesn’t buzz is actually quite difficult. It requires tight manufacturing tolerances and is complicated by the fact that wood doesn’t behave like metal or plastic.

Hricane UKS Series Ukulele

772 Reviews

$67.99

Check Current Price

Tuners

The UKS-3 has closed gear tuners with a subtle gold finish. The plastic buttons had a nice satiny look with what felt like a rubberized coating.

I’m a fan of the tuners on this ukulele. They were very responsive with a smooth, tight feel that made tuning a breeze. The buttons were easy to grip and comfortable to use.

Tuners are often a weak point on budget-priced ukuleles. Many manufacturers cheap out on the tuners, resulting in tuning machines that feel loose and sloppy, with a bit of “play” before the gears start to engage. These tuners are often poorly machined and have a rough, gritty feel that makes them unpleasant to use.

Fortunately, the Hricane UKS-3 doesn’t have any of these issues. I think these are some of the better tuners I’ve seen on a budget-priced ukulele.

Gig Bag

I was impressed with the gig bag that came with the UKS-3’s is impressive. It’s well made and seems very tough. I think it’s the best bag of all the beginner uke packages I’ve reviewed so far.

The bag’s outer fabric is a heavy woven Cordura-type fabric. It’s similar to what you might find on a nice backpack.

The padding is thick and dense. It’s very heavy duty and will easily protect the uke from most minor impacts.

Other things I liked:

Zippers big and smooth
Good-sized pocked
Heavily-stitched handle with good reinforcement

Hricane UKS Series Ukulele

772 Reviews

$67.99

Check Current Price

Accessories & Extras

The Hricane UKS-3 I purchased included an extra set of strings and a cleaning cloth. Some users mentioned that they received a capo as well, but mine didn’t have one. Not a big deal for me, since I rarely use a capo.

Unlike many other beginner ukulele packages, it doesn’t include a tuner, picks, or strap. A tuner is nice to have, so I’d recommend purchasing a good clip-on tuner to go along with this uke (or use a free/cheap app on your phone).

I didn’t care about the picks or strap since I don’t use either.

Some might be put off by the UKS-3’s lack of extras, but to be fair this uke is cheaper than many other similar uke packages I’ve reviewed.

Warranty & Customer Service

Hricane offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty against defects in materials and craftsmanship.

This isn’t as good as Lohanu’s unconditional lifetime guarantee, but it’s better than some manufacturers who only offer a 30-day warranty.

Customers who needed help seemed happy with Hricane’s customer service. In the few instances I could find where reviewers had to interact with customer service, they reported that Hricane was responsive and quickly resolved the issue.

Other Resources

Donner Ukulele Review

In this review, I’ll be looking at Donner’s top-selling ukuleles: the DUS-1 soprano, DUC-1 concert, and DUT-1 tenor.

These models are among the most affordable and highest-rated ukuleles for sale on Amazon. I was anxious to try one myself and see if I agreed with everybody else!

Donner Ukulele

8,713 Reviews

$55.99

Check Current Price

A Few Quick Notes

This article is based on my impressions of concert-sized DUC-1, but most of the information will apply to the DUT-1 tenor and DUS-1 soprano.
For this review, I purchased a new DUC-1 concert model using my own funds. The ukulele in the photos is the actual uke I purchased directly from Amazon
This post is part of a series on Amazon’s top-selling ukuleles

Summary

8,713 Reviews

$55.99

Check Current Price

The Donner DU-1 series are surprisingly good ukuleles for the price. I honestly wasn’t expecting this level of craftsmanship, playability, and tone from a mass-produced budget uke.

Based on my experience with the DUC-1, I think this brand’s glowing customer reviews are accurate and reflect the high quality of the instrument. This is definitely a brand to put on your short list when shopping for a good beginner ukulele.

Current prices and Amazon customer reviews are shown below. If you purchase through one of these links I earn a small commission.

Donner Soprano Ukulele Beginner Kit Mahogany Professional 21 inch Ukelele Online Lesson Gig Bag Strap Nylon String Tuner Picks Cloth DUS-1 Ukele Ukalalee Set

Donner Concert Ukulele Mahogany 23 Inch Ukelele Starter Bundle Kit with Free Online Lesson Gig Bag Strap Nylon String Tuner Picks Cloth DUC-1 Professional Ukalalee Yukalalee

Donner Tenor Ukulele Mahogany Professional 26 inch Ukelele Starter Bundle Kit with Free Online Lesson Gig Bag Strap Nylon String Tuner Picks Cloth DUT-1 Ukele Ukalalee Set

5,298 Reviews

8,713 Reviews

8,712 Reviews

What I Liked

Simple, no-frills design
Tight construction with excellent fit and finish
Decent accessories
Loud, full tone

Possible Drawbacks

The fluorocarbon strings that came on the uke sound good, but I prefer Aquila Nylgut strings. This is just a personal preference–your mileage may vary!
The see-through tuning machines work well but the tiny “window” on one of my tuners fell out after lugging the uke around for a couple days. Not a problem functionally (many ukes have open-geared tuners) but still noticeable

Build Quality

The construction on my DUC-1 is tight and clean. Attention to detail is excellent. For the price, I’m genuinely impressed with the fit and finish on this uke.

The instrument is also very light, and in the world of acoustic instruments that’s a good thing. Lower quality ukes are often heavily built, and this often results in a thin, lifeless tone. A lighter build allows the ukulele to resonate more freely, which leads to a bigger, warmer tone.

Some highlights:

I’m a fan of Donner’s minimal, no-frills design, including the unbound body and fingerboard (no white strips on the edges)
The wooden rosette features a design similar to the “rope” pattern found on many traditional Hawaiian ukuleles. I thought this was a nice touch.
The uke has strap buttons already installed. A lot of people don’t use a strap so it’s not a huge deal, but it’s nice to have the option if you ever want to try using a strap
The top is X-braced, which is typically only found on higher-end ukes from Martin, Kamaka, etc. I’m not sure how much it helps improve the tone, but it was a neat little touch and I thought it was worth mentioning
The nut looks like TUSQ (a synthetic material) and I think the saddle is bone. These materials are harder and denser than the soft plastic pieces used on many budget ukes, and they improve tone by transferring more of the string’s vibrational energy into the body of the uke

Tone

I really like the way my Donner uke sounds. It has a loud, full tone with a nice low end. Great projection for a concert. Sounds good strummed and when playing fingerstyle.

It loses a little warmth as you move up the neck, but that’s normal for a uke made from laminated wood.

As you may know, the size of a uke also impacts the tone. The soprano-sized DUS-1 will be a little more bright and treble-focused, while the tenor-size DUT-1 will have more bass and volume.

I think this uke would sound even better in low-G tuning, so that’s my plan for this one after I finish the review.

Donner Ukulele

8,713 Reviews

$55.99

Check Current Price

Playability

Very comfortable to play right out of the box. Action (string height) is nice and low. On budget ukes I often find I need to adjust the action, but I don’t think I’ll need to tweak my DUC-1.

Notes ring out clearly up and down the neck. No high frets or buzzing.

Gig Bag

The gig bag isn’t very heavy duty, but it’s more than I’d expect from uke at this price point.

It seems well made and has enough padding to protect the uke during light use. The shoulder straps and large pocket are nice touches.

It’s a perfect bag for day-to-day stuff, but I’d recommend a hard case or heavier bag for major travel.

Accessories & Extras

All Donner ukuleles include a few accessories. They’re not top-tier products, but they work and are nice extras considering the price.

The strap is lightweight but reasonably good quality. It attaches securely to the strap buttons.
An extra set of strings are always good to have
The clip-on tuner works well and is easy to operate. I only need the chromatic mode not all the other options (banjo, violin, bass) but that’s a minor complaint.
The plastic guitar picks are a little silly since almost nobody uses this kind of pick on a uke. A felt pick would have made more sense, but most people just use their fingers (which is what I suggest doing).

My Donner uke came in a nice, heavy-duty cardboard box and the accessories were individually packed in little Donner-branded boxes. The overall presentation was nicely done and I think might make Donner’s ukes a bit more “giftable” than some other brands.

Donner Ukulele

8,713 Reviews

$55.99

Check Current Price

Customer Service & Warranty

Donner offers a 30-day return policy. I couldn’t find anything about a warranty online or in the packaging.

It doesn’t look like many people had issues, but I’m not sure what would happen if you have a problem beyond 30 days.

So far, the best warranty I’ve come across on a beginner ukes is the Lohanu brand, which has an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Donner Ukulele Customer Reviews and Pricing

5,298 Reviews

8,713 Reviews

8,712 Reviews

Lohanu Ukulele Review

In this review, I’ll be taking a look at Lohanu’s three top models: the LU-T tenor, LU-C concert, and LU-S soprano.

Lohanu makes some of the best-selling, best-rated ukuleles on Amazon, but do they live up to the hype?

Lohanu LU-T Tenor

7,809 Reviews

$79.97

Check Current Price

Lohanu LU-C Concert

7,810 Reviews

$74.97

Check Current Price

Lohanu LU-S Soprano

7,810 Reviews

$69.97

Check Current Price

A few quick notes:

This review is based on my impressions of the tenor-sized LU-T, but most of the information should apply to the smaller LU-C (concert) and LU-S (soprano) sizes
I purchased a new LU-T for this review on Amazon using my own funds. The ukulele in the pictures is the actual instrument I received
This review is part of a series on Amazon’s top-selling ukuleles

Lohanu Ukulele Review Summary

7,809 Reviews

$79.97

Check Current Price

My tenor-sized Lohanu LU-T is a nicely built ukulele that plays well and sounds great. After spending some time the uke, I feel it’s a very good value and for the most part deserves its place as one of the top-ranked ukes for sale on Amazon.

Based on my hands-on impressions and the reviews of other customers, I think most players would be satisfied with a Lohanu. The good quality and low price point make it ideal for beginners who want a nice starter uke or seasoned players in search of a good backup or travel instrument.

What I Like

Fit and finish are great
Playability is good right out of the box
Sounds nice
Lifetime warranty and responsive, Canada-based customer service

Potential Drawbacks

Gig bag is just OK
Included plastic picks are pointless

Build Quality

The LU-T’s construction is tight and clean. Fit, finish, and attention to detail are shockingly good considering the price of the uke. The uke’s light satin finish is evenly applied, and looks/feels great. I couldn’t find any glaring issues.

The quality of my Lohanu is much, much better than many of the super-cheap ukes I’ve tried over the years. It’s incredible what a difference an extra $50 can make!

My only minor gripe is that a couple of my tuning machines had “tight” spots where I could feel a bit of resistance as I tuned up the uke. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but still worth mentioning.

Some touches and features that jumped out at me:

Braceless arched back provides structural support while improving tone
The top, back, and neck are all bound, meaning they have a decorative white strip of material (probably plastic) running along the edges. This little feature gives the uke a bit more of a refined look and is something you don’t always see on ukes in this price range
Nut and saddle appear to be made out of TUSQ, a composite material that simulates bone. TUSQ is harder and denser than the cheap plastic pieces used on many budget ukes, and it transfers more of the string’s vibrational energy into the body of the uke for a better tone.
I liked the laser-engraved headstock logo and simple rosette. I also thought it was neat how the “label” inside the soundhole is actually a laser-engraved piece of wood.
Strap buttons come pre-installed. Many players don’t use a strap so this isn’t a huge deal, but if you ever decide to use a strap it’s nice to have strap buttons already in place.

Some Amazon reviewers have complained about minor construction issues or imperfections. While I understand their frustration, it’s not unusual for mass-produced ukuleles in the price range to have the occasional flaw or blemish.

Lohanu has a great customer service track record, so if you receive a ukulele with an issue just contact them and see what they can do. In the age of Amazon, smart companies will do everything they can to avoid those negative reviews!

Tone

I really like the sound of my Lohanu. It’s warm, sweet, and harp-like. I attribute this to its light, tight construction and minimal finish.

While it doesn’t have the rich, resonant voice of a $1,000+ solid koa ukulele, it’s not reasonable to expect that from a beginner ukulele. Considering the price, I have no complaints about how the LU-T sounds.

I’d guess that the smaller LU-C and LU-S models will have similar tonal qualities, but with a bit less bass and volume than the LU-T. Players looking for a ukulele with a brighter, more delicate tone may want to consider one of these smaller sizes.

If you want to learn more about uke sizes, I’ve written a whole article on the subject.

Lohanu LU Series Ukulele

7,809 Reviews

$79.97

Check Current Price

Playability

My Lohanu was comfortable to play right out of the box. The action (string height) was at a nice middle-of-the-road height, so it was easy to play without any fret buzz.

Frets were smooth and even. Notes rang out cleanly up and down the neck.

At some point I’ll probably lower the action slightly at the nut by deepening the slots a bit, but that’s just a personal preference.

Gig Bag

All Lohanu ukuleles include a padded gig bag with a pocket and a single shoulder strap.

The bag is well made but has minimal padding. It’s certainly better than the wimpy fabric covers included with many cheaper ukes, but if you expect to do any major traveling you might want to invest in a heavy-duty bag or hard case).

Accessories & Extras

Lohanu’s ukuleles all come with a handful of accessories, including a strap, extra strings, a tuner, and some picks.

The strap is simple but well made. As I said before, many uke players don’t use a strap, but it’s still nice to have the option.
The extra set of Aquila Nylgut strings is a nice add-on because at some point you’ll need to change strings. I also think Aquilas are some of the best strings you can get. My one complaint is that the strings aren’t marked with tags or color coding, which might make things a little harder when it comes time to install them.
The digital clip-on tuner is easy to use and works well. A battery is included.
The plastic picks are a little silly since almost nobody uses this kind of pick on a ukulele. A felt pick would have made more sense, but most people just use their fingers (which is what I suggest doing).

Customer Service & Lifetime Warranty

As I mentioned earlier, Lohanu has an excellent record when it comes to customer service. The Canadian-based company seems legitimately committed to making every customer happy, especially in situations where a ukulele is shipped with problems or defects.

All Lohanu ukuleles have a lifetime warranty against issues related to craftsmanship and materials. There isn’t a whole lot that can go wrong with a basic uke in this price range, but it’s nice to know you’re protected if something were to happen down the road.

Lohanu Ukulele Customer Reviews and Pricing

Ukulele Soprano Size Bundle From Lohanu (LU-S) 2 Strap Pins Installed FREE Uke Strap Case Tuner Picks Hanger Aquila Strings Installed Free Video Lessons BEST UKULELE BUNDLE DEAL Purchase Today!

Ukulele Concert Size Bundle From Lohanu (LU-C) 2 Strap Pins Installed FREE Uke Strap Case Tuner Picks Hanger Aquila Strings Installed Free Video Lessons BEST UKULELE BUNDLE DEAL Purchase Today!

Ukulele Tenor Size Bundle From Lohanu (LU-T) 2 Strap Pins Installed FREE Uke Strap Case Tuner Picks Hanger Aquila Strings Installed Free Video Lessons BEST UKULELE BUNDLE DEAL Purchase Today!

Lohanu LU-S (Soprano)

Lohanu LU-C (Concert)

Lohanu LU-S (Soprano)

7,810 Reviews

KA-15S-S w/ Solid Spruce Top

Lohanu LU-C (Concert)

Kala KA-15S Review (2022 Edition)

Kala’s KA-15S soprano ukulele is one of the most popular budget ukuleles on the market. With over 2,000 5-star reviews on Amazon it’s a clear crowd favorite, but is it the right uke for you?

If you’re in a hurry, check out the review summary below. Otherwise, keep reading for my full review of the Kala KA-15S ukulele.

For this review, I purchased a brand new KA-15S online. My impressions are based on an “out of the box” uke with no tweaks or adjustments of any kind. All pictures are of the actual KA-15S I used for this review.

KA-15S Review Summary

4,286 Reviews

$65.00

Check Current Price

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the KA-15S, but after spending some time with it, I think this uke is a great overall value and a natural choice for any budget-conscious player.

The KA-15S is a well-made entry-level uke that looks good, sounds great, and is easy to play. It’s a good choice for beginners seeking a respectable starter uke, but it’s also a great option for seasoned players in search of an affordable second instrument.

The KA-15S is available in a handful of different styles, including the spruce-topped KA-15S-S and the Hawaiian-themed KA-15S-H1.

Kala KA-15S-S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele (Spruce Top)

Kala 15S Satin Mahogany Ukulele with Hawaiian Island Laser Etching (KA-15S-H1)

Kala KA-15S Soprano

KA-15S-H1 w/ Hawaii Engraving

KA-15S-S w/ Solid Spruce Top

4,350 Reviews

KA-15S-H1 w/ Hawaii Engraving

4,351 Reviews

Update: KA-15C and KA-15T Concert and Tenor Ukes

Due to the popularity of the KA-15S, Kala has released a concert and tenor version of this model–the KA-15C and KA-15T.

These larger body sizes are going to be louder, fuller, and generally just “bigger” sounding than the soprano-sized KA-15s. Some people may also feel more comfortable playing the longer fingerboards on these larger sizes.

While I haven’t played these models, I don’t see why the build quality would be any different for these two larger sizes.

Official Kala Learn to Play Ukulele Concert Starter Kit, Satin Mahogany – Includes online lessons, tuner app, and booklet (KALA-LTP-C)

Official Kala Learn to Play Ukulele Tenor Starter Kit, Satin Mahogany – Includes online lessons, tuner app, and booklet (KALA-LTP-T)

KA-15C (Concert Size)

KA-15T (Tenor Size)

4,286 Reviews