Are you looking for the best concert ukulele? You’re in the right place!
For a lot of musicians starting, there are two significant hurdles. The first is the size of an instrument, and the second is the cost. Why would you spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of equipment that you may not even enjoy playing?
The smart answer is, you would not. Additionally, how can a younger person effectively play an instrument built for someone multiple times their size? The answer is, they can’t.
A great starting place for any musician looking for an unintimidating first step into playing music should consider trying out the ukulele.
For $100 you can get a lot from your ukulele, but what is the best concert ukulele for under $100?
Top 7 Best Concert Ukuleles Under $100:
Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele (Editor’s Choice)
Starting perhaps with one of the household names in entry-level ukuleles, I can heartily recommend the 15CM Concert by Cordoba if you are looking for a concert uke.
Setup
It is crafted from quite beautiful laminate mahogany in China. This uke features a nice satin finish with a gorgeous inlay around the sound port. It has chromed tuning knobs, which complete the look.
Size and Sound
The 15CM is 22″ long and has the standard concert ukulele dimensions.
The ukulele sounds excellent. It has that exact “Hawaiian” sound that so many beginning uke players desire.
There is not a downfall to the sound of this instrument.
Some reviews have mentioned difficulty with the sound because of poor setup or unstretched strings, make sure that you properly set up your ukulele, and you should be off to the races.
Pros
- The 15CM is a great-looking instrument; it does not look like you only paid $100 for it.
- It sounds great for a highly affordable instrument.
- The mahogany wood is reliable and durable.
Cons
- Some reviewers have complained about string quality.
Verdict
If you are looking for a quality, long-lasting ukulele at an amicable price, the 15CM is a fantastic choice that will serve even an intermediate musician quite well.
Luna Mahogany Series Tattoo Concert Ukulele
The Luna Mahogany Series Tattoo ukulele is a beautiful instrument probably ideal for a young girl or a boy to play. The design of the body of the instrument will be beautiful to some.
Setup
This is a typically sized (23″) concert ukulele. It has mahogany sides and back with a solid spruce top. The result is an instrument that sounds quite good in its price range. It also has chrome tuning knobs which are always a pleasant touch.
Sound
With the mahogany and spruce body and neck, this ukulele sounds really good for such a low price. Like the 15CM, these instruments are highly affordable forays into ukulele playing that provide a lot of value.
Pros
- Great price to performance ratio
- Good looks
- Very affordable yet good quality
Cons
- The design is not for everyone
Lohanu LU-C Concert Ukulele
This bundle sold by Amazon is perhaps one of the most valuable ukulele packages available today. The price compared to the instrument’s quality and the number of accessories and extras included is considered.
Setup
It is a typical concert ukulele with Mahogany/Sapele sides, back and front paired with a rosewood neck and chrome tuning knobs. The quality of the materials is something to take note of. Interestingly, it also comes with the strap buttons pre-installed to go along with the included strap.
This package is a little bit different from the first two ukuleles discussed because this is, so far, the only “ready to play” package on the list, and it is priced $10 less on Amazon than either 15CM or the Tattoo. The package includes the previously mentioned strap, a tuner, some picks, and a gig bag; the inclusion of these extras ups the value of this as an entire package.
Sound
This is a typically sized concert ukulele. The sound on this thing is quite good for a sub $90 instrument. There is no buzzing from the frets, it stays in tune, and it provides the iconic ukulele tone at a very attractive price.
Pros
- Simple look
- Quality materials
- Very nice sound
Cons
- It does not sound quite as good as a 15CM
- May include things you do not need if you already have picks or a tuner.
Oscar Schmidt OU2 Mahogany Concert Ukulele Bundle
It is another solid-looking package deal. It comes in at $10 less than the previous bundle, which is a plus for some people.
Setup
Outside of a few reported problems with the craftsmanship, this uke is pretty well suited to any beginner. I hesitate to place this ukulele in the same category as the previous models because the price takes the materials’ quality and craftsmanship down. That being said, the instrument has excellent potential for the beginning musician just starting and looking for something respectable and very affordable.
Sound
For all reviewers, the issues with the instrument appear only to be skin deep. That is, there is not really an issue with any important aspect of this instrument’s sound. The issues are cosmetic, which should be a relief to anyone looking for a very affordable package.
Pros
- Lots of interesting and handy accessories
- Good sound
- Very affordable
Cons
- Problems reported with the craftsmanship of the instrument.
Kala MK-C Makala Concert Ukulele
Let me say one thing about this particular instrument. It is gorgeous. I am a real sucker for dark wood finishes on an instrument, and this thing hits it out of the park.
Beauty, in this instance, is not only skin deep. Let’s read on to find out more about this very affordable instrument.
Setup
So that you know, this is not a bundle package. Only the uke itself is included. With that out of the way, we can begin to discuss this gorgeous instrument. Other than that, this thing is a bog-standard concert ukulele featuring the chromed tuning knobs.
The thing, as I have said before, that sticks out about this instrument is the finish. The dark wood looks great and really can convince you that you are playing a much more expensive instrument. For a beginner, that can be a real confidence booster.
Sound
I have read that some players report problems with the stock strings. If it is the case that your instrument came with some less-than-stellar strings, it may be a good idea to purchase some more.
Other than that, the consensus with this instrument is that it is widely thought to sound quite good at such an affordable price range.
Pros
- Sounds good
- Classy finish
- Decent construction
Cons
- Stock strings may sound bad.
- Some reviewers complain that the finish on some models has many blemishes that may distract from the playing.
Hola! Music HM-124KA+ Deluxe Concert Ukulele
This particular ukulele fits into a “not bad but not great” category. At such a low price point, I am not sure that you can expect anything different.
That being said, this uke sounds good and looks good doing it. I am sure that this ukulele will not go unplayed for long for most beginners, which is most important.
Setup
It is a standard concert ukulele size and has standard dimensions. The koa wood looks very classy, and like the previous instrument, really adds a touch of class.
Some excellent design work around the instrument’s body and the sound port makes this instrument slightly more appealing than just bare wood. If you are not looking for an instrument with any design, this may not be the one for you. But, if you are looking for some added interest, this could certainly be something for you to consider.
It has chromed tuning knobs, but the actual knobs themselves have interesting rubberized handles that actually seem like an excellent addition to me to prevent any visible wear on the chrome.
Sound
This instrument, like the previous, is not the best instrument that money can buy when it comes to sound. It is solid, but nothing more. There will not be any overtly annoying fret buzz, and the instrument plays in tune pretty consistently, but after listening to the instrument play, it does not have a tone that really “wows.”
Pros
- Nice looking finish
- Solid sound
- The rubberized tuning knobs are an interesting addition
Cons
- Sound leaves something to desire
Donner DUC-1 Concert Ukulele
It is the cheapest instrument on the list, but it is not automatically the worst. If the price is your ultimate concern, this is the instrument that you should buy.
Setup
It is another bundle, including a gig bag, a tuner, a strap, and some extra strings. I don’t think that any of these items are the highest quality, but they are necessary, and they will get the job done for a beginner. The instrument also features some lovely tuning knobs that match the rest of the instrument’s wood finish.
The included ukulele is beautiful. It has a nice wood grain and comes in at the usual concert ukulele dimensions. It does have some subtle design work that is not at all distraction or even really attention-grabbing — it sits in the background, and when you notice it, you will be momentarily pleased.
Sound
Unlike some of the other super-affordable ukuleles on the list, this thing sounds GREAT. It packs some exciting features that make me think that this instrument is entirely comparable with the Cordoba 15CM that clocks in at almost $40 more. This instrument includes some high-quality accessories.
The sound, otherwise, is great. The compensated bridge means that you will stay in tune up the neck. The geared tuning knobs help hold the strings and keep the instrument in tune. The quality mahogany wood makes sure that the instrument’s tone is true and sounds just like you would expect.
Pros
- Compensated bridge and geared tuners are exciting features at this price range.
- Great looking
- Good materials
- Nice accessories
Cons
At this price, I don’t think you can go wrong.
Essential Features of a Ukulele
I believe that there are a few areas that you do not want to compromise when purchasing a new ukulele.
- You want your instrument to be made out of a wood of some sort, preferably a wood with a reputation for making good musical instruments. A good wood would be maple or oak. A bad material would be plastic or carbon. A $100 ukulele made out of wood can get you very far in the musical world, which is one of the great things about playing the ukulele.
- You want to know what key the ukulele you are purchasing is. Some ukuleles are very small (soprano), while some are quite large when considering ukuleles (baritone). Besides just the physical size constraints, the instrument sounds very different at these different sizes. It is important to know what your goals are with the instrument when purchasing one.
- Sound, sound, sound. Of course, you want to make sure that your instrument provides the best possible sound for you. Some may think that sound has to be compromised in this price range, but the following reviews will show that nothing could be further from the truth.
Conclusion: What’s the Best Concert Ukulele Under $100?
The best concert ukulele under $100 on this list is the Cordoba 15CM. If you have the $100, you need to get that ukulele. That will last you a lifetime, and it is priced in a very affordable range. If you are looking to play uke or maybe see if someone is interested, the Donner bundle that is last on this list is the absolute way to go.