The Best Ukes Under 100

A Uke is a great instrument to play and it is the perfect gift for any music lover. The Uke is a small four-stringed instrument that became popular from the early 19^th century when it was introduced on the island of Hawaii. The sweet sound and the energetic playing style made this instrument a popular one among music lovers that that popularity is still intact. With time the design of the Ukes has undergone various changes to suit the requirement of a wide range of players. Hence for a first-timer, buying a Uke is not as simple as there are so many varieties out there.

In this article, we will point out some of the best Ukes that you can but within the price of 100 dollars. For a beginner, the budget of 100 dollars is sufficient for choosing some of the best models in the current market. This is an instrument that you can play for a long time without needing any form of an upgrade. So before going into the reviews, we will also share some tips that will help you to make the best choice.

A guide to buying best-ukes-under-100

Here are a few tips that will help you to buy the right design of the Uke.

The size

The main sizes and varieties that are found in the Ukes are the soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. With its classical sound and compact size of 20 inches in length, the soprano is the most common model that is found in the market. The concert and tenor models come in higher sizes with the tenor sounding more like a classical guitar with a deeper tone.  The baritone is the longest and the least popular model with a sound that is closer to that of a nylon-stringed guitar. So you have a pick a size from these variations that are available.

The wood nature

There are various types of woods that are used to make a Uke and these include the monkeypod, mahogany, mango, koa, rosewood, and others. The koa wood is found in Hawaii and it has a beautiful grain and delivers a very warm sound. These Ukes are more expensive in nature. Mahogony is used for mid-range Ukes and spruce is used for the models coming within the lower price range. Rosewood is also a cheaper wood used for Ukes and produces rich and complex overtones. There are also laminated Ukes that use a cheaper wood on the inside and a layer of expensive one at the outside. The sound quality of these units is definitely not as good as the purely wooden ones.

The budget

There are UKs within the rice range of 50 to 100 dollars that provide a solid performance and are ideal for beginners. If you go for higher prices, you will get more fancy cosmetic features and better craftsmanship along with the superior quality of wood. There are also very cheap models that are available but those are not recommended as inferior built and design can affect the tone and make them difficult to play. A good quality unit with a warm sound will encourage you to practice more.

The string quality

The quality of the strings has a major impact on the sound output of a Uke. The cheap models with cheap sings can sound really bad and since there are various options when it comes to the strings, the best you can do is to try some out by yourself. You can also take the advice from other experienced Uke players.

Kailua 4 String Soprano Ukulele

This is a hand-crafted model that has the right materials and the right level of craftsmanship to bring the best melody out of the strings.

Overview

This is a soprano model that offers the right range of harmony to enjoy your music at any place you want. The design is elegant and the overall quality is extremely good from all aspects. The unit is also very well priced, making it a great choice for beginners.

Feature and Benefits:

Good looks

The wood body and headstock of this model is made from high-quality mahogany that gives it the right range of sound. The nylons string also complements the design with its performance.

Great handling

The overall body of this unit is very strongly built that provides great support to the user and allows very good handling. This makes it a great choice for beginners.

Good craftsmanship

The unit has been hand-crafted to perfection and produces the right range of full-bodied sound. The acoustic soundhole with pearl tuners also lends it an attractive appearance.

Good as gift

These compact size and the great styling of this instrument makes it a very good choice as a gift for kids and adults alike. Be it a birthday or Christmas gift, this is the perfect choice to start a new hobby.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 2.25 pounds
• Dimensions: 7.1 x 2.4 x 20.1 inches.
• Body: Mahogany
• Strings: Nylon.
• Style: Soprano.

Pros and Cons:

This is a Uke that delivers very good sound quality and is a perfect choice for beginners who needs good sound output at a reasonable price.

Caramel CB103 Baritone Acoustic-Electric Ukulele

This electric-acoustic ukulele with its superb finish and high-quality sound is a great choice for a model that hits the right notes with perfection.

Overview

The overall quality and finish of this Uke makes it a very good option for those who are searching for a good looking model. The baritone design also provides a great range of sound output and the three-band equalizer makes the unit work more effectively.

Feature and Benefits:

Great looks

Crafted out of zebrawood and with a body that has been finished with a mirror polish by hand, this Uke has the right appearance that matches its great sound output.

Modern design

The help the users who are looking for the right morn touch, the unit is equipped with 3 bands equalizer, a built-in tuner along with an LCD color display for additional advantage.

Adjustable neck

The uke has been designed with an adjustable neck that offers a good level of comfort for the user. The truss rod is embedded in the neck can be easily adjusted with the included wrench.

Additional features

The unit comes with a low battery indicator and a chromatic tuner. It also has a walnut fretboard and a bridge, along with a buffalo bone nut and a saddle.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 1.98 pounds
• Dimensions: 29.9 x 10.2 x 3.1 inches.
• Body: Zebrawood.
• Equalizer: 3 bands.
• Style: Baritone.

Pros and Cons:

If you are looking for a bigger uke that sounds very good and offers very good playability then this is the model that can be picked without hesitation.

Cordoba 15TM Tenor Ukulele

This is a very good choice for adult beginners and the handcrafted design is the right blend of great looks and the perfect range of rich sound delivery.

Overview

This is a great choice for players who find the concert size ukes smaller in size for their tastes. The tenor size and the grip, compatibility and comfort levels offered by this model is top class. It also has a few unique features that make it stand out from the rest of the models.

Feature and Benefits:

Good quality

The unit has laminated mahogany top, back, and sides, while the 19-fret fingerboard is made of rosewood. The built quality provides the right feel when you hold this model

Stylish looks

The unit has a sleek satin finish and silver tuners with a pearl button that adds the right amount of elegance to its looks. The protective cream ABS binding and the soundhole rosette patterns make the looks striking.

Great sound

Being a flagship model, this unit produces the full range of warm sound-reflecting through the soundhole. The overall sound quality is definitely impressive and the unit is a joy to play.

Additional features

The unit comes with quality hardware that includes precise silver tuners with pearl tuning buttons. It also has a composite nut and saddle along with a good set of Aquila tenor strings.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 1.15 pounds
• Dimensions: 27.0 x 10.5 x 4.0 inches.
• Body: Mahogany
• Finish: Satin
• Style: Tenor.

Pros and Cons:

This is a high-quality musical instrument that ticks the right boxes when it comes to design and performance and is a very good choice at all levels.

Enya OMS 04 Concert Ukulele Koa Top Bundle

A concert model that emits an extremely sweet sound, this ukulele is a very good choice both for learners and experienced users of all levels.

Overview

This model offers the right blend of good handling and superb sound quality at a very good price. The build quality and the materials used are top notches and the best-ukes-under-100 delivers a smooth and accurate sound that makes it a great choice for long term users.

Feature and Benefits:

Great build

The unit is made from Koa wood that provides a durable body along with the right sound range that makes the unit a very good choice even for concerts.

Good craftsmanship

The fingerboard and bridge of the instrument are made from richlite, which provides a stable quality, provides a comfortable playing feel that adds to the comfort levels of the user.

Well designed

The build quality delivers a perfect tuning along with a mahogany neck and advanced carbon nylon strings that provide the best sound out of the instrument.

Additional features

The unit comes with good quality accessories like the ukulele bag, ukulele strap, polishing cloth, capo, finger sand hammer and a digital clip-on tuner.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Dimensions: 27.0 x 12.0 x 5.0 inches.
• Body: Koa and Mahogany.
• Finish: Matte 
• Style: Concert.

Pros and Cons:

This is a well-made instrument that has the right range of design features to produce the right sound output that makes it a very good choice.

Kala, 4-String Ukulele

This is a gorgeously designed ukulele that plays superbly like a boutique-grade instrument but is available at a very reasonable price.

Overview

The unit comes from a reputed brand and provides a very good range of features that makes the model a real pleasure to use. Being an affordable and easy-to-play instrument, the unit is perfect for beginners that has the right features to help them grow.

Feature and Benefits:

Classic build

Crafted from mahogany, this uke offers the right warmth of sound along with more punch and clarity. It also offers a full-bodied, balanced tone to provide a balanced output.

Good looks

The unit comes with a UV-cured acrylic urethane semi-gloss finish that offers the right shiny look and transparency. It provides the unit with a stylish and unassuming look.

Good playability

The unit offers very good handling and perfect balance and the sturdy built quality makes it a very good choice for beginners as well as the experienced players.

Additional features

The unit comes with Graphtec NuBone nut and saddle and Aquila super nylgut strings from Italy that add to the overall sound output and provides a rich quality to the sound.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 14.1 pounds
• Dimensions: 21.06 x 7 x 2.37 inches.
• Body: Mahogany
• Finish: Satin 
• Style: Soprano.

Pros and Cons:

This unit plays well and sounds good and is a very good choice for those who require a perfectly natural tone and sound with the right level of warmth.

SANDONA Soprano Ukulele Set  Sapele UK-1

With superior sound quality and pitch-perfect tunes, this is an instrument that provides the right value along with very good playability.

Overview

The uke offers the richness of sound and top class built quality that will satisfy users of all levels. The compact but distinctive design along with the warmth of the sound makes this unit a very good choice for beginners who need a lot of practice.

Feature and Benefits:

Good sound

The Sapele wood body provides the unit with a warm sound with subtle overtones that sound great to the ears. The high-quality strings and a walnut wood fingerboard adds to the overall sound quality.

Perfect tunes

The unit is built with an effective digital tuner that ensures that the delivered tunes always hit the mark. It is also very easy to tune and adjust even for beginners.

Easy playability

The frets in this unit are well polished so fingers don’t catch while playing. In addition, the smooth fingerboard and bridge allow easy playing and smooth change of strings as needed.

Good accessories

The uke not only offers great value but also comes with a whole range of accessories like a colorful strap, a digital tuner w/ batteries, an extra set of strings and a gig bag.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Dimensions: 23.6 x 9.5 x 4.3 inches.
• Body: Sapele and Walnut wood.
• Finish: Satin
• Style: Soprano.

Pros and Cons:

This is a well-crafted model that provides the right features to make the beginners enjoy the right feel and to make playing the instrument feel like a breeze.

Makai UK-55 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

This is a traditionally designed unit that offers a soothing sound quality along with the right build quality that makes the unit a well-balanced choice.

Overview

This ukulele has the right range of features that make it a perfect choice for starters. The build quality is very good and the sound output is extremely pleasing for the ears. Considering the affordable price, you will find this unit to be one of the best choices in the current market.

Feature and Benefits:

Good built

The unit has been put together in an artistic manner with the right attention to the details that make it look and sound very good from all aspects.

Superior construction

The unit is crafted with quality materials to provide the best performance. It has mahogany laminate back and sides along with a rosewood fingerboard and bone nut and saddle.

Quality strings

The strings of this instrument are made out of GHS nylon and provide the right range of sound to make the overall sound output extremely pleasing to the ears.

Classic style

Crafted by traditional craftsmen, this unit features the right looks that blend the classical with the modern elements. The overall model is the perfect balance of good looks and playability.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Dimensions: 20.88 x 4 x 2.25 inches.
• Body: Mahogany.
• Finish: Satin
• Style: Soprano.

Pros and Cons:

This unit has been crafted with the right features that make it a good choice for beginners at a very affordable price.

Donner Soprano Ukulele

This ukelele from Donner brings the right styling, smooth and accurate notes and offers a superior level of comfort at a very reasonable price.

Overview

This is a model that offers a very good performance that will surprise you when you look back at the price. The built quality is very good and whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, you will surely enjoy playing this instrument.

Feature and Benefits:

Good craftsmanship

The top-notch craftsmanship of this unit with the right attention for the details makes this deliver the right level of sweet sound, comfortable grip, and lasting stability.

Top quality materials

The finest quality wood is processed with care by exposing it to air and allowing it to dry naturally for three years. The best material is then selected and processed artificially for the final production.

Great playability

The instrument has the right level of detailing that allows the smooth feeling, ultra-comfortable chord distance and the fret design that allows the hands to glide over perfectly.

Superior quality

The unit uses carbon nylon strings to provide a clear and sweet sound along with top quality tuning machines that allow the instrument to play perfectly in tune.

Key Specifications:

• Weight: 2.7 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.53 x 24.41 x 9.65 inches.
• Body: Mahogany.
• Finish: Satin 
• Style: Soprano.

Pros and Cons:

This is a uke that sounds very warm and provides the right balance of price and quality and comes with the perfect range of accessories.

Conclusion

These are some of the best-ukes-under-100 that can be bought with 100 dollars price mark. They offer great sound along with extremely good looks. The list includes models whose sound quality has been appreciated by a range of users. The models are built from the best quality wood and the overall comfort level they offer to the player is extremely good. These units are also very well-tuned and you can be expected then to support you reliably during any performance. So among all the models listed above, the Kailua 4 string soprano ukulele can definitely be a top pick because of the quality that it offers.

It is a beautifully designed model that has been hand-crafted to perfection and the overall look and feel definitely stands out because of some unique design features. The high-quality nylon strings emit the best tunes and the pearl coated tuners do a very effective job. The hand-crafted mahogany body preserves the right level of warmth in the sound and makes the unit one of the most competent models in the market.