10 Best Ukulele Brands in Singapore | Best of Lifestyle 2023

If ukelele was a person, you’ll never meet someone as friendly and as easygoing as it sounds. I don’t know if it was coincidence or done on purpose that Bruno Mars’ song Count on Me is best played on ukulele. And it works! It indeed sounds fun, laidback, and one of the friendliest songs I’ve heard. But it’s not only the music it produces that’s friendly and easygoing. Equipped with only four nylon strings that’s soft and kind to anyone’s fingers, ukulele is easy to learn and very playable.

If you’re exploring the world of musical instruments for the first time, learning how to play the ukulele is a good starting point. It’s not as intimidating as other musical instruments. And on top of that, you can play a limitless number of both old and new songs. But with so many good options to choose from, which then is the best ukulele brand in Singapore? In our Best of Lifestyle series, we introduce the 10 Best Ukulele Brands in Singapore, providing quality recommendations based on your lifestyle and budget needs.

This article was last updated on 6 January 2023.

1. Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano

For over a decade, Kala has rapidly transformed from its humble beginning to a world-famous ukulele brand. Kala has grown their portfolio with a wide range of options for every skill level—from complete beginners to seasoned professionals. What’s amazing about this brand is that even their budget-friendly line competes against premium ukuleles. And that’s because their designers cannot simply create anything less than the standard of excellence.

Take the Kala KA-15S for example. If you are after the original and traditional ukulele sound, this model is the exact choice because it is in soprano size. For beginners’ reference, soprano is the smallest and original ukulele size which is why it delivers the instrument’s sound and tone. Equipped with top-quality Aquila strings, the Kala KA-15S delivers sweet and warm harp-like tone with zero buzzing. It strikes a perfet balance in terms of bass, volume, and resonance. Its outstanding and durable build makes you think this ukulele is definitely a steal.

Why buy this:

• Outstanding and durable ukulele at a budget-friendly prize
• Soprano size that delivers sweet and warm harp-like sound
• Perfect balance of bass, volume, and resonance

2. Luna Vintage Mahogany Soprano

If you’re on the hunt for a more artistic ukulele, Luna is the one. This popular brand is known for their creative take on producing vintage ukuleles. And if you treasure anything nostalgic, you’ll love to add a Luna Vintage Mahogany Soprano to your collection of musical instruments.

But it’s not just the looks, specifically, the stylish red satin finish that you’ll be proud of. This ukulele model produces sharp yet vibrant sound, and it’s easy to keep it in tune, so you can always be up and running for any impromptu performance. While it’s solid and sturdy, this ukulele is compact and lightweight. Therefore, you’ll have no problem carrying it wherever, whenever you feel like doing a Hawaiian-inspired party fuelled by that amiable ukulele mood.

Why buy this:

• Produces sharp yet vibrant sound
• Easy to keep in tune
• Stylish red satin finish and vintage design
• Solid and sturdy yet compact and lightweight

3. Martin 1T IZ Tenor

Serious ukulele players won’t mind paying for the best quality, and when it comes to unmatched investment, seasoned pros know that it’s worth the splurge if it’s a Martin ukulele. To give you a quick background, this company isn’t just a globally renowned musical instruments brand. More than that, it’s a historical one. In fact, it’s one of the first few makers of ukuleles after a short while when the instrument was first invented. It’s been an established name in the industry with an incredible 200 years of experience in ukulele-making. The not-so-secret to their success is the consistent formula of meticulously selected premium tonewoods and hardware, impeccable craftmanship and flawless tone.

Well, that’s actually what to expect. After all it’s a whopping $5,000 that we’re talking about. However, while that’s the usual range, they certainly have models that fall below that price, yet doesn’t fall short on quality and features you’re looking for in a high-end ukulele. Try the Martin 1T IZ Tenor for instance. Constructed from carefully selected Mahogany woods, it’s incredibly beautiful in looks and in sound.

Why buy this:

• World-class brand that’s been part of ukulele’s long history
• Unmatched quality you’ll be paying for
• Made with exceptional materials and craftmanship
• Flawless tone and sound

4. Fender Fullerton Telecaster Ukulele

High-quality guitars are what first come to mind whenever someone mentions Fender. But they do have a nice collection of beautifully constructed ukuleles. What makes their ukulele line unique is that they’ve got a bunch of untraditional designs. Their fresh take on ukulele is a bit surprising, but definitely works, and it’s delightful to add one to your collection, especially if you’re also a guitar lover.

Take a look at the Fender Fullerton Telecaster Ukulele. Its telecaster body shape screams the typical Fender design, which at a glance looks like a small acoustic guitar, but if you take a closer look, it’s a ukulele! What’s great about this model is that it has a built-in pickup, and a remarkable preamp system, so it’s stage ready. Also, keeping it in tune is a breeze with its built-in tuner.

Why buy this:

• Remarkable quality you’ll expect with Fender’s musical instruments
• Unique aesthetic design
• Stage ready with its built-in pickup and tuner, as well as a remarkable preamp system

5. Cordoba Concert

Cordoba has been a reputable maker of high-quality nylon-stringed instruments since 1997. The brand has everything in their collection in terms of ukulele sizes—from soprano to baritone. You’ll certainly find the best pick for your preference. But what stays the same in every model is their signature mix of features: lightweight, responsive, highly playable, and takes inspiration from Spanish acoustic tradition. Furthermore, their instruments are built using only materials of excellent quality. Some of the models are also thoughtfully designed for both live and studio performers as they’re equipped with built-in pickup system.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll love their bestseller which is the Cordoba Concert ukulele. It fills the room with its pleasing rich, bright sound. And since it’s in concert size, everyone will find it easy and comfortable to play, including those who have bigger hands and fingers.

Why buy this:

• Lightweight, responsive, and highly playable
• Perfect for beginners
• Delivers rich, bright sound
• Easy tuning

6. Lanikai MA-C Mahogany Concert

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional with many years of experience, you can find a ukulele that suits your needs and skill level at Lanikai. This ukulele brand crafts not only the usual ukulele you have in mind, but also untraditional models with quirky designs including those that have six or eight strings. There are also options that are equipped with pickups and electronics so they’re suitable for live performers, composers, and recording artists.

If comfort and ergonomics are on the top of your criteria, get yourself a Lanikai MA-C Mahogany Concert. With its wide nut and neck profile, plying this ukulele is as easy as lounging by the beach. On top of that, it produces a pleasant warm tone and remarkable sustain. Also, it comes with a padded gig bag, so you’ll have no trouble carrying it around.

Why buy this:

• Produces pleasant warm tone and great sustain
• Ergonomically designed for comfort
• Comes with a padded gig bag

7. Lohanu LU-C Concert Size

Lohanu, a Canadian ukulele brand, has probably the most heart-warming and unforgettable name as it comes from a combination of two words ‘love’ and ‘ohana’ (it means family in Hawaiian language.) And perhaps, this is the reason behind their unconditional lifetime warranty and award-winning customer service.

Pretty generous, their flagship product, the Lohanu LU-C ukulele comes with a complete package of accessories, including a padded gig bag, two strap buttons already installed, a uke strap, picks, extra Super Aquila Nylgut strings, and even a tuner! Plus, there’s a bonus free Step-by-Step Video Lessons for Beginners as well as digital songbooks to learn songs you can play on your ukulele. If beginner-friendly ukulele is what you’re searching for, this model from Lohanu is one amazing choice.

Why buy this:

• Definitely beginner-friendly as it comes complete package with accessories and even beginner ukulele lessons
• Protected with an unconditional lifetime warranty
• Top-notch customer service
• Affordable

8. Donner Concert

Speaking of generous brands, Donner is pretty competitive, too. This Donner Concert Ukulele also comes with a complete bundle that includes a gig bag, four picks, cleaning cloth, a set of extra Aquila Nylon strings, a tuner, and a free video lesson. A perfect gift to your music-loving kids, it has everything they need to start their ukulele journey. But what’s remarkable is the pleasant crisp, warm, rich sound it delivers.

Why buy this:

• Comes as complete bundle
• Beginner-friendly with free video lessons
• Produces crisp, warm, rich sound

9. Mahalo MJ4VT Baritone  

Go for a baritone ukulele if you long for a sound that resembles a Spanish guitar. The largest size in the ukulele family, players with bigger hands and are used to standard guitar sizes will find it comfortable to hold and play. Our pick? This Mahalo MJ4VT Baritone ukulele. It has an outstanding tonal quality and projection. Plus, it’s performance ready with its built-in pickup and outstanding preamp system.

While Mahalo is known for producing budget-friendly ukuleles, their range is a standout for excellent quality and craftmanship. Also, we love that they use sustainable woods to construct their instruments.

Why buy this:

• Produces deep sound resembling classical nylon guitars
• Has outstanding tonal quality and projection at an affordable price
• Equipped with built-in pickup and preamp system

10. Makala Baritone

Another great option for guitar players transitioning to ukulele is the Makala Baritone model. The Makala line is produced under Kala, and this line is characterized by vintage design and entry-level price. Even if your wallet won’t feel a significant loss, it’s difficult to underestimate a Makala ukulele as it produces an incredible sound. It’s also hard to resist that charming vintage appeal!

Why buy this:

• The size is comfortable for guitar players learning ukulele for the first time
• Fantastic sound at an affordable price
• Charming vintage design

We hope that our guide on the 10 Best Ukulele Brands in Singapore has helped you to buy the best ukulele in Singapore for your cool and laidback music sessions. Please share this with your family and friends if you have found it useful.