Our pick
Alvarez Regent Series RU22C
The RU22C concert uke has a big, full, satisfying sound, plays easily, and comes in a just-right size that’s comfortable for kids and adults.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $100.
The Alvarez Regent Series RU22C is the ideal starter ukulele for many reasons. First and foremost, it has a fuller, louder sound than most ukes of its size. Second, as a concert-size uke, it’s not too big for a kid to handle and not so small that adults can’t fit their fingers between the frets. And third, the Alvarez comes in a lot of other styles: You can get it in your choice of five Grateful Dead–inspired graphics, and in soprano, tenor, and baritone sizes—all at or near the RU22C’s price.
Runner-up
Donner DUC-1
The concert-size Donner DUC-1 plays well, sounds good, and costs little—and it also comes with a case, strap, and tuner.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
The mahogany Donner DUC-1 has a pleasing sound and an unusually wide fingerboard that makes it easier for adults to play but not too hard for most kids. Thanks to its concert size, it’s a good choice for any beginner (or expert), and its low price even includes a nice case, a strap, and a tuner. It isn’t quite as good-looking or nice-sounding as the Alvarez RU22C, but it is a fantastic buy.
Also great
Luna Vintage Spruce Soprano
The Luna Vintage Spruce Soprano has a powerful sound, a kid-friendly size, cool styling, and an appealing price.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
If you need a small ukulele for kids—or for an adult who likes the look and sound of a little uke—we recommend the Luna Vintage Spruce Soprano. It sounds louder and clearer than most inexpensive ukes, it’s well made for its price, and all of our panelists loved its unusual styling. The Vintage Spruce Soprano comes in a super-affordable package that includes a tuner, an instructional DVD, a nice gig bag, and a polishing cloth.
Upgrade pick
Orangewood Harper Concert Acacia
The Harper Concert Acacia looks nicer than our top pick, plays just as well, and has a softer sound that’s good for accompanying vocals.
The Orangewood Harper Concert Acacia is a nice step up from our top pick. The main reason why is that it simply looks a lot nicer, with beautiful figured woodgrain and ivory-colored binding around the fingerboard and body. It plays as well as our top pick but has a softer sound, which is probably better for accompanying vocals, though it won’t cut through as well in ukulele jams. The package includes a decent soft case, a strap, an electronic tuner, and a few plastic picks.
