(Part 3) Best ukuleles, mandolins & banjos according to redditors

The best ukulele is always the one you can afford and will actually play. So I would say get one that makes you smile and play the heck out of it. Of the ones you listed, I think #1 and #2 would be good options.

For just a bit more above your price range the Kala Dolphin Uke's always get good rating as a beginner ukulele that will last you a long time.

Kala Dolphin

Have fun and good luck with it.

Love mine. Got the travel one as it’s much thinner than most ukes.

Kala KA-SSTU-C Concert Travel Ukulele https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Y6JY80/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FaF2Ab1Y5A975

The Kala Makala budget line is good value. I'd look at the Concert or Tenor packages.

Its a luna

At least they're relatively inexpensive for a real instrument and easy for small hands to hold.

https://www.amazon.com/Hadean-Acoustic-Electric-UKB-22-NM/dp/B00QFV1RGE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487521202&sr=8-1&keywords=ukulele+bass

I bought this one a few weeks ago. It needed some work (raise the bridge to reduce fret noise) but I really like it, and it was cheap. Plus you can play it without plugging it in.

i got one a few years back on amazon. a little beginner thing for like $30 or so. a lot like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Mahalo-Ukuleles-MR1BU-Rainbow-Soprano/dp/B00OB47PF4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458088929&sr=8-2&keywords=mahalo+ukulele

Ukulele!

Ukes are only around $20 on amazon. You're only $15 off. This is the one I used to have: http://www.amazon.com/Mahalo-U-30PK-Painted-Economy-Soprano/dp/B001SN7R5E

If I had any idea what happened to it, I would send it to you.

Kiwi

Melon

Pineapple

There were also some other fruit designs but they were ~$70, as is the spongebob.

Butterfly

Bonus parrot!

Seriously. Super classy. ;D

I personally like this red burst ukulele with the subtle dolphin bridge. Really brings it all together for me. Then I also stumbled upon this tropical treasure.. All this talk of ukes make me think of Stitch so here is a video.

Oh and an add on under $5 I've been really wanting.

Mahalo!

The original price listed on the site matches the EUT5 on amazon. $284


The acoustic's original price on amazon is lower. $199

I would go with the concert size which is a little bigger than the soprano. This my first ukulele https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005ETZE6W/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520219184&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=concert+ukulele+makala+mk&dpPl=1&dpID=516UqyOQ91L&ref=plSrch , and I like it a lot even though I just upgraded to a much more expensive ukulele. This sounds decent for the price so it’s great for a beginner. For lessons I like to browse YouTube for tons of free lessons and tutorials from how to hold a uke to strumming patterns and much more.

I can tell you a bit about the ukuleles I've owned. My first ukulele was this Kala soprano ukulele, which was a laminate model. My second ukulele was this Kala concert ukulele, which was solid spruce. Now, I definitely prefer the sound of solid wood to laminate, but the difference is pretty subtle.

By the way, it might be hard to find a ukulele in that particular price range. I've found that laminate ukes are generally around $50-70 and solid wood goes up to $200.

I love it! I got one of these. Such a wonderful instrument.

I just got one for ~100$. It's Luna brand and has a great tone, comes with nice strings and is good looking to boot. Beauteous.
I'm just beginning, and sort of bought this on a whim, but can't be more pleased with it. The intonation is great and it stays in tune well. Definitely recommend it.

Mango or maple for something with more visual flair, koa for the fancy pants. Do her other ukuleles have a pick up? That'd be a nice option too. Getting a soprano is dicey because they're a good deal smaller than her other two and might be uncomfortable. Some ideas:

Here's a nice koa concert with great reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Schmidt-OU5-Concert-Ukulele/dp/B000A39GUC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1416332293&sr=8-5&keywords=koa+concert+ukulele

Here's a spalted maple tenor, very cool looking: http://www.amazon.com/Kala-KA-SMT-Spalted-Maple-Ukulele/dp/B007RN4FA4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416332502&sr=8-2&keywords=mango+tenor+ukulele

Spalted mango tenor with a pick up, a bit more pricey though: http://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Schmidt-Acoustic-Electric-OU7TE/dp/B0049BUX6M/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1416332771&sr=8-13&keywords=electric+acoustic+ukulele

Don't buy for looks. You can add a black head to any banjo for about 30 bucks.

Get either a GoldTone, Deering, or Recording King.

They will all be higher quality for only a little more. Totally worth it.

I just bought my first Uke(soprano) a few months ago and did a lot of research looking for just the right type of look and quality for a good price. I ended up settling on the Kala-SEM Exotic Mahogany

http://www.amazon.com/Kala-Exotic-Mahogany-Soprano-Ukulele/dp/B003M4S670

It looks beautiful, sounds great, isn't too expensive, and is great to first learn the instrument. I also purchased the Gig Bag just for travel purposes and I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend also getting this Kyser Capo for Uke/Banjo

http://www.amazon.com/Kyser-Banjo-Mand-Capo-Blk/dp/B0002CZVWS/ref=pd_sim_MI_12?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TRJSEMRJA3F6GXY9QXA

It will fit the instrument, and all ukes, perfectly and is a tremendous asset when learning songs in a different key that you don't yet have the capability of doing absurd fingerings for. No matter what you settle on, trust me, get that capo and it will be the best purchase. Best of luck to you on your learning!

Edit: Forget to mention the Kala will also come with Aquila strings already on it, so you save the money there. After about a week of playing it quite a lot every day to let them settle it stays in tune great now

I understand not wanting to invest a lot of money into something you're not sure you'll like/pursue, but there's no better way to turn someone off learning to play than giving them a crappy instrument. While you can get decent ukes for pretty cheap, there are still several factors that go into making a durable and good-sounding one, and whoever made that thing probably isn't worried about those factors. It's probably going to have poor intonation, cheap strings, and poor construction.

Spend just a little more to start and you'll be much happier. If your budget really can't stretch to a Kala KA-S, try something like this. $40+ isn't a lot to spend on something that should give you enjoyment and entertainment for years, though. If you're not interested in spending even that much, you're probably not going to be willing to put in the time needed to make playing fun, either.

I've never played one but I've had my eye on this one on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GXMYQC2/ref=psdc_11971501_t1_B00GXMZ1VC

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I'm sorry if I'm annoying you with a double-post, but the Vorson FLPUK-2 LP style looks incredibly sexy and I've seen some videos--the sound isn't half bad!

I reread the full comments section and realized that you are the guy from Gotaukulele (good work! I love your reviews for the brutal honesty!), and so I wanted to ask if you had any opinions on this company or particular uke before I bought it.

My daughter has a Luna concert. It sounds okay, nothing flashy. New strings helped. It doesn't have a binding around the edges, and overall, it felt like more attention was paid to the decoration (the bit on the front plate -- tattoo model? -- and the fret markers), and so it was weird to not have a binding. The tuners could have been higher quality as well. Overall, it seems like a very unevenly produced instrument. I heard similar things about Luna guitars a few years ago. I don't know what the consensus is now.

Try Lanikai ukes. I have a soprano, tenor, and an 8-string (which is amazing to play). Depending on what you want to play/how big your hands are, you might want to go tenor instead of concert. Lots of extra room on the fretboard of the tenor; also, the bigger body just feels more comfortable (I play a jumbo acoustic body guitar, so this is not a surprise). A quick check on Amazon showed this Lanikai Spruce top tenor selling for $158 (one of those price-in-cart deals, so I don't know how stable that price is).

As a heads-up: keep some money in your budget for a new set of strings for your new uke.

I recommend Lanikai Tenor ST. Nice sound, nice quality.

Lanikai and Bushman are decent brands; Bushman instruments tend to be concert-quality and tends to be in the $200 range but you might be able to find a lightly used one cheap on Cragslist. I just got a year-old Engelmann for $100 with case from someone on Craigslist, and I really like it. Here's a link about Bushman:

http://www.easyukulele.com/bushman-ukulele.html

If you really want a new one, Lanikai has a range of ukuleles from beginner to very high quality. I just checked on Amazon and I only saw some of the middle/lower end ukuleles on there. This for example might be worth your money:

http://www.amazon.com/Lanikai-S-C-Spruce-Concert-Ukulele/dp/B001V5K2ME/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1250962200&sr=1-22

so many conflicting opinions! Alright, so if I get this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OB47PF4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
and put some aquilas or martins on it it should be a decent uke to learn on? the tuning doesn't change as you go down the frets like I am told?

You can find a mahalo soprano uke for about $40 on Amazon. It's a great starter uke that actually sounds pretty okay for its price range.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OB49034/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apis_1486576080169

I went for the Mahalo Java Series in a soprano style.

Bought it from a specialist music store and was set up with Aquila strings. It has a mahogany wood neck as well as a Indonesian rosewood body and fingerboard. Really good for a first ukulele.

Sounds really nice for the price which was $79 (AUD)

I found on for amazon for you

https://www.amazon.com/Mahalo-Ukuleles-MJ1TBR-Soprano-Ukulele/dp/B00OB49034

You could get one of these:

[Uke Bass](http://www.amazon.com/Hadean-Acoustic-Electric-UKB-22-NM/dp/B00QFV1RGE?ie=UTF8&keywords=kala u bass&qid=1463694712&ref_=sr_1_7&sr=8-7)

They're pretty cheap and portable and are supposed to be ok acoustic-ly.

I'm pretty happy with my Lanikai S-C Spruce Series Concert Ukulele. Unfortunately, it seems to be unavailable on Amazon and musician's friend, but maybe try a local store (that's where I got mine ~1 year ago).

This has some good information. I appreciate the comment. One thing I wish I could hear is someone playing Scruggs style on the banjo that I'm looking at. It's super entry-level, but it seems like a good one for the price point.

http://www.amazon.com/Recording-King-RKOH-05-Dirty-Thirties/dp/B00EON6J22

The one at the local shop has a different head on it though. It's new, but it has a fiberskin type head.

Ok great, thanks! Think I should go for this Deering or save almost $200 and go for the Dirty Thirties?

I would be wanting to play Bluegrass music. Similar to the music The Hillbilly Gypsies play. I would like to buy something that is a good price for a beginner, but won't leave me wanting to upgrade once I get better.

I'm seeing a Deering on Craigslist for $300 http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/msg/2959405250.html, and this Gold Tone's on Amazon for a little more http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Tone-CC-50-Cripple-String/dp/B002RARBEO or http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Tone-CC-50RP-Cripple-Resonator/dp/B002RARBEY.

I'm partial to rosewood necks on guitars, so that might influence my choice of a banjo.

EDIT: I just found this one in Harrisburg http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/msg/2885484805.html I don't know anything about the brand but he makes the price sound like a deal. Plus, it comes with a hard case.

I went with this model. Riptide Eut-5NS

I paid around $130 but it's normally $200 through Boulder Creek Guitars. If you just scout a while and are patient you can find a good deal. I love being able to just plug in wherever I go. I was really disappointed when I tried to install a pickup on a straight acoustic, but that's just me. Good luck on the search!

if starting from scratch you may want to go for this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Schmidt-Washburn-Concert-Polishing/dp/B005ETZ6DI

that being said...i purchased a schoenhut pt5400 parrot ukulele last october. Its a chinese flea knockoff with poly fretbord, etc. it finally arrived friday. I put some martin m600 strings on it and frankly...it's great! good intonation, no setup required. got it for over 28USD shipped (at the time). I honestly don't know how consistent these are or quality control, but I'm very pleased with mine!

Oscar Schmidt Spalted Mango TENOR Acoustic/Electric Ukulele, OU7TE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049BUX6M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5tmmzbX64N654

I was surprised by how much I love this one!

It works, but this is how he wanted it formatted. Its a luna

I went to a local music store to try a few out. This one sounded pretty nice and I can get it for about $85. Thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003M4S670?pc_redir=1404948067&robot_redir=1