The Best Kala Ukuleles: Our Top Recommendations

Kala is a well known brand that offers quality, yet affordable products. Here are our picks of their best ukuleles for you to try.

Written by Jay Searle / Published December 9, 2023

Last updated: May 21, 2024

Kala is a name that is synonymous with the ukulele. Not really surprising as Kala has had a huge part to play in the resurgence of popularity that the ukulele enjoys today.

Kala is all about the ukulele. Family-owned and operated out of Petaluma, Northern California, Kala has an absolutely massive offering for ukulele players. With a variety of price points, body shapes and tonewoods, you will find something to suit any player.

So, what does the ukulele brand of choice for players like Vance Joy and 21 Pilots have up its sleeve?

Let’s have a look at some of Kala’s ukulele’s and give you a breakdown of each instrument. We will have a look at build quality, tone, and affordability.

As always, trust your own ears and go try a few of these yourself.

Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

The Kala KA-15S is a great place to jump into all things Kala. This is a quality soprano ukulele at a really nice price. All the features you need are there, with its traditional styling. This is definitely a good option for new players looking for their first ukulele.

We have a detailed review of the Kala KA-15S Soprano ukulele, which you can read here.

Specifications

What We Think

Kala has done a great job making an incredibly accessible entry level instrument. With prices starting at $65 dollars, this is definitely a value for money offer.

At this price point it can be hard to find a ukulele with any sort of quality craftsmanship, or a setup that is playable for beginners, right out of the box. Now I will admit to setting up all of my own ukuleles to my own preferences, but this is a playable instrument right out of the box.

The mahogany body and top give the ukulele a very traditional look, ad a surprising level of resonance. Mahogany tends to have a warm and mellow sound as a tonewood, and that warmth is definitely present.

There is a nice percussive element to the treble range, and that makes for a really great chuck sound. The geared tuners and Graphtec Nubone nut give the instrument added tuning stability. An instrument that stays in tune feels important for beginners. 

If you are looking for your first ukulele, definitely go give the KA-15S a try.

Final Thoughts?

Kala has produced an exceedingly well-made instrument at a price point that most would find very accessible. It has a good tonal range, and definitely gives that island sound we all love. The classic styling in combination with the mahogany body make this a budget soprano that doesn’t look or feel that way.

To hear the KA-15S in action you can check out this video by Austin Bazaar here.

Kala KA-C Satin Mahogany Concert Ukulele

Concert ukuleles tend to sound a little warmer and more resonant than a soprano ukulele, due to the increase in body size. That is definitely the case with Kala’s Satin Mahogany Concert ukulele. This ukulele has a lush and warm sound at a price that means you can keep the heating on.

Specifications

What We Think

As it says in the name, this concert ukulele has a beautiful mahogany back top and sides. Mahogany means that the sound is warm and lush, but there is still plenty of treble to give that traditional sound we are looking for.

The neck is also made of mahogany and features a rosewood fingerboard. The satin finish makes the neck feel ultra-comfortable in the hands, and joins the body at the 14^th fret, not the 12^th. That gives you easy access to the upper end of the fretboard. I love this feature, but may be a little unwieldy for some, so just bear that in mind and give it a try.

The construction is simple and clean, with a traditional look. The die-cast tuners are ultra-stable and the Graphtec Nubone nut makes sure it stays that way.

I would have loved to see the addition of a gigbag or some tutorial options for beginners, but overall, this is a very playable and affordable option.

Final Thoughts?

The Kala Satin Mahogany Concert ukulele is a well-made and really playable instrument. The tone it produces is lovely, and I would honestly be happy using it to record. While there are other options for beginners that offer more learning material, if you are not looking for your first ukulele and are looking for a Concert uke to add to your collection, this is a great place to start.

To see the Kala Mahogany Concert Ukulele doing its thing, you can check it out in this video from Kala.

Kala KA-SMHC Classic Solid Mahogany Concert Ukulele

This is definitely a “step-up” concert ukulele. A high-quality instrument that will be great for students and professional musicians alike. The solid mahogany body provides a ukulele with complex tonal characteristics and vintage traditional looks.

Specifications

What We Think

This ukulele feels good to play. The combination of the solid mahogany body and neck, with the satin finish makes the neck silky smooth to get around. At a price point that is a little more premium, this instrument gives us a tone that is warm, complex, and woody. The overtones are shimmering, rich and full. 

The craftsmanship is precise with the flawless routing for the tortoiseshell binding. That binding combines with the wood finish to give a very definite vintage inspired traditional look.

Kala has gone out of its way to emphasize the natural look and character of the mahogany they used, with the open pore finish making the grain clearly visible.

This concert ukulele’s solid wood construction gives it a surprising amount of resonance, and all the warmth and balance you would expect from a solid mahogany body.

This is a great choice if you are looking to take that next step-up from your first ukulele.

If you would like to hear that warmth for yourself, have a look at this video by Ukulele Mate to get an idea.

Final Thoughts?

Overall, I think Kala has come up with a quality offering pro level features and a traditional look that would be at home in almost any setting. The tone of the ukulele is warm and complex, and the feel of the body makes it a joy to play.

Check out the Solid Mahogany Concert Ukulele here.

Mandy Harvey Learn to Play Signature Series Tenor Ukulele

Kala’s signature Artist Mandy Harvey Tenor ukulele is the ideal beginner’s pack. A quality ukulele with a unique style that gives you absolutely everything you need to get started playing, and a couple of extra bonuses as well.

Specifications

What We Think

Kala’s signature artist Mandy Harvey is inspirational. A singer-songwriter who lost her hearing at the age of 19, she burst onto the scene on season 12 of America’s Got Talent, even snagging the coveted “Golden Buzzer” from the ever-surly Simon Cowell.

Her signature ukulele does not disappoint. A truly accessible instrument with unique styling and quality craftsmanship that should inspire any newbie to explore the sounds you can make with the ukulele.

The uke has some really unique looks too, the body features a delicate vine pattern designed by Mandy’s sister. It is very appealing if that is your thing but might not work if you are looking for something a little more understated.

Those looks are not all this ukulele has going for it though. The quality construction, mahogany body give this little uke a resonance that is warm and full-bodied and has more projection than you would think.

Now, I did mention that this was a pack, so what is included? Well, right out of the box you are ready to get started on your ukulele journey. The pack includes a gigbag and chromatic tuner.

The thing that makes the pack worth the money though, is the tuition that comes with it. Mandy’s signature pack gives you access to lessons that you need to get going via the Kala app. Obviously the pack also includes guides on some of Mandy’s most popular songs.

This is really a great place to start for new ukulele players.

Final Thoughts?

This is a really quality instrument, and at this price you really couldn’t do much better. Definitely a great option for beginners looking to get a lot of bang for their buck.

To see Mandy in action with her signature ukulele, check out the following video.

Kala KA-SA-B Solid Acacia Baritone Ukulele

This is definitely a higher-end instrument. Acacia is a very rich tonewood that is similar in tone to Koa, giving this baritone all the traditional tone you could ask for, while being a joy to play.

Specifications

What We Think

First off, this is a visually stunning instrument. The solid wood body, precise routing for the maple binding, a beautiful rosette and fretboard inlays combine to create a baritone that does not disappoint on looks.

The tone is warm and resonant, and pretty much exactly the buttery smooth mellowness you are looking for in a baritone. The solid acacia body, and mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard certainly add to that warmth and give it projection.

The high-quality tuners, in combination with the ebony nut ensure that both tone and tuning remain stable.

The ukulele sounds wonderful when played fingerstyle, while strumming and chords project clearly. Even the chuck has a nice level of warmth to it that I really enjoyed.

Although, I will say that at this price point it would have been nice to see some electronics for live performance and recording. An on-board preamp would go a long way here.

However, if you are looking to upgrade to a really quality acoustic instrument, then I would definitely go give the KA-SA-B a try.

Final Thoughts?

Kala have really done a great job with this baritone, and I would definitely be very happy playing one of these. I love the tonal characteristics of the acacia, and the warmth and resonance of the instrument is really worth having a listen to.

If you want to hear the ukulele in action, check out the video below from Aloha City Ukes.

In Conclusion

Kala is no stranger to the ukulele world. Let’s be honest, they have been at the vanguard of the popular explosion of our favourite instrument since the 90’s.

They make a wide variety of instruments, whether you are looking to dip your first hesitant toe into the ukulele world, or you are a seasoned pro looking for a high-quality recording and performing instrument.

To really appreciate the different characteristics of each instrument, you need to hold them in your hands and feel how they play.

Until you get a chance to get your hands on some, I hope our guide helps you finding the best Kala ukulele for your needs.

Jay Searle

Website Founder & Writer

Jay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.