Written by Jay Searle / Published December 14, 2023
Last updated: February 21, 2024
Many beginner uke players think that the Soprano is the smallest ukulele size there is. Though partially true, soprano is the smallest of the conventional, more popular ukulele sizes, dwarfed by Concert, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, and Contrabass ukuleles.
Sopranino and Sopranissimo ukes aesthetically appear as toy-like instruments with considerably shorter scale lengths and ultra-small bodies. If you Google-searched the term “best sopranino ukulele,” Ohana’s SK21 probably came up more than once, and rightly so – it sounds amazing and is likely to outlive most competing sopraninos durability-wise.
Today, we’ll take Ohana’s SK21 for a spin and determine whether claims that it’s the best sopranino ukulele in the contemporary market have merit.
Ohana SK21 Sopranino – REVIEW Summary
A great, versatile little uke that stands out amongst its competitors.
Who Are Ohana?
Before diving into the Ohana SK21 review, let’s have a quick word about the brand. Ohana is a long-running ukulele brand that’s been gracing the market with quality ukes since 2006.
It’s among the scant few specialists that excel at producing petite ukuleles, and people with small fingers everywhere hail it as the ultimate sopranino brand. Granted, their catalog also features a broad range of more popular ukulele sizes, with models like SK-30M Concert, SK-28 Soprano, or SK-250M Concert.
LEARN MORE: Read about our recommended ukulele brands here.
Ohana Sopranino Ukulele Review
The performance and value of a sopranino ukulele can be gauged by the same metrics you’d use to evaluate any other ukulele – sound, playability, durability, portability, and features.
However, since sopranino ukes aren’t as popular as sopranos or concerts, I’ll also underscore how the SK21 fares against large-scale ukes. Let’s start from the top:
Specs
| TOP: | Mahogany |
| BACK & SIDES: | Mahogany |
| NECK & HEADSTOCK: | Mahogany |
| FINISH: | Satin |
| SCALE LENGTH: | 11.68″ |
| FRETS: | 12 |
Petite Uke, Big Tone
The warmth of mahogany tonewoods complements the innate warmth of short-scale ukuleles like the Ohana SK21 perfectly. To fully benefit from the tone, most players prefer to tune this instrument an octave higher relative to the standard GCEA uke tuning.
For such a petite uke, it has a surprisingly full-bodied sound with good projection and resonance. Its undertones have just the right amount of crunch to them, making single notes matter as much as full chords.
Compared to large-scale ukulele sizes, the SK21 has the tonal depth of a larger ukulele, albeit at the expense of available pitches due to the reduced number of frets.
Sopranino Ukulele Playability – How Does it Feel?
The medium frets on the Ohana SK21 ukulele, coupled with a sleek hardwood fingerboard make this instrument highly playable.
Even though it’s a much smaller ukulele to what you’re typically going to find in a music store, it’s very easy for beginners to play. The nut width, smooth fretboard and (complimentary) Aquila Nylgut strings mean that even players with larger fingers will find this uke feels great in the hands. The only downside for beginners is that since the body is smaller, it may be more difficult to hold.
It’s also important to note that the maximum scale length of this uke is just slightly smaller relative to other sopraninos (11.68 inches). This means that the strings are easier to pluck, although they’ll also vibrate more freely, meaning that you’ll need to control them a bit more with your palm.
A Small Ukulele That Will Last
Most ukulele players would find it hard to believe that a uke as small as the Ohana SK21 could be sturdier than most mainstream sopranos or even concerts. Built from solid mahogany and equipped with a hardwood fretboard, the SK21 was made to last.
Since it’s smaller and considerably lighter than sopranos, tenors, and concert ukes, it’s not as vulnerable to accidental drops and bumpy rides, making it an ideal companion for touring musicians.
Overall Impressions of the Ohana Sopranino Ukulele
Ohana’s SK21 is an exemplary sopranino ukulele. In comparison to sub-soprano instruments, it outclasses the majority of mainstream alternatives with superb sound, playability, and sturdiness.
Even though it’s more of a specialist ukulele being built solely from mahogany, and as such, is perfect for players pursuing a warm, loose tone, it’s universally great for every style of music and players of all skill levels. This versatility is another argument in favor of its title of the best sopranino ukulele in the current market.
Alternatives to the SK21 Sopranino Ukulele
If you like Ohana’s SK21 but dislike the fact that it’s a tiny sopranino ukulele, we’d like to offer a few recommendations of ukuleles with similar attributes:
Islander MC-4 Concert Ukulele
Concert ukuleles are much bigger than sopraninos, and we recommend Islander’s MC-4 to players looking for an “oversized SK21”. Even though they’re vastly different instruments, the MC-4 is also mainly built from mahogany and has the same gorgeous satin finish as Ohana’s flagship sopranino.
Kala Makala Soprano Ukulele
Merely two inches larger than sopraninos, soprano ukuleles are more popular simply because they’re a tad more practical to use and just slightly louder.
We recommend Kala Makala Soprano to people enamored with the enchanting tone with punchy undertones of Ohana ukuleles since this uke is surprisingly similar to the tiny SK21. Both are made of Mahogany, and the only notable difference is that Kala’s Makala has a somewhat flimsier nut made of plastic and a fretboard made of rosewood.
Ohana TPK-25G Sopranino Ukulele
The pineapple-shaped TPK-25G is another sopranino in Ohana’s catalog, boasting largely the same specs as the SK21. The only notable differences between the two are the more portable design of the TPK-25G and its gloss finish.
If you’d prefer a pineapple shape to the more typical ukulele body, then this is a great alternative.
Ohana O’Nino Sopranissimo Ukulele
Sopranissimo ukuleles are even rarer than sopraninos, mainly because they’re even smaller, rocking a scale length of 10-11 inches and up to 12 fairly petite frets.
Ohana’s O’Nino is its flagship Sopranissimo uke, which offers a distinctly different tone compared to the SK21; it’s mainly built from laminate willow, which is also a warm type of tonewood, but with completely different characteristics.
Final Verdict
Sound perception is subjective, but we conclude that Ohana’s SK21 is among the best, if not the best, sopranino ukulele in the contemporary market based on several arguments.
Firstly, it’s available at a bargain price considering the quality of its tonewoods and construction. Secondly, the SK21 boasts playability that is far superior to mainstream sopraninos, largely due to its larger frets and well-made fingerboard.
Finally, even as a dominantly warm-sounding uke, it’s versatile enough to fit any playstyle or music genre. Such attributes are commonly ascribed to boutique ukuleles, and yet Ohana offers them all in a tiny sopranino ukulele-sized package.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & WriterJay 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.
