The Best Tenor Ukuleles (2024 Edition)

Looking for the best tenor uke isn’t really that daunting if you know exactly what to look for, and we’re here to guide you in finding “the one.”

Written by Jay Searle / Published June 14, 2024

Last updated: June 17, 2024

Neither too small nor too large, tenor ukuleles sit in the golden middle on the sizing chart.

Tenors can be good for a variety of applications; their well-roundedness makes for a good beginner instrument, allows you to bring the tone to your liking (with minor setup tweaks), and if you own a quality tenor, you can perform live, record, or even tour care-free.

There are many models to choose from in the contemporary market, and we’re here to help you find the best tenor ukulele for your playing style, budget, and needs.

READ MORE: What Is The Best Ukulele Size For Beginners?

The Best Tenor Ukuleles Reviewed

1. Islander MT-4 Tenor Ukulele: Best Overall

Islander is a sister company of the famed Kanile’a; their instruments are remarkably well-built, and the MT-4 Tenor is a true representative of what the brand’s luthiers can do.

At first glance, the Islander MT-4 is a classic tenor uke with a mahogany body, an Okoume wood neck, and a walnut fretboard. Its scale length, fingerboard radius, fret size, and tuning pegs are quite average, but everything else is a cut above the norm.

Kanile’a’s patented bracing system gives this uke superior stability, both in terms of physical integrity and sonic performance. The innovative bridge pin further reinforces this, giving MT-4 pitch-perfect intonation for extended periods.

Finally, Islander built the MT-4 tenor in such a way that it can be equipped with (albeit optional) electronic components. Its flexibility is virtually unmatched, and its tone is leagues beyond your average mahogany ukulele. 

2. Cordoba 15TM Tenor Ukulele: Best for Beginners

Renowned for its top-tier ukulele models, Cordoba’s catalog also boasts a variety of beginner and budget-friendly models. The 15TM Tenor is a highly affordable, good-sounding instrument with excellent playability and gorgeous aesthetics.

For immediate beginners, the 15TM is a good choice because it’s very easy to play. Its sleek rosewood fingerboard, standard scale length, and quality hardware offer a balanced performance in terms of intonation and smoothness.

Sound-wise, it resembles most Kalas and Cordobas in the price range of under $100—it’s an all-mahogany uke characterized by its predominantly deep, warm tone with a solid bite at the expense of sustain.

3. Ohana TK10 Tenor Ukulele

Ohana is one of the newest ukulele brands famed for its innovative building techniques, beautiful designs, and use of quality tonewoods. The TK10 Tenor is one of Ohana’s best mid-tier tenor ukes, boasting a durable laminate mahogany construction.

When it comes to tone quality, the TK10 rocks a bellowing bass-heavy sound that translates well to other frequencies. Due to its all-mahogany laminated build, its sound is as warm as it gets, saturating the sonic spectrum with thundering lows and punchy mids.

Sturdiness is arguably one of the most significant benefits this tenor ukulele has to offer. Its fretboard is made of thoroughly refined hardwood, which ensures the uke can withstand decades of use. The TK10 is a perfect gig and roadworthy uke, although due to its one-dimensional tone, it’s best used as a backup.

In terms of aesthetics, Ohana’s TK10 has an eye-catching finish and is a stunningly beautiful ukulele.

All things considered, this model stands out from similarly-priced mahogany-made ukes with superior durability, more powerful sound, and dreamlike beauty.

4. Lanikai ACST-T Tenor Ukulele: Best for Under $300

The ACST-T is a robust-sounding tenor with a solid acacia top and laminated acacia back and sides. Bound in maple and equipped with a rosewood fretboard, it offers a bright-dominant yet highly versatile tone characterized by a piercing yet controllable sound.

This tenor is incomparably more durable than mahogany ukes you’d find under $200. Its internal binding design and sturdy woods make it roadworthy and an ideal companion for gigging musicians.

Hardware-wise, the Lanikai’s ACST-T Tenor uke comes pre-strung with D’Addario’s EJ88 Nyltech monofilament strings, open-gear chromed tuners, and NuBone XB saddle & nut.

Overall, if you’ve saved up some money and want a ukulele that sounds and feels as good as it looks, I recommend giving ACST-T a shot.

5. Martin T1 Tenor Ukulele: Best for Under $500

Martin is renowned as a boutique guitar and ukulele maker, and T1 is actually one of their “cheaper” products.

What helps this tenor uke stand out from most mid-tier instruments is a selection of premium-quality exotic tonewoods, which grant it unrivaled sturdiness, an exquisite tone, and eye-catching aesthetics.

On the top, back, and sides, the T1 features the beautiful Sapele wood. It’s primarily responsible for its extensive, rounded tone; its rich, natural warmth is contrasted by the ultra-brightness of the Ebony wood in its fingerboard.

Speaking of which, Martin’s T1 is arguably one of the best-playing instruments in its price range. The fretboard is so smooth that even playing with rusty strings would feel enjoyable and still sound good.

6. Cordoba 35T Tenor Ukulele: Best High-end Tenor Ukulele

Cordoba’s 35T perfectly represents its high-end range of tenor ukes, boasting a diverse set of tonewoods, an authentic tone, superb playability, and a gorgeous outlook.

Similar to the ACST-T by Lanikai, the 35T Tenor is mainly made of top-quality acacia wood. What makes it different is the mahogany in its neck, rosewood fretboard and binding, and a smooth layer of gloss polyurethane on the body. The combination of these materials provides an excellent and consistent sonic performance across the board, befitting a boutique uke.

Its neck is sleek, and the scale length is pitch-perfect. With the preset setup, you’ll almost never face any intonation issues, but you will benefit from an excellent, well-balanced action that gives an optimal balance between playability and tone.

How to Choose a Tenor Ukulele

Hundreds, if not thousands, of unique tenor ukuleles are available in the contemporary market, so we recommend considering the following factors before you start shopping.

Build Quality

The quality of the specific tonewoods comprising the instrument, the assembly and refinement processes, and tidbits like the uke finish, binding, and default hardware are all cogs in the bigger picture that forms the build quality of a ukulele.

Normally, you’d have to physically inspect and test an instrument for structural flaws, but knowing where to look, even remotely, can be just as helpful.

Look for tenor ukuleles made of high-quality tonewoods like mahogany, sapele, acacia, maple, and ebony. Top-tier brands like Kala, Cordoba, Lanikai, and Martin are known for using the finest woods in the construction process and employing some of the most experienced luthiers in the industry.

Tonewoods

Understanding how ukulele tonewoods work can significantly help you choose a tenor with tonal properties that fit your taste and needs.

Mahogany and rosewood, for instance, are typically used for building low-tier ukes; they’re warm, bass-heavy, and usually loud. On the opposite end of the sonic spectrum are maple, ebony, and walnut—they typically provide the ukulele with a bright tone focused on the upper frequencies.

The only types of tonewoods that you may want to avoid include plain hardwood and composite wood. While they may be durable, they are quite literally “planks” with barely any authentic tonal properties.

Playability

Not only is playability a subjective factor primarily influenced by the player’s skill level, experience, and preferred style, but it’s almost impossible to gauge without in-person testing of the instrument.

The best thing you can do to determine how well a ukulele plays is to check its scale length and fretboard material. Rosewood, mahogany, and walnut are typically used on low-to-mid-tier ukes, while the coveted ebony makes for the best-playing fingerboards.

As a rule of thumb, the “standard” scale length of tenor ukuleles is 17 inches. Anything lower may result in floppier strings that are easier to play but with a propensity for falling out of tune. Conversely, higher scale length values can lead to overly tight strings that may even hurt your fingers. However, on the upside, you’ll get a generous boost in volume and tonal clarity.

Brand

Dozens of companies create ukuleles, but only a handful stand out as market leaders. Those would be Kala, Cordoba, Lanikai, Martin, Kamaka, Oscar Schmidt, and Ohana.

When looking for a tenor ukulele, we recommend you start your search at their shops. Not only do they provide the best models in the industry, but they also offer guarantees and free accessories with most purchases.

Wrapping Up

Among the five mainstream ukulele size types, Tenors are the Jacks of all Trades, while others can be considered “specialist” instruments. By choosing a tenor, you select a versatile and balanced uke, even if it’s entirely made of a single tonewood.

All six instruments we recommended are made by top-tier brands, each boasting superb value and offering something unique to the table. We hope that our reviews and guide to finding the best tenor ukulele will help you make an educated buying decision.

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.