Best Cheap Ukulele in 2023: Reviews to Pick

Sometimes some beginners look for the best cheap ukulele. Maybe, they have less budget, or they are not willing to spend more in the initial stage. But, whatever the reason, there are a few things to keep in mind while buying a perfect uke. If you want to get a good instrument according to your budget, there are some things to consider as well as some things to avoid. We have compiled a list of some of the best brand ukuleles under $50 in this article. However, we think this article helps you choose the best one for $50.

We’ve included these ukuleles after researching the reviews of the best cheap ukulele on Amazon or others.

Editor’s Choice

Makala Soprano Ukulele by Kala (MK-S)

• Simple but the best entry-level ukulele
• Stunning sound and playability
• The vintage look and beautifully designed ukulele
• Made of mahogany
• Comes at a reasonable price

Check Pirce on Amazon

If you search for the best beginner ukulele, then the Hola! Music HM-21NT is a superior choice. You will find numerous positive remarks about this product if you visit the review on Amazon. Why not? This bundle offers a standard instrument at an affordable price.

However, the HM-21NT is a soprano ukulele, made with maple on top, back, and sides. Hola uses various beautiful colors to make this instrument colorful. These different colors create additional attractions, especially for kids as well as new students.

Further, in this price range, you will be the owner of a ukulele with a walnut fingerboard and bridge. On the other hand, this bundle includes the premium Aquila Nylgut strings and silver geared tuners that confirm its fantastic sound and tone. It has 12 silver nickel frets. You will receive a canvas tote bag, three picks, and a strap with the purchase of this bundle.

Finally, the price is low, but Hola! Music Ukuleles ensure their quality and durability. So, to produce enriched, perfect Hawaiian melodies, you can be fond of this best cheap ukulele for yourself or your beloved ones.

Pros:

• Use of quality materials
• An excellent instrument with affordability
• Eye-catching color and design
• Free live video lessons for two months

Cons:

• Some have said that the fretboard is not as smooth as their choice

You want to spend less but desire an attractive design and functional instrument. Well, the Diamond Head DU-106 Rainbow Soprano Ukulele is worthy to meet your expectation. Also, you can enjoy playing it because of its glossy and fun rainbow colors.

Learning to play this soprano ukulele becomes easy with the help of 3 chord charts. The DU-106 is stiff because the body and neck are crafted from hard maple with a beautiful gloss finish. As a result, it looks great and lasts for a long time.

This Rainbow Soprano Ukulele is dressed with nickel-plated geared tuners, which are guitar-style alike. The tuners make sure to keep it in tune. Its weight is 1 pound, and its dimensions are about 21 x 7 x 2.2 inches.

Moreover, the Diamond Uke offers a color-matching gig bag for easy transport and storage. Indeed, the outstanding features make it the best cheap ukulele in the market. So, many ukulele teachers and experienced players recommend this model for kids and learners.

Pros:

• Superb option for kids and starters
• Decent sounding uke
• Low cost but the stunning value

Cons:

• Need time to stretch the strings

If you are a beginner, it is urgent to choose the perfect instrument for yourself because the right instrument helps you to learn to play. However, the Makala MK-S is a superb beginner-level instrument with the best cheap ukulele on the market. Most importantly, the MK-S contains a quality sound and resonance like an expensive instrument.

The materials used to build the Makala have an Agathis wooden body and an Agathis wood top. Like other instruments constructed, the bridge and fingerboard are fabricated from decent rosewood. Kala includes a static and sturdy mahogany neck and 12 brass frets so that each player can gain a better experience.

The MK-S uses high-quality components that help you to feel an overwhelming experience while playing this uke. At a low cost, you can get a portable companion for your personal happiness wherever you go. In the case of a starter ukulele, this instrument will be more valuable than your cost.

Pros:

• More precise than many other conventionally constructed ukes
• An acclaimed sound and tone
• Built using high construction standards
• The perfect uke to get started

Cons:

• Occasionally require to replace the strings

The ukuleles of Donner are one of the best brands on the market. The DUS-3 Soprano Ukulele has gained a reputation due to its quality of production. You will be able to understand the truth if you see the comments about this product on Amazon.

However, Donner uses the spruce material design at the top of the DUS-3. To build the back and sides of this model, the brand utilizes popular mahogany wood. The combination of these creates an enriched and bright melody.

Further, thinking about comfortable play for the players, the company has designed the fingerboard and bridge using the rosewood element. Likewise, this soprano uke has mahogany wood around the neck and all over the body – it is the honeycomb of melody.

Furthermore, this 21-inch instrument includes chrome-patented tuners that duplicate an original guitar. Most musicians would prefer these tuners because they are perfect enough to hold the tune properly.

In addition to those, the Donner Soprano Ukulele Spruce DUS-3 brings a strap, bag, digital clip-on tuner, and carbon nylon string, as extra items. Depending on all the features, many say that it is the best cheap ukulele for players who are going to start learning music. So, you can pick it for yourself and your loved ones.

Pros:

• Low cost but quality uke
• Appealing design and finish
• Free accessories included
• Pleasing sound and tone

Cons:

• Too small for an adult

For a long time, you are exploring the best cheap ukulele to produce the fantastic tone of a real Hawaiian ukulele. Okay, the Mahalo Ukuleles MK1TBR Kahiko Series Soprano Ukulele comes with an exceptional, clear, and semi-gloss finish. You do not have to cost a lot of money but will be the owner of this Mahalo uke.

Besides, built with the mahogany fingerboard and mahogany bridge, the Kahiko Series delivers a full-bodied and enchanting sound. It includes brass freight and provides carrying bags to support portability. It is needed to know that this instrument is mainly for new students, but anyone can use it. Even, you can purchase the best cheap uke for the kids to detain them from breaking the other expensive ukes.

Those who don’t have enough funds can buy because this soprano-sized uke plays well at this price range. For short-term use, the MK1TBR has become an ideal instrument. However, in terms of long-period playing, you should consider other models.

Pros:

• Affordable and Lightweight instrument
• Suitable for apprentices
• Thick laminate wood
• Pretty good sound and tone

Cons:

• Not appropriate for professionals

Regardless of the type of music you desire to play, being possessed of the correct instrument to create notes and tones is a necessary element that influences the sound. There is no need for being an experienced player to learn to play ADM Soprano 21 Inch Ukulele. Besides, learning and using for the students is much simple.

This ADM uke comprises die-cast tuners that deliver a correct and consistent tune due to its four premium Aquila Nyglut strings. Besides, the Strings save your fingers and provide an evident sound. It is a lightweight and small size instrument that makes it comfortable to carry around with you.

Moreover, this handcrafted uke features matte-finished with a smooth body line that gives it a good-looking and satisfying feel. Similarly, it has an exquisite laser-etched rosette on the head and soundhole that fetches with a decent and unparalleled charm.

At last, this bundle holds all indispensable accessories for students so that beginners can use these things to learn in this uke. If you expect to get the best cheap ukulele at a low cost, the ADM Ukulele Soprano 21-Inch uke can be the right option.

Pros:

• Fully handcrafted instrument
• Wonderful craftsmanship
• Learning facility using the teaching CD
• Full money-back guarantee with one year warranty

Cons:

• Some users say that it has sharp edges of frets

Picking a new musical instrument becomes a little difficult for newcomers as there are plenty of options available in the market. Many of them in the beginning first think about buying professional uke. But at a low-priced range, you can choose the high-quality ukulele. With those instruments, you will be able to learn and practice as you wish. That’s to say that the Sawtooth ST-UKE-MS-KIT-1 Soprano Ukulele is the best cheap ukulele among them under $50.

As an apprentice or student, you can enjoy real tones with the Sawtooth ST-UKE-MS-KIT-1 without liking toys instead of the original deal. The Sawtooth shapes a natural satin finish with a beautiful laser-marked rosette. It adds 15 frets to the neck made of mahogany. Also, fabricated from mahogany on the top, back, and sides, this instrument guarantees its longevity.

Further, the ST-UKE-MS-KIT-1 has a fingerboard with dotted inlays and bridges, which are constructed with rosewood. This model includes the geared tuning keys strung with Aquila strings to make sure that it is in tune.

Pros:

• A balanced and resonant tone
• Highly pleasant instrument
• A quality instrument for the price
• Quick start guide

Cons:

• Someone has raised the question about the quality of accessories

You are thinking of being a player of a musical instrument and have selected the ukulele. As a result, you are looking for one that has to be the best cheap ukulele, but it will be qualitative. In this case, Makala MK-SD/LBL Soprano Ukulele is a higher option because it is not only more inexpensive than the price, but it is also a product of quality.

However, this model features a fingerboard crafted from rosewood, a dolphin-shaped bridge, geared tuners, and a plastic nut and saddle. Also, it offers Aquila Nylgut Strings and a set of strings that are sustainable and reliable. The Makala MK-SD/LBL covers the highly G reentrant tuning G, C, E, and A which are the same chords as the highest four strings on the guitar. In addition to these, it has a Nylon Carry Bag.

This instrument is suitable for young people who are most interested in playing the guitar. This lightweight uke is easily portable from one place to another without feeling unexpected burdens.

Pros:

• Visually a new type of instrument
• A superb model for kids and beginners alike
• Surprising sound and tone
• Affordable and easy-to-play uke

Cons:

• Adults may experience some difficulty playing

If you are interested in a colorful instrument, you will become happy with the Hola! Music HM-21 PP Soprano Uke Bundle is the best cheap ukulele. You will be able to buy as per your choice as there are different colors. This Soprano Ukulele Bundle works just as well as it looks.

With its maple top, back, and side, HM-21PP ensures that it is capable of producing marvelous sound. Featuring a fingerboard and bridge built with rosewood or walnut, HM-21PP is crafted with high quality based on your choice, and it lasts a long time.

Further, it is packed with white nylon strings and silver geared tuners, and 12 silver nickel frets. This uke has a thin layer of paint, which is enough to shape it into an eye-catching body. Consequently, it conserves the natural effect of the wood and delivers an enriched and warm tone.

After all, if you hope to enjoy a pitch-perfect Hawaiian rhythm, don’t forget to keep this best ukulele by your side.

Pros:

• Comfortable and sleek frets
• Appealing sound and tone
• Quality construction

Cons:

• There are some reports about strings

To understand what a ukulele is like, you need to know about its properties, construction, intonation, materials used to make it, etc. And then, ensure that you have got the right product for the right price. Here are the things you need to know:

• Find the type of strings used to create it.
• The components used in it are solid wood or laminated wood.
• Find out what the sound quality is.

It is worth noting that the features make a ukulele good, you should never avoid them while purchasing.

Tonewood can play a vital role to make all the differences. Koa wood is usually used to build ukuleles. Koa wood is traditionally used to build ukuleles. This wood traditionally produces a bright ukulele sound. It is found in abundance in Hawaii.

At present, mahogany is a widely used ukulele wood as the tonewood that is the most popular cheap material. It is not too pricey but gives an enriched sound and good projection that is essential for this small instrument.

Picking the right size can be difficult.

The soprano is the smallest size. Most sopranos are available at a cheap cost, but the problem is that they can be uncomfortable for larger hands.

After that, it’s the concert, which is perfect for adults and normal-sized hands but gives a bit more projection.

The tenor is the second largest size. It gives an excellent projection and is fit for larger hands.

The baritone is the largest size. Its tuning is different from the rest of the ukulele sizes. It can be uncomfortable to play with smaller hands.

If you want to make the sound of your instrument better, you need to alter the strings quickly. Indeed, this step can dramatically enhance the sound of your ukulele.

You can do another thing, that is to oil the front and the fretboard of the uke.

Moreover, you tune the uke, and it will confirm whether the sound can always be the best or not.

Other Related Links:

• Reviews
• Best Ukulele Under $200
• Best Ukulele Under $300