If you’ve recently fallen in love with soprano ukes and are finally ready to get a new instrument, you’ve come to the right place.
As you know, a quality ukulele that’s not ridiculously expensive is hard to come by these days. From bad construction to bad materials, there is bound to be something that’ll ruin the sound of your uke and make you regret buying it.
That’s why I’ve come up with this list to help you on your mission. With it, you’ll be able to find a fantastic ukulele that won’t break the bank. So, get your shoes on, and let’s get started.
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At a Glance
- Cordoba 15SM Soprano Ukulele – Best Overall
- Kala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele – Best High-End
- Luna High Tide Koa Soprano Acoustic/Electric Ukulele – Most Versatile
- Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele – Best for Entry-Level
- Martin S1 Soprano Ukulele – Best for Skilled Players
- Luna Vintage Pineapple Soprano Ukulele – Most Unique
- Fender Seaside Soprano Ukulele Pack – Best Budget Pack
- Flight Elise TUS EE – Most Striking Appearance
Best Soprano Ukuleles of 2022
Before you go picking out your new ukulele, you first need to discover what makes soprano ukes such wonderful instruments.
As you probably already know, ukuleles come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Despite being the smallest, soprano ukuleles are what everyone pictures when presented with the word “Ukulele.”
You know why?
Well, that’s because soprano ukuleles are known for producing that classic sound of ukes. With its small body and light weight, it produces a soft, bright that’s not as resonant as the bigger models.
Of course, the short scale and narrow fret spaces mean that they can be a bit of a bother for players with big hands. However, they’re absolutely wonderful for those with smaller hands and shorter fingers, and they make one heck of a traveling companion for both beginners and skilled players.
So, if that’s what you’re looking for in your instrument, then you’ve come to the right place. So, take a look below and discover the best soprano ukuleles present on the market.
- Cordoba 15SM Soprano Ukulele – Best Overall
If you’re willing to splurge within reason to get an excellent soprano ukulele, then I guarantee you won’t find a better instrument than the Cordoba 15SM soprano uke.
First off, you need to understand the significance of the Cordoba name. This company has been manufacturing high-quality instruments since the 1950s, so you know they’ve got the hang of it by now.
All the instruments are handmade by experts with the best possible materials, so when you buy a guitar or uke from Cordoba, you know you’ve got the real deal.
The Cordoba 15SM is no exception to that rule. It’s got a laminated mahogany neck and body, which in addition to being sturdy, impart a rich, full sound to the uke.
Moreover, its rosewood fretboard is very smooth and gives the uke a brilliant tone quality that’s hard to find with other materials.
Oh, and in case you like your ukuleles to be a looker, the Cordoba !5SM will not disappoint. It’s got a genuine abalone rosette inlay to give it a little something extra. Moreover, its Ivoried binding contrasts beautifully with the mahogany body, and the satin finish gives it an elegant, timeless feel.
Pros
- Handcrafted uke
- Mahogany body and neck
- Comes with Aquila Nylgut 4U strings
- Easy to tune
- Great for beginners and intermediate musicians
Cons
- Doesn’t have a strap button, though you can install it yourself
- Kala KA-PWS Soprano Ukulele – Runner-up
Coming up right behind the Cordoba is the Kala KA-PWS soprano ukulele. This baby is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a classic ukulele sound.
It’s got a pacific walnut body to create a bright, balanced sound that’s surprisingly rich and resonant. The laurel fretboard and rosewood bridge are also fantastic at creating a quality sound that’s hard to find anywhere else.
It’s got a mahogany neck, which means that this uke will withstand a great deal of wear and tear before showing any cracks. And thankfully, the setup isn’t too low or high, making strumming an effortless affair.
And if all that wasn’t enough to impress you, then the esthetics certainly will. Having a natural wood color, satin finish, and black binding, the Kala soprano ukulele is a sight to behold.
Honestly, all this just goes to show how much thought and care Kala puts into all its instruments and why they’re always such a great buy.
The only thing I’ll say against this ukulele is that it can’t hold a tune for long. Still, as long as you don’t mind tuning it a bit more often, then you’ll be quite satisfied with this sopranos ukulele.
Pros
- Great tone and sound quality
- Good resonant sound
- Durable and beautiful
- Comes with Aquila strings
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Hard to tune initially and goes out of tune more often than not
- Luna High Tide Koa Soprano Acoustic/Electric Ukulele – Most Versatile
Wanna jam out to your favorite tunes on your soprano ukulele, but it just doesn’t get loud enough? Then, the Luna High Tide Koa ukulele will be your savior.
Made out of the much sought-after Koa wood, this little guy has a deep and mellow sound when unplugged. However, when you plug it in, you’ll hear a robust, rich sound that can carry across any room.
Additionally, its mahogany neck, as well as the walnut fretboard and bridge, ensure you get a clear, sustained sound. And the open-gear tuners give you better tuning stability and ensure your performance is always stable and reliable.
Still, the most striking thing about this uke is its appearance. The abalone waves across the fretboard truly look mesmerizing as your hand moves across the frets. They give the illusion of waves ebbing and flowing with each strum.
And it’s not just the waves that make this uke a beauty. The abalone ring present on the top, in addition to the unique wood grain of Koa wood, makes for a combination that’s truly hard to beat.
Oh, and did I mention that this uke has a cutaway sliced into it? Accordingly, you can reach the higher frets quite easily and play the solo performance of your life.
Pros
- Solid Koa wood body, which results in the traditional Hawaiian sound.
- Astounding appearance
- Good tuning stability and sustainability
- Comes with a padded gig bag
- Acoustic/electric ukulele
- Has an onboard preamp that goes allows volume and tone modifications
Cons
- Mediocre sound projection when unplugged
- Slightly expensive
- Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele – Best for Entry-Level
Now, if you’ve just started learning the ukulele, then I highly recommend going with the Kala KA-15S uke. This mahogany soprano ukulele is the definition of beginner-friendly.
Since it’s made from laminated mahogany, you can practice with it all the time, and it’ll be none-the-worse-for-wear. That being so, you can play this ukulele for many, many years until you’re ready to move on to a better instrument.
On another impressive note, the walnut fingerboard and bridge make for a clear sound.
The nuts are Graph Tech Nubone XB, which, unlike other synthetic nuts, give you excellent intonation and sustainability. Moreover, they can slightly increase the projection and bass harmonics, which are qualities that are hard to find in stringed instruments of this size.
I will say this, though. The construction isn’t as great as it could be.
Don’t get me wrong. The exterior doesn’t show it at all. The wood is finished with a satin varnish, the binding is as neat as can be, and the walnut fretboard is the definition of smooth. Even the fret ends are very nicely smoothened, which can be hard to find in ukes in this price range.
It’s just the interior that could’ve been better. The sound hole isn’t lined, and I found some splinters and remnants of glue as well.
Nevertheless, the intonation of this uke is great up to the 12th fret in all but one string, and the setup is in the sweet spot, where it’s comfortable to play without any string buzzing. All in all, the Kala KA-15S is a great buy for beginner ukulele players, even with its minor flaws.
Pros
- Made of quality materials
- Great intonation and sustainability
- Comes with Aquila strings
- Has a louder and more bassy soprano ukulele sound
- Perfect action and excellent sustain
- Sturdy and durable
Cons
- Intonation is slightly sharp on the 12th fret on the C string
- Internal build needs better finishing
- Martin S1 Soprano Ukulele – Best for Skilled Players
So, you now know what to get if you’re a beginner, but what about the advanced players? Well, the Martin S1 soprano ukulele will be just the thing for more serious musicians.
Handcrafted by the ukulele experts at Martin, this uke has a superior sound and quality construction than most other soprano ukes.
It’s got a professional sound that comes from a variety of factors, but its mostly due to its solid mahogany body. As such, this baby has a warm, bright sound with magnificent sound projection and resonance.
Of course, the compensated white TUSQ nut and saddle help to add a clear, more bright tone to the instrument, and when you factor in the Sipo Fingerboard and bridge, bam!! You’ll have yourself one heck of an amazing sound that goes well with any playing style.
Appearance-wise, the Martin S1 sticks to the basics, with a hand-rubbed satin coat that lends the uke a vintage vibe. The rosette consists of 2 white stripes that contrast beautifully with the dark mahogany color.
Pros
- Best soprano ukulele for any experienced ukulele player
- Solid wood body
- High-quality construction
- Superb playability
- Suits various music styles, be it traditional Hawaiian music, country, or rock
- Comes with a padded gig bag
- Stringed with fluorocarbon strings for better sustainability
Cons
- Kind of pricey
- Luna Vintage Pineapple Soprano Ukulele – Most Unique
The Luna Vintage pineapple soprano ukulele is one of my absolute personal favorites, and I’ll tell you just why.
Unlike the standard soprano ukulele, pineapple-shaped ukes have a far better sound projection and a more mellow tone. That’s because the pineapple shape results in more air in the body, giving a volume comparable to that of a concert ukulele.
It goes without saying that the mahogany body and walnut bridge, and fingerboard work very well together to create a clear, bright tone. Add all this to the open-gear tuners, and this uke will produce the best-sustained voice you can ever hope to hear.
Still, I can’t skip the aesthetics when talking about a Luna uke. I mean, seriously, this company has some of the most creative designs I’ve ever seen, and this uke has one of the best.
The fretboard has mother-of-pearl inlays that are modeled after shark teeth. Moreover, the central rosette has a Polynesian-inspired design that’s truly distinctive and unique. In short, this uke is quite the looker, and it’s got the voice to match its good looks.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Fantastic projection and resonance
- Has a clear, sustained sound
Cons
- The pineapple shape results in a non-traditional sound
- Fender Seaside Soprano Ukulele Pack – Best Budget Pack
If you’ve only recently picked up a ukulele and you need to buy a good instrument with all its accessories, the Fender Seaside soprano ukulele pack will serve you well.
The uke itself is quite excellent, made out of solid mahogany that imparts a heart-warming tone to the instrument. It’s made in the style of a guitar, with a 4-in-line telecaster headstock, which gives the ukulele a very distinctive look.
The one thing I’ll say against this uke is that its projection is inferior to most soprano ukuleles. Yes, soprano ukes usually don’t have that much volume, but this ukulele takes it a step further.
Now, while this quality can be a bad thing for skilled players who like performing to a crowd, I find that this can come in handy for beginners who want to practice without bothering everyone around them. So, it really depends on how you look at it.
In the same sense, beginners will greatly benefit from the included gig bag, clip-on tuner, spare set of strings, and a 3-month subscription to Fender Play for numerous ukulele lessons.
Pros
- Creative telecaster-like design
- Comes with Aquila strings
- Various accessories and online lessons
- Solid mahogany body
- Has a no-tie bridge for easy restringing
- Perfect soprano ukulele for practicing quietly
Cons
- Subpar projection which limits performance
- Flight Elise TUS EE – Most Striking Appearance
My last pick of the day is the Flight Elise TUS EE, and I included it in this list mostly due to its out-of-world appearance. I mean, when I first laid my eyes on it, I was absolutely mesmerized. The vibrant colors against the black backdrop make for quite a sight that’ll be the envy of any ukulele lover.
That isn’t to say that it’s just got its looks going for it. This bad boy has quite a solid construction as well.
It’s made of laminated linden, which is sturdy and can withstand variable temperatures and humidity levels. It’s also got a wide arched back, meaning its sound projection is great, and its tone is clear and bright.
Additionally, this uke has an installed strap button and comes with a gig bag and Aquila strings that are known for their sweet, warm tone.
Pros
- Captivating sunset design
- Solid construction
- Reasonable price
- Comes with a gig bag
- Has good resonance and tone
- Has 17 frets
Cons
- A bit too heavy for my liking
A Guide to Buying a Quality Soprano Ukulele
If you’re new to playing ukulele, then you need to know which features to look for so that you end up with a good soprano ukulele.
There are various things that can impact the sound of a soprano ukulele, from nut material to the type of tuners and string material.
However, when it comes down to it, I always find that two ukulele features are what really matter, and they are wood type and body shape. So, let’s see how each one impacts your ukulele, shall we?
Wood Type
When it comes to wood, there are two things to consider. First, is whether the wood is solid or laminated. Second, is the type of wood used for the construction.
First off, let’s talk about solid vs. laminated wood.
Solid wood means that the ukulele’s soundboard will be built from one solid piece, and as such, they impart the best sound and resonance to your ukulele.
Whether it’s made of Koa or Spruce, when the wood is one whole piece, its characteristic tone will be much more apparent, and that’s why solid wood is also called tonewood.
However, since solid wood is quite delicate and therefore hard to manipulate, it’s a bit too pricey for most people, and that’s when laminated wood comes into play.
Basically, laminated wood is several layers of wood bound to each other, and it’s much more available and cheaper than solid wood.
They’re also usually better looking as the best-looking wood sheet is placed at the surface. This, of course, isn’t the case for solid wood as you end up with whatever look the piece of wood has, be it pretty or meh.
Still, many people dislike it as they find it subpar to solid wood. However, laminated wood can still sound awesome if made correctly, though the resonance will usually be slightly less than that of solid wood.
Now, let’s move on to the wood type. Typically, moat ukuleles are made from mahogany, Koa, cedar, spruce, and rosewood. Each of these woods has a characteristic tone that makes its way into the ukulele.
For instance, mahogany produces a soft and warm tone that’s quite full and heavy. Meanwhile, spruce has a crisp time with lots of bass. Koa sits somewhere in the middle with a more mellow tone.
In my opinion, there isn’t really a better or worse wood.
Each is distinctive, so the choice will usually come down to how pleasant the ukulele sounds to your ear.
Still, you should know that almost all high-quality ukes are made of Hawaiian Koa and mahogany as these are the most durable and produce the best sounds.
Typically, these ukuleles usually have a rosewood fingerboard that’s known for its smoothness. That’s so that ukulele players don’t nick their fingers when running then across the frets.
Body Shape
Soprano ukuleles typically come in three shapes: figure-of-eight, pineapple, and banjo.
The figure-of-eight shape that resembles the guitar is the most popular one used for soprano ukes. It imparts a balanced, rich tone to the instrument.
Meanwhile, the few pineapple-shaped ukes don’t have as much of a focused tone, but it’s got great sound projection, making them the ideal instrument when performing in front of a crowd.
Finally, banjo-shaped ukuleles are modeled after actual banjos, and their sound is considered the loudest, though it loses much of the traditional ukulele sound.
Again, there’s no good or bad. It depends on what tone you like and how you’ll use your uke.
Conclusion
As I previously said, numerous ukuleles are strewn throughout the market; however, the good ones are actually a bit hard to find. Still, the models I’ve mentioned should be some of the best out there, so you can take your pick from there.
Personally, though, I find the best overall soprano ukulele to be the Cordoba 15SM. It’s beautifully constructed from high-quality materials, and it’s so easy to tune and play that it would be a great starting instrument for both older and younger musicians.
Still, make sure you try out different ukuleles first before you buy one. That way, you know you’ve made the best choice for you!