Kala Makala Soprano Mahogany Ukulele (MK-S)

Product Information

It’s great for people who want to learn the ukulele and try it out before dropping big bucks on an instrument they might not like or commit to. This is common on more affordable instruments, but I think the synthetic bone found on slightly more expensive ukuleles tends to offer increased sustain and volume. I didn’t notice any buzzing or high frets as I played up the neck, and the notes consistently rang out clear and clean. They’re either a bit tinny or they’re muted and somewhere between those brackets is the holy grail of sound.

I decided I wanted to learn to play the ukulele (but never touched one in my life) and chose this one. I can’t point to a particular feature of the KA-15S that would account for this difference, but it could be the upgraded nut and saddle (covered below). To my mind that’s no bad thing, particularly when one’s a beginner and still building confidence, or else want something to mess about on without having to worry about neighbours etc.I have played guitar for many years but this little instrument is SOOOOO much fun I heartily recommend it for beginners or as a carry about spare. Some players may find the soprano a bit too tiny to play comfortably and may want to consider the larger concert or tenor sizes. Even though I prefer ukes with a traditional look and finish, I think may folks will like the Dolphin’s bold color options.

The tie-bar bridge might be an issue for some newcomers to ukulele who would prefer a slotted bridge but regular readers of Ukulele Go will know that I’m not a slotted bridge type of guy. The Makala ukulele comes in the traditional wood look and also in a series of pastel colors (blue, pink etc. I’ve never been much of an equipment hound for whatever instrument I’ve played, but I have trouble finding any significant differences between these models – they both have a decent warmth of sound and hold in tune fairly well. The solid Agathis body with a Walnut fingerboard is a classic combination for excellent reliability and long lasting performance. With no model recommendations from me, all but one student showed up with either a Makala MK-S or a Lanikai LU-11.

This great sounding Makala MK-C Concert Ukulele is ideal for anyone beginning or wanting to improve their ukulele. NuBone is a harder, denser material than plastic and will (in theory) transmit more of the strings’ vibration to the body of the uke.

Symphony Tech Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 716065. When strummed it kicks out a fair bit of noise and if you’re quite heavy handed then you’re going to really notice that. I'd like to add that a friend of mine admitted to me that she'd lost her temper and thrown one of these about 10 foot from her room, where it landed on the staircase, and she assured me that it was thrown HARD. These larger-bodied ukes are a little more expensive, but they’ll have a richer tone with more volume and bass. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard and saddle are rosewood–all fairly standard materials for acoustic instruments.Introducing the Tenor Ukulele, a classic rendition crafted with precision and a focus on quality materials. While the Dolphin’s tone and playability won’t thrill serious players, it’s still a fun, well-built uke.

Some folks with larger hands or fat fingers may find the short fingerboard and close frets of a soprano a little tricky to navigate. Your donations all go back into the site to allow me to keep bringing you reviews, and in the end the ukuleles acquired are given to local schools and charities.It means I can play it using mandolin chords and fingerings without having to learn another instrument! The tuners on the MK-S work fine, and as far as I can tell they’re identical to the tuners on the KA-15S except for the buttons.