The 8 Best Soprano Ukuleles (Standard & Pineapple) 2024

Ben Jacklin

Ben is a writer, musician, and former studio engineer from the UK. His two major passions in life are music and writing, so naturally, he chose a combination of both as his career. Besides writing about instruments, music, and music equipment, he also used to work in recording studios in the East of England. He produced music that has been played on BBC radio and even ran a record label where some of the music he produced was played on MTV. As a self-proclaimed audiophile, Ben emerged himself in the world of music from quite an early age.

1. Cordoba 15SM

The best overall soprano ukulele in 2024

Cordoba is known for its string instruments including the ukuleles it manufactures to such a high standard. The 15SM is one of the best soprano ukes out there, and it doesn’t cost an extreme amount, either. This is especially true if you consider just how much quality it has to offer.

If you are looking for the best soprano ukulele under $100 then there won’t be many options that have the handmade quality of the 15SM. The detailing is fantastic, and as well as the actual uke itself being handmade, it has a hand inlay rosette, the sort of thing normally reserved for very expensive ukes.

It has a mahogany top, back, and sides which provide pretty good projection even for quite a small instrument.

Image credit: Cordoba Check Price on Sweetwater

Includes Aquila Nylgut 4U strings.
Decent projection from the mahogany build.
Fantastic, hand-made design.

Doesn’t ship with a bag or accessories.

There’s not much to fault with this instrument. Though it arguably doesn’t quite compete with the most popular professional ukuleles, it is a fantastic all-rounder for beginner and intermediate players. If you are just getting started but don’t want a cheap and low-quality uke then this could be your answer. Cordoba’s build-quality is surprising.

2. Martin S1

The best high-end soprano uke for professionals

This is a truly incredible instrument. If you are into guitar or ukulele then it is only a matter of time before you come across Martin instruments, and there is little denying the fact that they are one of the most respectable brands out there, with over 100 years history in making quality ukuleles. This may be the best-sounding soprano uke out there.

What sets it apart is the fact that not only does this Martin instrument have a bright, shimmering tone of a soprano uke, but it also manages to ring out more loudly and project more fully than most other soprano ukes. They’re small instruments, so it is hard to achieve this big sound.

On top of this, there are a few of the features we know to expect from Martin. Handmade quality, attention to detail, excellent binding and a generally well-built instrument mean it is at home in the studio or on the stage.

Image credit: Martin Check Price on Sweetwater

Excellent projection from the mahogany design.
Handmade Martin build quality.
Beautiful, natural finish.

Not a very affordable option.

If you are happy to invest the extra money to get a ukulele with a professional feel, from one of the greatest ukulele and guitar brands out there, the Martin S1 could be the choice for you. High-end products aren’t the solution for beginners, but if you are a pro musician it might be exactly what you need.

3. Kala MK-S

The best value for money soprano ukulele

You can always rely on there being a Kala model of soprano, no matter what size or style you’re looking for. They have possibly the biggest range of ukuleles out there, but the MK-S is one of their simpler, more straightforward models. This means it is a good budget choice for musicians and hobbyists.

For an affordable model, the sound is pretty good. It has a mahogany body just like some of the more expensive options, and the sustain is pretty good due to the fact it has a NuBone nut and saddle to transfer the vibrations.

The sound is extremely bright, and has a high-end ring to it that is reminiscent of some classic models of soprano uke, with a real Hawaiian feel to it.

Image credit: Kala Check Price on Sweetwater

Very good value for money.
Good materials used including NuBone and mahogany.
Includes access to Kala learning materials.

Not the best projection.
The body feels factory-made rather than handmade.

This instrument doesn’t have the most professional feel of all of the products on the list, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. It certainly has its place for beginners and those on a budget, who still want a bit of quality in their uke purchase.

4. Luna UKE VMP

The best pineapple ukulele

When people think of the classic Hawaiian image of a ukulele, they often think about the pineapple design. This design was given its name due to the way the body looks. As you can see, it’s a fun design, but this isn’t just about being fun and looking great, it’s about being comfortable, too.

It’s easy to see why the Luna VMP (Vintage Mahogany Pineapple) model of soprano uke is so popular, the comfort on offer is not just from the rounded design but there is a C-shaped neck, which also has a satin finish and feels great when playing notes or chords. The strings included are Aquila, and yet again this is a model made out of mahogany, probably the most popular tonewood out there. It has a great walnut bridge, too.

Luna Vintage Mahogany Pineapple (VMP) Soprano Ukulele

Image credit: Luna Guitars Check Price on Sweetwater

Comfortable to play.
Excellent Luna design.
Comes with quality Aquila strings.

Doesn’t stay in tune as well as some other options.
Very bright tone, not to everyone’s taste.

Those who are looking for a pineapple style probably have quite a specific idea in their head of what they are looking for. The tone of this uke has a ‘love it or hate it’ vibe, but it is undeniably a comfortable and fantastic looking instrument.

5. Kala Learn To Play Kit

The best soprano ukulele kit for beginners

A starter kit can be a fantastic option for beginners. Not only does it offer a decent entry-level instrument, but this Kala option comes with a wide variety of different accessories and learning materials to get you started.

The instrument itself is a decent-quality Kala uke. While it is nothing to write home about, it has a mahogany and walnut design, which is more than suitable for most beginners and can provide you with a good starting point. You even get some decent Aquila strings included with this model.

Being a Kala uke, it has online lessons included and even comes with a guide to help you get started with playing the uke. On top of this, there is a Kala app for tuning and lessons. The accessories included really set this model apart, as well as the free lessons you also receive a soft gig bag to transport the instrument.

Kala Learn To Play Soprano Ukulele Starter Kit

Image credit: Kala Check Price on Sweetwater

Affordable.
Decent instrument quality with walnut and mahogany build.
Comes with lessons and accessories.

The included gig bag isn’t very high-quality.

This is a cheap model, and as such you shouldn’t expect too much from it, but it does offer plenty for beginners, who don’t want to invest $200 in a ukulele if they don’t even know if they will continue with the hobby.

6. Cordoba 28S

The best koa soprano ukulele

This is made out of some of the finest koa wood. What’s the big deal about koa? It gives a really bright and traditional sound to your ukulele. A lot of people think of a uke sound as the brightness and projection of something that uses koa. This wood was widely used in Hawaii when the ukulele started to get popular, so you could say that this is a really traditional model.

It’s also one of the best soprano ukuleles under $200, and though it’s not a cheap option, it sells well due to the quality for the price. You may be looking for something with a pro feel to it, that still doesn’t cost as much as the Martin option mentioned above.

This has more to like than just the koa design though. The abalone rosette looks fantastic, and a comfortable mahogany neck combined with pau ferro fingerboard means the instrument plays like a pro model.

Image credit: Cordoba Check Price on Sweetwater

Bright and traditional tone.
Comfortable to play with a C-shaped neck.
Striking design.

Can fall out of tune too often.
More than most beginners wish to spend.

There’s obviously a balance between cost and quality and though this isn’t a cheap soprano ukulele compared to the others, it is available under $200 and still has plenty of great features, and the exceptional koa wood, in its favor.

7. Luna UKE HTS ZBR

The best acoustic-electric soprano ukulele

Are you in the market for an acoustic-electric instrument? There is a lot to like about a ukulele that can easily be plugged into amplification or a PA system, and for convenience, the Luna High Tide can do a fantastic job.

The body of this instrument looks fantastic. It has maple and walnut binding and a really eye-catching design. You might easily forget about the fact that it has electronics included, these come in the form of an under-saddle pickup, and there is also a preamp included.

The tone isn’t compromised, so when you plug into an amp, you get a reliable replication of the acoustic sound. There’s even a tuner inbuilt and a 2-band EQ, so you can alter the sound to your own preference.

Luna High Tide Zebrawood Acoustic-Electric Soprano Ukulele

Image credit: Luna Guitars Check Price on Sweetwater

Fantastic, striking design.
Comes with electronics included.
Comfortable to play.

The acoustic tone is not as good as some competitors.
Quite pricey due to the included pickup.

People with a specific need for an acoustic-electric model will find that there aren’t too many soprano ukuleles on the list that fit the bill. There are more concert and tenor ukes that have a pickup included, so you can enjoy the simplicity of amplification. If this is high on your priorities, consider the Luna High Tide zebrawood soprano ukulele.

8. Kala LTP Color Chord Kit

Cheapest soprano kit at under $50

This is the second Kala starter kit to make the list. It is incredible how much is packed into such a cheap price point with the Kala Learn To Play, and while this is not the kind of instrument you’ll want to take to record your new album, it is a good option for those who are just getting started. If you’re looking to buy a uke for your child and you aren’t sure if they will continue the hobby, for example.

The Color Chord is designed mainly for learning the chords, and you receive lots of lessons with this, including access to online lessons with Emily Arrow. There are charts and booklets included as well as access to the Kala app. The tote bag also makes it easy to store and transport.

The tonewoods could be better, and so could the sound, but for the money invested it is hard to argue with.

Kala Learn To Play Color Chord Soprano Ukulele Starter Kit

Image credit: Kala Check Price on Sweetwater

Great for learning chords.
Provides access to a lot of Kala learning material.
Free tote bag for the uke.

A slightly childish feel to the learning materials.
Not an elite tone.

It’s not going to be played on huge stages around the world, but for beginners, to get so much for under $50 is truly incredible. Kala does it again.

Conclusion

Choosing the best soprano ukuleles comes down to the features you need, the tone you are looking for and any accessories you need to buy. Our list of the top options should provide something for you, no matter your level of ability or how early on you are in the journey of becoming an accomplished ukulele player.