10 Best Tenor Ukuleles in 2020
Sometimes we have good and bad days. When faced with a terrible day, I always try to find ways to rejuvenate myself back through good music. Research has it that the soothing sound of the best tenor ukulele sound can speak to your soul. However, finding the right equipment to produce this amazing sound can be frustrating.
During my beginner’s days, my journey was met with a lot of hiccups because I had not grasped all the dos and don’ts that come with acquiring this equipment. These frustrations fueled my desire to help other ukulele players select the right equipment that meets their requirements without going through the same struggles I went through. With this said, I have come up with a detailed piece that reviews the best 10 tenor ukuleles to purchase.
Martin C1 Concert Ukulele Natural- the best ukulele overall
Known as the world’s most beautiful, Martin Ukuleles have been praised for their full-bodied voice and great volume for a long time. It also has the ability to deliver a full and rich sound when strummed. Apart from being super portable, this ukulele has a lot of tones.
The Martin C1K concert ukulele comes with a solid Hawaiian side feature at the top and back topped with a hand-rubbed quality finish. Its neck is made from perfectly chosen hardwood. With its neck joint being made with dovetails and contains the best quality satin lacquer. It comes with a 15 inches scale length and non-scalloped brace shape. The Martini C1 concert ukulele neck tapper has a bridge string spacing that measures 1 and 41/64 inches. This ukulele comes with a 1 and 13/16 inch fingerboard width at a 12th fret with fingerboard inlay dots made of white plastic. Its neck joins the body at the 12th fret and has a total of 17 frets. The best thing with this ukulele is that it has a solid headstock with a ukulele profile.
The C1K ukulele quality department does not disappoint, making it an instrument that everyone will surely love to have with a 4.7-star rating in Amazon.
Pros:
- Its low actions make it easier to play.
- Has great playability compared to other ukuleles with even a higher price
- It can hold its tuning perfectly and poses a pleasant woody aroma.
- Comes with a super cool gig bag
Cons:
- For those with bigger fingers, it can take time to play this ukulele due to its smaller size
Lanikai Ukulele ACST
For uniqueness and quality sound, then Lanikai ukulele ACST is your better choice. This ukulele delivers a perfectly balanced, mellow tone with the best sustain.
The Lanikai ukulele ACST is a perfect all-solid acacia ukulele with its saddle and nut crafted with NuBone XB for maximum sustainability and the perfect tone. For comfort and safety, it comes with chrome strap buttons. This ukulele has a traditional look and gloss finish that bring out its uniqueness. It brings out that comfortable feature when playing this ACST ukulele. It comes with a wider nut for its somewhat wider neck. The Lanikai ACST ukulele’s stunning fingerboard is made of walnut and perfectly responsive when playing either chording or lead. It also features dots for fingerboard inlays with 12 frets equipped with D’Addario EJ88 strings.
The Lanikai ACST unique features make it stand out even among the rest a reason why it’s preferred by many and given a 5.o star rating in Amazon.
Pros:
- Its annotation is perfect and comes with an excellent sustain and projection
- Has an excellent and unique finish
- It’s Grover tuners works smoothly
- Has an excellent finish and fit that is all-round
Cons:
For beginners, they may find the Lanikai ACST ukulele sound a little deeper.
Martini T1K Tenor Ukulele-KOA- the best for even left-handed players
Looking for that great ukulele with the ability to suit even the left-handed ukulele player, well, the martini T1K tenor ukulele serves you best.
The T1K tenor ukulele features top, back, and sides made from a solid Hawaiian Koa, a native Hawaii wood type considered the best by island players. This ukulele comes with a satin lacquer whole body finish featuring an applied dovetail neck joint, which makes it a better example as to why Martini is your go-to choice. It has a fingerboard width of 1 and 11/32 inches with a bridge spacing measuring of 1 and 5/5 inches. It also comes with a sipo made bridge and a white tusq made saddle. The T1K tenor ukulele features an open nickel gear perfect for tuning. It also features an inlay fingerboard dots style with 20 frets.
This is certainly your choice when it comes to great tones with a 4.5-star rating in Amazon.
Pros:
- Has a resonant body that is light
- Has an excellent value combined with high tones and playability
- Its intonation is excellent with a playable fretboard that feels spacious
- Has a well-balanced note which resonates louder than the others
Cons:
- Has no straps
- Has smaller fret markers that can be missed easily
Kala KA-SSTU-T Tenor Travel Ukulele-best for a unique travel experience
For the best ultra-thin travel experience with your ukulele, then the KA-SSTU-T is just for you. The thin travel body line makes this ukulele easily portable and perfect for carrying it out to your adventures.
This ukulele contains a satin finish with natural color. It comes with a solid spruce top and mahogany back. Featuring a slim tenor, its black rosette also matches its black color binding. The KA-SSTU-T also features a bridge and fingerboard made of walnut with saddle and nut made of GraphTech. It also has a standard headstock. Its overall length measures 25.81 inches with a 16.94 inches length scale. It comes with a body length measure of 11.81 inches and a total of 18 frets.
With a 4.7 rating in Amazon, this is your preferred travel ukulele.
Pros:
- Easy to play and handle due to its lightweight feature
- Stays in tune perfectly
- Perfect for higher-keys
- Its wide frets make playing chords simple
- Loud enough with a comfortable neck
- Great for learners
Cons:
Despite being an excellent ukulele for learners, it sounds more like a toy than the full-bodied tenor’s full and decent sound.
Oscar Schmidt OU7T tenor Ukulele-best for beginners and professionals
Known globally for its quality, value and selection, Oscar Schmidt OU7T is perfect for pros and beginners alike. This instrument will undoubtedly provide you with a lifetime playing enjoyment.
The Oscar Schmidt OU7T is a perfect tenor ukulele made using solid pieces of mango wood. It comes with a synthetic bone saddle and nut, not forgetting an abalone rosette. It contains a total of 19 frets with a scale length of 17 inches. It also comes with a bridge style and gloss finish. The Oscar Schmidt OU7T has an excellent sound in both strumming and picking.
If you are looking for an instrument that gives back no muffle or mute once hit, then the Oscar Schmidt OU7T is your preferred choice with a 4.7 rating in Amazon.
Pros:
- Has a beautiful C neck
- Its Grover geared tuners provide an easy tune option
- Plays nicely just like any other expensive ukulele
- Has low actions strings
Fender Rincon Ovangkol tenor ukulele
Fender Rincon Ovangkol ukulele features a solid ovangkol top body with laminated ovangkol sides and backs. It comes with a solid ovangkol made top for enhanced volume, making this ukulele sing with full-bodied chimes while flaunting a unique natural appearance. It embraces a satin-body finish with a fun bracing. Its no-tie bridge, striking abalone rosette rounds out the Rincon Ovangkol modern feature while it’s two by two headstock including a vintage tuning style machine closed back gives the ukulele a traditional look. The fingerboard is made using laminated hardwood for durability with 19frets in total topped vintage-looking inlay dots. Its scale length is 432mm or 17 inches, with the tuning machines made of sealed nickel.
Packed with top-grade features, this ukulele is your rich voice, deep instrument that is uniquely inspiring with a 3.0-star rating in Amazon.
Pros:
- Has a gorgeous tone matching its beautiful rosette
- Stay in tune properly
- Has the best tuning begs compared to the straight wooden pegs found in some ukuleles
- Sounds perfect, looks beautiful and feels comfortable
- Its slanted knobs offer easy access when adjusting
Cons:
Has a wonky headstock
- Has a poor quality control with blemishes arising on the fingerboard
FLEA Concert Tenor Ukulele
For a different look, the FLEA concert ukulele is a famous American model with the ability to amaze you due to its quality.
The FLEA Concert ukulele comes in a relaxed almond body shape with a flat bottom. It blends both traditional and modern features within its body construction, including a moulded-injection thermoplastic for the ukulele back and sides, perfectly laminated with a birch top. Its natural finish helps in showing off its grain birch. It has a concert scale featuring a hard maple neck joining the body at precisely the 13th fret with a total of 15 frets. For durability, it has a polycarbonate fret-board and non-metal frets molded within the board. It’s also a heavy duty-all-round ukulele perfect for traveling. It produces a great sound that is crispy and happy.
Being an American made ukulele, it guarantees high quality with an Amazon rating of 4.7 stars.
Pros:
- Has a fret-board that is large enough for people with big and fat fingers
- Has a flat bottom that is nice and allows players to set it easily
- Since it is a concert ukulele, it’s easy to play and stay in tune
Kala KA-SA-B solid Acacia Tenor Ukulele-the best solid Acacia ukulele
The Kala KA-SA-B ukulele is made using a solid acacia wood that allows sound improvement even as it ages.
The Kala KA-SA-B comes in a baritone size with sides, back and top made from solid acacia. It features purfling made of herringbone with a maple made binding and a mahogany neck. Its fingerboard is made using walnut with the saddle and nut being made of GraphTech. The Kala KA-SA-B ukulele is equipped with unique Aquila Superstrings and a slotted headstock. Its overall scale length is approximately 20.25 inches and a body length of 14 inches consisting of an upper bout measuring 7.75 inches in width and the lower bout measuring 10.25 inches in width. It also comes with a total of 18 frets.
For an instrument that is rich, distinct and offers a sumptuous sustain, then KA-S-B ukulele is your best choice with a rating of 4.9 In Amazon.
Pros:
- A stunning instrument
- Its trembles and base can easily be heard when strumming
- Has a better sustain with the ability to ring for long
Enya EUC-70- Best for Concerts
The Enya EUC-70 ukulele poses 23 inches overall measurement. It features slotted headstocks with a neck made using mahogany. It has a Koa made back, top and sides with a fingerboard made using ebony technology. It also comes with a classic tuner with equipped Enya strings. This ukulele also sounds best with a balanced tone that is enhanced by the thin and slim ukulele design.
For high-quality concert performance, you should go for this ukulele with a rating of 4.6 rating stars in Amazon.
Pros:
- Its build quality and craftsmanship is superb
- Has a high performance and worth its price
- No sharp frets and messy globs
- Easy to use
- Has tow installed strap pins
Cons:
- The electric tuner does not function
- Comes with poor sets of string, but has a replacement
Enya EUT-M6-Best for professional performance
The Enya-M6 offers an exquisite appearance. It is a favorite instrument for professional performance and entertainment.
Equipped with a 3A mahogany body and neck, it offers fine craftsmanship that is just unique. It comes with a mother inlay rosette pearl with a fret-board and bridge made from black richlite. Its fretboard inlay is made using pearl wood and features Glod Agate cast tuning machines while the saddle and nut are made of NuBone. The ukulele is perfectly equipped with D’Addario J87 strings for the tenor sets and the Enya concert strings for the concert sets. The ukulele is topped up with a high-class gloss finish to bring out that quality look. With a 3A mahogany top, sides and back, this instrument produces clear, melodious and crisp sounds.
For better entertainment and performance, the Enya-M6 stands out among the rest, an Amazon rating of 4.6.
Pros:
- Has the ability to hold its tune perfectly
- Beautiful strap buttons, built-in EQ and fretboard inlays
- Has a quality gig bag included in its kit
Pro Tips:
The best advice I can give anyone who wishes to acquire the best tenor ukulele is to carry out extensive research. Research helps in avoiding the hurdles that come with impulse buying. The needs and purpose of each tenor ukulele vary, meaning you have to go for one that specifically outlines your requirements. However, this can only be possible if you take your time and go through some of the most preferred ukuleles before settling on one. With this, visit a few musical instrument websites and go through the reviews of the available ukuleles and the rating of each tenor ukulele before making a final decision. As an artistic professional, I’m always ready to guide you in the right direction, therefore feel free to ask as many questions as possible.