The ukulele is an instrument incredibly prevalent in pop culture. While many use the instrument for casual strumming at a bonfire on the beach, there are actually plenty of more serious musical applications for the instrument.
The baritone ukulele can be found in notable songs such as “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Love Me Do,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
In this article, we will cover the baritone ukulele and the top six ukes to purchase on Amazon. There is a wide price range for baritone ukuleles on the site from several different companies and we will be analyzing the pros and cons of the highest rated instruments on Amazon.
What is a Baritone Ukulele and How is it Different from a Normal Ukulele?
While the vast majority of people think of the ukulele as a tiny guitar just meant for Hawaiian sounding music, this is not the case. There are actually four different types of instruments in the ukulele family: Soprano, Baritone, Concert and Tenor.
The soprano ukulele is the most common one, known for its small build and relatively easy learning curve. The baritone ukulele, however, is very different. It is much larger, close in size to a parlor guitar, and is not so easy to casually pick up and learn right away.
The main style of music a baritone is best used for is actually blues, not exclusively for beach music. The lower range of the instrument compared to other ukuleles, as well as the standard guitar tuning lends itself to playing blues music quite well. Here is a video tutorial showing how it works and sounds.
How to Tune a Baritone Ukulele?
The tuning of a baritone ukulele is different compared to other ukuleles in that the notes of the standard tuning actually mimic those of the top four strings on a guitar: D, G, B and E.
For guitarists, this will be an extremely easy transition as it is the same as the bottom 4 strings on a standard tuned guitar. You just turn the tuning knobs on the headstock to those notes, whether with a tuner or by ear, and you are good to go!
This list will feature six of the highest rated baritone ukuleles on Amazon and will cover the specs, materials, pros and cons and offer a brief description.
Image | Description | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Kala MK-B Makala Classic Baritone Ukulele The mahogany body produces a distinctly smooth mellow tone that plays incredibly well for an instrument under $100. | 9.5 | View Price | |
Kala KA-SA-B Solid Acacia Baritone Ukulele The Kala KA-SA-B is a finely crafted baritone ukulele designed for ukulele players who want an instrument that is on the higher end in terms of quality. | 9.5 | View Price | |
Kmise MI2564 Tiger Flame Okoume Wood Baritone Ukulele The Kmise MI2564 is a baritone ukulele bundle that is a fantastic value. The ukulele has a wonderful looking tiger flame finish on the body and comes with a gig bag, strap, five guitar picks and a truss rod to adjust the instrument’s action. | 9.5 | View Price | |
Kala KA-SBG Spruce Top Mahogany Baritone Ukulele The Kala KA-SBG baritone ukulele simply looks beautiful. It has a plain spruce top and darker mahogany body that would make you think it’s an acoustic guitar, if it weren’t for the four strings. | 9.5 | View Price | |
Caramel CB103 Electric Acoustic Baritone Ukulele This Caramel baritone ukulele bundle has so much to offer to a musician looking into playing the instrument. It comes with a gig bag, strap, three picks, a wall mount, cable and a truss rod. | 9.5 | View Price | |
Kala KA-BG Mahogany Baritone Ukulele The KA-BG is another beautiful baritone ukulele crafted by Kala. The dark mahogany body is given a natural finish, giving it a simple and elegant look | 9.5 | View Price |
1. Kala MK-B Makala Mahogany Baritone Ukulele
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
The Kala MK-B is the second highest rated baritone ukulele on Amazon simply because it is the best entry level ukulele on the market. The asking price is more than reasonable and it comes from a highly reputable brand as well.
The mahogany body produces a distinctly smooth mellow tone that plays incredibly well for an instrument under $100. It also comes with an adjustable truss rod to adjust the height of your strings atop the fretboard as well.
Key Specs
Material: | Mahogany body, Mahogany neck, Walnut fretboard |
Acoustic: | Yes |
Electric: | No |
Strings Included: | Yes |
Amazon Rating: | 4.5 out of 5 Stars |
Warranty: | No |
Accessories: | Truss rod |
Package Dimensions: | 30.56 in. L x 10.31 in. W x 3.2 in. H (776.22 mm L x 266.7 mm W x 101.6 mm H) |
Package Weight: | 1 lb. (0.45kg) |
2. Kala KA-SA-B Solid Acacia Series Baritone Ukulele
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
Description
The Kala KA-SA-B is a finely crafted baritone ukulele designed for ukulele players who want an instrument that is on the higher end in terms of quality. It is also on the higher end of the typical price range but is also available for monthly financing.
The acacia wood is strikingly similar to the iconic koa wood used in many ukuleles and as the wood ages the instrument’s intonation will actually improve. This piece is known for its powerfully loud volume when playing as well as the clarity in hearing both bass and treble tones when playing. Purchase it here.
Key Specs
Material: | Acacia body, Mahogany neck, Walnut fretboard |
Acoustic: | Yes |
Electric: | No |
Strings Included: | Yes |
Amazon Rating: | 4.6 out of 5 Stars |
Warranty: | No |
Accessories: | None |
Package Dimensions: | 28 in. L x 10.5 in. W x 4 in. H (711.2 mm L x 266.7 mm W x 101.6 mm H) |
Package Weight: | 2.55 lb. (1.16kg) |
3. Kmise MI2564 Tiger Flame Okoume Wood Baritone Ukulele
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
Description
The Kmise MI2564 is a baritone ukulele bundle that is a fantastic value. The ukulele has a wonderful looking tiger flame finish on the body and comes with a gig bag, strap, five guitar picks and a truss rod to adjust the instrument’s action.
If you are a beginning player with no musical equipment or accessories, this would be an ideal purchase. It may not have the signature brand name of a Kala product, but this bundle will definitely not disappoint. Purchase it here.
Key Specs
Material: | Okoume body and neck, Walnut fretboard |
Acoustic: | Yes |
Electric: | No |
Strings Included: | Yes |
Amazon Rating: | 4.5 out of 5 Stars |
Warranty: | No |
Accessories: | Truss rod, strap, five picks and gig bag |
Package Dimensions: | 31.5 in. L x 13 in. W x 5.4 in. H (800.1 mm L x 330.2 mm W x 137.16 mm H) |
Package Weight: | 4.14 lb. (1.88kg) |
4. Kala KA-SBG Spruce Top Mahogany Baritone Ukulele
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
Description
The Kala KA-SBG baritone ukulele simply looks beautiful. It has a plain spruce top and darker mahogany body that would make you think it’s an acoustic guitar, if it weren’t for the four strings.
The Kala name is extremely reliable as far as ukuleles go and its price puts it in the upper middle of the baritone ukulele price range. The sound is warm and the wood material used is proven and quality. This is a great intermediate to advanced ukulele that you cannot go wrong in purchasing. Purchase it here.
Key Specs
Material: | Mahogany body, Spruce top, Rosewood fretboard |
Acoustic: | Yes |
Electric: | No |
Strings Included: | Yes |
Amazon Rating: | 5 out of 5 Stars (Only 10 ratings) |
Warranty: | No |
Accessories: | None |
Package Dimensions: | 36 in. L x 12.5 in. W x 6.5 in. H (914.4 mm L x 317.5 mm W x 165.1 mm H) |
Package Weight: | N/A |
5. Caramel CB103 Electric Acoustic Baritone Ukulele
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
Description
This Caramel baritone ukulele bundle has so much to offer to a musician looking into playing the instrument. It comes with a gig bag, strap, three picks, a wall mount, cable and a truss rod.
In addition to the accessories, the instrument itself has a lot to offer. It is made up of a beautifully finished Zebrawood body and also can play as both an acoustic and electric ukulele. The instrument also has a built in tuner, basically everything you would need either comes with the CB103 or is built into the ukulele itself. Purchase it here.
Key Specs
Material: | Zebrawood body, Mahogany neck, Walnut fretboard |
Acoustic: | Yes |
Electric: | Yes |
Strings Included: | Yes |
Amazon Rating: | 4.4 out of 5 Stars (Amazon’s Choice) |
Warranty: | 30-day |
Accessories: | Gig bag, truss rod, cable, wall hanger, 3 picks, cleaning cloth, strap |
Package Dimensions: | 32.3 in. L x 12.52 in. W x 5.51 in. H (820.42 mm L x 318.01 mm W x 139.95 mm H) |
Package Weight: | 5.33 lb. (2.42 kg) |
6. Kala KA-BG Mahogany Baritone Ukulele
Pros:
|
Cons:
|
Description:
The KA-BG is another beautiful baritone ukulele crafted by Kala. The dark mahogany body is given a natural finish, giving it a simple and elegant look. It is also significantly cheaper than some of the other Kala models.
This instrument is known to possess the signature Kala richness and warmth in its tone and will do the job for any player ranging from beginner to advanced in skill. Purchase it here.
Key Specs
Material: | Mahogany body, Rosewood neck |
Acoustic: | Yes |
Electric: | No |
Strings Included: | Yes |
Amazon Rating: | 4.4 out of 5 Stars |
Warranty: | None |
Accessories: | None |
Package Dimensions: | 35 in. L x 12 in. W x 8 in. H (889 mm L x 304.8 mm W x 203.2 mm H) |
Package Weight: | 2.1 lb. (0.95 kg) |
Any of these six baritone ukuleles will make a player happy. The question of which one is best for you depends on your skill level, how much you are willing to spend and your personal preferences on color and wood material used. The baritone ukulele is a fantastic instrument and will certainly be difficult for you to put down!