There are some main points you should know about the Best Baritone Ukulele before buying or playing it. Best Baritone ukuleles are great instruments with features that make it different from other ukulele types but amazing to play.
Baritone offers an interesting cross section of ukuleles and guitars. With regard to sound, they also sound different from other uke types.
Besides the sound, baritone ukuleles are bigger than the other ukuleles. They are the largest of the ukulele family and are suitable for guitar players switching to a ukulele.
Here, we are going to look out features that make baritone ukulele different and why they are also suitable for all players.
3 Best Baritone Ukulele Reviews
Kala KAA-15S Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele Review
Is it really the best baritone ukulele? The Kala KAA-15S Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele is believed to be one of the best baritone ukuleles, and if you enjoy the deep, mellow sound of a baritone ukulele like me, you will easily fall for this uke brand. I always enjoy myself whenever I pick up this instrument to play.
My old ukulele was no longer delivering as I expected, so I decided to hunt for a new baritone ukulele that will not only deliver but be within my budget. Of all the baritone ukuleles I researched about, one stood out above the others the Kala KAA-15S Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele.
I liked this product a lot and that’s why I have decided to share my research findings with everyone.
Premium Geared tuners
A ukulele needs good quality tuners to ensure the instrument stays in tune for long, and the Kala KAA-15S Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele with its top-quality geared tuners is up to the job.
This geared tuners tune the strings of the ukulele at a lesser ratio per rotation, which is why the Kala KAA is much easier to tune and also stays in tune better.
Quality Rosewood Bridge and Fingerboard
The Kala KAA-15S Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele features a good quality rosewood bridge and fingerboard that gives it a brighter tone. One of the factors I always consider when buying a ukulele is durability, and this depends largely on the quality of material used.
Though only time will tell if a particular instrument is durable but I like the texture and tone of the Kala KAA-15B Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele because of its material. The ukulele gives a sharper sound that is immediate.
Quality Nickel frets
Kala KAA-15S Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele has lots of features which make it sound well, and of course, one of such feature is the quality of the nickel frets. It has 18 frets that are all well-spaced on the fretboard. And the nickel frets are also highly durable and well-leveled. This explains why the ukulele does not produce a buzzing sound like other brands.
Features and specifications
- The Kala KAA-15S Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele is pre-strung with premium Aquila nylgut strings.
- The body and neck of the ukulele are made of a mahogany wood material that resonates well.
- It is made of 18 nickel frets that are well spaced and leveled on the fretboard.
- It has a lightweight and weighs 2.4 pounds.
- It is coated with a premium satin finish. Rosette’s design makes it look highly attractive.
- The Kala KAA-15B Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele is approximately 34 inches by 7 inches by 13 inches.
The Kala KAA-15S Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele is an extremely wonderful instrument for starters and pro uke players. It is very comfortable to play, tune and re-string.
And if you like playing blues, or you enjoy listening to the deep mellow sound of the baritone ukulele, then you will really appreciate this model.
This makes it very easy for me to also recommend the Kala KAA-15B Limited Edition Satin Mahogany Baritone Ukulele as well.
Cordoba 20BM Baritone Ukulele Review
The Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele is a great instrument, and if you have plans to add a pocket-friendly and consistent ukulele to your collections, this ukulele will thrill you. I got tired of my old ukulele, so I thought it would be nice to get a replacement before things get worse. Of all the ukulele brands I researched, one product that really got my attention was the Cordoba 20M Baritone ukulele.
I discovered a whole lot about this product that increased my love for the instrument. So, here are my research findings.
Premium Aquila Nygut Baritone strings
Strings matter a lot as far as the ukulele is concerned and if you are looking for the best baritone ukulele, try not to overlook the quality of the strings because it can ruin your ukulele journey. Ukulele needs good strings to sound well, and the Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele with its premium Aquila nylgut strings is a perfect match.
The strings produce a bright tone with added volume and even though it may require constant playing and stretching for a while in order to settle, the strings remain tuned for long once they settle down properly. The smoothness of the Aquila nylgut Baritone strings is another attribute that makes them more comfortable to play.
Quality mahogany wood (Back and Sides)
The back and sides of the Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele are made of mahogany materials. The natural wood pattern and quality make this beautiful ukulele perfect for both beginners and professional ukulele players. The ukulele produces a bright tone and has superior resonance.
Natural satin finish
A ukulele finish is also very important. It coats and helps to protect the surface of the wood material from damages. The Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele is made of a natural satin finish, which protects the ukulele wood material and gives it a soft appearance, thus making it more attractive. The finishing also helps to round the sound out a little and make the bass sound of the baritone ukulele very rich and smooth.
Features & specifications
- The Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele has 18 frets, installed on a solid rosewood fretboard.
- Body and sides are made of mahogany material
- Premium Aquila nylgut strings and easy to use silver tuners with pearl buttons.
- Mahogany body and sides, while the top is made of solid mahogany material
- The Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele is approximately 29 inches by 9 inches by 19 inches in dimension.
The Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele is an extremely great ukulele for all players. It stays in tune for long and delivers the great sound baritone ukulele is known for.
If you like larger ukuleles and products that deliver deep sound, then you will like this ukulele model too.
However, no one has experienced this same thing about the ukulele string, so perhaps it is not a general problem.
Professional Choice Baritone Ukulele – Who Is It Meant For?
If you love doing finger-picking a lot, then baritone ukulele will make an excellent match. In addition to finger pickers, the baritone ukulele is also suitable for blues players and people looking for a deep sounding ukulele that matches their voice better.
Beginners can also play the baritone ukulele very well but the major hindrance that may occur is when the player has a small hand size, which might make it difficult for him or her to reach some notes. A better way to solve this problem is to exercise and do lots of practice.
How Should The Sound Of Best Baritone Ukulele?
This question is very important for first-time ukulele players and buyers who are familiar with the other ukulele types or a guitar. The baritone ukulele has a deep sound that is not as full-toned or loud as a guitar.
Also, it does not have that crisp sound or high pitch associated with standard ukuleles. The ukulele is also recognized for its mellow sound which makes it suitable to soothing music.
There are many baritone ukulele brands in the market and finding a brand that sounds great can be very demanding. Don’t forget that the different brands are produced with different materials and so may sound differently.
To get the best baritone ukulele that sounds reasonably well, you have to play the instrument first or read some reviews to know what other players are saying about a particular brand.
Baritone Ukulele Strings & Measurement – Things You Must Know
When compared to the standard ukulele tuning, the tuning of the baritone ukulele strings are usually lower. They are turned to DGBE instead of GCEA.
Features That Makes Baritone Ukulele Different From Others
Baritone ukuleles are called small guitars because of their size, sound and other features. They are a nice instrument everyone can play, including professional guitar players who want to cross over to a ukulele.
Amazing Facts About Baritone Ukulele Tunings
Normally, the standard tuning of this ukulele is non-entrant which makes it different from the other ukuleles.
The strings of the baritone ukulele are tuned from low to high (D3-G3-B3-E4), which is the same pattern of tuning as the top four strings of a guitar.
This is the basic reason why some ukulele purist does not think baritone ukuleles should be regarded as a ukulele.
Another thing players should know is that even though the baritone ukulele is said to have a different tuning style from other guitars, it can still be tuned to G C E A (Re-entrant tuning) which is in accordance with the other ukulele types.
Alternatively, it can be tuned to D-B-B-E but this time the D string will be higher than the non-entrant tuning by an octave.
Another thing is that the G-C-E-A tuning of the baritone ukulele cannot be achieved without changing the string used for standard tuning.
You will also require a different D-string too for the high-D tuning of the baritone ukulele.
Note: Some ukuleles come with the re-entrant tuned strings but these models are very rear.
These top 3 ukuleles are worth trying. If you are planning to buy your first ukulele or want to make a change to your old baritone uke, these top 3 ukuleles will be a good replacement.
You can read about the features of these products and why they are considered as the top 3 baritone ukuleles.
In Summary
The baritone ukulele is a nice instrument to try out. Though it is larger in size than the other ukulele types, it is still very easy to play.
The best Baritone ukulele is also the deepest sounding ukulele and because the ukulele has features similar to that of a guitar, professional guitar players usually find it very easy to play.
The Kala KAA-15B Limited Edition Satin Mahogany, Cordoba 20BM Baritone ukulele and Diamond Head DU- 200B Deluxe Natural Mahogany Baritone Ukulele are three great ukulele brands on the market.
These are the best baritone ukulele brands for players on a budget. The sound, finish, wood material and everything single thing about these ukuleles are flawless.