Yes, we admit we have a soft spot for concert ukuleles. Kala has done a great job with the build and spec too – it's built a thing to play, not just a plaything. The KA-C's bigger body provides better bass response, fuller mids and more projection than its soprano siblings, yet the authentic ukulele character we all know and love (or tolerate!) is still there in abundance. There's an unexpected complexity to the KA-C's tone, a gratifying richness that's lacking in many budget ukes. These basic components make a real difference to both playability and sound. Where lesser brands will have almost certainly specced cheapo generic finishing kits, Kala has furnished the KA-C with decent tuners, a Graphtech Nubone XB nut and Aquila strings. Scruffy interior aside, this level of attention to detail is a welcome Kala trait. However, the KA-C's sealed tuners worked a treat, after we allowed the new strings to settle in they proved remarkably stable. Inexpensive ukuleles tend to slip out of tune faster than Florence Foster Jenkins on a bad night because their mediocre machine heads just can't handle the string tension. Intonation was also good out of the box, with only the first string (A) just slightly high at the 12th fret. Talking of which, all the frets on our sample were level, with no sharp ends to provide nasty mid-lick surprises. The matt rosewood fretboard is just as rapid, yielding ample opportunity for dexterous players to fully explore its limits with fast runs right up to the 14th fret and beyond.
The multi-piece neck has clearly been built to a budget but it's very comfortable in the hand, with the satin finish providing a fast surface for spirited playing. Perhaps we're being overly picky at this price point, but in a perfect world these Chinese-made ukes would look as clean on the inside as they do on the outside. Luna Tattoo Mahogany Concert Ukulele (opens in new tab)Ĭordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele (opens in new tab) Construction is simple with, for example, no kerfed linings, but unfortunately it is easy to spot signs of glue and the odd splinter of wood.įender Zuma Concert Ukulele (opens in new tab) However, inside, the workmanship is less assured. There are no gaps, glue marks or imperfections to be found from headstock to button strap, it's all very neat and tidy.
Its reddish brown and cream livery looks both smart and fun in equal measure.įrom the outside everything appears tickety-boo. Beyond the binding and tiny dot markers there's absolutely nothing else in the way of decoration but, frankly, it doesn't need it. The KA-C certainly looks the part with its natty cream binding and cool satin finish. It's four short strings of exuberant cheerfulness stretched across an adorable little body, the musical equivalent of an eight-week-old puppy. Any genre of music is fair game for a ukulele, from disco standards to death metal, but it's reasonable to speculate that most players use these instruments to bring a little sunshine to a performance.
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