Kala Ukulele is one of the really premier Uke makers that turns its talents into this fun little instrument. Any music shop either online or with a retail location is likely to carry one of the many ukuleles Kala produces. They actually make such a large selection of ukes that customers have too many options to pick from!
If you are an experienced ukulele player, the options that Kala provides can help you select the perfect instrument for your playing style, skill, and tastes. Beginners can easily get overwhelmed though!
To make your decision easier, we looked at the Kala Ukes available in each of the different sizes (soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone) and picked out one that we are confident you’ll love. In the article below we’ll cover the Kala ukulele sizes and pick out some of our favorites for each!
About Kala Ukuleles
Family-owned and operated from Petaluma’s sunny Northern California town, Kala ukuleles have the largest selection of ukes on the market. One of the most popular brands going, these instruments are produced with the highest regard for quality and share a creative vision.
While Kala is generally an affordable option for a quality ukulele, they do have the Makala line, specifically designed for beginners and entry-level price-sensitive customers. The Makala MK-S is a ukulele I’ve recommended to several students over the years and one that I’ve never heard a complaint about!
On the top end, Kala has popularized exotic tonewoods like Pacific Walnut, Striped Ebony, Flame Maple, and Ziricote, many of which cannot be found offered from another brand. This is one of the reasons that artists like Vance Joy, Twenty One Pilots, mxmtoon, Walk Off the Earth, and dodie all perform with Kala Ukuleles.
Kala is also the inventor of the U-BASS, the world’s first ukulele bass. This instrument has made quite an impact on the market, bringing a deep, wide range of tonal capabilities to the baritone ukulele. To my knowledge, this is the only instrument from any stringed family to utilize rubber strings which gives it a unique and quite enjoyable sound!
Kala Ukulele Sizes
There are four main sizes that Kala makes their Ukuleles in. The soprano, the concert, the tenor, and the baritone. We’ll quickly cover the differences so you can better choose the right one for you. Want more help? Check out our guide to the different types of Ukulele!
Kala Soprano Ukulele
This is generally regarded as the “standard” Ukulele size and is the most traditional. This fun little size is between 21 and 23 inches long and will have between 12 and 15 frets. Just because of its size it’s the perfect instrument for kids, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some extremely high-quality instruments in the Soprano size.
Because of its small size, it can be difficult for larger individuals, or former guitar players, to jump right in on this instrument. That being said, when you think of the light, airy, bright sound of a Uke, you are probably thinking of the Soprano.
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Kala Concert Ukulele
Just slightly larger than a Soprano, the Concert size can be easier for many individuals to play than the Soprano without sacrificing the authentic Ukulele sound we all know and love.
Kala Tenor Ukulele
The tenor is the largest ukulele that is tuned in the traditional sense. Tenors usually are around 26” long and have around 18 frets. At this size, you’ll start to get a little deeper, fuller sound than the soprano and concerts, but don’t worry, people will still know instantly that it’s a Ukulele!
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Kala Baritone Ukulele
The baritone Ukulele has become more popular in recent years as it’s a bit of a hybrid instrument. This model is similar in size to that of a travel guitar and is often tuned to the bottom (highest) four strings of a guitar – DGBE. This makes it the perfect choice for guitar players who want to slowly pick up the ukulele!
The Best Kala Ukuleles
For each of the standard four sizes, we’ve come up with our favorite Kala Ukulele. Many times we’ve added in a runner-up as we often had multiple good options in each size category! Many of the ukes come in multiple sizes as well, so if we recommend one model in a size you don’t want, it is likely available in your choice of size as well!
Our Kala Soprano Ukulele Recommendation: Kala KA-15S
This is simply one of our favorite Ukuleles and one we recommend to all beginners. For a very reasonable price, you’ll get a Uke that you’ll be happy with for years. This instrument is made with a mahogany body and neck and comes strung with Aquila Nylgut Strings.
As a bonus, many vendors on Amazon offer a gig bag, tuner, or beginner package with this Ukulele to get you equipped with whatever you need!
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Runner Up: Makala Dolphin
The perfect Ukulele for a kid, these Ukuleles are a little bit more durable than many. The fun paint jobs are also a hit with the free-spirited or younger crowd!
Many of our favorite ukulele brands have great kids and beginner ukuleles, but it’s hard to go wrong with either the Dolphin or the KA-15S
Our Kala Concert Ukulele Recommendations: Kala KA-KCG Koa Gloss Concert Ukulele
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The traditional material for the Ukulele is Hawaiian Koa, so anytime you can find a solid Koa instrument it’s special. The KCG from Kala is no exception. This is a truly special Ukulele. I am lucky to have a friend who owns one and often lets me play it, otherwise, it would absolutely be in my collection as well!
Runner Up: Kala KA-CEM Exotic Mahogany Concert
The Hawaiian Koa of the KA-KCG might be out of your price range, but that doesn’t mean you can get a great-sounding Uke. The CEM has an amazing tone with a Figured Mahogany body. The finish and sound of this instrument could easily be mistaken for a much more expensive offering and will not disappoint!
Our Kala Tenor Ukulele Recommendation: Kala KA-TG Gloss Ukulele
This is simply a beautiful Ukulele. Crafted with a Spruce top and Mahogany body and sides and a Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, the quality is exactly what you’d expect from Kala.
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With the tenor size, you get a great, slightly deeper tone without losing the warm, bright high notes that the concert and soprano sizes are known for.
The KA-TG Gloss comes equipped with nickel frets, tuners, and tie-ins really finish off this look, giving the TG Gloss a high-end feel at a mid-range price!
Runner Up: Kala KA-PWT Tenor Acoustic Ukulele
The Pacific Walnut really gives this Ukulele a unique, focused tone that you won’t find often. There aren’t too many instruments out there made from this tonewood, so the PWT is a great choice for those who want to stand out.
Our Kala Baritone Ukulele Recommendations: Kala KA-BG Mahogany Baritone
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The Spruce top with Mahogany body and neck really produces a bright, warm tone. The gloss finish really gives this Ukulele a stylish finish.
Thanks to the Baritone size with this Uke, you’ll also get a full-bodied sound. This instrument finishes with easy playability thanks to low action and the size is perfect for guitar players looking to transition to the uke.
Runner Up: Kala MK-B Baritone Ukulele
Baritone Ukes can be pretty expensive, but this Makala version of the KA-B is an affordable version of Kala’s very popular Uke. Great sound at a great price!
The Final Note
Kala is one of our favorite Ukulele manufacturers. They have a reputation for quality in their entire line, from top to bottom. In an ever-growing field of ukulele manufacturers, Kala continues to distinguish itself as a premier option for beginners and experts alike.
Do you have a Kala that we didn’t list? Please comment below, we’d love to hear from you!
A ukulele player pretty much from birth, Edward has gone on to play banjo, lead guitar, and bass for a number of bands and solo projects! Edward loves talking, teaching and writing about music!
