In the current world of instrument manufacturing, where so many Ukes look very similar, no one will mistake the Luna Ukuleles. Of all the ukes that we see on a regular basis, Luna is most likely to stand out. They also boast the world’s #1 selling ukulele, which speaks not only to their popularity but the quality they craft their instruments with!
Luna was co-founded by an artist, Yvonne de Villiers, who not only wanted to make instruments that were pieces of art but ones that had a soul. She set out to create a tribe of people who played Luna, not just a bunch of customers.
Luna’s Ukuleles range from colorful and vibrant to simple. A model like the Luna Honu) has an elegant but understated design, while something like the Great Wave Concert (pictured with the Concert Ukes) is colorful and will be noticed by everyone who sees it.
Luna Ukulele History
Luna was actually founded as an acoustic guitar company, but since the start, many of the design elements came from symbolic images that have empowered people throughout history. Dragons, phoenix, and tribal brands cover the faces of many of Luna’s best-selling instruments. Since launching their ukulele line in 2014, the company has really taken off. The Luna Tattoo Mahogany Ukulele is currently the best-selling uke in the world!
Luna positions itself as a lifestyle brand that promotes happiness through adventure. They encourage people to try and learn new things, channel creativity. Your instrument should inspire you and help you enjoy the long and not always fun road to learning an instrument.
Luna has instruments for the beginner and expert alike. Both Rick Springfield and The Warren Brothers have jumped on stage with these instruments. You are just as likely to find them in a school or charity organization though!
I have a Luna Tattoo myself, and we’ll definitely get to that instrument, but we will start by looking at the different sizes of Ukulele that Luna offers before getting to our specific recommendations!
Luna Ukulele Sizes
Luna has done an amazing job offering selections in each of the normal size ranges for Ukuleles, plus a few extras like their pineapple ukes.
Luna Soprano Ukulele
The traditional size of the Ukulele, Luna offers multiple models in this size. Not only that, but you’ll find its selection of Pineapple Ukes at this size!
- 21″ Soprano Size
- All Mahogany
- Honu Laser-Etched Design
- 12 frets
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- A great uke for beginners and pros alike
- A beautiful “pineapple” motif rendered in a stunning design combined with quality construction and great value
- Features a Mahogany body, set neck, walnut fretboard and pearl dot inlays
- Luna’s “Tribal” line of mahogany ukuleles combine the best of traditional profiles and wood selection with Hawaiian aesthetics
- This Tribal Uke takes its design from traditional Pacific carvings
Luna Concert Ukulele
The Concert size is one of the more popular, being slightly bigger than the Soprano but more traditionally sized than the Tenor or Baritone.
Luna offers a great selection of concert-sized Ukuleles, currently offering over 20 different models. This includes the “Great Wave”, pictured below!
- The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1830-1833), also known as The Great Wave is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokusai
- Featured on Luna’s 21″ Great Wave Soprano and 23″ Great Wave Concert, this masterpiece can now be in your personal uke collection
- The gorgeous design is complete with the beautiful walnut fretboard and chrome hardware
- The cutaway shape allows for easier access to the higher frets
- The included gig bag helps to keep your instrument safe
Luna Tenor Ukulele
This might be the perfect middle ground if you are undecided. The slightly bigger build gives this size group a full sound, but nowhere near the bulk of a full-size guitar.
Luna Baritone Ukulele
This is the largest of the standard Ukulele sizes, being close to the size of a travel guitar. If you’re transitioning from a guitar this might be a perfect option, especially since it can be tuned exactly like the bottom four strings of a guitar! Luna started as a guitar company after all, so this size allows them to mix the best of both worlds!
This is also where Luna uses the most of their exotic wood designs for ukuleles. You can get Zebrawood, Koa, Okoume, and possibly my favorite, pictured below, Ziricote
- All ziricote construction
- 20.187″ scale mahogany neck w/18 fret walnut fingerboard
- GraphTech NuBone nut & saddle
- Case not included
While I love Luna Ukuleles I understand the designs might not be your cup of tea! With that in mind, you can check out StringVibe’s other favorite Ukulele Brands
Now that you know what you’re looking at, let’s get to the specific recommendations!
Best Luna Ukuleles
Our Luna Soprano Recommendation: Luna Vintage Spruce Soprano Ukulele
- Spruce top and Mahogany body
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Open-style tuners
- Aquila strings
- Item ID: UKE VSS
This fun little Ukulele is perfect for kids or those young at heart. The Spruce top is common on many of their more expensive models, and this is a great size for both kids and beginners. It is also stylish, and has a lot of the Luna flair, without being overpowering like some may feel about either the Tribal or Tattoo series.
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!
Image courtesy of Amazon
Runner Up: Luna Vintage Mahogany Red Satin
If the graphics on the Vintage Spruce are still are a bit too bright, colorful, and attention-grabbing for your tastes we understand. The clean, sharp, and elegant finish of the Vintage Red Satin might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Our Luna Concert Ukulele Recommendation: Luna Exotic Series Spalt Maple Concert Ukulele
- Spalt Maple Body^Spalt Maple Top^Set Neck^Rosewood Fingerboard^Chrome Hardware
The top of this ukulele is Splat Maple and the finish is simply stunning. The exotic series also has an Olive Ash Burl and a Maple Burl option that are both beautiful in their own right. The crescent moon sound hole adds the finishing touch of style to this Uke.
The rare tonewoods used for these Ukes also give them a beautifully light, airy sound that fits perfectly with the tropical traditions of the instrument.
Runner Up: Luna Tattoo Mahogany Concert Ukulele
Pictured in the introduction to our article, this simple, elegant design is a great first Ukulele. The price is also a bit more appealing than that of the Exotic Series. It is also the best-selling ukulele in the world as of the writing of this article. All those people can’t be wrong, can they?!?!
Our Luna Tenor Recommendation: Luna High Tide 8-String Tenor Ukulele
- Abalone High Tide fret markers
- Onboard Preamp
- Aquila Strings
- Body: 26″ tenor 8-string
- Top, Back & Sides: mahogany
If you’ve ever heard the distinctive ring of a 12-string guitar you know what an amazingly full sound it produces. The 8-string Ukulele is no less special! A little harder to play than a normal 4-string, but well worth it once it’s mastered.
A full Mahogany body matched with an onboard preamp, rosewood fretboard, and satin finish make this an instrument that is truly enjoyable to play.
Runner Up: Luna Tattoo Tenor Ukulele
This mahogany-bodied Uke is adorned with traditional Pacific carving-inspired designs. There is a reason that the concert-sized version of the ukulele is a worldwide best-seller. For those who want a little bigger ukulele, you can’t go wrong with this one!
Baritone Ukulele Recommendation: Luna UKE Bass TAT Ukulele
- Mahogany Body
- Spruce Top
- Set Neck
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- Black Hardware
This Bass ukulele comes in the High Tide, Tribal, and a stunning gloss black finish. Even a brand like Luna can’t resist the temptation to make a stylish gloss black instrument! The spruce top, mahogany sides, and Flatwound strings combine for the deep sound this instrument produces.
Thanks to the built-in Preamp this Ukulele can be played acoustically or plugged in and really amplified.
Runner Up: Luna Tattoo 6-string Baritone Ukulele
Is this a guitar or is this a Ukulele?
We aren’t sure. But we do know it’s fun to play and has the ‘tattoo’ design that Luna is known for. Definitely not a traditional instrument which is part of its charm.
The Final Note
While Luna isn’t the most as well known of a Ukulele manufacturer as a brand like Kala, nor do they compete with some brands on the high-end models like Martin, they make truly beautiful, quality instruments. Just like Magic Fluke, they have a style all their own and we celebrate them for it! We have no doubt Luna will continue to make instruments that inspire, and we will upgrade our choices as they come out with new models!
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!
Last update on 2024-09-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
