6 Best Bass Ukuleles – Just Rock It!

Bass ukuleles are relatively new and it’s surprising how they’ve catapulted onto the mainstream market. Many musicians appreciate bass ukuleles for their light weight making traveling with them a breeze. This ukulele is far more rhythmic than the other types. Thanks to its unique percussive sound, this ukulele is certainly a must have—especially if you already have bass playing experience. Are you in need of one?

We’ve reviewed six products on the market and found the Donner DUB-1 to be the best bass ukulele. Aside from its stunning aesthetics, you’ll find it extremely comfortable to handle. Plus, it produces remarkable sound. Sure, we’ve voted it as our Editor’s choice but there may be others you will like too; you do have the option to make up your own mind. Simply review the other models to pick the best bass ukulele for your needs.

To make the right decision there are a few factors that you must consider such as the type; is it acoustic or acoustic-electric? The type will determine the sound the unit produces. You’ll also need to compare the materials used in the products’ construction as well as the weight. All these features and more are clearly outlined in the comparison table with reviews below. Find out how each product works by going through the detailed reviews. Your final step to aid in your selection process is to go through the buying guide. Here we’ll tell you all you need to know about bass ukuleles in general. After reading this article, we’re certain you’ll know exactly which model to pick. Are you ready to get started?

Top 6 Bass Ukuleles Review 2023

Why choose a bass ukulele?

With many musical instruments to select from, why pick a bass ukulele rather than the other types?

As the name suggests, this instrument specializes in producing bass sounds. So if you’re a fan of low end tones, then this is the instrument to pick.

Not only do they cover a much lower register compared to other ukuleles but they’re certainly attractive. The materials and finishes used in most bass ukuleles make them stunning musical instruments to look at; and it makes them durable.

From the reviews above, it’s clear how bass ukuleles are extremely small and lightweight. You won’t face any challenges moving your instrument around. But despite being small, they produce an incredibly loud sound.

Features to consider before buying a bass ukulele

For the ordinary man, these instruments look almost identical. But we’ll outline the key features you need to inspect on each model before making your final pick.

Types

The first thing you’ll probably need to consider before buying a bass ukulele is the type. This is because the type significantly influences the body of the instrument which affects sound quality. But generally the type you pick is entirely a matter of preference as it depends on your style of music. There are basically three types to pick from:

Materials used for body

The materials used in the construction of the ukulele will determine durability and how the overall instrument looks. In some cases, the materials on the body also affect the sound, tone and quality of the instrument.

From our reviews it’s clear how all our products are made up of variations of wood—with the most common being mahogany and walnut. Mahogany is classified under soft wood and ukuleles made of this material produce warm mellow tones. The Caramel CUB402 is an example of an instrument made using mahogany.

In actual fact mahogany is known to produce even better sound as it ages. Wood generally makes the instrument attractive plus it guarantees its durability. The wood is usually treated with lacquers to increase the product’s lifespan.

Other types of wood used on a bass ukulele’s body include koa, maple and rosewood.

Some materials used are steel and plastic although these aren’t very common in this niche of the industry.

Fretboard and neck materials

The material used on the fretboard and neck of the ukulele also influences the sound it produces as well as the aesthetics. With most ukuleles, the materials used on the body are usually the same as those found on the neck. We’ll list a few examples:

Finish

The finish on the ukuleles largely influences the overall look of the instrument. In addition, depending on the finish used, it can protect the ukulele from premature damage. Common finishes used on bass ukuleles include gloss, satin, vanish and lacquer:

Frets

Do you want a bass ukulele that’s fretted or fretless? Generally most experienced players prefer fretted instruments to fretless. Why?

With fretless boards you can play the instrument high up on the neck which is something you can’t do with the fretted bass ukuleles. This is necessary since these instruments are notorious for bad intonation so playing high up significantly improves the sound.

Also, fretless instruments allow for better flat tuning especially if the strings become loose.

But we’ll point out that only experienced players can play the fretless ukuleles. Beginners? Not so much.

Weight

We’ve concluded that most of these bass ukuleles are pretty light compared to the other types. But each product varies in weight and this ultimately determines how easy the instrument is to carry around. After all, you will be traveling with this instrument from one gig to another.

The weight will also affect handling of the instrument. Heavier ukuleles may not be very comfortable to handle so you may not be able to play the instrument for long.

On the other hand, a lighter ukulele is much easier to handle and play.

Extra features

There are a few extra features you need to consider before buying your instrument. You just need to determine if you really need them. We’ll highlight a few features worth considering.

Types of Strings

In our reviews, we made a lot of reference to the strings found on the instruments. The strings will to a large extent determine how easy—or difficult—it’ll be for users to play the instrument. We list the common types:

Appearance

Who said you can’t play your instrument in style? While functionality and performance is important, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics. Why not pick an instrument that plays well and looks attractive?

We’ve reached the conclusion that bass ukuleles made of Mahogany are visually pleasing. But of course this is entirely a matter of preference.

Warranty

It’s not uncommon for these instruments to malfunction or get damaged. The least you can do to protect your investment is to purchase an ukulele that comes with a manufacturer warranty on all defects.

Bag

Some manufacturers include a bag with their product. You’ll agree that a protective bag will certainly keep your instrument safe from damage when it’s not in use. In addition, this bag will also make it easy to transport your ukulele.

Some bags are even padded to allow for comfortable carrying of your instrument with minimal shoulder fatigue.

How to tune your bass ukulele

Tuning your bass ukulele can be tricky initially, but once you figure it out, it’ll be a walk in the park. Hopefully the following tips will make it easy for you if it’s your first time.

If you’ve ever tuned a bass or upright bass guitar, then you’re in luck because the process is almost the same.

As you might be aware, a standard bass ukulele is tuned to the notes E, A, D to G. Just keep the following three easy steps in mind.

Change the Strings

If you purchase a bass ukulele and it has subpar strings, the first thing you want to do is to change them. This is because not only are they difficult to tune but they don’t produce a good sound.

If you want, you could give them some time to break in but if they don’t change, then consider purchasing a new set. This will certainly save you a great deal of frustration.

You must also change the set regularly. The frequency at which you decide to change them is entirely up to you but just make sure it’s often enough. Changing them is important because over time, these strings tend to get brittle. Plus, they’re also likely to get damaged because of the constant pressing on the frets. Both situations will definitely make it difficult to tune your instrument. Besides, a new set will significantly enhance the sound quality.

Pull the Slack Out

After changing the strings, you must pull the slack out. Because most bass ukulele strings are both thick and dense, they tend to stick to the nut more than they do to the other strings. Unfortunately, this will cause tension along the nut causing the strings to miss a tune.

But not to worry, by simply taking each string and gently pulling it away from the body, this immediately solves the problem. By doing this you’re stretching the strings to prevent them from sticking to the nut. As a result, the tension is minimized and the strings will play properly.

We’ll reiterate that the pulling must be as gentle as possible to avoid damaging the strings altogether.

Tune Upwards not Downwards

The direction in which you tune is extremely important. As a general rule of thumb, each time you’re tuning your instrument always make sure that you tune from below the note you’re attempting to reach. This basically means if you’re above the note, tune downwards first before tuning up.

The reason for this is that this process prevents the strings from sticking to the nut. As a result, the strings will hold a tune for a much longer period.

Alternatively you can tune your instrument using an ukulele tuning app and the most common types are the:

FAQ

In your opinion, which product is the best bass ukulele from our list? If you’re still unsure, have a look at our top three picks. We’ll start with the Donner DUB-1 which is an exceptionally high quality material made of Mahogany. It’s not only attractive but very easy to use. Plus it produces a rich sound.

In second place is the Kala Wanderer U-Bass which weighs only 4lb making it super lightweight. It’s also constructed using high quality materials and you’ll find it easy to operate.

Lastly we have the Caramel CUB402 which produces impressive low end tones. You can plug it in or play it acoustically which makes it a versatile instrument. It helps that it’s also constructed using high quality material so you’ll have it for a long time.

But those are just our recommendations, which bass ukulele impressed you more?