What to Expect from a Ukulele under $200?
Whether you’re purchasing a soprano, tenor, concert, or a baritone ukulele under $200, you can still land on a high-quality instrument that is free from rough frets, dark tones, and glue spots.
This does not mean that you will fall on an utterly flawless instrument. A $195 and $140 ukulele may be in the same price range, but some unique features set them apart.
Most ukuleles under $200 are laminates though some come with solid tops like Luna UKECORAL. Considering your budget, you can get an awesome uke with a body made from mahogany, though it’s possible to land on some made from rosewood.
It’s also possible to stumble on ukes with tattooed bodies like the Luna Guitars Starry Night. Regarding hardware, most ukes under $200 have basic yet versatile electronics that prove reliable than expensive ukes. Expect to purchase a uke like Hadean UKB-23 with preamps with built-in digital tuners that are very convenient.
Features to consider when choosing an ukulele
There are tons of cheap ukuleles, and some of them are pretty good while others give awful experiences. If you’re a seasoned player, you might consider to boost your skills by opting for a quality instrument with a higher price tag.
However, depending on your preferences, you can still land on a ukulele under $200 that plays better than the ones with a higher price tag. The quality set up, and accessories are just some of the features you might consider looking into. We will look into other key ones like the type, size, dimensions, weight, and the type of tonewood.
Size
Most ukuleles come in one of these standard tonal ranges and sizes: concert, baritone, tenor, and soprano.
Concert ukulele like
the Cordoba 15CM comes with a scale of around 15” in overall length, and it produces a more profound yet louder output than the soprano.
Overall, its sound quality is similar to the soprano. Most soprano models under $200 have an approximate scale length of around 13” and are perfect ukuleles for kids.
It offers a bright sound compared to the baritone ukulele. A baritone ukulele under $200, on the other hand, provides a more in-depth bass notes and a smooth transition for guitarists. Unlike baritones and most concert ukes, the tenor ukulele has a deep, resonant sound and accommodates players with giant fingers.

Type
The three main types of ukes are acoustic, bass, and acoustic-electric, and they have unique characteristics. Acoustic ukulele for under $200 like the Luna Guitars Starry Night is made of wood and comes with a hollow body that amplifies the sound of its strings.
It’s great for beginners and singer-songwriters seeking to fingerpick their songs on. Semi-acoustic ukuleles are often thin like electric guitars though they have hollow bodies like acoustic ukes. However, they don’t produce loud sounds like unplugged acoustic ones.
Unlike ordinary ukes, the best bass ukulele under $200 like the Hadean UKB-23 has big, thick strings that produce lush sounds.
It’s a great pick if you’re seeking to build a nice rhythm with your drums. On the other hand, the tenor ukulele under $200 with pickup is more like standard ukes though some come with electronic you can plug into an amp.
Ukulele Tuning
Smaller soprano ukuleles like the Cordoba 15CM are often tuned to the open. Ukes with electric tuners have a mode that matches up with your strings on the uke, making the process of tuning easy.
Additionally, remember that it’s common for ukes with nylons strings like
the Ibanez 4-String Ukulele to go out of tune quickly since their strings have not adapted.
You can tighten your screws to help stabilize your instrument.
Tonewood
The type of wood that your ukulele comes with affects the quality of your sound. Ukes made from mahogany like the Cordoba 15 CM have a warm woody sound. Mahogany is exceptionally light, and it has a darker brownish coloring. Such ukes are perfect for players seeking clear and direct sound with little to no overtones.
Ukuleles like the Luna UKECORAL with fingerboards made from rosewood that are beautifully dark, rich and resonate warm tones. This leads to excellent and consistent sound quality.
Ukes made from spruce are great for full-on strumming since they’re stiff and relatively light. It’s easily recognizable, and the sounds are bright and full.