What Are The Top 6 Best Baritone Ukuleles?
Selection Criteria – The Best Baritone Ukulele
On this page, you’ll find
…only the best Baritone Ukuleles. We’ll save you from the hassle that is searching through hundreds of pages, looking at similar products, comparing prices, and more, only to realize you don’t know which one is right. Get the right top handpicked Baritone Ukulele from the get-go!
Skip to...
Best Baritone Ukuleles – The Basics
Baritone Ukuleles are the big, chunky brothers in the Uke family.
They are an interesting option mostly experienced ukulele players consider when exploring the possibilities within the Uke family.
Baritone ukuleles are different in several ways from the other standard ukes in the family.
The fact that they’re bigger than the standard ukuleles provides them with a warmer, bassier sound, as well as improved playability thanks to the larger frets.
Thanks to their different tuning, which is the same as the first four strings of a guitar, you have access to a deeper range.
However, looking for a good baritone ukulele comes with a new challenge – finding the right one.
Since they’re not as famous, it’s rather hard to find a good baritone ukulele.
This is also because just a few brands make them.
That’s why you’re more exposed to a majority of low-quality bari ukes out there and making the wrong choice can be a costly and timewasting mistake.
That’s why you can safely discover the most efficient and essential baritone ukuleles you can get here.
We’ve cherry-picked only the top baritone ukuleles for all kinds of music lovers – including hobbyists wishing to have a risk-free taste of the ukulele magic.
Are you ready to take the right bari ukulele home? Let’s get started!
Comparison Table – Best Baritone Ukuleles
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Overall Baritone Ukulele – Cordoba 20BM
- Solid mahogany top
- Mahogany back and sides
- Rosewood bridge and fingerboard
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our best overall pick is usually on the more expensive side.
However, this pick offers the best of both worlds: an amazing baritone ukulele, at an affordable price.
We’ve picked the Cordoba 20BM because this model comes with great advantages:
- First, its sound quality is near-perfect. We’d say it’s around 80% of the quality of our most expensive pick, which is a lot!
- Second, its design features have everything we love about a traditional ukulele.
- And third, its price range is way below the quality of the ukulele.
We know it doesn’t look like the best pick – the design is rather simplistic.
Still, once you play with this model for a while, you’ll realize the magic about it.
Its solid mahogany top, and laminate mahogany sides and back offer a more-than-decent sustain and tone, with the advantage of being cost-effective.
It has a rough-coat finish, it’s not glossy, and lacks the design details that are not necessary to create a beautiful instrument.
It’s the perfect pick for beginners and intermediate players – not to mention that it’s a respectable one for pros.
We picked this one because it feels like exactly what anyone actually needs to fall in love with the baritone ukulele– making it the best overall pick.
Pros – about this baritone
- Good design with, perfect craftsmanship, and materials.
- It has an above-average sound quality – surprisingly better than expected.
- This model comes at an affordable price.
- It’s nice for beginners and intermediate players.
Cons – about this ukulele
- It looks basic.
Best Budget Baritone Ukulele – Kala Makala Line Mahogany Baritone Ukulele
- The Makala Classic line by Kala is simply the best entry-level ukulele on the market
- Kala focuses on the essentials - quality at an affordable price - making any Makala the perfect ukulele to begin with
- Modeled after mahogany ukuleles made over 100 years ago, the Makala line is a truly traditional, vintage ukulele that emits a soft, warm, full-bodied, balanced tone and ages beautifully.
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Now we enter the land of the affordable baritone ukuleles with Kala’s entry-level Makala line.
This Mahogany baritone ukulele is one of the best budgets picks because of its many advantages.
First, of course, it’s a more-than-decent pick that is more than budget-friendly, too.
Secondly, this model offers good sound quality and playability, as it doesn’t drop its quality in terms of build – it was made by expert hands!
The quality drop is noticeable, yes, but this product is not all price.
Its quality is good enough to make this model a worthy purchase in the short term and medium term.
The downside about this pick is that it’s not as durable as the other ones and it’s not as beautiful, either.
If you’re into smooth and shiny wooden finishes, this is not the one for you.
Also, its durability is a little bit compromised, of course, because of the constant tension and the materials (Mahogany body).
You’ll have to put some effort to take care of it, but if you do, you’ll get an instrument that will last for years to come.
Although it has many downsides when compared to the others, it’s still a great budget pick for beginners that just want to explore the instrument as a hobby.
Highly recommended!
Pros – about this baritone
- More than decent quality at a great price.
- A great pick for people of different skill levels who want to explore the baritone ukulele or as a hobby.
- One of its main features is the good quality sound.
Cons – about this ukulele
- This baritone is not as durable nor beautiful as other picks.
- You’ll have to take extra care of this model for it to last.
Best Runner Up Baritone Ukulele – Luna Vintage Mahogany Baritone Ukulele
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fretboard Material: Black Walnut
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Luna Guitars is yet another amazing manufacturer and they have the best runner-up for a thin margin.
It comes with a very common – but not low-quality – mahogany body, a walnut bridge, and fretboard wrapped in a beautiful red satin finish that’s appealing to the eye.
Although it is in second place, this is a great match against the first pick that is in no way of lesser quality.
We love this pick because it’s even more appealing to the eye than the one above and with similar quality.
Although the Acacia build of the first pick makes for a deliciously warm sound and great projection, the mahogany body of this pick from Luna Guitars is not so far behind in sound quality.
The details of this design and its features make this model one of the most beautiful picks you’ll get here, thanks to its perfect finish.
This Luna model is a great pick if you love to boast a little bit about your instruments, but also if you can light a room with the amazing sound produced by a top-quality baritone ukulele.
Keep in mind that the sound quality of this Luna uke is not as nice as the one above – we believe that is because of the materials used.
However, this is a pick worthy of consideration, especially for beginners or intermediate musicians who want to invest a modest sum in a great instrument.
Highly recommended!
Pros – about this baritone
- Near-perfect materials as one of its main features.
- This ukulele is one of the most beautiful picks on this list.
- It also provides a great playing experience!
- This baritone has a more affordable price without dropping its quality by a lot.
Cons – about this ukulele
- Although this model goes pretty close, it’s not as perfect as the one above.
Best Baritone Ukulele Under $200 – Kala KA-B Mahogany
- Offers a Full-Bodied Tone with plenty of "Sweet Highs" and "Mellow Lows" that combine for a full rich sound
- White binding on the top and the back accent the Rich Satin Mahogany finish
- GHS black nylon strings
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is yet another interesting addition from Kala.
This Ka-B Mahogany Baritone is a much more affordable version of a baritone ukulele, similar to the second pick.
It’s made with mahogany, and as the first pick, it’s a bundled product.
It comes with a hard case, a tuner, a very comfortable strap, a polishing cloth, and a well-made instructional DVD.
This pick is a great addition to this list, again directed mostly to beginners and intermediate players that are a little thin in knowledge about the baritone ukulele.
This ukulele is similar in quality to the second pick, but with many signature details from Kala.
This model has a mahogany body and neck, with cream binding, a walnut fretboard, and top-notch Aquila strings.
Its finish is satin, similar to the ukulele above, but with a more natural color.
This ukulele is of intermediate quality, but keep in mind that it comes from a market leader, and what justifies the price drop is its cheaper materials.
However, we were surprised by the quality of the sound and projection of this model – and we weren’t underestimating it, it actually exceeded our expectations!
The only issue we found about it is that, apparently, not all of the ukes received by customers have been in the best shape – some of them have been damaged in the ride home.
We don’t know if amazon or the company is to blame, but the complaints are there, although the issue didn’t happen to us and is not as common.
If you can get around that, you will receive an amazing instrument that’s ready – and longing! – to be played on arrival.
Highly recommended!
Pros – about this baritone
- Similar to the second pick in quality, which makes it a great instrument!
- This uke is a balanced pick but has a sound quality that is better than expected.
- It’s a conveniently bundled product and is still affordable way under the $200 mark.
Cons – about this ukulele
- Although it is great, it’s still a drop in quality when compared to the one above.
Best Baritone Ukulele for Big Wallets – Kala KA-SA-B
- Baritone Ukulele with Acacia Body
- Walnut Fingerboard - Natural
- Mahogany Neck
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Kala is a brand with a wide arsenal of choices at different price ranges – and that’s exemplified by this pick.
This Kala KA-SA-B is made with Acacia wood, which is very similar to Koa wood, the original material used for traditional ukes.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best woods that can be used to make sound, sturdy ukes, that is also accompanied by a warm, rich, and deep sound with amazing projection.
Additionally, it’s built neatly with other high-quality materials, like a mahogany neck, walnut nut and saddle, and maple binding.
Although Kala is recognized for creating affordable ukes, this series is way above in terms of quality, making its price go up considerably.
The only downside we could find for this instrument is that it looks rather basic, without that affecting its outstanding sound quality – it’s just not the best for the show.
This baritone uke is among the top choices you can get under the $500 mark – looking for something better will require the services of a pawn shop!
Highly recommended!
Pros – about this baritone
- Perfect materials, build and finish.
- As its main features, we can say that it has a great sound quality, projection, and a deliciously warm range.
- It’s the best pro-level acoustic ukulele under $500!
Cons – about this ukulele
- It looks rather basic in terms of design.
Best Acoustic-Electric Baritone Ukulele – Caramel CB103
Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Caramel is the third most recognized brand on this list, and they create some of the most beautiful, original, and fun-to-play ukes available.
This time, they’ve earned a spot on our reviews thanks to their Caramel Electric/Acoustic CB103 Zebra Baritone Ukulele.
This is a piece of art, with outstanding craftsmanship, and also an amazing sound engineering.
This baritone acoustic-electric ukulele is made out of Zebrawood, which looks gorgeous, has a mahogany neck, Walnut fretboard, and glossy finish to wrap it all.
This model also comes with an extra set of G-C-E-A strings, which you can use for other ukes, or to play around with standard tuning this baritone beauty.
A nifty but simple gig bag, three picks, a ukulele wall hanger, one strap with pegs, two bridge pins, one metal nail drawer, one polishing cloth, and an EQ cable are also included in the bundle, making it the most valuable bundled pick on the list.
This acoustic-electric baritone ukulele is definitely one worth considering – it’s amazingly affordable taking into account everything you get with it!
It’s a great pick for intermediate players who want to start experiencing the Electro/Acoustic magic and maybe even record some music.
Also, it’s a very decent pick for unarmed pros who want to pick up a budget electric baritone ukulele.
Highly recommended!
Pros – about this baritone
- Easily the best electric/acoustic baritone instrument available within this price range.
- It comes with a very convenient bundle that’s even more convenient than the ones above!
- This baritone makes for a great acoustic and amped playing experience.
- Its sound is incredibly clean – very close to pro-level ukes that are way pricier.
- It doesn’t disappoint in any regard – it’s a great pick for any player above beginner level.
Cons – about this ukulele
- It’s not the most beginner-friendly uke – an experienced player will get the best out of it!
Frequently Asked Questions – Top Baritone Ukuleles
Yes and no. Since it has the same tuning as the first four strings of a guitar, it has a very similar range.
However, it’s a little limited on the bass side – it’s a guitar without the last two bass strings after all!
It’s still warmer than most standard ukuleles while remaining a little brighter than guitars.
Yes, because its frets are bigger, which allows for more room for comfortable play, without having the complexity of the guitar.
We think it’s the perfect starting string instrument, and you can improve towards guitars and any of the smaller ukuleles without much struggle.
Also, it’s very simple, just like most ukuleles – just make sure to pick one with decent action to improve faster!
Of course, but you need the right baritone set of strings for the baritone ukulele scale to do so.
Otherwise, you’ll end up with loose strings, which don’t feel at all comfortable.
This is entirely based on preference.
If you like a brighter sound that’s standard in most uke songs, then you should get a tenor or a concert uke.
However, if you like the sound of the ukulele, but would like to be able to produce warmer guitar-like sounds, then the baritone uke is for you.
Also, taking into account that the baritone ukulele is a great progression after ukes, and before guitars, it makes for good learning and playing experiences.
Finally, the baritone ukulele can be tuned to sound like any of the smaller ukes with the right strings, so you’ll have access to a very versatile instrument!
Conclusion – Great Baritone Ukuleles
Baritone Ukuleles are the least known type of ukuleles, but that doesn’t mean they’re lesser – quite the contrary.
They’re a versatile option that’s always worth exploring, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player.
Without a doubt, they are incredibly advantageous in terms of size and versatility, even more than the smaller ukes within the family.
Playability is also worth exploring, thanks to its warm, rich, and deep range that’s similar to guitar’s – but without losing the brightness which makes people love the standard ukulele.
So, will you explore the world of the bari ukulele?
