Top 5 Tenor Ukuleles
As selected by Omega uke expert, Andy Webster.
What is the best tenor ukulele available? That is a question that is hard to answer. The most recommended tenor ukuleles will differ from person to person. However, working at Omega, Andy has seen and played more than most – so it will be interesting to see what he names as his top tenor ukes. He took a maximum budget of around £350 and went (pretend) shopping!
Kala KA-ATP5-CTG Solid Cedar Top 5 String Tenor
This is my absolute favourite weapon of choice for both practice and gigging at the moment. I absolutely love everything about it! The build quality of the Kala KA-ATP5-CTG is superb, and is finished nicely with its solid cedar top and acacia veneer. The lovely padauk binding is stunning and having a slotted headstock in my opinion adds to the resonance of the strings.
The tone produced by the strings (Aquila Super Nylgut) is mellow when it needs to be but can be loud and bright as well, and having the low G alongside the high one gives an added but not too boomy depth! It maintains its lovely tone all the way up the fret board so the top end sounds as sweet as the lower end. A great all round instrument which ticks all the boxes for me.
Kala KA-SRT-CTG-CE Comfort Cutaway
Well I had written this list but then this beauty reared its exquisite head! I have to say it has a lot of attributes that the afore mentioned KA-ATP5-CTG like the padauk binding, cedar top and a rich big sound, BUT this one has extra attributes! After playing it for an hour or so I looked at my right arm just below the elbow to check for the usual red line that forms there from resting it on the uke, but guess what? It wasn’t there! Why? Because this lovely Kala Tenor is the comfort version and has a beautifully chamfered edge to the body!
The cutaway is also well shaped and the whole instrument is overall stunning to look at. The pre-amp is a good performer, producing a very pure sound and played acoustically the uke produces a well rounded and consistent tone throughout its range. This is a winner and I hope to add the Kala Comfort Edge Tenor to my armoury soon!
Kala KA-ASAC-T8 All Solid Acacia 8 String Tenor Ukulele
This 8 string uke really has something to say for itself! When you first look at it you know you are in the presence of something special. The solid acacia build is immaculate and is finished with lovely rope binding and the pearlesque inlays on the fret board look amazing. The sound is where it’s really at though, it’s quite remarkable and it is virtually impossible to put the darn thing down again after you’ve played it for a while!
It gives a whole new dimension to uke playing and in my opinion wipes the floor with many of its 8 string competitors. It sounds great when finger picked and equally as astounding when strummed. The sound could be described as more “Folky” and slightly mandola-like although it is more rounded and doesn’t sound at all out of place amongst 4 string ukes. This Kala KA-ASAC-T8 really is a special ukulele!
Omega Zedro III Limited Edition Tenor Uke
I love my Zedro tenor uke! Although we sold out very quickly (there were only 40 tenors made) and there will be no more, this is a ukulele to be reckoned with! It looks wonderful with its very resonant solid Cedar top and attractive Zebrawood sides. The sleek mahogany neck is left natural and adds to the overall effect!
The build has achieved a complete tone package that I have not found on another ukulele and this one will always be with me on stage at performances along with my 5 string! On the bright side though, if this is anything to go by the next “Omega” creation the Omega Klasiko ukulele, which is built in the same place should be something to behold. Keep your eye on our website for them!
Mabuhay MT-11 All Solid Mango Tenor Ukulele
This Mabuhay MT-11 tenor ukulele was a really unexpected surprise! It was very refreshing to see a ukulele with no abalone, no pearl, no binding, simple black dot fret markers, no frills at all really. Yet it was still a lovely looking thing. It is just nice to look at completely natural mango wood from top to bottom. Usually you would find a different (perhaps harder) wood on the fret board but not here, nor on the bridge! Everything is mango.
This was a fantastic move on Mabuhay’s part as the sound this ukulele produces is nothing short of spectacular! It is a big round sound which punches well above its weight, yet can also be subtle and be played with a gentle classical sound. In fact the soprano and concert versions were equally as good and would both have made their respective lists if I were writing them!
