Tenor ukulele is one instrument that has greatly become the hit among the beginners and experienced musicians around the globe. This small and simple instrument will enable you enter the world of music and sound with a lot of excitement.
Considering their classic and vibrant sound, these instruments are exceptional. They are increasing in popularity with many people ordering them and buying them.
An increasing number of people is gravitating towards these instruments because of great things they does. This is because of their overwhelming features that enable them produce a deeper and fuller sound.
Some of them have a large size that makes it easier for those musicians with large hands to perfectly handle them. These Ukuleles normally come in four different sizes which includes soprano, tenor, concert and Carlton.
Because of their acoustic properties and size, they have a more of full sound which covers more frequencies than concert and soprano ukuleles. The unique properties they have also enable you fine tune them properly before playing your music.
Their tone seems to be closer to classical guitar tone because of the fact that their lower frequencies will always ring out more when you play it. The thicker sound of tenor ukulele is actually better for solo performances.
These instruments are generally 26 inches long and they tend to have a longer neck. Although there are other tenor ukuleles with smaller sizes, this size is mostly regarded as the standard size.
Our Picks of 10 Best Tenor Ukulele Reviews
1. Martin 1T IZ Tenor Ukulele Natural
The world of music has greatly grown to produce more and more musical instruments. You might not enjoy your singing without martin IT IZ tenor ukulele. This is a musical instrument that you will play and produce excellent and well balanced tone.
This Ukulele features headplate and solid quilted mahogany body that is made to bring out the beauty and power of the instrument. The special peghead design and its five appointments makes the instrument special when you are playing them.
The headplate is adorned with the hibiscus flower that is done in pink and pearl. Considering what it offers, you can definitely say that quality, affordability, and classical tones is achieved.
Overall, this Ukulele is lovely and produces a nice tone. Made of C strings, it sounds good when you tune it down five and half steps to G.
The build quality of the instrument is superb and phenomenal. It has good sustain that ensures music flows well. With a nice setup, you can do your action perfectly with this ukulele.
Features:
- Solid quilted mahogany body
- Multiple white/black fiber
- Durable
- None scalloped top braces
- End piece made of black fiber
- Offers quality sound
- Head plate that is made of solid East Indian
- 17 inches scale length
2. Martin T1K Tenor Ukulele – Koa
Martin is a renowned company that is greatly known for manufacturing world’s finest Ukulele. It is also known for its quality, durability affordability and convenience. They manufacture products that meet the required standard.
Martin T1K Tenor Ukulele – Koa is one product that is not exceptional. This music instrument is rich with features that enable it do its job as promised. It is popular and most used because of its full bodied voice and excellent volume.
The top of the instrument is well crafted with solid koa together with the back and sides. The Koa is basically a wood that is mostly liked by island players. The entire body is attractively finished with high-quality satin lacquer. Also dovetail neck joint is applied to make it smooth.
Sitka spruce bracing inside this instrument offers an internal strength that allows it flex well and resonate naturally. Also it has Sipo fingerboard, traditional tuning machines and solid Sipo bridge that facilitate transfer of all vibrations to its body to offer a superior sound.
Features:
- Satin finish
- Hand-rubbed satin that displays a natural grain
- Sipo fingerboard
- Bridge add traditional style
- Nickel open-gear machines
- Dovetail neck joint
- 17 inch scale length
- Sitka spruce bracing
- Solid Hawaiian koa sides, back and top
3. KA-T Mahogany Tenor Ukulele
KA-T Mahogany tenor ukulele is another great ukulele that offers full-bodied tone that has plenty of mellow lows and sweet highs that normally combine to give a full rich sound.
Like many other Ukuleles, this instrument is not exceptional. It is well equipped with features that prove why you might consider it. With phenomenal tone, you could definitely like it.
It has a satin finish with white binding on top. This gives it an impressive design that can catch the eyes of any person around it. It is made using mango good which generally makes it feel great when you are holding it.
Built with great quality that enables it produce full nice loud and resonant sound. It has good feel with a neck that is little narrower that makes it easier to bar the chords with.
This instrument is absolutely great for players of different ages and different skill levels. It is also build and designed uniquely to stand the test of time.
Features:
- Tenor body shape
- Greatest durability
- Made of mahogany
- 968 inches
- 18 frets
- Satin body finish
- Walnut as the fretboard material
- Aquila super Nyigut-strings
4. Kala KA-SMHT Solid Mahogany Tenor Ukulele
You can save yourself some money and the hassle of looking for a tenor Ukulele instrument. This is because Kala KA-SMHT solid mahogany tenor ukulele has been made to bring everything you may need to play music immediately.
It features classic design that enhances durability and resonance with improved sound. The solid mahogany construction is perfect for you since it ensures that the instrument has its outstanding balance , warmth and midrange focus as it offers an incredible resonance.
The tenor sizing facilitates a superb depth when you compare it with other smaller -sized counter parts. The mahogany body of this ukulele not only provides a traditional body look, but a classic tortoise binding which offers a nice look.
Features:
- Tenor size
- Mahogany neck
- Walnut fingerboard
- Rosette
- Strong built
- Aquila super Nylgut playing string
- Compact and attractive design
- Solid mahogany back, sides and top
5. Cordoba 20TM Tenor Ukulele
The Cordoba 20TM Tenor Ukulele is one instrument that might offer you a great music experience. Considering what it does and offer. It is absolutely excellent. With many advanced features, you may choose to consider the instrument.
It is constructed with a solid mahogany top and a nicely laminated mahogany sides and back, to bring a clear and nice design of the tool. This makes it exceptional from other instruments in the same category.
Constructed with a natural wood pattern rosette that makes it a beautiful instrument for both beginners and skilled Ukulele enthusiasts.
You will also enjoy music with this instrument with no doubt. It had a smooth rosewood fingerboard that has pearl inlays and 18 frets.
All this are made to enhance better functioning of the instrument. This might look to be a small instrument but it has great features that enable it deliver a wonderful musical tone.
Features:
- 18 frets
- Mahogany body
- Solid mahogany top
- Mahogany neck
- Rosewood fret-board
- Aquila Nyigut 10 U strings
- Silvered tuner
- Gig bag
- 34 mm Nut width
- Natural satin finish
6. KTG Tenor Hawaiian Ukulele
Since the introduction of Ukuleles, a lot of them have been manufactured with a great number of them producing a nice result with KTG Tenor Hawaiian Ukulele Being one of them that enhances music industry.
This instrument is regarded as a great Ukulele because of some of the reasons which includes; giving a deep, rich tone that is visually complemented by rich hues of the instrument’s koa top, sides and back. It has classic hand-selected koa that is sought after townwood.
This is absolutely a gorgeous ukulele considering its great performance. It well constructed to produce nice tones which has helped it top the acoustics in the recordings. With a perfect size majority of players consider and admit that it is good for both beginners and skilled players.
This tenor comes along with enhanced soprano, deep tone and louder. With good players the instrument produces a robust volume compared to its diminutive size.
Features:
- Gloss finish
- Rosewood bridge
- Black dot inlays
- 19 frets and mahogany neck
- White dot inlays
- Premium D Addaris Titanium strings
- Graph tech Nubone nutl
- Maple trim
- Slotted headstock
7. Luna Tattoo Mahogany Tenor Ukulele
Traditionally designed, Luna tattoo mahogany ukulele has layout and patterns that are strongly geometric. This is a small and compact size musical instrument that will bring great musical experience at your place.
It is well equipped with features that enable it produce an excellent tone. In addition to its quality and durability, it has a design that is based on Hawaiian turtle which is actually the symbol of endurance and longevity.
The design is rendered in the Polynesian tattoo style. Its frets are also designed in sharks teeth style. All these designs are unique. It enhances the good look and use of the product.
Luna tattoo boasts clear and resonate sound. The body is made of mahogany construction with tremendous sound-value.
Features:
- Satin finish
- 19–inch scale
- Gig bag included
- 1-5/16 nut
- Laser etched tattoo
- Tenor body
- Mahogany neck
- Mahogany Sides
- Rosewood fretboard
8. Kala MK-T Makala Tenor Ukulele
You cannot finish with actually mentioning this product. The Makala tenor ukulele is simply one of the best entry–level Ukuleles on the market. This musical instrument is affordable and offers fantastic sound.
With a vintage look, this ukulele will actually not break your bank considering what it offers and its price tag. It is completely cost effective.
With a scale of 17 inches, it has an incredible size which you can handle perfectly as you play the nice tones produced by this ukulele. The body is crafted with greatest quality that works smoothly with its material.
Kala MK-T Makala Tenor Ukulele is built with mahogany in rich satin finish with accents the woodgrain. It emits a full-bodies warm and balanced body tone that sings nicely to the ears.
The instrument comes with beautiful walnut fingerboard together with the bridge, brass frets, mahogany neck and Aquila strings.
Features:
- Silk matte surface
- Tenor body size
- Aga this on the back, sides and top
- Mahogany neck
- It has a scale of 431 mm
- 18 Nickel silver frets
- Black walnut fretboard
- Geared machine heads
- Satin finish
9. Lohanu Tenor Size Ukulele
Constructed using mahogany and sapele, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, lohanu tenor is one of the best ukulele we have in our markets today. It is handmade ABS bindings and its chrome die cast tuning gears.
This musical instrument comes with Aquila strings and many extras such as a strap, tuner, soft sided case, two picks, and batteries for tuner, strap buttons and a pick holder.
The ukulele is 24 inches long with wider spaced frets that offer more room for those with bigger fingers. It makes strumming enjoyable for the players with its Aquila nylgut strings which are smooth when playing.
Lohanu chrome die-cast tuner gears are comfortable and easy to use and they hold the tune amazingly well.
Lohanu tenor size ukulele has a smooth neck that enables easy finger movement when fretting. The frets seat perfectly on the fretboard; there are no rough edges or overhanging frets.
The fretboard combine with the strings and the arched back to produce a warm, clear and lovely sound with more volume.
The lohanu tenor ukulele is lightweight and sturdy with an attractive design that resonates well with light. Its weight helps it to be a good companion for travelling and also makes it easy to play for extended periods without even using a strap.
Overall it has great playability, great tone, warm sound and amazing strings that give the best experience.
Features:
- Weighs 1.2 pounds
- Durability
- It is 24 inches long.
- Aquila nylgut strings
- fretboard
- Chrome die–cast tuning gears
- Aquila strings
- Arched back for clearer and louder sound
10. Donner Tenor Ukulele
This tenor ukulele has one of the best classical appearances with a beautifully finished mahogany body. This high–end ukulele reaches the standard of perfect craftsmanship producing a sweet sound, has a comfortable grip and it has lasting stability.
It really becomes a perfection art that involves over 100 processes in making this wonderful piece of musical instrument.
Donner toner ukulele comes with necessary accessories that you need for the perfect sound. These includes a Donor DT-2 high–quality accurate tuner with a battery, an amazing ukulele case, ukulele sized strap that has a great colour and a carbon nylon string.
It has a unique design with high–quality strings that are smooth and soft to the finger, with a clear sweet sound. Its rosewood fingerboard and a great mahogany body give it an attractive appearance.
Donner ukulele allows easy change of strings maintaining a great tone. It has 18 brass frets with position marks at 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets placed on the neck and the top of the fingerboard.
The chrome tuning pegs for the Donner ukulele are like those from a classical guitar and help keep the tune. This musical instrument though is best for beginners and can give the best.
Features:
- Mahogany Body with 4 advanced carbon nylon strings
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Aquila strings
- Donner patented chrome’ plated tuner
- 18 brass frets (Fret positions marks at 12th, 10th, 7th and 5th frets
- Digital clip–on tuner, ukulele strap, and ukulele bag included
Buying Guide – How To Choose The Best Tenor Ukulele?
Finding the right ukulele that you want can prove to be a difficult task. This is because tenor ukuleles are of different brands and woods that can confuse a person.
It is good to get a tenor ukulele that fits your musical needs. Tenor size ukuleles are 26 inches and usually produce a deeper classical guitar like sound. Due to its sweet and amazing sound, tenor ukulele is the most preferred size for professionals.
Things to Know
- Majority of Ukulele music instruments are generally meant for both beginners and skilled guitarists.
- These instruments are meant to serve you with greatest quality and excellent musical tone that impresses the heart
- The ukulele are of different types so it is important to choose the one that offers you maximum features and performance.
- When choosing the best ukulele ensure that you have done enough research so that you can get the correct instrument
Search for the Best
As you go to choose the best ukulele, it is advisable to understand some of the factors to consider before making the final decision. First search for the best by understanding well what you need.
These factors are actually many but you are advised to understand every factor and how it affects your decision.
Woods
There are different woods used for ukuleles, mahogany, monkey pod, koa, mango, rosewood, cedar, acacia and other woods. The commonly used woods include;
- Koa wood which has a beautiful grain and produces an amazing warm sound. It is used on tenor ukuleles that are more expensive
- Mahogany; it makes middle–end ukuleles and sounds softer compared to koa made ukuleles. It is a good type of wood and less expensive.
- Spruce wood is the most commonly used wood on ukuleles. It is used on lower end ukuleles
Price
Price is a factor to consider when you want a good ukulele. There are cheaper ukuleles that are mainly preferred by beginners.
Cheap ukuleles more often are made with inferior quality woods and strings that make this instruments sound like toys. They often have a wrong intonation and their bridge often comes off easily.
Therefore it is good to start with a descent quality ukulele that normally ranges between 60 to 150 dollars. Other reputable ukulele brands made from Hawaiian koa wood can cost you up to thousands of dollars to purchase them
Playability
The height between the strings and the top of the fret wire plays a role in the playability of ukulele. These difference in height is called the action.
A lower action enables easier play because it requires less pressure to press the string. Cheap ukuleles often have a high action that result in poor playability
Strings
There are multiple brands and types of ukulele strings in the market. Strings are vital in the sound that ukulele produces. Good strings provide good tension which in turn produces a good tone.
Aquila strings top the list in popularity and they are the most recommended strings. Nylgut strings offer huge resistance to wear. Fluoro carbon strings are good in durability and tone.
All in all it comes down to personal choice because they are many brands in the market.
Tuning Machine
They are two types of tuning machines
1. Friction pegs are used to tune the ukulele through the friction of the pegs
2. The second tuning machine is geared tuners which are preferred as a better option because they allow precise tuning using a gear ratio
In choosing tuning machine it comes down to the personal preference.
You are then required to choose a tenor ukulele that fits your style, that is within your budget range and the one that will give you the best and awesome sound that you will love.
Final Verdict
Finally, the Best Tenor Ukuleles are really affordable producing great sound as one would expect. These ukuleles are also full with superb volume. They produce note that is well balanced. Most of them have a higher quality satin finish
As we have seen these instruments comes with everything that you may need and think of a good ukulele could have. They look stunning with majority of them being constructed with mahogany.
We have actually reviewed the best 10 tenor ukuleles currently available in the market. Actually, any of the above ten instruments can do better and offer you the best services that you may think of. They have exceptional qualities and delivers almost at every point.