Even though ukuleles are typically much cheaper than other stringed instruments, most people don’t feel too comfortable with the idea of investing too much cash in something they may end up not liking after all.
Given that soprano ukuleles are the second smallest category of ukuleles, they’re a bit easier to make, which makes them slightly less expensive overall.
Quick Look: Best Cheap Soprano Ukuleles
★ #1 Best Cheap Soprano Ukulele Overall: Diamond Head DU-150 Soprano ★
- Best Cheap Low-End Soprano Ukulele: Strong Wind Soprano Ukulele
- Best Cheap Ukulele for Beginners: Donner Soprano Ukulele
- Best Cheap Soprano Ukulele Pack: Eastrock Soprano Ukulele
Today we’ll take a look at some of the finest budget sopranos that the current market has to offer. So without any further ado, let’s dive in.
What Is a Cheap Soprano Ukulele?
A typical soprano ukulele is 21 inches tall and made of traditional koa wood. Less expensive sopranos feature the same dimensions as their pricey counterparts, but they’re normally made of different types of tonewoods, such as mahogany.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Cheap Soprano Ukulele
With price out of the basket, there are only a couple of things left to consider when purchasing a cheap soprano ukulele, including the following.
Size
The average soprano is around 21 inches tall, but quite a few models are either slightly shorter or taller. The size affects any instrument’s playability, weight, and ease of storage.
As a general rule of thumb, consider a smaller-sized ukulele if you don’t have any experience with stringed instruments whatsoever or if you have slightly smaller hands.
The Overall Tone & Sound
Another factor that the size of the ukulele influences is its sound. Although much of the tone’s definition is obtained through tonewoods, the ukulele’s dimensions influence its brightness and warmth.
Smaller ukuleles tend to be quieter and warmer, while the opposite applies to larger models. Essentially, warm-sounding ukes have a stabler tone where sounds rarely overlap. Bright-sounding ukuleles have a bit more sustain and definition in this field.
Price
The budget price point category is fairly vast, spanning from around $20 all the way up to $100. It would be wise to establish a budget before heading to the reviews directly.
10 Best Cheap Soprano Ukuleles
Now that we know a thing or two about cheap soprano ukuleles, it’s time to see some of the finest models out there. I’ve scoured the market for the best-sounding sopranos and the most valuable beginner packs, so let’s start from the very top.
Diamond Head DU-150 Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 21 inches by 7 inches by 2.25 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- What’s included: Standalone ukulele
- Material & finish: Mahogany construction, painted brown
- Best for: Best cheap soprano ukulele overall
The DU-150 is an instrument that experienced players would value and appreciate as a backup. It offers massive value for the buck for beginners who already have ukulele accessories, as the instrument itself is among the best-rounded and greatest-sounding ones in this price range.
✅ Superior sound quality
✅ Lightweight and relatively small
✅ High playability
✅ Pre-strung with nylon strings
❌ No accessories
❌ Consider replacing the tuning pegs
Why I Recommend It
Diamond Head’s DU-150 is a well-made ukulele that’s available at a surprisingly low price. It’s my go-to soprano when I’m practicing in a room, as it offers a stable, rich tone with an optimal level of loudness.
Strong Wind Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 20.8 inches by 7 inches by 3.8 inches
- Weight: 2.1 pounds
- What’s included: Strong Wind gig bag
- Material & finish: Mahogany construction, gloss finish
- Best for: Best for first-timers on a tight budget
Cheap, ordinarily-looking, and packed with bare essentials in terms of accessories, the Strong Wind soprano ukulele is the textbook example of a budget uke. Despite its unimpressive aesthetic, it’s made of high-quality mahogany and offers a decently loud warm tone.
✅ Sturdier than average
✅ Made of high-quality mahogany
✅ One of the cheapest sopranos on the market
✅ Warm tone
❌ Weak strings
Why I Recommend It
The rock-bottom price tag of Strong Wind’s soprano should be enough to grab your attention if you’re searching for an inexpensive soprano. In contrast to its cheapness, it actually sounds pretty great and holds its tuning for longer than you’d expect.
Donner Soprano Ukulele Beginner Kit
- Size: 21.65 inches by 8.27 inches by 2.95 inches
- Weight: 1.76 pounds
- What’s included: Ukulele gig bag, strap, clip-on tuner, replacement strings, polishing cloth, four picks
- Material & finish: Canadian maple construction, painted blue
- Best for: Best for immediate beginners
The Donner DUS-10B is a well-balanced beginner’s soprano pack that features high-quality accessories and a beautiful maple-made uke. It’s also fairly light and is perfectly suited for both children and adults.
✅ Made of high-quality maple
✅ Strong, bright tone
✅ Excellent accessories
✅ Available in four color styles
❌ Slightly flimsier than average
❌ Unwieldy gig bag
Why I Recommend It
I’d be perfectly content with the DUS-10B and classic gig bag, but I imagine beginners would be able to get more value for their buck through the other accessories included in this box as well.
Personally, I completely dislike the gig bag included in this package, but on the flip side, I’m completely enamored by the sound quality of the DUS-10B and its playability.
Eastrock Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 23 inches by 9 inches by 5 inches
- Weight: 2.7 pounds
- What’s included: Padded gig bag, clip-on tuner, five picks, replacement strings, strap
- Material & finish: Sapele construction, gloss finish
- Best for: Best cheap ukulele bundle
The Eastrock Soprano Bundle is among the finest, most valuable beginner kits that the current market has to offer. It comes with a sapele-made soprano and high-quality accessories such as a large gig bag, a handful of nylon picks, and two replacement string packs.
✅ Eclectic bundle of accessories
✅ Thoroughly padded gig bag
✅ Terrific intonation and playability
✅ Great for students and beginners
❌ Weighs nearly twice as much as ordinary soprano ukes
❌ Tiny soundbox somewhat constricts the overtones
Why I Recommend It
The value of Strong Wind’s soprano lies in the quality of each individual accessory and the enormous playability of the sapele ukulele. It’s fairly sought-after and remarkably well-made, although it’s a bit heavier than average.
Kulana Deluxe Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 20.7 inches by 7.1 inches by 2.8 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- What’s included: Gig bag, strap, three picks, replacement strings
- Material & finish: Mahogany construction, natural finish
- Best for: Best for pop music
The Kulana Deluxe Soprano Ukulele bundle is perfect for hobbyists and uke enthusiasts. It sports a solid mahogany construction and features several reliable accessories, such as a tall gig bag, three felt picks, an accurate clip-on tuner, and a nylon strap.
✅ Great sound quality
✅ Sturdy mahogany construction
✅ High-quality accessories
✅ Optimal playability for a beginner
❌ High initial action
❌ Minor setup required
Why I Recommend It
Kulana’s soprano feels and sounds much more expensive than it actually is. Even though its strings are set in a relatively high action, it offers an excellent level of playability.
Martisan Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 23 inches by 9.5 inches by 4 inches
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- What’s included: Gig bag, clip-on tuner, strap, two picks, replacement strings
- Material & finish: Mahogany construction, gloss finish
- Best for: Best for classical music
With its nylon strings and excellent-quality mahogany construction, the Martisan soprano is an excellent instrument for students and lovers of classical music. It comes in an eclectic box of quality accessories.
✅ Excellent level of playability
✅ Durable nylon strings
✅ Built to last
✅ Comes with Martisan’s proprietary P0-JT30 clip-on tuner
❌ Slightly more expensive than average
❌ Stiff machine heads
Why I Recommend It
Excellent sound, durability, and quality of accessories are just some of the reasons why Martisan’s soprano made this list of the best cheap soprano ukuleles. Its intonation and playability are also great, although its machine heads aren’t that easy to use.
Paisen Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 21.26 inches by 7.10 inches by 2.6 inches
- Weight: 2.74 pounds
- What’s included: Gig bag, clip-on tuner, replacement strings, Ukulele Primary Tutorial
- Material & finish: Spruce construction, natural finish
- Best for: Best cheap bright-sounding ukulele
Next up we have the Paisen Soprano Ukulele pack. Essentially, it’s a robust instrument made of high-quality spruce with a natural finish, and it’s absolutely perfect for bedroom practice and acoustic jams.
✅ Surprisingly good sound quality
✅ Durable spruce construction
✅ Easy-to-follow ukulele tutorial
✅ Sturdy gig bag
❌ Doesn’t feature a soundbox
❌ Rather quiet
Why I Recommend It
I was puzzled with the lack of the soundhole at first, but then I realized that Paisen intended this soprano to be played at home rather than on a stage. Although it’s fairly quiet, its sound quality is superior to most cheap soprano ukuleles.
Kala Learn to Play KALA-LTP-S
- Size: 22.63 inches by 8.38 inches by 3.25 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- What’s included: Gig bag, Kala QuickStart guide
- Material & finish: Mahogany construction, gloss finish
- Best for: Best cheap ukulele for students
Kala Learn to Play is exactly what it sounds like – a soprano bundle that’s meant to teach beginners the ropes of playing this beautiful instrument. The uke is made of top-shelf mahogany and the bundle features a tall gig bag and Kala’s Quick Start tutorial guide.
✅ Remarkable value for students and beginners
✅ High durability
✅ Warm, punchy tone
✅ Exceptional playability
❌ Only a handful of accessories included
❌ Smallish fretboard
Why I Recommend It
Given that I started my music career on a guitar, Kala’s Learn to Play bundle wasn’t on my radar until recently. When the box came, I noticed there weren’t many accessories inside aside from a big, sturdy bag and a Quick Start guide.
The tutorial is composed of a few easy-to-follow lessons that actually helped me remember the basics in no time, so I imagine beginners would have a similar experience. I recommend this soprano pack to music students who want to learn a bit more about ukes while taking lessons.
Vizcaya Soprano Ukulele
- Size: 21.5 inches by 7.6 inches by 2.5 inches
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- What’s included: Gig bag, strap, replacement strings, three picks, clip-on tuner
- Material & finish: Mahogany construction, painted brown
- Best for: Cheap soprano ukulele with the best playability
The Vizcaya Soprano Ukulele is a high-quality mahogany uke kit that comes with a couple of picks, a tuner, a tall gig bag, and a sturdy strap. It sounds good, but it plays even better, although its fret inlays beg for an upgrade.
✅ Great aesthetics
✅ High-quality accessories
✅ Superb playability
✅ Durable
❌ Somewhat poor intonation
❌ Confusing fret inlays
Why I Recommend It
I’d warmly recommend a playable soprano such as Vizcaya’s ukulele to beginners. Its fingerboard is soft and its neck feels natural to grip. The accessories in the bundle are also great.
Kala Makala Waterman
- Size: 21.8 inches by 8 inches by 3.3 inches
- Weight: 0.88 pounds
- What’s included: Waterman gig bag
- Material & finish: Acrylonitrile Styrene construction, waterproof finish
- Best for: Best cheap ukulele for beach parties
Kala Waterman is a lightweight soprano made of Acrylonitrile styrene, which is essentially a material that resembles ABS plastic. Its sole accessory is the Waterman gig bag, and despite its flimsiness, it offers a tremendous value for the buck due to its waterproof construction and excellent playability.
✅ Waterproof shielding
✅ Decent sound quality
✅ Surprisingly good playability and intonation
✅ Smooth neck and fretboard
❌ Flimsy construction
❌ Slightly more expensive than average
Why I Recommend It
If you’re looking for a light uke that you can easily walk and play, Kala’s Waterman is what you’re after. Aside from being the lightest instrument on the list, it’s also waterproof.
Cheap Soprano Ukulele Aesthetics & Build
The most distinctive feature of a soprano ukulele is its small size. The only ukulele type that’s tinier is pineapple.
Most budget models look almost the same, with the main difference being the color of the tonewoods.
Wood
All stringed instruments are made of tonewoods, which define their sound and aesthetics. High quality ukuleles are made of more expensive types, such as ebony and maple. Traditional ukes are made of koa, while the vast majority of budget ukuleles are made of mahogany.
Finish
There are several finish types, with spray painted, gloss, high gloss, and natural as the most dominant ones among low-cost ukuleles.
Color
The more expensive a ukulele is, the closer it will be to its natural color. Heavy layers of thick paint are sometimes applied to budget ukuleles to add a bit of extra weight and make them appear more durable.
It’s also not uncommon to see wild graphic elements on low-cost ukuleles. Professionals who prefer boutique ukuleles prefer natural-looking models. They would rather order a custom paint-job than play in front of thousands of people with a weird-looking instrument.
Buying New vs Used
Buying a used budget ukulele isn’t recommended for several reasons. First and foremost, cheap ukuleles are normally affordable enough for everyone’s budget, so it’s hard to imagine someone who would sell it substantially below its original price.
Secondly, low cost budget ukuleles are typically flimsy, which means that a worn-out used one wouldn’t last you for more than a few months. However, a good, new ukulele may be in the same price range as a decent-quality used one.
What’s in the Cheap Soprano Ukulele Box?
Cheap ukuleles are typically packed in bundles with standard ukulele accessories. Some of the most notable items you can find in a soprano ukulele box are:
Gig Bag
The vast majority of soprano boxes contain some form of a gig bag. Even though they’re probably flimsy, they’ll allow you to properly store your soprano and carry it to lessons or rehearsals.
Replacement Strings
It’s not uncommon for a cheap ukulele to sit on the shelves of a retail store (or a warehouse) for months on end. Strings lose their edge and durability over time, so your first set will probably pop much faster than any newer set.
Replacement strings are fairly common and among the most useful and valuable components of a cheap soprano box.
See more: Best Soprano Ukulele Strings Buyer’s Guide
Picks
Cheap, bulk-produced picks made of nylon are a common accessory in most ukulele boxes.
Strap
Just like the gig bag, straps are a fairly common accessory in ukulele kits. They’re useful for ukulele players at all levels and can serve as backups, regardless of their quality.
Extras
Each brand packs the accessories they’re able to buy cheap or produce themselves, so you may see the exact same items in different sets. Some of the other accessories in cheap soprano sets include clip-on tuners, a polishing cloth, and various tutorials.
Frequently Asked Questions
By now you should have a clear picture of what a cheap soprano ukulele looks, feels, and sounds like. Even so, there are a few topics I didn’t touch upon, so let’s do it now.
How Much Do Cheap Soprano Ukuleles Cost?
The average cost of a standalone cheap soprano ukulele is approximately $30, while a decent-quality pack shouldn’t be more expensive than $50. Even cheaper options are available if you don’t mind slightly inferior sound quality and subpar durability.
Where Are the Best Cheap Soprano Ukuleles Made?
Some of the best-sounding and most durable sopranos ukuleles are made in the United States. However, quite a few brands all across Europe also make inexpensive soprano ukuleles of formidable quality.
What Is the Best Sounding Cheap Soprano Ukulele?
If you compare the Donner DUS-10B to most cheap sopranos, you’d notice that its bright sound has substantially more character and resonance. It also handles chords a bit better and offers excellent playability.
Be that as it may, cheap ukes generally tend to sound pretty much the same, so a standout such as DUS 10B can be called the best-sounding cheap soprano.
Where to Buy Cheap Soprano Ukuleles
You shouldn’t overthink when buying a cheap soprano ukulele like you would when buying a professional instrument. Think along the lines of convenience instead; online marketplaces offer more diversity, while local shops and retailers eliminate the arduous shipping process and wait.
Amazon
Amazon is easily the most versatile and accessible online marketplace where you’ll be able to find thousands of cheap sopranos. The reviews will paint a picture of its quality and reliability by verified customers. Additionally, you’ll benefit from a warranty, a money-back guarantee, and in some cases even customer support.
Online Music Retailers
Sweetwater and Fiddlershop should be your next two stops if, for one reason or another, you didn’t find what you were looking for Amazon. These retailers offer different models at similar prices, so they’re worth checking out in parallel to Amazon and your local music stores.
Your Local Music Store
A typical cheap soprano that costs around $30 on Amazon may end up costing $50 in your local music store. At the end of the day, you’d have to pay at least $10 for shipping and wait for a few days. The main drawback of local shops is the limited catalog of ukuleles.
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In Conclusion
Let’s wrap my review of the best cheap soprano ukulele models with a few closing tips. First of all, don’t worry too much about the cost if you like a certain soprano model. The difference in prices between cheap ukes isn’t that vast.
Secondly, consider durable ukes over good-sounding ones. If possible, a quality model should possess both qualities, but you’ll be able to get more value for the buck with an uke that’s intact than a broken one that used to sound good.
I hope that this buying guide was of use to you, and I wish you all the luck in finding the best cheap soprano ukulele.