Kala Mahogany KAA-15S Soprano Ukulele (Limited Edition Soprano)

I waited a few months after my purchase to write this so I could offer a more informed opinion. Now that I've been playing for a few months and own another ukulele (a concert size) I feel comfortable writing a review. I'm giving this five stars - not because I think it is as good as a much more expensive instrument, but because I think this ukulele is one of the very best values on the market. It's cheap enough to "test the waters" as a starter/first uke, but it's an instrument, not some kid's toy. Even though I now have a more expensive concert ukulele next to it I still enjoy playing this little ukulele almost daily.The sound is really nice. A friend of mine (who owns a more expensive ukulele) was impressed with the volume and tone of this instrument when he played it. The construction is solid; I didn't detect any flaws or defects. The finish is very simple and natural looking, which I like. If you prefer shiny finishes and light colored woods this may not be your uke.The action on mine was a little high. The bad news is that this is to be expected at this price point. The good news is that it can be adjusted. You can remove the saddle from the bridge and sand some material off the bottom to lower the action. I did this to mine and really improved the way it played. Read a few articles on the net to get the details on how to do this if you need to; just Google "adjust action ukulele".As others have noted, it takes a little time for the strings to settle in and hold their tune. This is not unique to this ukulele. The knots at the bridge will let out a little string as they tighten, the string coiled up around the tuners will give out a tiny bit, and the strings will stretch. Mine arrived with *several* turns of string on the tuners, which might have added a bit to the time it needed to settle in. If you're fussy about this you can unwind the strings from the tuners, and re-do the knots so that you have only three turns of string around the post and cut off any excess. I didn't bother to do this. The strings will settle in after the first week or so.Bottom line: If you want to try the ukulele without investing a lot of money this is really good instrument for the money.

I am not a professional or know anything about ukuleles but from what I can tell this is a fantastic ukulele.Appearance: Very nice looking, the wood is darker in person than shown in the picture and the rosette is very pretty but does not stand out very much. Arrived in good condition.Playability: I would recommend a tuner if getting this as it does get out of tune every morning. I had to do some major tuning when I first got it, but that is to be expected. It gets a little out of tune every day but only takes a minute to tune back. Very nice sounding strings. My major problem with playing the guitar is that the fretboard is too wide across to get my fingers around it (I have very short fingers) but I ordered this uke in the size 'soprano' and I have no problem getting my fingers across it.Durabilty: I do play pretty rough and have beaten it around just a little. From what I can tell this is a very hardy uke and does not have any scratches so farI think that this a fantastic uke, and the price is quite low for some of the ukuleles I have seen. I was having a hard time figuring out a beginner uke to get and I'm very satisfied with this one

I ordered this by accident...and thought I might give it a go...it has nice sound and it is beautiful to look at...and the action is fairly low right out of the box...but the corner of the bridge is quite sharp...it just kept jagging me...very irritating...also I have a different soprano...the Luna Vintage Spruce Soprano which is in the same price range as this Kala...and the Luna just sounds so much better and feels better in my arms...I was sad to return the kala...if it only had been better

I absolutely love this thing. I'm a complete beginner with ukuleles, I wanted a nice affordable ukulele so I chose this one, and wow did I choose good. First off, it came a lil out of tune, but it was super easy to tune to the correct state. Also it looks great, not the strongest wood but I'm guessing because it is a ukulele it isn't supposed to be as strong as an acoustic guitar. It maintains its tune really well, and plays great.Pros: lightweight, good quality, great product overallCons: I've noticed that the E string would vibrate a little if another string is played, but this happens very rarely and it doesn't make a huge sound, just a little buzz.

I purchased this ukulele as a step up from a tourist trap souvenir type of ukulele. I am a beginner at ukulele playing and obviously do not have an expert's eye for a good instrument. That being said, this ukulele has a rich tone quality and construction that I would pay double the price for. It arrives very out of tune, but once it is tuned, it sounds wonderful. Even initially, it stays tuned pretty well. The distance from strings to fretboard is much shorter than my other ukulele, so it is much easier to play. Cosmetically, it is beautiful. The wood is finished to have some texture and the stain is a nice, warm tone of brown. The tuning knobs are a milky white color that I think goes well with the wood.

I’m a musician and a dad, and picky with my instruments. I bought this for my kids as an introductory musical instrument when my oldest was 4. I wanted a high quality instrument (not a toy) that is a joy for both me and my kids to play AND can survive my very active children. Almost 5 years and 4 young kids later, the instrument has held up very well! The kids have dropped it repeatedly on the ground, tripped over it, tried tuning the strings, stood on it as a stool, jumped off it, etc. It’s suffered only one chip, no strings have broken, AND IT STILL SOUNDS GREAT! I expect it to last for a long time.Don’t buy a toy ukulele. Buy a real instrument that is built to last. I highly recommend this product!

Although a good beginner instrument, the strings could use an upgrade. This is my second identical purchase of the same model. They are fun and reasonably priced. There are slight variables in quality which are minor. I am happy with the instrument, but not the strings.

Thanks