The popularity of the tenor ukulele has grown tremendously among beginners and veteran uke players alike due to the simple reason of its delivery of mid-range sound and good amount of bass for an originally trebly instrument. Also many have said that a tenor ukulele offers a different kind of feel on a ukulele instrument because of its much larger body with a longer neck compared to a soprano and concert scale to play more comfortably and not to forget to mention, can give extra range when playing chords and those single notes.
If you’re already playing a soprano and concert ukulele, transitioning to playing a tenor won’t be so difficult when tuning is concern. These three sizes of the ukulele are tuned exactly the same way G-C-E-A. Only the baritone ukulele is tuned differently like the bottom four string of a guitar D-G-B-E, and the voicing I may add is the deepest among the four main size closer to a nylon string guitar.
Let us now turn our sights to the list we have prepared consisting of tenor ukuleles to fit every budget. The tenor ukuleles we’re presenting are well constructed from all solid wood, all laminate wood and solid top wood paired with laminated wood for the back and sides. So without anymore further a do, here is our list of best tenor ukuleles in the market today.
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Lohanu LU-T Tenor Ukulele Bundle
- Tenor ukulele package
- Sapale/mahogany soundboard in satin finish
- Sapale/mahogany back and sides
- C-shape neck made from solid mahogany
- 18 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by white dot inlays
- Set of closed-geared tuners
- Rosewood bridge with tusq saddle and tusq nut
- Includes a clip-on tuner, padded case, picks, leather pick, extra Aquila nylgut strings, strap, cord hanger and beginner video lesson
Buying a ukulele as part of a starter package is the trend nowadays. It is by far more affordable and right out of the box comes completely ready with essential accessories to go out there and play. This is makes sense especially if you happen to be on a small budget or just purchasing a ukulele to give as a gift to someone who show a keen interest on playing the instrument.
Speaking of a ukulele on a package, the Lohanu ukuleles is what we recommend and is available in soprano, concert and tenor size. These ukuleles features a top, back and sides crafted using sapale/mahogany wood in satin finish and has side binding as garnish and protection. For the C-shape neck, it is made from solid mahogany top of by an 18 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by white dot inlays. Other specs to get excited about and optimizes the overall sound on these ukuleles are the set of closed-geared tuners, Aquila nylon strings, rosewood bridge with tusq saddle, tusq nut and smooth neck sides bindings.
Donner DUT-4E Tenor Electro-Acoustic Ukulele Pack
- Acoustic electric tenor ukulele package
- Solid mahogany for soundboard with beveled arm rest
- Mahogany wood back and sides
- Neck is constructed in solid mahogany
- 18 brass frets rosewood fingerboard
- Set of chrome guitar style tuners
- Rosewood bridge with synthetic saddle and synthetic nut
- Built in tuner and a preamp system controlled by a master volume, and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble
Another good quality and affordable tenor ukulele on a package joining the list that is perfect for beginners and long time uke players to play and collect is the Donner DUT-4E tenor acoustic electric ukulele. This tenor ukulele with electronics on-board is also available in concert scale made from solid mahogany for soundboard paired with a laminated wood back and sides.
Neck of the Donner DUT-4E tenor ukulele is smooth playing constructed in solid mahogany before topping it of by an 18 brass frets rosewood fingerboard. Then for stable tuning, intonation and string action for those long hours of play, the Donner acoustic electric ukuleles are equipped with a set of chrome guitar style tuners, rosewood bridge with synthetic saddle, synthetic nut, carbon strings, built in tuner, and a preamp system controlled by a master volume, and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble.
Caramel CT204 Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele Pack
- Acoustic electric tenor ukulele package
- Solid acacia top
- Solid acacia back and sides
- Truss-rod adjustable C-profile neck
- 18 walnut fingerboard for awesome playability
- Equipped with a set of closed-geared tuners
- Walnut bridge with buffalo bone saddle and buffalo bone nut
- Built-in tuner and a preamp system controlled by a master volume, and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble
- Include are additional set nylon strings, padded gig bag, picks, cleaning cloth, ukulele wall hanger, ukulele strap, extra bridge pins, metal nail drawer, cable and instructional booklet
Most all solid wood acoustic instrument including the ukulele can cost a player a few hundreds of dollar and some premium models built using exotic tonewoods can even be on the thousands. This is the main reason why we highly recommend this next ukulele and consider it as an absolute gem of a find, and that ukulele we’re talking about is this under the one hundred dollars all solid acacia wood body acoustic electric ukulele by Caramel.
The Caramel all solid acacia body acoustic electric ukulele is not only offered in tenor scale but in concert and baritone as well to match players preference and playing style. Neck of each ukulele models are truss-rod adjustable made of solid wood and has a walnut fingerboard for awesome playability. For other appointments to achieve a lasting sound, the ukuleles are equipped with a set of closed-geared tuners, walnut bridge with buffalo bone saddle, buffalo bone nut, built-in tuner and a preamp system controlled by a master volume, and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble.
Alvarez AU70WT Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor ukulele
- Solid sitka spruce top
- Walnut for the back and sides
- Comfortable solid mahogany neck
- 18 frets engineered rosewood fingerboard marked by white dot inlays
- Set of closed-gear tuners
- Engineered rosewood fingerboard with real bone saddle and bone nut
The Alvarez AU70WT Artist Series tenor ukulele is a stage performing instrument for gigging musicians and a must have first ukulele for beginners to learn well with and in the soonest of time bag some songs regularly played on a ukulele. This ukulele is made with a solid sitka spruce top and has walnut for the back and sides to bring out the playability and sought after sound of a professional sounding tenor size ukulele.
Heading now to the neck, headstock and the other parts completing the ukulele, the Alvarez AU70WT is placed with a comfortable solid mahogany neck up to the headstock with an 18 frets engineered rosewood fingerboard marked by white dot inlays, set of closed-gear tuners, engineered rosewood fingerboard with real bone saddle and bone nut.
Cordoba 20TM-CE Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele
- Acoustic electric tenor cutaway ukulele
- Solid mahogany top board
- Mahogany back and sides
- C-shape mahogany neck
- 18 frets composite fingerboard marked by inlay dot
- Set of open-geared tuners with pearl button
- Rosewood bridge with composite saddle and composite nut
- Equipped with an active piezo pick-up controlled by a volume and 2-band EQ bass-treble
This tenor ukulele from Cordoba with a cutaway and preamp system on-board to plug on an amplifier is one of the best if not the very best sold uke today under the two hundred dollar range. It has a warm sounding solid mahogany top board that will only sound better as this solid wood age. Then it is followed by a laminated mahogany back and sides to help the ukulele withstand warpage due to temperature change and humidity.
Neck of this ukulele is C-shape carved out of mahogany and been place with an 18 frets composite fingerboard marked by inlay dot for playability. Other important hardware to help deliver the best possible sound are the set of open-geared tuners with pearl button, rosewood bridge with composite saddle, composite nut, Aquila Nylgut strings and an active piezo pick-up controlled by a volume and 2-band EQ bass-treble.
Fender Montecito Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor ukulele
- Solid koa soundboard
- Koa back and sides
- C-profile nato neck
- 19 frets walnut fingerboard
- Vintage-style closed-back tuning machineheads on a Telecaster headstock
- No-tie bridge with bone saddle and bone nut
The Montecito together with the Rincon ukulele is Fender’s entries for a tenor ukulele on a reasonable price made with a solid wood top and has laminated back and sides. The Fender Montecito tenor headlines a solid koa soundboard with a nato neck top of by a 19 frets walnut fingerboard, while on the other hand the Rincon acoustic electric model in comparison has a solid ovangkol top, nato neck with ovangkol 19 frets fingerboard and has fishman preamp system.
What make both of these ukuleles very recognizable are the Tele-style headstock and features abalone soundhole rosette as garnish, body and neck bindings for protection, no-tie bridge with bone saddle, bone nut and vintage-style closed-back tuning machineheads.
Enya EUT-M6 Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor cutaway ukulele
- Solid mahogany soundboard
- Solid mahogany back and sides
- C-shape mahogany neck
- 18 frets richlite fingerboard
- Set of 18:1 ratio gold closed-gear machineheads
- Richlite bridge with NuBone saddle and NuBone nut
- Includes a instruction booklet, Allen wrench and a thickly padded case
The lovely tones of the Enya EUT-M6 tenor ukulele is produced using an all solid mahogany body in glossy finish with a matching C-shape mahogany neck, and an 18 frets richlite fingerboard. The body and neck of this ukulele also features a cutaway to reach easily the higher frets every time you play, and has mother of pearl soundhole rosette and wood of pearl inlays for a unique look and gives a calming vibe to the instrument.
Adding more value to this ukulele are the set of 18:1 ratio gold closed-gear machineheads, richlite bridge with NuBone saddle, NuBone nut, Enya’s own brand of nylon strings, instruction booklet, Allen wrench and a thickly padded case to store the instrument during travels and when not in use.
Kala KA-SMHT Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor ukulele
- Solid mahogany top
- Solid mahogany back and sides
- Comfortable C-shape mahogany neck
- 18 frets walnut fingerboard with inlay dots
- Set of classical style chrome-plated open-geared tuners placed on a slotted design headstock
- Walnut bridge with GrapTech NuBone saddle and GrapThech NuBone nut
The traditional design and overall sound of a tenor size ukulele that we love without breaking the bank is with the Kala KA-SMHT tenor ukulele. This premium ukulele offered by Kala present a kind of quality of an all solid mahogany top, back and sides ukulele with a comfortable mahogany neck and has 18 frets walnut fingerboard with inlay dots.
For tuning, action and intonation, the satin finished Kala KA-SMHT tenor ukulele is well equipped with a set of classical style chrome-plated open-geared tuners placed on a slotted design headstock, walnut bridge with GrapTech NuBone saddle, GrapThech NuBone nut and has original set of Aquila Super Nylgut strings.
Ortega RUACA-TE Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor ukulele
- Solid acacia top in open-pore finish
- Solid acacia back and laminated acacia sides
- C-shape okoume neck
- 18 frets tecwood fingerboard
- Set of gold die-cast close-gear Ortega tuners with black buttons
- Tecwood bridge with bone saddle and bone nut
This finely crafted ukulele instrument shown on the picture above is from Ortega Guitars broad range of ukulele models and it is called the Ortega RUACA-TE tenor. This tenor ukulele has a solid acacia top and back with laminated sides in open-pore finish that not only looks great but sound great too. Neck is designed for finger picking and strumming style made out of okoume wood top of by an 18 frets tecwood fingerboard.
Moving onto the rest of the parts and features completing the ukulele, the Ortega RUACA-TE tenor ukulele is equipped with a set of gold die-cast close-gear Ortega tuners with black buttons, tecwood bridge with bone saddle, bone nut, abalone soundhole rosette and padouk bindings on the body and neck.
Lanikai MAS-CET Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele
- Acoustic electric tenor cutaway ukulele
- Solid mahogany top in gloss finish
- Solid mahogany back and sides
- C-profile mahogany neck
- 17 frets walnut fingerboard
- Set of deluxe Grover chrome open-geared tuners
- 8-hole no-tie walnut bridge with NuBone saddle and NuBone nut
- Kula Fishman preamp system plus tuner to plug on an amplifier
Arguably any best list of ukuleles will not be totally complete without having a single entry ukulele from Lanikai, and our top pick to join this list for a tenor size ukulele is the Lanikai MAS-CET acoustic electric tenor model. This cutaway designed ukulele has an all solid mahogany body in gloss finish with maple single band soundhole rosette, side bindings and a Kula Fishman preamp system plus tuner to plug on an amplifier.
Neck of this ukulele is versatile to play made of the same solid mahogany wood top of by an 17 frets walnut fingerboard for flat picking, finger style and strumming. Tuning and intonation accuracy is not a problem and easily achieved with this tenor scale ukulele using the set of Deluxe Grover chrome open-geared tuners, 8-hole no-tie walnut bridge with NuBone saddle for easy string changes, precision engineered NuBone nut and D’Addario EJ88 strings.
Oscar Schmidt OU270TSK Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor ukulele
- Solid koa soundboard
- Koa back and sides
- Comfortable C-shape neck
- 19 frets ebony fingerboard
- Set of gold Grover mini-rotomatic deluxe GH305 tuners
- Ebony bridge with NuBone saddle and NuBone nut
Boasting a solid koa soundboard with a koa back and sides in gloss finish, the Oscar Schmidt OU270TSK tenor ukulele can be all yours for just under five hundred dollars. This professional instrument is beautiful to look at from top to bottom and delivers the kind of sound a Hawaiian koa wood ukulele has to offer without emptying your pocket.
Neck is comfortable to play and has a 19 frets ebony fingerboard with intricate abalone vine inlay and side bindings to give this tenor scale ukulele a distinctive accent. Moreover, this ukulele enhances its sound through precise tuning and intonation using a set of Gold Grover mini-rotomatic deluxe GH305 tuners, ebony bridge with NuBone saddle, NuBone nut and Aquila Nylgut strings for a more resonating sound.
Kala 1KOA-T Elite Series Tenor Ukulele
- Tenor ukulele
- Solid Hawaiian koa soudboard
- Solid Hawaiian koa back and sides
- Neck is made of Honduran mahogany
- 18 frets pau ferro fingerboard complete with ivoroid dot inlays
- Set of Kala designed open-gear tuners with chrome buttons
- Pau ferro bridge with bone saddle, GraphTech NuBone Nu
The last spot but definitely not the least on this best tenor ukuleles for every budget belongs to Kala’s 1KOA-T tenor ukulele. This 1KOA tenor scale ukulele is part of the growing family of the all solid Hawaiian koa body Elite Series by the Kala brand which now includes other versions in the form of 2KOA and 3KOA models of tenor and other different size of ukuleles.
The neck of this ukulele is as elite as its tonewood body made of Honduran mahogany top of by an 18 frets pau ferro fingerboard complete with ivoroid dot inlays. High standards of tuning, intonation and string action is handled by a set of Kala designed open-gear tuners with chrome buttons, pau ferro bridge with bone saddle, GraphTech NuBone Nut and carbon strings.
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