15 Best Baritone Ukulele Reviews 2022 – Best Baritone Ukulele Brands

Best Baritone Ukulele and Best Baritone Ukulele Brands

Best Baritone Ukulele and Best Baritone Ukulele Brands

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ukuleles are usually made in four main variants relative to the sound they produce. They are Soprano, Concert, Tenor and Baritone Ukulele.

Our focus is on the last of them, the baritone ukulele.

The baritone ukulele is the only one of the four that is differently tuned from the rest. It is tuned to strings d-g-b-e. In fact, if we were to take a low to high tuned 6-stringed guitar and remove its two lowest strings (E and A), we would have the four highest keys which correspond to the strings of a baritone ukulele.

What are the Best Baritone Ukulele to Buy?

2) Kala KA-ASAC-B Baritone Ukulele

  • Reputable 
  • Mahogany Neck
  • Rosewood Fingerboard
  • Herringbone Purfling

1) Kala MK-B Makala Baritone Ukulele

  • Rosewood Fretboard
  • Great Performance
  • Satin Finish
  • Lightweight

3) Oscar Schmidt OU53S Baritone Ukulele

  • Rosewood Finish
  • Good Material
  • Great for All
  • Strong Frame

In deciding which to buy, the baritone ukulele is a great choice for instrumentalists transitioning from or with guitar playing experience since their familiarity with it will help ease the transition. Apart from familiarity, there are also a number of other factors to consider in choosing a baritone ukulele. 

Aesthetics

You have to choose a baritone ukulele that appeals to you in terms of looks. You want to buy one that you would love playing, feeling, touching, most importantly, owning so it does not end up as something you think of discarding at the earliest possible chance.

Wood finishes are more premium and many buyers prefer its looks to other finishes like laminate. In the end, it is about choice.

Budget

Depending on the materials used in construction, the maker and a host of other reasons, baritone ukuleles are priced differently and the price differences can be quite wide. When money is an object and you have to settle for one in the range of your finances, your choice is limited to which you can afford. On the overall though, the sound depends on the player, so the budget problem won’t hinder your musical genius. Baritone ukuleles are generally more expensive than other types because of their size, among other reasons.

As mentioned above, wood is more premium but comes at a higher price than most others.

Tone

The volume and quality of sound produced by a baritone ukulele can vary depending on the types of materials used. Before buying, it is best to read reviews, check out samples and ask necessary questions about the particular type and brand of baritone ukulele you want.

The industry standard for string, for example is the Aquila Nylgut strings and any ukulele with that should bring out great sound.

15 Best Baritone Ukulele Reviews and the Best Baritone Ukulele Brands

Here are some sample baritone ukulele models to consider buying.

1) Kala MK-B Makala Baritone Ukulele

There are those players who want in on the ukulele game and would like to start with a baritone set but cannot decide which to buy; this is most probably the perfect fit.

It is a combination of great performance at a comfortably great price (especially for those on a budget). The manufacturers have made it out to not only function satisfactorily but to wow the users for a long time. The body (top, sides and back) is made of agathis which gives it a lightweight sturdiness. The frame is further laminated to protect the wood from damage.

It is fitted with a rosewood fretboard carrying 18 premium brass frets on board. The tuners on this uke are geared so the player can produce sounds of great and personalised depth and clarity.

For an entry-level ukulele at the price range where it sits, one might be forgiven for expecting some level of problems with playability and sound quality, but this Makala MK-B baritone ukulele doesn’t have any of those problems and is a great scoop for anyone.

The ease of play with its mahogany frame makes it great to handle for everybody whatever their skill level at handling baritone ukuleles.

2) Kala KA-ASAC-B Solid Acacia Baritone

Sellers usually find it hard to keep this ukulele model in stock because of the high demand for it. This is everything you want from a baritone Ukulele and more.

Great looks, lovely looking wood and even better tone. This is probably the ultimate ukulele.

Before we get too excited and forget to do this, here is the specs sheet. This particular ukulele is made of all solid acacia at the top, back and sides for that straight up, classy look. It features a rosewood fretboard and bridge with 18 frets made out of silver-nickel. The detailing in terms of nut and saddle are ebony–made.

The rich, premium sound of immense clarity is not unconnected to the premium Aquila Nylgut strings it comes with. This and other features of the body build and the Grover tuning keys which gives control of output to the player combine to produce an amazing resonance level that is unmatched.

Admittedly, this is priced out of many people’s budgets, but it must be said that the Kala ASAC-B baritone ukulele is for those who know what they are buying. This is not one of those sets that sit in the background, this Uke owns the show.

Satin is the finish of choice on this premium model and it does it a world of good in terms of looks.

3) Oscar Schmidt OU53S Baritone Ukulele

This type of baritone ukulele has a number of things going for it; first, it is a real looker with its beautiful spruce and rosewood finish. Solid spruce is the material of choice for the top which doubles as a durable material that will give years of service as well as a tonal modifier, giving the instrument some excellent tonal qualities.

Its rosewood construction gives it that guitar – like look about it, while the gloss finish gives added protection to the ukulele from the elements. Since all wood is subject to wear as usage progresses, the gloss keeps that in check while also making the Oscar Schmidt OU53S Baritone Ukulele a shiny piece of musical excellence.

The tuners are die-cast, so it can hold a tune for long enough to complete a practice session or even a show. It is a great instrument for professionals and beginners alike, its sound output rewards improvements in technique and can be a major source of motivation for newbies.

The manufacturer offers lifetime warranty on the Oscar Schmidt OU53S Baritone Ukulele to show that they do not anticipate any problems whatsoever.

4) Caramel CB103 30 Inch High Gloss Zebra Wood Baritone Acoustic-Electric Ukulele

Standing tall at 76cm and having a body depth of 8cm, this acoustic-electric ukulele as the name implies is made of zebra wood, giving it a very beautiful and strong frame, accented at the bridge and fretboard with rosewood and the nut and saddle of buffalo bone.

Industry standard Aquila string, closed geared tuners, eighteen frets and hand polished mirror finish are the other features that complete the specs sheet of the Caramel CB103 baritone ukulele.

Playable as both an acoustic and electronic instrument, this baby fits almost every hand (and pocket).

The model CB103 baritone ukulele also features a truss rod embedded in the neck to adjust it to the player’s comfort. The adjusting nut is tightened to straighten an up – bowed neck and loosened to adjust a back – bowed neck.

On the electronic side, this beauty comes with a 3 band equalizer control for bass, middle and treble, uses a 3V power supply which has to be purchased separately and possesses an LCD colour display, chromatic tuner as well as a low battery indicator.

It is suitable for professionals and beginners alike and produces a rich sound on-par with other top quality baritone ukuleles.

5) Cordoba 20BM Baritone Ukulele

Among all baritone ukuleles, this Cordoba 20BM is one that commands attention time and again. This is a full–mahogany body build ukulele with great, simplistic aesthetics as well as beyond–impressive performances.

The top of it is crafted from solid mahogany while its sides and back also feature mahogany to keep up the unitary coloured look.

It is fitted with a rosewood fingerboard with pearl inlays noticeable. The tuning gears are made of silver with buttons of pearl.

With its top-of-the-range Aquila Nylgut strings, it produces some really mercurial sounds which coupled with the other features, accentuates the player’s skills.

In terms of detailing, it utilises composite nut and saddle. There’s also a Rosewood Bridge for effect. It carries an inlay of herringbone patterned all-natural wood for the rosette which is rounded off with a natural satin finish for style. The Cordoba 20BM is set to deliver beautiful sound for a long time. It is one of those sets that become family heirlooms.

It is very handy for professional use, as well as in the hands of learners and newbies.

What is indisputable is the quality on offer, this is a premium range baritone ukulele.

6) Cordoba 22B Baritone Ukulele

It is said that Cordoba created the 22 series to bring the ukulele in the famous tonewood combo of Indian rosewood and spruce. To the undiscerning eye, this might be mistakenly called a guitar but it is a ukulele in all its glory.

The top of it is made of solid spruce while its sides and back feature Indian rosewood.

At just below 30″, it boasts a neck made of mahogany, while its bridge and fretboard are designed from rosewood with it carrying 19 frets in total. Its machines are silver geared tuners with black buttons.

The sound quality of this ukulele is very amazing. The tuning machinery means the player can easily play tunes as natural as he/she wants. Resonance and clarity are on par with the best of them, delivering rich-toned sound for years and years.

Durability is guaranteed with the high gloss finish featured to protect the wooden finish over time, as well as to give it a shine that just catches the eye.

Every player can handle the 22B baritone Uke regardless of skill level and produce some amazing tunes from the Aquila 23U strings that come with the package. This one is definitely going to be on many people’s wish lists.

7) Oscar Schmidt OU57 Spalted Mango Baritone Ukulele

This is one of the top end premium ukes on the market. Handcrafted to check so many boxes including beauty, performance, versatility and durability, this is one of the best ukuleles money can buy.

Its pretty impressive specifications sheet reads as follows. The top, back and side frames are all made of spalted mango. The nut and saddle are manufactured out of synthetic bone. The rosette and binding are. It is capped off with premium quality Grover chrome tuners with buttons made out of ebonite.

Crafted specially to generate superior resonance quality, and finished to perfection in order to prevent wear and tear from the elements – the Oscar Schmidt OU57 spalted mango baritone ukulele is guaranteed to be enjoyed for years to come. The manufacturer even offers limited life warranty on the product.

Its major selling point has to be the classical look it possesses which gives it an air of antiquity and superiority over other baritone ukuleles that can be counted in the same class. But it is not just about its looks, it is rather one of those products that look great, feels great and performs really great

This ukulele is more geared towards professionals but there is nothing stopping newbies from picking one up and working their skill up to its level.

8) Luna Vintage Mahogany Baritone Uke- Red Satin

This is one of the most modern of the ukuleles but you will be forgiven for thinking that it was something from decades earlier.

The Luna Uke VMB RDS is crafted beautifully with attention paid to the minutest details to produce such a fine baritone ukulele.

The rap sheet has these to say about it. The main body material is mahogany – the same material used for the top so it can be expected to last a very long time considering the quality of the wood. Its neck is C – shaped and it boasts of a flat fretboard made of walnut with 16 frets native. On closer look, one would observe inlays of pearl triangle and more.

Other features include open gear tuners for some of the best clarity and sustain in any tune. Added to that is the single ply black neck binding that sits well without compromising the aesthetics of the design in any way. To ensure the best sound quality possible, it employs premium Aquila Super Nylgut strings which also brings the element of durability as well.

It is geared towards right-handed people with its specific dexterity, which makes it a bad idea for left-dexterous players. But right-handed players of any and every skill level would find it excellent to handle.

9) Alvarez RU22B Regent Series Baritone Ukulele

Like every Alvarez Regent Series Ukulele, this one has been designed with the ultimate goal of creating an instrument with excellent acoustics, impressive response as well as good tone and volume.

The RU22B is designed with a dovetail joint at the neck to both improve the strength as well as enhance energy transfer from neck to body and vice versa.

The top has a satin finish while the neck, back and sides are made of mahogany. Rosewood bridge and fretboard are included with 18 frets. The nut and saddle are made of real bone, and the machines carry a chrome tuner.

The strings employed on this Alvarez RU22B is the famous Aquila Nylgut.

It is designed to ease changing strings, which is an advantage many ukes fail to consider in design.

As for the sound, it produces a sound that is on par with the user’s skill level making it easy to observe improvement in one’s skill level early enough.

This is a low-cost ukulele, and with all the specs on its rap sheet, it is definitely a steal at that price range. It plays comfortably in the hands of both pros and beginners; it is encouraging for learners though as the sound produced is purely a reflection of the player’s ability.

10) Diamond Head DU-200B Deluxe Natural Mahogany Baritone Ukulele

Now, this here is the perfect transition set, especially for those moving from a guitar playing past to ukulele. It has a number of features to both wow and makes the transition bearable.

First of all, it is a very beautiful piece which is closer in size to a soprano set than most. The Diamond Head DU-200B is handcrafted from high-end mahogany which is applied to its body, neck and sides. The designer throws some rosewood into the mix for the bridge and fretboard. It is no news that rosewood fretboards make for some of the best playability. The nut and saddle, however, are made out of white plastic.

As for the tuners, the chosen ones are guitar – style geared tuners with white plastic buttons to help players produce as pure a sound as possible with intentional clarity. The frame also produces a very large resonance compared to a lot of other baritone ukes.

Its usefulness cuts across every skill level. It is advantageous to new ukulele players – especially previous guitarists – as well as professionals who will find it a worthy instrument for all sessions.

It also does not seek too much sacrifice from the pocket to purchase, so it can sit comfortably in the wish lists of budget shoppers.

11) Hilo 2655 Baritone Ukulele

This particular baritone ukulele is another one of the low – price editions geared towards those who are shopping on a budget. Ignoring the price tag, it is actually a nice piece to possess.

The choice wood for its frame is mahogany which has been known to be both durable and beautiful. The makers went further to laminate it which both enhances its looks and contributes to a longer lifespan.

Hilo is not a new name on the scene of ukulele manufacturing, and being on the scene since 1926, this particular model is another testament to their excellence in handcrafted ukulele making.

The model 2655 baritone ukulele carries all the requirements of a mid-range b-ukulele as the specs suggest, it carries non-geared tuners. There are 18 frets on the mahogany-finished fretboard. It rounds up quite unimpressively with standard strings (but which can easily be replaced).

It plays really well, with amazing resonance for a Ukulele of its size. It is to be believed that this particular ukulele was designed for smaller hands and beginners, for them, it plays more than just well. Professionals will find it very handy as a backup and practice session item, but probably nothing more.

It is most suitable for those looking for a pocket-friendly baritone ukulele to use in honing their skills.

12) Kmise Mahogany Baritone Ukulele Hawaii Guitar 30 Inch

One of the least expensive baritone ukuleles available, Kmise combines different materials to create a baritone ukulele most suitable for playing those slow, groovy Hawaiian tunes.

The top, back and sides are made of laminated mahogany, the wood giving it a premium look, while the lamination both makes it shiny and protects the wood from the impact of the elements to ensure durability.

Okoume is the material of choice for the neck while the fingerboard and bridge employ rosewood. Other specifications include: 18 frets, bone- made nut and saddle, soundhole rosette is abalone Italy.

Machine head is chrome with a matte natural finish. Its strings are the industry acclaimed Aquila strings. The Kmise Mahogany Baritone Ukulele stands at 30 inches tall and produces a sound much louder than its frame would suggest.

It is useful for new players or pros who favour fingerstyle in playing the ukulele, likes simplistic and beautiful designs and someone who is on a budget while shopping for a new ukulele.

13) KALA KA-B Mahogany Baritone Ukulele

Kala, makers of this Ukulele have served up some very juicy offerings over time and this is one we cannot ignore in a hurry.

Priced as an entry level baritone ukulele, the KA-B baritone ukulele does actually offer more than most in terms of playability and overall performance.

As part of its mahogany satin series, the model KA-B is made out entirely of mahogany (top, sides, back) and finished with satin. With little or no embellishments whatsoever, it thrives on the plainness of its design to deliver a ukulele like no other.

The fretboard comes in one of two possible options – walnut or rosewood, which also goes for the bridge. This disparity is based on the market. There are 18 frets on this piece. It has a very high playability and is most comfortable for players who are just transitioning from guitar to the ukulele.

The sound quality is (surprisingly to some) very good. Considering the quality of wood, tuners (chrome die-cast) and strings (Aquila Super Nylgut), it should not be too surprising though. The mellow, yet the deep tone is carried with a lot of sustain, especially coming from a ukulele of its range.

14) Caramel CB500 Rosewood Baritone Acoustic Ukulele

Caramel CB500 30 Inch All Rosewood Baritone Acoustic Electric Ukulele

Caramel is a Chinese brand that serves up some noteworthy ukuleles, one of which is the CB500 acoustic baritone.

This is essentially a budget ukulele, but it surely does not look or feel like it. The premium aesthetics is the first surprise to hit the admirer who knows the price range.

The entire body top, side and back is made of rosewood laminate with a sheer satin finish for effect. The neck features a truss rod which is uncharacteristic of budget ukes and adds to that classy look we spoke of.

Rosewood fretboard with 18 frets (14 clear) is another addition to the specifications list. Buffalo bone nut and saddle, Rosewood Bridge, and that dark baritone body are some of the other features of note.

In the department of sound quality, it holds its own very well. Of course, one would not expect it to sound like one of the high-end ukuleles, but this Caramel CB500 produces a mature, warm and slightly darker tone which can be said to be under-priced.

The price, as well as the playability, makes it a worthy tool in the hands of professionals as well as a learning instrument for those so inclined.

15) Cordoba 24B Baritone Ukulele

It can be argued successfully that the 24 series are some of the best ukuleles from Cordoba. The premium look and feel of the 24B baritone Uke sure lend credence to this assertion.

At just under 30″ in height, it surely stands confidently. Featuring a cedar wood top, which is accentuated with spalted maple on the sides and neck, it would be glaring just from touch that one is holding on to sheer quality. The red padauk binding and rosette complete the set of the amazing body build of this Ukulele.

For functionality, our uke carries open – gear tuners crafted out of silver combined with elegant black buttons to boot, although these tuners can be a bit cumbersome to operate for the beginner.

Worthy of note also is the more traditional rosewood fretboard. Bone is the material of choice for nut and saddle, while it is fitted with Aquila 21U baritone strings out of the box.

Its strongest suit is in terms of sound quality. The quality and types of wood used as well as the size of the Uke and the string type ensure that it produces quality sound with a well-balanced tone and plenty of clarity.

For professionals who want a quality piece with all the beauty attached, this is the one. Amateurs who can afford it can also purchase this piece and work their skill up to it.

Choosing the Best Baritone Ukulele from the Best Baritone Ukulele Brands

In conclusion, the decision on which baritone ukulele to buy depends on all the factors earlier mentioned and more. That is why a guide such as this is very necessary. By comparing and contrasting different models, one can easily find the one that suits personal needs and budget.

2) Kala KA-ASAC-B Baritone Ukulele

  • Reputable 
  • Mahogany Neck
  • Rosewood Fingerboard
  • Herringbone Purfling

1) Kala MK-B Makala Baritone Ukulele

  • Rosewood Fretboard
  • Great Performance
  • Satin Finish
  • Lightweight

3) Oscar Schmidt OU53S Baritone Ukulele

  • Rosewood Finish
  • Good Material
  • Great for All
  • Strong Frame

For every high end, high-performance ukulele, there is a low cost, good enough version that will fit anyone’s budget. But that is not discounting the quality on offer from the high enders of course.

Buying these, one isn’t only buying the instrument to use for a short period of time, but for as long as possible – unless the buyer is just experimenting and hoping to move on from it soon.

Therefore, the factors to consider before choosing a baritone ukulele to buy vary from person to person, but by applying the thoughts shared here and going through the catalogue shown here, everyone will surely find something for themselves.