Kala KA-15S Satin Mahogany Soprano review

Full review

The KA-15S is a sensible first ukulele. Kala builds it from laminated mahogany with a mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard, then gives it two upgrades that many cheap ukuleles skip.

The first is strings. Kala fits Aquila Super Nylgut, a string that sounds warm and stays in tune reasonably well once settled. Cheap ukuleles often come with poor strings that buzz and go out of tune constantly. The second is a Graph Tech NuBone nut and saddle, which help notes ring clearly.

As a soprano it has a short 13.6 inch scale and 12 frets, with a 35 mm nut. That makes chord shapes small and easy for children and for adults with average-sized hands, and it gives the bright, traditional ukulele sound. Larger hands may find frets cramped; the tenor KA-15T is the alternative.

The laminated body is tough, which suits classrooms and school bags. Kala does not include a bag with the standard model, but sells a bundle. Andertons lists the KA-15S, along with black and spruce-top versions.