Kala15S Satin Mahogany Spruce Top Ukulele (KA-15S-S)

I used to think I hated soprano ukuleles. Turns out I have never tried a good, high quality one. I have 5 ukuleles including this one, and hands down this is the highest quality in my selection besides my Kala u-bass. Feels very nice to the touch, tunes smoothly, tension is very comfortable, and it has a rich sound, especially for a soprano. It’s got looks on top of the utility. It’s very playable. A lot of sopranos look like kids toys, but not this one! This looks and sounds like the proper instrument that it is. I would highly recommend this instrument to both beginners and intermediate players alike. The only downside is its size, which is normal for this kind of ukulele. It’s not good for those who have big hands.

Previously I wrote a review regarding the Makala Shark Bridge Soprano Ukulele. Unfortunately, with that particular uke, it arrived in very disappointing fashion. The workmanship [or lack thereof] and quality control issues forced us returning it, and spending an additional $10 for the Kala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele. Let me just say that the differences between these two Ukuleles is truly like night and day……for those of you who DIDN'T read my previous review, I will say that I've been a guitarist for over 25 years. I have a lot of experience in the construction, setup, and playing of acoustic and electric stringed instruments. Specifically I am a rock and metal player, but cull experience from nearly every genre of music. My wife and I were searching for an inexpensive beginner's ukulele for a 5 year old girl to use for her first foray into music. Upon ordering the ukes, we had them delivered to us so that I could go over them, make sure that they were properly constructed and setup prior to sending to her. Being that I have given MANY lessons in my day, and have encountered many different instruments, I know that THE most common reason that a student gives up on a stringed instrument is if it is poorly set-up [i.e., physically hard to play]. NO stringed instrument should require a Herculean amount of strength.The Kala Ukulele arrived very well packed…by both Amazon and from the company. Upon taking the ukulele out of it's second inner most packing box, I could immediately see that it was in fact made of mahogany [intentional mislabeling of construction wood is an unfortunate part of inexpensive guitars and stringed instruments]. Not only is this actual mahogany, but it is a very excellent example of mahogany. The wood is a deep shade of brown with a dark black grain running throughout. The pores of the wood [a tale tale sign of true mahogany] are very visible and clearly indicate that this is an excellent example of mahogany.The fretwork is EXEMPLARY. I've seen $400-$500 guitars have fretwork not as good as this. The brass frets are all properly seated and well finished. For anyone familiar with guitars and stringed instruments, fret ends [the point at which your hand makes contact up and down the neck] can be a very troubling point of contact with inexpensive instruments. However, these frets have been manicured to a level that there is no sensation whatsoever.Another point of emphasis: the nut. The nut, in my estimation is one of THE most important parts of any stringed instrument. A nut should be properly cut as to allow the strings to move without binding [binding creates issues with tuning and intonation] and the nut slots should be cut as so to allow the strings a downward trajectory into the tuning machines [maximizing resonance and projection of the instrument]. Again, this instrument is exemplary as it relates to the nut. The nut is a plastic "bone facsimile" and it is properly cut with an attention to detail I could never have expected at this price point.Tuning CAN be a bit tedious with this uke…the tuners are VERY pedestrian, but at $53 [most tuning machine sets cost more than this ukulele did] one shouldn't expect them to be more than utilitarian. Please be prepared for the tuning machines to slip a bit when tuning…it's very easy to get impatient, but if you take your time it will get to pitch. Once you've tuned the ukulele, as with any stringed instrument, it will be important to stretch the strings and then retune at least two additional times before optimal tuning stability will be achieved.Upon tuning the ukulele, and strumming some chords, I quickly realized what a gem this truly is. The uke is dynamic, resonant, and truly is the sum of all the aforementioned parts. Single notes sing out and have great harmonic content. Chords ring and project very well. I have played every note on the fingerboard and none of them are dead or have any intonation issues whatsoever.To put this in perspective, I just bought myself a guitar three weeks ago. It cost me $2,500. It is the epitome of modern guitar construction and is arguably the greatest stringed instrument I've ever played. But this $53 Kala Uke has a home, in my home, right next to that guitar. I'm not comparing the two; I'm simply saying that the playability is such that I WILL be buying myself one once this goes to our granddaughter. The "dollars per smile" ratio on this thing is incomprehensible. I can not say enough about this Ukulele and if you're in the market for a Uke PLEASE do yourself a favor and buy one. You will NOT be disappointed, nor will you regret it for one single solitary minute.

Kala has earned a rep for making good and reliable instruments at modest prices. Even their entry level Makala Dolphins and Sharks with molded plastic back and wooden soundboards are respected. Still for very little more this KA-15S is really the exact same ukulele as the $70 KA-S, but without the white edging/binding or the nickel-silver frets. This is really a visual difference designed to upsell the buyer but little more.Also better is that both of these are all wood, and are of clearly higher quality than the Dolphins. Remember, when you buy online your ukulele is not going to be "set-up" which means you may get one that has a buzz, or whose action is too high for comfortable playing. A shop set-up avoids that. Thus, you take your chances. Although most Dolphins are fine, a notable number need set-up; however your chances of getting a good one are MUCH better with either the 15-S or the KA-S.Note too that both the KA0S and 15-S come with expensive Aquila nylgut strings (normally $10 to 12 plus ship). The Dolphin comes with cheap strings that you will soon tire of and be forced to replace, and if you are like most Dolphin owners - with the Aquilas.Bottom line: for just $10 more than the entry level, plastic backed Dolphin, you are getting what is really a $70 KA-S with much better strings, all wood, and much better sound quality. The 15S we received was acceptable in every regard, no obvious defects, good intonation and proper action - and requiring no set-up.More: We also have a Ukadelic by Kala, at $48 and equipped similarly with Aquilas, but with the nickel-silver frets of the KA-s. The only difference: the 15S and KA-S are make of mahogany, while the Ukadelic is "either poplar or nato (eastern mahogany)". When compared to our new 15S, the Ukadelic is a bit "brighter", but still very full while the 15S is a bit warmer, a bit more classical sounding, a matter of personal taste. To me the 15S sounds just a bit more refined. A matter of taste and still both are very similar in sound.Good luck.

Produto de ótima qualidade. Boa madeira, bom acabamento, ajustes das cordas preciso.

Purchased for my 15 y/o as I accidentally broke her other one 🥴 The Ukelele arrived quickly and was packaged with care. Loved the extras it came with. Purchased the Hawaiian Islands one, beautifully crafted and well worth the extra cost. Definitely recommend 👌

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Lo compré para un regalo. Conocía la fama de la marca y había tenido ocasión de probar un par de sus instrumentos de gama similar y un poco superior que tienen dos familiares y me habían gustado el tacto y el sonido.Tras leer tanto aquí como en otras plataformas reseñas eminentemente positivas, finalmente me decidí por este modelo y creo que fué un acierto. El sonido, siendo un instrumento de entrada de gama media, podríamos decir, es bueno, cálido y no demasiado estridente (dentro de las posibilidades de un ukelele soprano).Los acabados, remates etc. impecables, se nota atención por parte del fabricante, al que su fama le precede.El tacto del mástil se me hace muy agradable. Aunque yo no toco habitualmente el ukelele, sí llevo más de 15 años tocando instrumentos de cuerda de todo tipo y he tenido y, en alguna ocasión, probado ukeleles (en algunos casos más batalleros, pero en otros de gama en principio igual o superior) con un tacto más basto, un poco sensación de pequeño "leño" y este no es el caso.Como dato adicional, la persona para la que lo compré llevaba unos meses aprendiendo a tocar con un ukelele prestado muy batallero y al probar este, incluso no siendo una persona con demasiada experiencia en instrumentos de cuerda, notó una diferencia en sonido y comodidad a la hora de tocar considerables y quedó muy contenta con el regalo. Creo que no es tanto que yo sea especialmente maniático o exquisito, más bien que la diferencia es notoria y el tacto es objetivamente bueno.Mantiene la afinación razonablemente bien tanto durante sesiones más o menos largas como en lapsos de mayor inactividad, lo cual, a pesar de que sea una muy buena costumbre darle una pasada de afinación antes de tocar, es de agradecer, sobre todo para tenerlo a mano y tocar en sesiones breves por diversión o para gente que esté iniciándose y le suponga un poco "suplicio" el andar afinando constantemente.En definitiva, muy satisfecho con la compra.Por sacarle un mínimo "pero", quizá hubiera sido un buen detalle de cortesía por parte del fabricante que viniera con alguna funda simple aunque fuera de tela sin más (que por otra parte, en mi caso en realidad no hubiera utilizado puesto que junto con el ukelele regalé también una funda acolchada muy apañada). No es un contra, para nada, sigue siendo una compra magnífica, pero si hubiera quizá sido un buen detalle para alguien que no tuviera mucha intención de sacarlo de casa pero quisiera mantenerlo protegido del polvo, por ejemplo.

Le ukulélé est beau, bien fini. Il sonne bien.Il me semble approprié pour débuter et progresser dans la pratique. Livraison rapide et dans les délais.