Kala MK-T Makala Tenor Ukulele

I've played guitar for a few months now and felt comfortable with it so I decided to branch out and buy a ukulele. My sister's soprano was a little too small for my fingers, so I went with a tenor model. This is a great uke for beginner players. It sounds good, especially considering how inexpensive it is. The finish looks great and the color is gorgeous. Mine was a little darker than the picture, which I like better anyway. Mine came with a mini-booklet displaying chords and typical tuning schemes as well as a few simple songs. I found that the learning curve is quite steep (in the good way, like a growing log function) coming from the guitar, but it does take some getting used to. A few things that I should point out about it: When I first got it, the strings were quite loose. Initially I tuned it an octave too low. It sounded terrible. I realize this is pretty basic, but keep it in mind if you've never owned a uke before. It should be the octave right around middle C on the piano. I use a Korg CA-30 chromatic tuner. Secondly, the strings relax quickly right away. By the time I had tuned it correctly the first time, the 4 string was already out of tune. Over time this will diminish and it will hold in tune much better, but be aware of this at the outset. I expect to be tuning it pretty constantly, even song to song, over the next week or so (maybe longer). I kept the stock strings because they sounded ok to me and perform well enough, but my sister upgraded hers right away and found that to be better for her. Beginners can probably get away with using the factory strings as they sound fine. TL;DR: This is a great uke for the price if you tune it to the correct octave and keep in mind how quickly the strings relax.

I was hoping for a tenor uke that was actually a good musical instrument, not a toy, for a good price, and as it turns out, this is just that. The strings take a while to adjust to the point of holding a tune (this is standard with new nylon strings), but now that it stays in tune it is a beautiful instrument, great to learn on, and fantastic considering the price. The tuners are good quality, and the sound of the instrument even with the strings that came with it (which I have to assume are not high end) is warm and resonant. As with any newly strung instrument, it is a good idea to have a tuner that can attach to the headstock so that tuning can be adjusted. I spent most of the day with it yesterday, constantly fiddling with the tuning to get the strings properly stretched, and today it plays like a champ. With standard tuning (G-C-E-A), you have the option of tuning the G string lower in pitch than the other strings or higher. I played with it both ways and it worked. Overall I am very pleased with the instrument and would definitely recommend the Kala MK-T Makala Tenor Ukulele to anyone looking to learn.

I bought this as an upgrade to my first Uke, a Mitchell Soprano. I wanted a Tenor for more stability and space to move around on the finger board. I really love this uke. Beautiful dark wood, satin finish. Brass colored frets, which aren't sharp. It tuned up no problem and holds tune well. It has a beautiful sound, and nice low action right out of the box. I can barely put it down, I love it. I have only a few "complaints" and they're not really even complaints. 1) The instrument is made in China. I ordered a Kala because it's an American company with a great reputation. I was disto find a "Made in China" sticker on the back of the head stock. That being said I understand the need to cut production costs to keep the price down, and the instrument is fantastic so I'm really not mad. 2) The instrument I got doesn't match the picture. I think I may have received an older model. The current model Makala has a lighter stain, and a lighter colored Laurel fingerboard and bridge. My instrument has a darker stain and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. To be honest I think I prefer this model, but the description and photo should be accurate. Just know you may not be getting what you expect. 3) The wood on the bridge is appears to be dried out. It's significantly lighter in color than the fingerboard. This confirms my suspicions that they sent me an older ukulele. Hopefully they didn't unload some old merchandise on me. I'm still really happy with the instrument but will look into conditioning the bridge. Anyway, hope this review was helpful. Excellent instrument. Great value. Somewhat questionable seller maybe. Happy strumming.

I bought a couple of these tenor ukes before the holidays (one for each of our two houses). When our children and grandchildren got together with us for the holidays, my daughter fell in love with it, so I gave it to her. I just ordered a few more for our other kids (and myself) and will likely order some more for our other house. Everyone in our family is into music, and my boys and I have played guitar (among other instruments) for a LONG time. This tenor uke is a great size for my big fingers (soprano uke = too tiny). The tone is very impressive for such a cheap instrument, and the woodwork, visually, is much better than I expected at this price. I like everything about it, so far. I can't speak to its durability yet, but it bounces around pretty well. It looks like it might be a bit tricky changing out the strings, but I'll deal with that when it happens. There seems to be a bit of a ukulele "revival" going on these days, and the simplicity of uke playing coupled with good sounding, cheap, and easily portable ukes like this one could be a contributing factor. I needed a "gig bag" to send my daughter home with it so I quickly fabricated something with a drawstring from one leg of some old sweatpants. At first I thought it would be a great product to market to the new uke crowd, but, then again, everybody has some old sweatpants......so I'm offering out the concept royalty-free right here on Amazon (Amazon and I go way back).

I got this as my first ukulele and have been very satisfied, until I tried play other ukes, and I realized something... This is an 18 fret tenor ukulele. Meaning the instrument is very slightly smaller, but makes a huge impact on the strings. Usually tenors will have a nice 19 frets and make the strings nice and tight, giving you a lot of response when strumming and less buzz, on average. But when stringing and playing this instrument, you'll notice just how loose the strings are, making it virtually impossible to play with a capo without having to tune afterwards. However, plucking is great and very easy, due to the loose strings and that is probably the one upside to it. It is a great instrument and I play on it every single day, but if you're trying to find the perfect beginners uke, make sure it has 19 frets, as it makes a huge difference to string tension, sound, and play-ability.

I didn't have high expectations, but was happily surprised at the playability and tone especially after installing a set of Aquila Red low g strings. After about 40 hours of playing the wood is starting to open up and this cheap little uke is just singing wonderfully. Nothing fancy, but it does a great job.

Love love love my new uke! I've been playing a Luna Concert Tattoo for a year. She's pretty but the tone is lacking. This Makala is loud and has a great tone, after I changed the strings that is. The GHS black rubber bands that it ships with are just awful. I put Aquila Nylgut tenor low G strings on it as soon as it arrived and mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm. The tone is intoxicating. Sustain is better than most ukuleles too The satin finish keeps her from slipping from my grip while on stage. The tuners work great one you get the strings settled in. I couldn't be more pleased with such an inexpensive ukulele. Order a good gig bag when you place your orde because you'll not want to leave home without it.

This is a very nice starter ukulele. It plays pretty well (the action is a bit high on mine, maybe I'll get that adjusted someday) and sounds pretty good. My tuners turn easily and seem to be good quality tuners. It's not as loud as a ukulele with a solid top but the tone is still very good. It comes strung with black nylon strings that are very dull and hard to play. I replaced them with a set of clear Martin tenor ukulele strings (that was all my local music store had) and it sounds 100% better with the new strings. I also plan to try D'addario and Aquilla uke strings in the near future. Overall this is a very good starter uke for under $100 and I am happy with it. I also ordered the Kala Tenor Uke gig bag separately and it fits this uke perfectly, FYI.

I absolutely love my MK-T Tenor ukulele! I also have the Kala MK-S Soprano, MK-C Concert, and MK-B Baritone and love them all. I have had no problems with the action, intonation, and overall construction of these little beauties. They are very reasonably priced and offer the quality of some higher-priced ukes on the market. I have tried several brands, including the more expensive Kala units, and am absolutely satisfied with the Makala by comparison. I highly recommend any of these ukuleles. Update: July 9, 2020 - I have several ukes and so have not used this one on a regular basis; however, I took it out today after it had been in its case, unplayed, for over 1/2 a year, and it's perfectly in tune! How many ukes (expensive or inexpensive) can make that claim? I'm still very impressed with this MK-Tenor.

After owning my Makala Tenor Ukulele for nearly two years now, I can confidently say this was one of my best musical investments. From the moment I unboxed it in 2023, I was impressed by the craftsmanship and sound quality - and remarkably, it still feels brand new today! The rich, warm tone of this tenor ukulele continues to surprise me. It has excellent projection that fills a room without being overpowering, making it perfect for both solo playing and small gatherings. The tenor size offers comfortable playability while providing that fuller sound that sets it apart from smaller ukuleles. Build quality is exceptional for this price point. The fretwork remains smooth with no sharp edges, and the tuning pegs hold stability impressively well, even after regular playing. The finish has maintained its luster despite daily use - no scratches or signs of wear to speak of. What I particularly love is how versatile this instrument is. Whether I'm strumming island classics, fingerpicking modern songs, or experimenting with different styles, the Makala responds beautifully to every technique. If you're considering a tenor ukulele that delivers quality, durability and great sound without breaking the bank, I can't recommend the Makala highly enough. Two years in, and it still brings joy every time I pick it up!

I love this thing! I am glad that I ordered it from amazon. It came in good time. It showed up in perfect condition - with Aquila strings. This was a lovely bonus as I had expected they would come with those generic black strings. All I had to do was tune it up and it was ready to go! It has a warm tone. After the first few days, it holds a tuning well. This purchase is definitely worth it. Especially for beginners or somebody who has experience with soprano but wants to try out a tenor to see if it's for them. This ukulele will convert you!!

Perfecto para principiantes. Está hecho en China (según dice la etiqueta). La calidad es muy buena

Buonissimo !! quasi professionale mi sono innamorato di questo ukulele qualità prezzo magnifica . Consiglio tantissimo!! suono dolce