The 10 Best Electric Ukuleles

Editor's Notes

March 09, 2019:

Etymologists claim the name means "jumping bug," while Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Queen of Hawai'i, claimed it means "the gift from afar," but what can't be argued is that this little stringed instrument is more popular than ever before. So it stands to reason that there are more high-tech versions available than ever before, which is true. So, here's the skinny: in decades past, it was hard to find a "uke" that was much more than a crudely glued-together toy. That's no longer the case; it's very possible to find plenty of quality versions of this classic instrument. But keep in mind that they still aren't in the same category as, say, an old-school Gibson Les Paul guitar; to some extent, even a good electric uke will require a bit more care and attention before the user's completely comfortable with it on-stage, especially for longer shows, or those with very high production values. With that said, Vorson makes some extremely modern-styled models, and they play impressively well, while they're priced in the middle of the pack. If you're looking for an acoustic-electric version, Cordoba is awfully hard to beat, and Luna makes some great ones, too. In between is the slim-bodied Epiphone, which is another very attractive choice, though it tends to require a bit more care, and maybe even some minor customization, in order to perform at a professional level. Donner also makes some traditional-sounding, yet well-electrified models; their bass is particularly interesting to hear, and will absolutely stand out in jam sessions, something this editor can personally attest to. But if you want to look really good, have a ton of fun, and spend $100 or less, it's pretty tough to argue with the Aileen SG, which is, somehow, ridiculously cute and strikingly metal, all at the same time. Oh, and it sounds great, too.