Are you planning for a big ukulele upgrade but haven’t found your well-matched item? Check out the best concert ukulele for intermediate players for some clues!
>>> Top 9 Best Concert Ukulele For Intermediate Players and Professionals – Most Recommended ⇓⇓⇓
Having played the ukulele for a while, you know it’s time for an upgrade – an appropriate ukulele to level up your playing experience.
Since this is a tough decision, we have collected the best concert ukulele for intermediate players to help you choose a perfect uke according to your personal preferences.
Without any delay, let’s get down to our top 9 best ukes!
#1. Ibanez UEW13MEE Acoustic-Electric – Top Pick Of The Year
With decades of reputation in ukuleles, Ibanez has been one of the best concert ukulele brands for professionals. One of its featured items – the UEW13MEE – is well-known on the worldwide market as the best concert ukulele for intermediate players.
First, its body mainly contains Macassar ebony – a rare wood on IUCN Red List. With a great density, this wood body brings a strong resonance and strong vibrations.
A standard fretboard of 14 inches makes it a versatile instrument for experienced players who love bright tones with more attack on the highs. However, this uke might not be comfortable for small bodies since the bridge is closer to the soundhole.
A small pitfall of this concert uke is that its Okoume neck might move a lot while playing. With such a premium price tag, Ibanez could have chosen a higher quality material for the neck.
Pros:
- Classic, stylish look
- Heavy Macassar ebony body
- 14-fret for bright tones with more attack on the highs
Cons:
- Not suitable for petite players
- Cheap silica mahogany neck
#2. Enya EUC-M6 EQ – Best For Travel Musicians
If you plan to upgrade your musical box for a smoother onstage experience, Enya EUC-M6 EQ has got you back. Its mahogany body results in a bright, classic tone of traditional ukulele sound.
This musical box brings support for artists who often travel on tour. The body is coated with a glossy finish to avoid corrosion and wear off in time.
Besides, this uke goes with a high-quality gig bag to protect it from possible scratches and damages. This well-padded bag also keeps turning pegs stay in place. Additionally, it includes both backpack straps and a hook strap for two lifting options.
Pros:
- A great choice for uke players of all levels
- Solid mahogany body
- Wear-resistance, corrosion-resistance
- Inclusive, high-quality bag
- Can play with a pickup or not
Con:
- Expensive
#3. Enya Bernadettes Signature Bougainvillea – Best For Feminine and Robust Performance
This rosy artwork is a collaboration between Enya – one of the best concert ukulele brands for intermediate – and Bernadette – a famous uke teacher on YouTube.
This Enya uke stands out as a bold statement of femininity and professionalism with a “B” logo and dedicated bougainvillea flower pattern. If you are confident with your uke skills, it will help you get the spotlight in a crowd or anywhere you go!
This concert-sized instrument includes all your necessary accessories for a big upgrade, including a strap, strings, finger shaker, and a protective case. There is also an exclusive tassel with Eastern-oriented elements, a decorative item for the instrument.
Apart from its attractive design, this MAD string instrument offers a richer, warmer, and sustain tone than cheap laminated ones, thanks to its solid mahogany body. With a gloss finish, this body can maintain its sound and be less prone to mellowing with age.
Pros:
- Feminine, fashionable design
- Necessary accessories included
- Solid mahogany body with a gloss finish for added durability
Cons:
- No instruction with the electric uke
- Everything compact in the soundhole
#4. Kala KA-ZCT-C Ziricote – Best Budget-Pick
In the ukulele world, Kala is known as a top-notch manufacturer since 2015. Kala KA-ZCT-C is one of its best-selling items with a shoestring budget.
Its body mainly consists of laminated wood – ziricote, walnut, and mahogany – which is less prone to splitting or cracking in harsh weather conditions.
However, since the body strongly influences the uke’s tone, the uke with a laminated body might not resonate as solid.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Durable construction
- All essential accessories included
Cons:
- No case included
#5. Hricane Professional Ukulele 23 Inch – Best For Rich and Balanced Sound
Hricane Koa is an ideal choice for intermediate players who love rich, balanced sounds. This mid-sized concert uke features a longer scale and more frets than a soprano.
This uke contains solid acacia wood, which botanically relates to traditional koa. If you ever admired the “heritage” vibes of koa in Hawaiian ukes, Hricane Koa could be a great alternative. Its grain patterns bring an enchanting look to both the instrument and the player.
Additionally, this string instrument goes with the leading Aquila strings of Nylgut – a special combination of nylon and gut strings. These strings are easy to play and give you warm tones. Nonetheless, there is a digital tuner in this package to keep your uke stay in tune.
When all these above factors come into play, this Hrican Koa item presents the most stunning resonance that you ever heard.
Pros:
- Heritage Hawaiian look with acacia tonewood
- Digital tuner for easy tuning your instrument
- High-quality Aquila strings for warm tones
Con:
- No strap buttons installed
#6. Oscar Schmidt OU5 Koa Concert – Best For Various Complex Songs
OU5 Koa Concert is the best concert ukulele for intermediate players with a maximum note range and full sounds. Its 17 frets allow you to perform various complex songs in your style.
This well-crafted Oscar Smith ukulele ensures to bring you happy playing moments for years thanks to its solid construction.
First, this instrument has a Hawaiian Koa body with beautiful grains. Second, it features abalone binding with a rosette. Otherwise, you have to add them separately, which might cost you a lot with a high risk of damage.
Along with this instrument, you will get all necessary accessories for your continuous learning journey, including a gig bag, tuner, a polishing cloth, and Austin Bazaar instructional DVD.
Pros:
- 17 frets for a larger range of notes
- Hawaiian Koa body
- Chrome Grover tuners
- Included with all necessary accessories
Con:
- Higher strings over the soundhole than regular instruments
#7. Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Mahogany – Best For Pain-Free Tuning
The first advantage of this music box is that it uses BT neck junction technology, allowing you to disassemble the neck with ease. You can also adjust the string’s height by putting paper in the neck connection.
As tuning is a painful and time-consuming job even for experienced uke players, Enya EUT-MAD is here to help. The slotted headstocks make the strings more responsive and always in tune. Thus, you won’t have to consume much time on tuning.
Within a low-budget, you can experience a warm, dark resonance with this solid mahogany body. Its high gloss body and beautiful pearl inlays make it sparkling on stage and resistant to weather changes in the years to come.
Pros:
- Easy neck disassembly with BT junction technology
- Slotted headstock to keep strings
- Reduced tuning time
Con:
- Sharp fret edges
#8. Luna Guitars 4-String – Best For Unique Design
Recently launched, the Vista ukulele series has become featured for its fashionable look and reasonable price. So, is this item worth being in your instrument collection?
First, this Luna Guitars uke uses nickel strings, which is not recommended for a ukulele. Nickel or stainless-steel strings might be compatible with guitars, guitar/uke, or any uke hybrids, not this original concert uke.
Second, this uke body consists of different types of wood. For the highest sound quality, we only trust solid wood material. Laminated wood can badly affect the tone even though it resists both hard knocks and harsh weather conditions better than solid wood.
In terms of quality for intermediate players, we think that this uke item better suits beginners or those who aren’t ready to invest in a superior, premium instrument.
Pros:
- Fashionable
- Cheap price
- Smooth, beautiful inlays
Cons:
- Not solid wood body
- Nickel strings
#9. Ibanez 4-String Natural – Best For Online Performance Sharing
Like the first UEW13MEE, the Ibanez UEW15E has a comfortable body size and neck shape, allowing its owners to perform on the stage with relaxation.
The magic doesn’t stop here! This uke has an open-pore finish, meaning that the wood is unrefined. Apart from its natural look, this original finishing helps the instrument breathe and resonate better than glossy ones.
While UEW13MEE features a Macassar ebony body, the UEW15E’s body is crafted of maple – a commonly found material in guitars and ukuleles on the market. This type of wood provides higher clarity, resonance, which marks it as one of the best concert ukulele for professionals.
Suppose you love recording and sharing your pieces online with your friends. In that case, the Ibanez UEW15E is a must-have in your collection!
Pros:
- Good ergonomic for performance on stage
- Unrefined, natural finish
- Maple body for better clarity and resonance.
Cons:
- Not as attractive as glossy ones
- Sharp frets
Final Verdicts
It’s time to choose the best concert ukulele for intermediate players that suits your demands. Let your fingers and your ears guide you to the best one.
We hope this review article will assist you in picking up a musical box for your learning journey.