Fender Ukulele Review + Top 10 Best Ukes from Fender Brand!

Fender Ukulele Review

Introduction

Fender is, in fact, one of the most important brands in guitars. So they brought on one thing of a stir once they moved into uke with the release of three ukuleles: Pa’ina, Nohea, and Hau’oli. Their greatest supporter (by some enormous margin) is Ukulele Ray who appears to be constantly pimping them. The phrase from the rest of the ukulele community isn’t so enthusiastic.

Plenty of individuals who posted a comment on any Fender interviews discovered issues with their ukes – there appears to be a particular problem with the bridge. They did only begin making ukes in early 2009 so let’s be kind and say they’re nonetheless figuring out a few kinks within the manufacturing process.

Fender is legendary for guitars, however lately, the corporate’s ukuleles are making fairly a stir as well. Fender first launched its ukuleles in 2009, instantly hitting some bumps alongside the way as so many producers do.

After ironing out the wrinkles, Fender created a stable lineup of dependable ukes in the most well-liked styles, partnering with the likes of Train, Ukulele Ray, and Billy Corgan.

fender ukulele review

Top 10 Fender Ukuleles!

1. Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele

Inspired by the entertaining sights and distinctive, carefree spirit of Venice, California, a ukulele was created to capture that vibe—the Venice Ukulele. Because of its compact, snug dimension, the Venice travels simply from the seashore to the studio or jam room while retaining the basic, gentle sound that made the ukulele a “must-have” for the uke players.

The slim “C”-shaped neck profile is comfy to carry and simple to play, whereas the pull-through bridge makes altering strings a breeze. A classy bound top and 4-in-line Tele headstock provide a singular sprint of Fender type that can’t be duplicated.

Let all of your cares drift out to sea, embrace the music of the boardwalk and live the seashore life year-round with the Venice Ukulele.

Fender Venice Uke Bundle
Features:

  • Top: Basswood, laminated
  • Wood: Hardwood, laminated
  • Neck: Nato
  • Walnut Fingerboard – laminated
  • 12 Frets


2. Fender Seaside Soprano Uke

An ideal alternative for newbies, the Fender Seaside Ukulele has the whole lot you could start playing right out of the box. Compact, comfy, and simply transportable, this soprano uke is right for starting players or anybody wanting to add its gentle, joyful sound to their music.

The Fender Seaside Ukulele Pack comes with a padded gig bag, ukulele strings, and a clip-on tuner—every little thing you could begin playing immediately. There is also a free 3-month subscription to Fender Play—the simplest solution to be taught ukulele.

Fender Seaside Soprano Uke
Features:

  • Soprano Ukulele
  • Laminated mahogany
  • Nato neck
  • Laminated hardwood fretboard
  • 16 Frets


3. Fender Grace VanderWaal Moonlight Ukulele

Influenced by the soprano ukulele that accompanied Grace VanderWaal as she likes to play, the Grace VanderWaal Moonlight Soprano Ukulele is a fabulous introduction to this easy-to-play gear. With its comfy smaller size, engaging sound, and stage-ready options, the Grace VanderWaal Moonlight Soprano Ukulele is the right companion for her music.

Reflecting Grace’s “Boho Chic” type, this ukulele features a sublime, fashionable Navy Blue satin end, gold sparkle rosette, gold hardware, customized floral soundhole label inspired by the album artwork from her debut launch, Just The Beginning, and Grace’s distinctive heart sign at the back of the headstock.

Fender Grace VanderWaal Moonlight Ukulele
Features:

  • 4-String Grace VanderWaal Signature Soprano Ukulele
  • Wood: Mahogany
  • Neck: Nato
  • Walnut Fingerboard
  • Pull-Through Bridge


4. Ukulele U’Uku

Everybody wants a little ukulele in their lives, and there is nothing more enjoyable than a tiny instrument that sounds as pretty as the wind in the palm trees and waves on the seaside. With the Fender U’Uku Soprano, you get a small and reasonably priced soprano-size ukulele which you could take anyplace and enjoy its sweetly distinctive tone.

Plus, in contrast to the toy models on the market, this can be a stable Fender uke that will provide you with years of musical enjoyment. Even at its low value, the U’Uku Soprano presents top-notch parts similar to a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, body and neck binding, and a bone nut and tie bridge saddle, making it excellent for inexperienced persons and skilled ukulele players alike.

Ukulele U Uku
Features:

  • Style: Soprano
  • Scale Length: 13.66″ (34.7 cm)
  • Top: Laminated Mahogany Top
  • Mahogany Back and Sides
  • Finish: Satin Finish

5. Fender Zuma Concert Uke

The Zuma Concert Uke is a ukulele within the new Fender Ukulele California collection and is gentle, playable, and simple on the eyes — very similar to the well-known Malibu beach that impressed its name. Good for both residence and studio use, it affords a balanced, warm sound that’s good for solo playing or for mixing with different instruments. The Zuma includes a lightweight, laminated Sapele body that puts out a nice tone.

In addition, a 16-fret, flat-radius rosewood fingerboard affords clean response and stellar playability. There’s even a basic 4-in-line Tele headstock that lends this compact sound machine a little bit of classic Fender vibe. And although the Fender Zuma Concert Ukulele is a superb beginner uke, seasoned players will get pleasure from it as well!

Fender-Zuma-Concert-Uke
Features:

  • Top: Mahogany, laminated
  • Neck: Nato
  • Fretboard: Hardwood, laminated
  • Neck binding
  • 16 frets


6. Fender Montecito Tenor Ukulele

Inspired by the California residence of many celebrities, this uke screen-ready seems to be and headline-grabbing options may solely have one identify—the Montecito Ukulele. Constructed utterly from koa, this tenor-sized uke has a wealthy, sonorous tone control, that matches its elegant aesthetic.

The strong top supplies enhanced resonance and sustain, together with unbelievable warmth and well-balanced projection. The Montecito’s koa body is complemented by a blue-green abalone top, back, and fingerboard for a refined look.

Different options embrace a no-tie bridge for fast, simple strings modifications, a bone nut and saddle for superior intonation, an abalone rosette, vintage-style closed-back tuning machines, and a 4-in-line Tele headstock for that unmistakably basic Fender look.

Fender-Montecito-Tenor-Ukulele
Features:

  • Top: Solid koa
  • Body: Laminated koa
  • Neck: Nato
  • Fretboard: Walnut
  • Neck binding
  • 19 frets


7. Fender Dhani Harrison Ukulele

Having carved a singular career path as a composer and singer-songwriter, Dhani Harrison’s versatility onstage and behind the scenes has led him to collaborations with a variety of artists as assorted as Wu-Tang Clan to Jeff Lynne. Harrison grew up enjoying the uke, which quickly turned into an integral device in his songwriting. Now he’s partnered with Fender to launch his own signature uke.

The model is offered in two completely different finishes, every with its personal distinctive fretboard inlays and engraved designs on the back of the instrument, all of which maintain private significance to Harrison.

The Dhani Harrison Signature Ukulele is designed for live efficiency, both are tenor-sized and have a strong ovangkol top with ovangkol back and sides in addition to a ¾ depth, upgraded Fender electronics, distinctive construct, and attention-grabbing aesthetics that can challenge you to develop your musical horizons.

Fender-Dhani-Harrison-Ukulele
Features:

  • Tenor size with ¾ body depth
  • Custom fretboard inlays and back engravings
  • Painted tops with matching 4-in-line Strat headstocks
  • Fender-designed preamp system
  • Custom gig bag


8. Fender Rincon Tenor Ukulele

Full of elegant fashion and top-notch options, the tenor-sized Rincon uke has a wealthy, deep voice that is uniquely inspiring. “Electrifying” is not a phrase one often associates with ukuleles, however for players who wish to plug in and get loud, the Rincon features an onboard Fishman Kula preamp.

Crafted from ovangkol, with a strong top for enhanced quantity, this uke sings with full-bodied chime whereas boasting a pure look. A pull-through bridge, bone nut, saddle, and attention-grabbing abalone rosette spherical out the trendy features. The Rincon V2 now includes a 4-in-line Tele headstock with vintage-style closed-back tuning machines, for that unmistakably basic Fender look.

Whether or not you are counting sets on the shoreline or playing your heart out on stage, your Rincon Ukulele is prepared to help you make waves.

Fender-Rincon-Tenor-Ukulele
Features:

  • Tenor-sized uke
  • Onboard Fishman Kula pickup system
  • Solid ovangkol top, ovangkol back, and sides
  • Bound top, back, and fingerboard
  • Abalone rosette


9. Fender Fullerton Telecaster Ukulele

It’s fairly apparent that Fender Fullerton Series ukuleles don’t appear to be your common uke. The Fullerton Collection is a variety of ukuleles that take design cues from basic Fender guitars. With the form of its body and pickguard, this uke is inspired by the enduring Telecaster. An enjoyable twist on the instrument, the Fullerton Collection affords familiar uke sound and luxury whereas paying homage to your favorite Fender guitars.

The principal talking point of this uke is the way in which it seems to be. With the single-cutaway body, the pickguard, the finish, and that iconic Fender headstock form, this uke bears a robust resemblance to a Telecaster, albeit smaller and extra ukulele-ish.

Don’t be fooled by the way it seems to be, nonetheless, this instrument is not any novelty. This concert-sized uke has that basic, brilliant, and sweet, nylon-string ukulele sound you’d hope for. It has a no-tie bridge design which makes strings modifications far less complicated expertise than on a conventional uke.

Fender Fullerton Telecaster Ukulele
Features:

  • Telecaster body shape
  • 4-in-line Tele headstock
  • Fender-designed preamp system
  • No-tie bridge
  • Nickel hardware


10. Fender Billie Eilish Signature Ukulele

As quickly as she burst onto the scene with her 2015 single “Ocean Eyes”, it was clear that Billie Eilish is a power to be reckoned with. Within the years since, she has established herself as a brand new form of popular culture icon, taking the style and music industries by storm on her personal terms. Billie’s meteoric ascent to pop stardom began with the uke, the primary instrument she learned to play.

Designed in collaboration with Billie Eilish, her Signature Ukulele is a stage-ready instrument that embodies Billie’s daring, unmistakable type. This concert uke is constructed with a Sapele top, back, and sides, that include a matte black end with Billie’s “blohsh” image.

It additionally features a Fishman Kula preamp for those seeking to plug in. The strings are so soft to play on too. Whether or not you’re a skilled musician or trying to pick up your first instrument, one factor is true: you’ll be able to play anything on the uke.

Fender-Billie-Eilish-Signature-Ukulele
Features:

  • Billie Eilish model
  • Top and body: Sapele
  • Neck: Nato
  • Fretboard: Hardwood laminated
  • Neck binding


What to Search for When Choosing a Fender Ukulele

Sound Quality

The sweet, wealthy sound of the tenor ukulele makes it distinctive, and it’s one purpose so many people resolve that this can be a must-have addition. When choosing a ukulele, make sure that you’re keen on the way it sounds to your ears! You’ll find clips of all the preferred tenor ukes being performed online, and plenty of manufacturers present demo movies.

Setup

A ukulele’s setup matters more than you would possibly count on. If the strings are set too low (i.e. low action) then you’re most likely going to come across some buzzing regardless that you won’t need to expend a lot of effort to press the strings.

If the action is about too high, you’ll end up questioning why the uke is so hard to play. Excellent news: It’s attainable to regulate the action, both by yourself or with the assistance of a luthier (extremely beneficial in case you’re new to ukes.)

Bottom line? In case you’re in any respect anxious in regards to the setup or the action, take your uke to a guitar store and have them take a look at it. More often than not, fixes are quick and simple.

Playability

What’s playability? Similar to its sound, it’s the extent of consolation you experience when playing the instrument. A playable ukulele permits you to calm down and benefit from the music, whereas an unplayable one is an actual pain to take care of.

As you verify evaluations, it is a good suggestion to see what folks have to say about their total expertise with the ukulele in question. If there are quite a lot of complaints about sharp frets, tough finishes, and so on, then it’s most likely best to maneuver on to the next possibility in your shortlist.

These instruments are purposeful and enticing, and naturally, all of them feature the traditional Fender headstock model.

How much do Fender Ukuleles Cost?

You’ll find an entry-level Fender ukulele for somewhat more than $50, and maybe for a touch much less if it occurs to be on sale. Most Fender ukes are priced between $59 – $250, satisfying most leisure players with a mix of high quality and affordability.

Are Fender Ukes a good selection?

Completely! With something for each price range, Fender ukes are typically well-built utilizing high-quality elements and stable, dependable craftsmanship.

The sound is usually crisp and clear, with loads of sunny, island-inspired tonality, and the choices are nearly dizzying, there’s a lot to select from. We hope that you loved our Top 10 selection and actually choose one from the list.

Charles Steinhoff

Charles Steinhoff

Charles is here and I am guitar and ukulele enthusiast. Been playing these instruments for over 10 years now and I decided to share some of my knowledge and expertise with the world in terms of these stringed instruments and it's accessories.

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