I love this baritone uke from Kala! Their series of 20th anniversary models produced a lot of really good, interesting stuff. Things like their Pan Pacific koa soprano, which sold out immediately. And other solid koa top ukes - which grabbed the headlines. And they were all good. But there’s something about this KA-20TH-SQS-B that makes me love it even if it’s name doesn’t roll off the tongue!

It’s so rich and warm, and yet articulate and clear when you pick. You can vary things from a rounded, warm strum with your thumb, to picking melodies that really sing with your fingernail. I really think it’s worth much more than the price tag suggests. Now, it does have some nice visual features too, like the rosewood faced headstock veneer with a Californian poppy inlay. And abalone around the soundhole. Oh, and very nice looking sapele back and sides, which looks great under the gloss. But… compared to those koa models I mentioned earlier? Well… it’s not the most exciting looking uke you’ll ever see. But it sounds so much better than it should.

The KA-20TH-SQS-B from Kala is fitted with D’addario fluorocarbon strings. These have a wound D, which delivers punch and a big bottom end - followed by an unwound G, which delivers a mellow, rounded warmth. It’s a great combination, completed by the sweetness of the fluorocarbon B and E, which sing, no doubt aided by the solid spruce top.

This baritone has a 38mm nut width - common with baritones - and comes with a really nice gig bag. You can add extras like strap buttons at the bottom of the page (although it already comes with one). For a video demo of this Kala Baritone ukulele in action, click additional info below.

In short, there are other models in this series that grab the headlines, but I am big fan of the value of this one. It’s a smasher.