Founded in 2005, Kala has quickly become one of the major players in the ukulele market. Saying “They have something for everyone” may seem like a cliché, but it is appropriate for Kala, whose company catalog offers an astonishingly large variety of models.

Kala’s KA-ATP-CRG-CE is a tenor ukulele that includes a built-in pickup. The instrument is built with a solid cedar top, acacia back and sides, and a mahogany neck. With its cutaway and beautiful red padauk wood binding on both the body and the fingerboard, the instrument offers an uptown appearance, and it also impresses with quality materials and craftsmanship.

The uke’s onboard electronics include the Kala UK-300TR preamp, which is mounted into the side of the instrument, and a piezo cable pickup mounted under the saddle. The preamp has controls for volume, bass, and treble, as well as a built-in tuner, which comes in handy even if you don’t plan to hit the stage.

We were impressed with the Kala’s easy playability and rich sound, both when played acoustically and through an amp. The instrument’s smooth Grover tuning machines made it easy to get the the stock Aquila brand strings properly tuned.

SPECS: Tenor ukulele with cutaway. Solid cedar top. Acacia back and sides. Mahogany neck. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. 21 ⅜-inch scale. Grover tuners. Kala UK-300TR electronics with built-in tuner. Made in China. $369 street. kalabrand.com

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