My Favorite ‘Ukulele

Selecting a favorite ‘ukulele is like picking a favorite child: one shouldn’t do it even if there is one.  I have four ‘ukuleles (as of now) and they all have a special place in my heart.  But since they are not children, let’s dive in and discover which one is my favorite.

In order of acquisition, I’ll introduce you to my ‘ukulele:  My First Fender, The Pickup Cordoba, The Carpool Waterman, and the Engagement Kanile’a.  It’s called the First Fender because it is the one where I learned to play the ‘ukulele, but it is technically NOT my first ‘ukulele, it is the second, by about 3 hours.  If you want to hear that story, head over to Why the ‘Ukulele Chose Me.  I consider it my First Fender.

I picked out the Fender because the headstock was unique to Fender and therefore different from the rest of the ‘ukulele at the store, but also because it had a low G string on it and the tone was rich and deep.  It’s a tenor.  The Fender was perfect fit for me.  However, it didn’t have a pickup on it, which at the time was inconsequential at the time.  Until it wasn’t…I began to play more and more onstage with a microphone, and began looking for my next ‘uke, the Pickup Cordoba. 

Also having a low G string, the Cordoba had a 1/4″ pickup, so my times at Open Mics became easier when I would just be able to plug into the soundboard instead of playing near an external mic. (I moved around too much and I would always bump it and then it would throw me off).  I love the tone and it is a concert ‘ukulele, one size smaller than the tenor.  The more compact size made it easier for me to get my fingers into the right shapes when playing chords.

The Carpool Waterman I picked up at another music store because it GLOWS IN THE DARK, it’s waterproof, and it’s a soprano-the smallest size of ‘ukulele.  Perfect for traveling and practicing in the carpool lines.  The color, in case you haven’t noticed, is my favorite, and I spent a lot of time using this instrument.  I don’t have to worry about humidifying it, and I enjoy the high, cheerful G string, unlike my other two.

As you may have guessed, the Engaement Kanile’a is the newest addition to my ‘ukulele ‘ohana, along with my fiancé, Alan. ♥️
We traveled to Hawai’i together in March ’25 and while I was recording my 100 Days of ‘Ukulele Project, he was plotting to get his girlfriend an upgraded ‘ukulele.  He knew how serious I was becoming as an ‘ukulele musician, so when we went to the Kanile’a store, I was flabbergasted.  There were only a few ‘ukulele I played before I made my decision: the tenor demo model with a low G and three honu (turtles) etched into the body.  The tone was noticeably richer and fuller, which blended with my voice the best.  

Alan proposed a few days later and used my new ‘ukulele as a prop!