What is the best ukulele 300 dollars can buy? Well, it’s not exactly a calculus equation anyone can prove, given the fact that personal taste and opinion exist. But we thought we would put our 2 cents in the pot anyway, and who better to judge than people that sell ukuleles every day, people like us. The seven guys here at the shop played, listened, and looked over a number of different ukes on the market in the $275-$325 price range. After discussing it at length, the Kala ASAC-T came out slightly ahead of the competition. As John Gonzalez Del Solar, analysis expert and guitar teacher/handyman, put it, “The intonation is always on, and they sound good!”. With a nice looking slotted headstock and swirls of pearl inlay on the fretboard, the look is right on point for what many people like. 
The wood is Acacia, which is in the same family of woods as koa, so the density is almost identical, and the look is very similar. The fact that this ukulele is all solid wood was a big factor in our favoring it over other products in this range. The Makai LC-80R was a close second and is also all solid wood -Cedar top, rosewood sides and back. It may have won, because the sound is great, if it didn’t come with friction tuners . It may have also lost because it is a concert, and pretty much all of us here are bias to the tenor size, most of the time. Any ideas for reviews or ukes you were wanting to hear and see more of? Leave a comment.Thanks for the look. Enjoy the video! Aloha
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Where can I find your store in Oahu? I really really want to buy me one Kala Acacia tenor ukulele….Please point where can i find your store….I am staying at UH Manoa…I want to catch the bus to come ova to buy one for me…thank you 🙂
We recently moved to the North Shore – Take the first exit for Haleiwa coming up the H2 North. We are a 1/4 mile up the road on the right side right after Tesoro Gas Station. Thanks!
I am curious whether this would still be the winner in 2012?
Well…Now this model is 349 and for the same price the Pono AT would be my choice.
Where would you rank the Lanikai SMP-T compared to the Kala ASAC-T and the Pono AT?
The spalted maple from Lanikai is beautiful uke but, in my opinion, is not as full of a sound, and projects much less. Tone is an opinion but that model was in a comparison at another article here – http://maryland.cochranfirmcriminaldefense.com/2012/03/21/what-makes-an-ukulele-good/ – Aaron includes it in a video comparison. thanks
Adore mine, and ohhhhhh that headstock!