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Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Good sound
- Durable gig bag
Cons:
- Action might be low
- Tuning issues (but it is pretty common with a lot of ukuleles in the beginning)
It is pretty obvious that the recent upsurge of ukuleles’ popularity is on the one hand due to the beautiful sound of the instrument and on the other hand the experience of playing a small, kind of quirky looking instruments that you see in movies all the time. That is why a lot of manufacturers pay quite a bit of attention to the overall aesthetics of the ukulele. That is definitely the case with the Luna Tattoo Mahogany Concert Ukulele Bundle. Overall, this is a good entry-level ukulele that is very popular, partially because of its beautiful design.
Build
While this is a bundle deal, you probably are not getting it for an extra spare of picks. We are all here for the ukulele and possible bonuses in accessories so let’s talk about the uke build. The first thing you will notice is that this is an all-mahogany body with a flat top. Mahogany is one of the most popular tonewoods that produces sweet tone while also being sturdy and long-lasting. The C-shaped neck is also mahogany with a walnut fretboard.
While a lot of the websites say that the fretboard is rosewood, which was probably one of the most popular materials, the official Kala website lists walnut and I am guessing it is due to the recent prohibitions on the rosewood. Nevertheless, walnut is also a decent and more sustainable material for the fretboard. The concert body of this model allows for easy playing and good enough sound. And, of course, the traditional Hawaiian body ornamentation“tattoo” on top of the ukulele is something that a lot of people would appreciate. Hell, it is probably one of the biggest selling points for a lot of people.
Hardware & Bundle
With the walnut bridge, MOP Shark Teeth inlays, and open-gear tuner you get a standard serving of good quality hardware that lasts quite a while and is easy to handle even for beginners. The graphite (OEM) nut which on its own is of good quality but the action is a bit too low for some people’s liking. As for the bundle, you get a gig bag, clip-on tuner, DVD for beginners and Austin Bazaar polishing cloth. The four-item bundle, excluding the ukulele, is pretty decent for the price. The best thing is probably the gig bag which is surprisingly well built and sturdy for the price it goes for. If you are traveling around a lot or, I don’t know, want to show your uke the world, then this gig bag will come in very handy.
Luna Tattoo Sound
The Luna Tattoo Mahogany Concert Ukulele is an entry-level instrument. I am saying that because there would be different standards for judging intermediate/professional ukuleles that go for over $200. That is why I think that for a beginner instrument this model has a good sound with nice volume and pretty balanced tone. For someone more experienced, this model is not nuanced enough, probably. There are a little bit of buzz and tuning issues for the beginner but it is fixable if you spend some time and possible money on it.
Conclusion
Every entry-level ukulele has a shortcoming. Most of them have more than one. So while Luna Tattoo Mahogany Concert Ukulele Bundle might not have the top-notch quality everything, it delivers on the sound, construction, and playability. That is pretty much everything a beginner could ask for in a budget-friendly ukulele bundle and that is also why it is among the best cheap ukuleles for beginners.
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