What follows is my review for the lotmusic “Horse” concert size ukulele. I consider the ukulele I reviewed to be an excellent value in a beginner instrument, and may be something a more experienced player may want for use outdoors or in places where they would not bring their more expensive (and fragile) ukuleles. Read on for more information about the ukulele I received.
I’m a bass player and guitar player that also enjoys playing ukuleles. Most of my ukulele playing is with a weekly local ukulele jam session, and I also like to attend ukulele events within a reasonable distance of home. These were all cancelled in this year of COVID, but I’m optimistic that we’ll be back to jamming again next year.
I’ve collected a few ukuleles in various sizes over the years, so what follows will directly compare this ukulele with two comparable instruments I’ve owned as well as instruments I’ve tried in local music stores.
This ukulele is a concert size, which is my preferred size. It is the smallest ukulele that allows me to easily reach large intervals (notes farther apart) while not feeling too cramped when forming chords. I also find that I prefer the sound of the concert size over the soprano. If you play other fretted instruments (like guitar) you may also find the soprano scale to be too small to cleanly form chords. A tenor size is a bit longer scale which translates into easier chording but not being able to reach notes farther up the neck without shifting position. I prefer the sound and feel of the concert of the concert over the tenor.
This ukulele is made from laminated mahogany, as can be seen by examining the intersection between the sides and the top and back of the instrument. You can also see the laminated layers inside the sound hole. There appear to be three layers with the outer layers appearing to be darker color than the middle layer on my ukulele. Solid wood is generally preferred for instruments but is very rare in this price range. Laminated woods have a few advantages. Instruments made from laminated woods are more stable than solid wood instruments when the humidity or temperatures change and they are generally more rugged as well. Nearly everything you’ll find in this price range will be made from laminated woods. Good quality laminated woods sound pretty good and will generally not crack across the lifetime of the instrument.
I compared the sound of this ukulele (side by side) to a Kala KA-15, a laminated mahogany concert ukulele that I purchased a few years ago. At that time I tried every laminated ukulele I could find, I even compared more expensive ukuleles to the Kala, and and the Kala was the best sounding of the bunch. This ukulele has similar construction and size, so the comparison is apples to apples (except for price). I compared the sound of this ukulele to the more expensive Kala and this ukulele was close, but the Kala had a bit better sound in my opinion. Remember that the Kala was twice the cost. I consider this ukulele to be at least comparable to a majority of the laminated ukuleles I’ve played, all more expensive. The lotmusic ukulele wins this round for value.
I also compared the construction of this ukulele with the Kala KA-15. The neck carve of the lotmusic ukulele is very nice. No lumps or dips, just a very nice medium size neck with consistent taper. The interior of the lotmusic ukulele body had a few little splinters but was free from any ugly glue globs. Likewise the Kala – about the same number of small splinters and no glue globs. None of these little splinters affect the sound, these are cosmetic and only seen when looking inside the instrument. I’d call the construction a tie with the more expensive Kala. I also compared it to my first ukulele (a laminated mahogany RipTide that was more than twice the price) and this lotmusic Ukulele is a clear winner for clean interior construction. The exterior is an attractive striped mahogany with a matt (not glossy) finish. The wood grain is a bit more attractive than the Kala KA-15 and the RipTide, both of which also have a matt finish. There are a few little rough patches along the edges of the top and back of the laminated body that will quickly smooth out as the instrument is used. I’ve seen the same kind of rough areas on more expensive ukuleles with a matt finish. The Kala has a bound body and the matt finish had no rough patches, the Riptide had a few rough spots. Back to the matt finish – I own ukuleles that became shiny on the back of the neck and the front of the body showing player wear, something I find interesting since it is earned over time through playing the instrument. Time will tell how this instrument’s finish wears. I suspect this ukulele will also begin to show player wear after a few hundred hours of use. The lotmusic ukulele is comparable or better than the more expensive ukuleles I compared it to, and it wins this round for value.
I found that the hardware was comparable with other ukuleles I own. The tuners are smooth and the bridge is compensated. The nut is not as slick as I’d like, meaning that after tuning up the string may be slightly stuck in the groove and after playing a few chords will go a little sharp as the tension equalizes on both sides of the nut. This was easily corrected with a little #2 pencil lead in the string slots, a common solution for this issue with guitars and ukuleles. The frets are well polished and properly fit to the fretboard. I found a very slight protruding fret end, a sign the frets were installed when the fretboard was more humid than it is now. This is nothing major for now, and the true test will be mid to late January when the air is driest here in the northern mid-west of the USA. I’ve seen much worse on more expensive instruments. I rate this as very good considering the price of the instrument. The lotmusic ukulele once again wins this round for value.
The setup of this ukulele was excellent. There are no buzzing frets. The action is nice and low, and it actually measured lower than was shown in the Amazon listing. The strings feel like they have a bit higher tension than strings on other ukuleles I own, but with such low action this is not an issue. The strings were still stretching when it was delivered 12 days ago. I’ve found it sometimes it takes a week for new strings to completely settle in and remain in tune overnight and that was the case with these strings as well. The intonation is better than average for instruments in this price range. Notes were a tiny bit sharp on a few frets on some strings using my electronic tuner, but definitely better than some much more expensive ukuleles I own. A different string set may have different results, but the intonation on this ukulele is close enough that you’ll never notice a tuning issue as you fret notes up the neck. The lotmusic ukulele wins this round for having a better setup than more expensive instruments.
The case is very nice. I found no flaws in the construction, the padding is a good thickness, and the zipper feels smooth and sturdy. The accessories are nice. Traditional players do not use a strap, but I’ve found a lot of performers do use a strap for the practical convenience it offers. I have added strap buttons and straps to other ukuleles I own as well. I have never used a capo on a ukulele. Four string and four fingers… and as a guitar player I’m comfortable with bar chords, so a capo is really not needed. An electronic tuner would have been a more useful accessory in my opinion. I highly recommend you order a tuner with this ukulele.
Please keep in mind that this review reflects the instrument I received. There are always differences between manufactured goods, so your ukulele may be better (or different) than the one I’m reviewing. Full disclosure: I received this instrument in exchange for this review. I’ve done my best to give an honest evaluation of the instrument I received, which was ordered from Amazon and represents a typical example of this model.
To conclude, the ukulele plays very easily because of the low action and well made neck. Sound is very good for a laminated instrument. The construction and hardware are very good and should provide many trouble free years of enjoyment. I consider this to be an excellent value for anyone looking for an entry level ukulele.
Ukulele, 21 Inch Professional Soprono Ukelele for Adults Horse Uke Beginner Kit W/Gig Bag Strap OEM Strings Hawaiian Guitar U
4.5 | 1,247 ratings
Price: 39.99
Last update: 01-11-2025
About this item
The world's MOST COST-EFFECTIVE professional ukulele musical instrument. Equipped two-set American-made OEM YB-EJ87C Titanium Ukulele Strings which sell for 5 USD per set on Amazon.
AMAZING COMFORT PLAYING - Horse concert Ukulele comes with standard low action and nicely finished frets with no sharp edges so that moving up and down the fingerboard doesn't leave you with cuts on your hands.
HIGH CONFIGURATION - 18:1 ratio tuning pegs, excellent strings adjustment, and great stability keep stay in tune when you playing our concert ukulele.
SUPER HIGH-QUALITY UKULELE ACCESSORIES. If you buy them separately on Amazon will cost you about 40 dollars. The full set of ukelele kits can be put into the portable 12 mm thickness gig bag:1x Horse 21'' soprano ukulele, 1x Ukelele Capo,4x Extra Strings, 1x Strap,3x Ukelele Pick.
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. The horse ukulele is suitable for real performances rather than toys. It is suitable for adults and children who want to buy real musical instruments to learn music. Buying ukuleles under $40 will affect the development of your musical talent or sensitivity.
AMAZING COMFORT PLAYING - Horse concert Ukulele comes with standard low action and nicely finished frets with no sharp edges so that moving up and down the fingerboard doesn't leave you with cuts on your hands.
HIGH CONFIGURATION - 18:1 ratio tuning pegs, excellent strings adjustment, and great stability keep stay in tune when you playing our concert ukulele.
SUPER HIGH-QUALITY UKULELE ACCESSORIES. If you buy them separately on Amazon will cost you about 40 dollars. The full set of ukelele kits can be put into the portable 12 mm thickness gig bag:1x Horse 21'' soprano ukulele, 1x Ukelele Capo,4x Extra Strings, 1x Strap,3x Ukelele Pick.
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. The horse ukulele is suitable for real performances rather than toys. It is suitable for adults and children who want to buy real musical instruments to learn music. Buying ukuleles under $40 will affect the development of your musical talent or sensitivity.
Product information
| Item Weight | 2.9 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 21.26 x 7.09 x 2.64 inches |
| ASIN | B0859TV1KB |
| Item model number | MI2989-MUS |
| Customer Reviews |
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars
1,211 ratings
4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #7,639 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #54 in Ukuleles (Musical Instruments) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | February 28, 2020 |
| Back Material | Mahogany |
| Color Name | Copper |
| Fretboard Material | Technical Wood |
| String Material | Nylon |
| Top Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Material Type | Okoume |
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Size | Soprano |
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