Whether you’re strumming bright melodies on the beach with your friends or rocking out in a concert hall, having the right amplifier can take your ukulele experience to a whole new level, believe me!
A top-notch amplifier will enhance the tangy tones coming out of your ukulele and make them more heard. It’s an ideal addition to your musical instruments if you often play for a crowd, and luckily, I’ll help you land the perfect one for you.
Below, I’ve listed 5 of the best amplifiers for ukulele on the market. No matter what your budget, skill level, or purpose is, you’ll find one that meets your needs.
1. Fender Frontman 10G – Best Overall
The Fender Frontman 10G amplifier is a personal favorite of mine for many reasons. For one, it features a 6-inch special design speaker that breeds surprisingly full-bodied sound for its size.
Considering the amplifier’s power stops at 10 watts, I see it as a practice amplifier, not a professional one. If you’re still shy about your abilities and aren’t ready to perform in front of an audience, it’ll be your perfect companion to get you ready for the big show. However, if you’re a seasoned player who spends most of their time on the stage, it might be a bit out of depth.
The Fender Frontman has a closed-back design that contributes to a heavier bass response, which is a feature I love because it makes the uke tones come out more lively. It’s also easy to use with its overdrive select switch, treble, volume, and bass controls.
The feature I appreciate the most about this amplifier is its ⅛” headphone output jack, as it lets you practice amplified uke tones in any place without disturbing the people around you. It also has a ⅛’ auxiliary input jack and a ¼’ instrument input jack.
In terms of size, the Fender Frontman 10G is pretty portable, with dimensions of 13.7 (D) x 11.5 (W) x 7.5 (H) inches. It also weighs 11.7 pounds only, so you can carry it with you anywhere.
What I Like About It
- Closed-back design
- Compact and lightweight
- Headphone output jack
- 6-inch special design speaker
What I Don’t Like About It
- Not suitable for professionals
2. Fishman Loudbox Artist BT 120-Watt – Best for Professionals
The Fishman Loudbox Artist BT 120-Watt amplifier is a premium pick tailored specifically for professional use. Its whooping 120 wattage makes it ideal for loud settings like concerts and festivals, and it’s more suited for seasoned players than beginners.
What sets this amplifier apart from its competitors is its Bluetooth connectivity option. I personally love this feature because it allows me to seamlessly incorporate backing melodies into my jams, enhancing my overall uke-playing experience. It also has a headphone output for times when I want to practice without giving my family headaches!
The amp has two ¼’ instrument inputs, an auxiliary stereo input, a DI output, and an XLR output jack for each input channel. As a bonus, it has a foot switch input for additional effects and remote muting. In essence, it doesn’t lack any features that a professional uke player would need.
That said, the Fishman amplifier has a major drawback, at least for me, which is its over-the-top price. Its hefty price tag makes it challenging for lone uke players to buy it. Instead, it’s more suitable for bands or record labels. It’s also a bit bulky to carry around, as its dimensions are 17 (D) x 20 (W) x 16 (H) inches, and it weighs 25 pounds.
What I Like About It
- 120-wattage power
- Bluetooth connectivity option
- Foot switch input
- Perfect for professionals in a band
What I Don’t Like About It
- Pricey
- Bulky
3. Orange Crush Mini 3-Watt – Compatible With Large Speakers
Despite the modest wattage of the Orange Crush Mini 3-Watt amplifier, I think it’s one of the best options on the market because of one unique feature it holds: a speaker output. This feature renders the amplifier compatible with large speakers, which means you can plug it into any speaker to produce larger sounds.
The amplifier features a built-in tuner that lets you tune your ukulele without using any extra equipment. On top of that, it has a headphone output that makes silent practice possible.
In my opinion, the Orange Crush amplifier is a perfect match for beginners because of its humble power and user-friendly controls. It’s insanely easy to use with its gain, volume, and shape controls, even if it’s your first time using an amplifier.
One of my favorite features of this amplifier is its compact and lightweight design. Its dimensions are only 6.3 (D) x 6.2 (W) x 3.5 (H) inches, and it weighs a mere 2 pounds. As a bonus, it flaunts a cool, retro design complemented by a bright orange color.
One setback I noticed in this amplifier is that it operates on a 9V battery rather than an electrical power supply. It can operate on a power supply, but it doesn’t come with one, so you’ll need to purchase it separately.
What I Like About It
- User-friendly interface
- Compact and lightweight
- Built-in tuner
- Headphone output
What I Don’t Like About It
- Battery-powered
4. Yamaha THR5 10-Watt – Most Portable
The Yamaha THR5 10-Watt amplifier is the perfect companion for wandering uke players who refuse to limit their music to one crowd. It’s the most portable amplifier on my list, with its easy-to-grip handle and ability to operate on batteries. It’s also pretty compact and lightweight with its 4.72 (D) x 6.58 (W) x 10.67 (H)-inch dimensions and 4.4-pound weight.
Other than its portability, the Yamaha amplifier utilizes a manufacturer-unique Virtual Circuitry technology that delivers crisp-clear sounds with realistic studio-grade effects and hi-fi stereo playback. While its 10-watt power isn’t suitable for professionals, it’s more than enough for practice sessions and beginner use.
The Yamaha THR5 has three jacks on its back, one for auxiliary, one for headphones, and one for input. It also features easy-to-use AMP, gain, tone, gain, effect, and volume rotary switches. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll get a grip on it in no time.
In the package, you’ll find an AC adapter to use whenever you aren’t on the road, as you can simply plug the amplifier into any wall outlet and enjoy a mini-concert. You’ll also get a USB cable that you can connect to your laptop for editing and recording.
Best of all, Yamaha manufactured a carrying bag for this model specially so that it’s easier for you to carry around. I didn’t get to try it since it needs to be bought separately, but I can see the appeal.
What I Like About It
- Easy-to-grip handle for portability
- USB cable for editing
- Compact and lightweight
- Virtual Circuitry technology
What I Don’t Like About It
- Mediocre wattage for professionals
Features to Consider When You’re Buying a Ukulele Amplifier
To get the best amplifier for your skill level and needs, you should keep a few features in mind while shopping. Here’s a quick list of them.
Playing Needs
The most important feature to consider when buying an amplifier is your playing needs. Do you play your ukulele in loud outdoor gigs and need to deliver roaring melodies? Or do you practice in quiet venues and perform in small crowds only?
If you’re the former, you’ll need to look for large amplifiers with high wattages, preferably 50 and higher. As for the latter, you can work with small wattages that range from 5 to 30.
Portability
Ukulele players often play in more than one place, so they need portable amplifiers that they can take anywhere with ease. If you can relate, you should look for a compact and lightweight amplifier that won’t be a hassle to carry around. Also, preferably, it should have a comfortable handle where you can hold it.
Additional Effects
Some amplifiers come with additional sound effects that can enhance your uke experience, like presets, a phaser, a flanger, and more. Meanwhile, the majority of amplifiers come with the main controls only, without any extra effects.
Now, if you’re a professional who likes to test with different melodies, these additional effects will do you good. However, any extra option comes with an added price, so if you’re still at the beginning of your uke journey and won’t be using these effects soon, you can ditch them.
Connectivity Options
Another feature you should keep in mind when buying an amplifier is its connectivity options. All ukulele amplifiers come with ¼’ input jacks for instruments; however, not all of them come with ⅛’ jacks.
Now, ⅛’ jacks are essential because they let you plug any electronic device you want into your amplifier, including your mp3 player or smartphone. I personally can’t imagine using an amplifier without them.
As for output jacks, most ukulele amplifiers come with ⅛’ jacks for headphones. However, only a few models feature more output jacks for speakers and other devices. If your playing needs necessitate that you use any other output device, you should look for an amplifier with additional jacks.
Battery-Powered or AC Adapters
Amplifiers either use batteries to operate or need to be connected to an electrical outlet, and some have both options. If you travel a lot and like to play outdoors where electricity isn’t accessible, you’ll need a battery-powered amplifier. However, if you play in closed venues only, you can get away with an AC adapter.
In my opinion, battery-powered amplifiers aren’t ideal because they can’t be recharged. Every time the battery dies, you’ll need to buy another one, which can take a toll on your bank account.
FAQs
Do I have to get an amplifier if I want to play the ukulele?
No, you can play the ukulele without using an amplifier. However, amplifiers can enhance the volume and clarity of the bright tones of ukuleles. Also, they deliver much louder volumes, which is an important feature if you often play for crowds.
Can I use a guitar amplifier for my ukulele?
Yes, of course, you can. Most of the amplifiers I listed above are meant for guitars. Luckily, guitars and ukuleles have the same audio cords, so they’re both compatible with the same devices.
Final Verdict
Choosing the right amplifier for your ukulele can make all the difference in your musical journey, and I’ll help you find it!
The best amplifier for the ukulele currently on the market is the Fender Frontman 10G. It combines affordability, excellent performance, and portability, making it ideal for a handful of uke players. That said, it isn’t meant for professionals.
If you need a premium option designed for the gurus of the field, you should check out the Fishman Loudbox Artist BT 120-Watt. It’s a powerhouse that delivers crisp-clear and loud volumes for all types of crowds.