Construction quality has a massive impact on how an instrument plays and sounds. In fact, a mediocre wood instrument with excellent construction will often outperform a beautiful wood instrument that’s been poorly built.
The setup
“Setup” refers to the adjustments made to an instrument to optimise its playability. On a ukulele, this mainly means three things.
Nut height: The nut is the small piece at the top of the fretboard. If it’s too high, the strings will be very hard to press down in the first few frets. This is one of the most common problems with cheap ukuleles and is often the reason beginners feel like they’re failing, when actually the instrument is just badly set up.
Saddle height: Sits at the bridge end. If it’s too high or too low, it affects the action and playability.
Intonation: Whether the ukulele plays in tune across the whole fretboard. A poorly intonated instrument will sound fine when you tune it open, but will drift out of tune as you play higher up the neck.
Brands like Ohana are especially well regarded for their setup quality. Every instrument is individually inspected before it leaves the factory. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference for the player who receives it.
My advice: If possible, play an instrument before you buy it, or buy from a reputable dealer that offers a professional setup service. A basic setup can cost £20–£50 but can absolutely transform a cheaper instrument.
Bracing
Inside the body of a ukulele is a system of wooden braces that support the soundboard and shape how it vibrates. The two most common patterns:
Ladder bracing: Traditional and simple, often found on soprano and concert ukuleles. Produces a warmer, more vintage sound.
Fan bracing: More common on classical guitars but used on some ukuleles. Allows the soundboard to vibrate more freely, often producing more volume and tonal complexity.
Tuners
This is one of the first things I check when I pick up an entry-level ukulele. The tuning machines need to hold their tuning reliably. Geared tuners (like guitar tuners) are generally more stable than traditional friction pegs. If you buy a ukulele with friction pegs, just be prepared to tune it more frequently.