What is The Best 8-String Ukulele? Check out the top uke!
Selection Criteria – Best 8 string Ukuleles
On this page, you’ll find
…only the best 8-String Ukuleles. We’ll save you from the hassle that is searching through hundreds of pages, looking at similar products, comparing prices, and more, only to realize you don’t know which one is right. Get the right handpicked Top 8-String Ukulele from the get-go!
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Best 8-String Ukuleles – The Basics
A taropatch or 8-string ukulele is a beautiful instrument that’s always worth exploring once you’ve reached intermediate and above ukulele playing skills.
Still, when you first get interested in eight string ukuleles, you face a couple of obstacles:
# 1 – They are not as famous as regular ukes!
Although ukuleles are world-renown instruments, the 8-string ukulele is a weird cousin nobody seems to remember.
They’re not half as famous as standard ukes, even though they’re also a standard in Hawaii.
Even Sopraninos, which aren’t standard ukes, is more famous!
# 2 – It’s hard to find a good 8-string ukulele with a nice sound!
Because of the reason above, they’re hardly available – and the ones that are available are not always good.
Also, as a direct consequence, brands like Kala have discontinued their taropatch lines!
Of course, they can’t produce an instrument that doesn’t sell. That’s why we even struggled a little bit to find some viable options.
That’s why this article is so important – so you can find the perfect choices without melting your eyes while searching.
The ones we’ve selected for you are awesome choices that can get you started in the world of the taropatch.
Let’s dig right in!
Comparison Table – Best 8-String Ukuleles
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Overall 8-String Ukulele – Oscar Schmidt OU28TE
- Oscar Schmidt OU28TE 8-string tenor size ukulele, mahogany, active electronics, satin finish
- Handcrafted quality
- Fine Mahogany top, back and sides
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Oscar Schmidt has the best overall 8-string ukulele in their hands, which isn’t surprising at all with all their years in the market.
This is the best eight-string ukulele you can find online!
Here are its features:
- The craftsmanship is great – we just love the sating finish.
- The Mahogany top, back, and sides provide a nice acoustic sound and projection.
- This ukulele also sounds great when plugged in thanks to its Barcus-Berry built-in pickup.
- It’s a tenor-sized uke, so you can expect improved playability.
- The rosewood fretboard has a good, solid feel to it – you’ll love playing each chord!
- This ukulele is not the priciest 8-string one you can get.
This is an excellent 8-string ukulele, and for its price, there’s not much we could complain about.
The sound of this ukulele is just delicious thanks to the 8 strings, of course.
It also feels very durable, solid, and good-quality heavy, so you can expect this ukulele to last a lot.
The only complaint some people have had about this ukulele is that it’s hard to tune – but granted they’re beginners.
It’s normal to have to tune any ukulele when you first get it out of the box, but this is mostly because the strings are new, and take time to settle in.
Now, the issue with this is that it has 4 extra strings that you also must tune, making this ukulele a rather annoying task.
Still, you only have to do it for about 3 days until the strings stretch.
That’s why, even though this is the ukulele we recommend the most, we don’t really think it’s for beginners!
Pros – about this ukulele
- It’s an excellent ukulele from headstock to bottom!
- Great acoustic sound, projection, and sustain – and sounds amazing when plugged, too.
- Well-built ukulele with good craftsmanship.
- This ukulele is also very durable and feels solid.
- The price is fair – it’s not the most expensive 8-string ukulele either!
Cons
- It’s not for beginners!
Best Budget Pick 8-String Ukulele – AKLOT 8-String Solid Mahogany
- 【8 String Ukulele】"Doubled" strings produce a driving rhythmic sound. Coming with characteristic chorus effect results, this tenor ukelele is suitable for experienced ukelele players.
- 【Solid Mahogany Top】The soundboard of this ukulele is made of solid mahogany. A solid soundboard will create a better sustainability and purer, warmer tone than laminated one because of its...
- 【Advanced 18:1 Tuning Pegs】Coming with the best-geared ukelele tuner machine, it keeps ukulele stay in tune better than 15:1 gear tuning pegs, ensures you would not be troubled by 'out of tune' so...
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The price difference between this ukulele and the following is not that big – although the next one is noticeably better.
This pick from AKLOT is not bad, but it’s certainly not the best ukulele you can get.
Still, you get great benefits:
- The ukulele is well-built and has adjustable action, which is a great addition for beginners.
- The solid mahogany top and mahogany plywood sides and back provide a full sound with improved projection.
- We’d say it sounds slightly better than the one above acoustically.
- Its price is amazing!
- You get some great addons: a nice padded gig bag, a strap, strings, an Allen wrench, and some picks.
This is a more-than-decent 8-string ukulele that can get you there.
It’s perfect for beginners because of its price and accessories. The adjustable action is also great to have.
What’s the issue with this pick, then?
This is product is a copycat of the next one!
The original bundled product was first offered by Kmise – the one below!
This pick is different, and although the ukulele is not that bad, the next one is noticeably better – as well as the addons.
However, we can’t deny that this is a good pick, and is the most convenient one if budget is a concern.
Pros – about this ukulele
- Good beginner-level 8-string ukulele.
- The adjustable action, the addons, and the price make this ukulele an even better pick.
- It’s the cheapest you can get!
Cons
- This is a copycat product of the following pick.
- The quality of the ukulele is just good – the next one’s better.
Best Runner-Up 8-String Ukulele – Kmise 8 String Tenor Mahogany
- UNIQUE 8 STRING :Kmise 8 strings tenor ukulele for better strumming,sound louder and fuller,suitable for experienced musicians
- SEALED 18: 1 GEAR TUNING MACHINE: In the higher gears, the guitar string can be tuned more precise, keep ukulele stay in tune better than 15:1 gear tuning pegs, ensures you would not be troubled by...
- SUPER AQUILA NYLGUT STRINGS:Equipped with superior Aquila String from Italy , high quality Walnut bridge, this 8 string ukelele can not only produce a bright and percussive tone but also be in an...
Last update on 2023-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
At first sight, this pick is very similar to the budget pick – it’s not until you have both in your hands that you notice the difference.
The difference in appearance is very small, so we had to rely on how they felt.
This pick has the following advantages:
- It’s a more solid pick – the wood feels slightly heavier and of better quality.
- This one has noticeably better craftsmanship.
- It’s made almost entirely out of mahogany, similar to the one above, which gives it a better projection and sustain.
- This one has warmer tones that give it a more well-rounded sound.
- This ukulele also has adjustable action.
- The extra set of strings is Aquila, which is better than the AKLOT-branded strings the one above comes with.
- The gig bag is of much better quality – the strap and picks are just ok.
This ukulele is above in quality when compared to the budget pick.
The wood feels better, the finish is definitely better, and the overall addons are great.
This is the one you should pick if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck.
Also, this is the pick we’d recommend the most for beginners because it comes with all the goodies the one above comes with, but better.
Pros – about this 8 string tenor ukulele
- This is a great ukulele for beginners.
- The ukulele offers better quality than the one above – which is noticeable even though they’re priced similarly.
- The addons are of better quality as well.
- Its price is great – this is the best bang for your buck!
Cons – about this tenor ukulele
- The first ukulele we picked is better.
Frequently Asked Questions – Top 8 String Ukuleles
This depends directly on how much you want to invest.
On this list, you’ll find the best and most affordable ukuleles for beginners and intermediate players.
Advanced and professional musicians are better of with a handmade 8-string ukulele. Why?
Because they generally offer better quality, durability, craftsmanship, and sound.
These are the most expensive ones as well!
This is a tricky answer.
We consider the taropatch a great instrument, but it’s not beginner-friendly because you need to have some skill to shape chords correctly.
That’s why we only recommend them for intermediate and above players – because they’ll make the best out of them.
Aside from that, the 8-string ukulele doesn’t require any additional skills and will bring delicious full-bodied tones.
In the right hands, they sound similar to a 12-string guitar!
Not really! They are essentially the same as a regular ukulele – you don’t even need to learn additional chord shapes because the chords are the same.
However, we do think that you should master most chords on a regular uke before transitioning to an 8-string!
They offer a full-bodied sound, amazing resonance, and a natural sustain that’s just beautiful.
Also, depending on the size (usually tenor or baritone), you get brighter or warmer tones that are accompanied by better sound projection and clarity.
Standard ukes sound great, too, but you won’t be able to achieve the same sound effects, clarity, projection, or resonance unless it’s electric acoustic!
Conclusion – Top 8 string uke
With this review, you don’t have to spend hours, days, and weeks looking for the best 8-string ukulele – you get the best ones from the get-go!
There are few options, but the ones you get are great for beginners and intermediate players who want to get started in the world of the taropatch ukulele.
Still, keep in mind that all of the ukes we’ve selected are entry-level and advanced and pro musicians will very likely need something better.
For those looking for a top-notch 8-string ukulele, there’s hardly a good mass-produced option that can fit the pro-level bill.
The best one on this list might suffice for an advanced player, but that’s about it.
Since that’s the case, pro musicians might be better off with a handmade uke.
Are you getting an 8-string uke?
