A banjolele pairs a ukulele-sized neck with a small banjo body, so it plays like a ukulele but sounds brighter and more percussive. The choices come down to the rim and head, whether the back is open or has a resonator, and how much comes in the box.
The six concert-scale models below include two accessory-heavy kits, a Kala, two Gold Tone concert models and a Gold Tone resonator. Sizes, materials and contents come from each product’s listing page. We have not played these instruments ourselves. Tone and workshop claims are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Back | Open back is lighter; a resonator projects the sound forward |
| Head | Remo heads are common; clear and synthetic heads change the tone |
| Strings | Nylon and Nylgut strings feel and sound different |
| Kit contents | Bag, tuner, strap and picks come with some models only |
Specs at a Glance
| Banjolele | Body | Strings and head | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kmise concert | 23 in sapele | Nylon; polyester head | Gig bag, tuner, strap, piezo pickup and picks; 2.6 lb |
| AKLOT concert | 23 in maple, open back | Nylon; Remo Fiberskyn head | 15:1 tuners, truss rod, gig bag, tuner and strap; 1.7 kg |
| Kala Mahogany | Concert, maple back | Aquila Super Nylgut; Remo Weatherking head | Gig bag; satin finish; 3 lb |
| Gold Tone BU-1 | Concert scale, 8 in maple rim | Nylon | Gig bag; 5 year warranty; 2.8 lb |
| Gold Tone Little Gem LG-A | Concert scale, 8 in acrylic rim | Nylon; 8 in clear head | Gig bag and strap; 2 year warranty |
| Gold Tone Mastertone DLX | Concert scale, maple rim and neck | Nylon; Remo head | Flamed maple resonator; ebony fingerboard; bag per title |
The 6 Best Concert Banjoleles
1. Kmise Concert Banjolele, 23 Inch Sapele
A 23 inch sapele banjolele with a polyester head, Aquila strings, closed geared tuners and a 3 mm action at the 12th fret, sold with a gig bag, tuner, strap, piezo pickup, picks, ruler, wrench and spare bridge. The page weighs it at 2.6 pounds and carries a six month return and refund note. The item count field reads 100, which looks like an error.
Suits: a full accessory kit. Strengths: a pickup and tuner included. Weaknesses: messy listing data. Skip it if you want a bare, simple instrument.
View Kmise Concert Banjolele 23 Inch Sapele Kit on Amazon
2. AKLOT Concert Banjo Ukulele, 23 Inch
An open-back maple 23 inch banjolele with a Remo Fiberskyn head, 15:1 geared tuners, a two-way truss rod, a gig bag, tuner, strap, picks, wrench and ruler. The listing describes the head as warm and round with a plunky, Appalachian-style sound and gives a one year warranty.
Suits: an open-back sound. Strengths: a truss rod and Remo head. Weaknesses: the weight is listed in kilograms only. Skip it if you want a resonator.
View AKLOT Concert Banjo Ukulele 23 Inch on Amazon
3. Kala Mahogany Concert Banjo Ukulele
A concert banjo ukulele in satin mahogany with a maple back, Aquila Super Nylgut strings and a Remo Weatherking banjo head, supplied with a gig bag. It weighs 3 pounds on the page with a one year warranty.
Suits: a ukulele-brand banjolele. Strengths: Nylgut strings and a Remo head. Weaknesses: only a gig bag in the box. Skip it if you want a tuner and strap included.
View Kala Mahogany Concert Banjo Ukulele on Amazon
4. Gold Tone BU-1 Concert Banjo Ukulele
A concert-scale banjolele with an 8 inch multi-ply maple rim and maple neck, a satin finish and a gig bag, set up by hand in the maker’s Florida workshop and backed by a five year manufacturer warranty.
Suits: a classic banjolele. Strengths: a long warranty and a hand set-up. Weaknesses: no tuner or strap listed. Skip it if you want a kit with accessories.
View Gold Tone BU-1 Concert Banjo Ukulele on Amazon
5. Gold Tone Little Gem LG-A Amethyst
A see-through concert-scale banjolele with an 8 inch acrylic rim in purple, a clear 8 inch head, a maple neck with 18 frets and a gig bag with a single shoulder strap. The page gives the weight as 1.19 kg and the text as 2.63 lb, which are different values, and the scale as 15 inches while the BU-1 text says 15-5/8.
Suits: a see-through look. Strengths: light and distinctive. Weaknesses: a plastic head and rim. Skip it if you want maple.
View Gold Tone Little Gem LG-A Amethyst Banjo Ukulele on Amazon
6. Gold Tone Mastertone Banjolele-DLX
A four-string concert-scale resonator banjo ukulele with a maple rim and neck, a Remo head, a flamed maple resonator and an ebony fingerboard in vintage brown. The overview lists the brand as AUDIX and a metal body, and the weight as 7 pounds, so treat those entries with caution.
Suits: a resonator sound. Strengths: a flamed resonator and an ebony fingerboard. Weaknesses: inconsistent brand and body entries. Skip it if you want an open back.
View Gold Tone Mastertone Banjolele-DLX Resonator on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Follow the maker’s instructions for tuning and string changes.
- Check the listing for a bag, tuner and strap.
- Compare rim, head and back style.
- Note the stated scale length.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Expecting it to sound like a five-string banjo.
- Skipping the contents list in the listing.
- Overlooking a strap if you want to stand while playing.
- Trusting every field on a messy listing.
Banjolele FAQ
Is it tuned like a ukulele?
Most banjoleles are four-string instruments that use ukulele-style fingering, but check the listing for the tuning.
Open back or resonator?
An open back suits a lighter, mellower tone; a resonator projects more. These are the makers’ descriptions, so try both if you can.
The Short Version
For a full kit, the Kmise. For an open back with a truss rod, the AKLOT. For a ukulele-brand option, the Kala. For a classic maple rim, the Gold Tone BU-1. For a see-through body, the Little Gem. For a resonator, the Mastertone DLX.
