Mahalo EUK-200 Review – Head-Turning Looks with Deluxe Tones

For more adventurous ukulele players, electric models can be a good way to amplify your sound for larger audiences, while also offering a distinctive look and feel. The Japanese-built Mahalo EUK-200 is a sleek, futuristic cutaway tenor that boasts traditional nylon-string feel with a modern design and sound. Let’s get into the details of this model and determine whether or not the EUK-200 stands up as one of the best electric ukuleles on the market.

Body and Neck

The EUK-200’s mahogany body looks and feels different from most other available ukuleles today. While it’s a concert-size instrument, the body is shaped with thicker sides in a style reminiscent of dreadnought acoustic guitars.

As a purely electric instrument, there’s no soundhole or hollow interior cavity – this uke is fully solid-body, with a pair of cutouts (one on either side of the strings) for handling and additional styling. The EUK-200 also includes a classic cutaway on the upper bout for easy access to the top frets. The bolt-on neck holds an 18-fret rosewood fingerboard and classic paddle-shaped headstock.

Hardware

A single piezo pickup controls the EUK-200’s electric sound, with dials for volume and tone on the lower bout of the body. There’s also an active preamp onboard, powered with a 9V internal battery. Along with the headphone aux input, the preamp allows for silent practicing through earbuds – great for playing without disturbing anyone around.

However, some buyers have complained of circuit board issues after a few months of playing, while some even said that the malfunction prevented them from playing out of an amp and ruined their uke entirely. A bit of a shame, and it seems quality control isn’t consistent – something we expect for a more expensive uke such as this.

On the more traditional side of things, this uke features brandless open-gear tuners with black buttons. It comes strung with nylon strings – in contrast to some other electric ukuleles which use steel – which produces a mellower, more classic ukulele tone. Finally, the included nylon gig bag helps protect your instrument from dust and the occasional ding or scratch.

Sound

Like many electric ukuleles, the EUK-200’s sound might feel a bit odd for players used to acoustic ukes. With some EQ adjustments, the piezo pickup here produces a sufficiently glassy, warm sound with a supple range and smooth articulation. However, it does take some adjustment to get these sounds – with the tone knob set up high, the signal takes on a heavy electronic color with a much buzzier, thinner sound.

It’s possible to achieve distinctive and fun tones with EUK-200, but the overall tone may be unsatisfying for players expecting an amplified acoustic sound, or even a more neutral, warm electric tone.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to like about the EUK-200 – it boasts sleek, attractive styling and great functionality for headphone and low-volume practice. With some adjustments, it can produce a smooth and warm tone everybody can appreciate. On the other hand, the tinny basic sound and electrical issues – not to mention the higher price – means this uke may not be a great value for everyone.