Why is this slightly larger ukulele called a “concert” ukulele? One suggestion is that the longer, 15” or 380mm scale length gave the instrument more sustain, more frets, and enabled a more sophisticated repertoire in what was called “concert pitch” the C tuning we use almost universally nowadays – GCEA, two semitones lower than the ADF#B tuning often employed on soprano ukuleles. By the time the concert ukulele appeared, ukulele making had become partly the realm of big mainland companies. There is a reference to Sam Kamaka, who had worked for Nunes in the ukulele’s early stages, inventing the concert ukulele. The Martin guitar company started producing concert ukes in 1925. They caught on…..amongst quality ukulele makers, concert ukes are the most popular. One very fine player I know prefers concert size simply because there is more room for his fingers. I use planetary tuners for preference on this model, but the string tension is low enough to use good quality friction pegs. There is more about tuners on the options page.
