A Handbuilt Concert Uke That Punches Above Its Price
If you've been looking for a step up from a bare-bones starter ukulele — or you just want a quality concert uke you don't have to baby — the Cordoba 20CM deserves a close look. It's handbuilt in the traditional Portuguese style, and it shows in the details: a natural wood herringbone rosette, chrome tuners with pearl buttons, and a satin finish that feels as good as it looks.
The real headline here is that solid mahogany top. Most ukuleles in this price range cut corners and go all-laminate, so a solid top makes a genuine difference you can actually hear — warmer resonance, more sustain, a livelier response as the wood opens up over time. Pair that with mahogany back and sides, and you've got a full, mellow voice that's a step beyond the typical entry-level sound.
The concert body is a sweet spot for a lot of players. It's noticeably more comfortable than a soprano if your hands are on the larger side, and the slightly longer scale gives you a bit more string tension and projection without crossing into tenor territory. Whether you're just picking it up or you've been playing for years, the 20CM is a genuinely satisfying instrument to sit down with.
Solid Mahogany Top — Why It Matters
Cordoba explicitly calls this out, and rightly so: the 20CM features a solid mahogany top, which sets it apart from most ukuleles at a similar price point. Solid tops vibrate more freely than laminate, which translates to a richer, more complex tone — and one that tends to improve with regular playing as the wood matures.
The mahogany back and sides complement the top with a warm, focused midrange character. Mahogany is a classic ukulele tonewood for good reason — it's balanced, articulate, and works beautifully in both strumming and fingerpicking styles.
Handbuilt Craftsmanship in the Details
Cordoba builds the 20CM in the traditional Portuguese style, and the attention to detail is evident throughout. The rosette is a natural wood inlay in a herringbone pattern — no decal or plastic, just real wood worked into the design. The satin finish keeps the look understated and classy while allowing the natural grain of the mahogany to come through.
The mahogany neck pairs with a rosewood fingerboard, giving you a smooth, comfortable playing surface. At 35mm wide at the nut and a 375mm (14.75") scale length, the neck feels approachable without being cramped. The chrome tuners with pearl buttons round things out nicely and hold their tune reliably.
Ready to Play Right Out of the Box
The 20CM ships strung with Aquila Nylgut strings — a respected choice in the ukulele world that offers a warm, authentic tone from the first strum. Fret markers at the 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th positions make navigation easy whether you're working through chord shapes or running single-note lines up the neck.
Product Features:
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Body Size: Concert
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Top: Solid mahogany
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Back & Sides: Mahogany
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Neck: Mahogany
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Fingerboard: Rosewood
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Scale Length: 375mm (14.75")
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Nut Width: 35mm (1.37")
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Rosette: Natural wood herringbone inlay
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Finish: Satin Natural
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Tuners: Chrome with pearl buttons
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Strings: Aquila Nylgut
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Construction: Handbuilt in the traditional Portuguese style
Brand: Cordoba
Model: 20CM
SKU: 99-761-0300
Condition: New
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