How to Amplify a Ukulele With a Guitar Amp & a Guitar Cord

Add volume to your ukulele performance.

Amplifying the sound from a ukulele is essentially the same as amplifying a classical guitar. Both instruments generate sound utilizing wood sound boxes and nylon strings. The ukulele’s smaller size limits the number of sound hole-mounted pickups suitable for use on both instruments. However, a number of other pickup types are suitable for use with any size ukulele. Soundboard, interior and saddle mounted pickups are all acceptable options. Each of these is designed to work with a standard guitar amplifier and cable.

Things You'll Need

• Acoustic pickup

Instructions

1. Insert the guitar cord into the instrument pickup jack.

2. Insert the opposite end of the cord into the amplifier.

3. Adjust the amplifier’s volume to the lowest setting.

4. Turn the amplifier on. Slowly increase the volume to the desired level.

Tips & Warnings

• The quality of sound produced by a particular type of pickup varies. Choosing the best pickup for your instrument is a matter of personal taste and budget.

• Clip-on soundboard pickups are usually inexpensive and require no carpentry skills to install. Professionals should install internal, active pickups with adjustable pre-amp settings.

• Never insert or unplug an instrument cable while the amplifier is turned on. Doing so can damage the amplifier and annoy your neighbors.

References

• Live Ukulele: Pickups