I recommend the Ovation Applause UAE20 acoustic/electric soprano, stxman08. I've been using one for a year and a half. Although it takes a while to break them in (lot's of playing!) for the best tone and volume, it's well worth the wait. I currently own two of them:
1. Solid spruce top for great sound.
2. Lyracord back for durability and sound projection.
3. Does not require a battery to play electric: no more down time at the gigs!
4. Adamas holes - Having the soundholes outside of the strings and not directly underneath them gives you much more gain before feedback; in other words, you can play it amplified without annoying squealing and howling.
5. Onboard volume and tone controls allow you to tailor the sound, without running back to your amp and missing the beat.
6. Quality geared tuners allow you to get in tune quickly and stay there.
7. I've tried many brands of strings and Aquila Nylgut Concerts sound the best on the UAE20's.
8. Very durable - mine's been around the globe, to include being played on a boat in the China Sea (100 Islands, Philippines) with water splashing on it. No issues whatsoever! Ric
http://folk-instruments.musiciansfr...ic-Electric-Deluxe-Soprano-Ukulele?sku=516727
The Applause UAE20 Acoustic-Electric Deluxe Mini Ukulele has its own voice and is fun to play. And it's also a serious and well-made musical instrument. The UAE20 ukulele is a standard soprano size uke with a multi-soundhole design borrowed from the stunning Ovation guitars. This Applause ukulele also features a solid spruce top, a rounded Lyrachord body for sweet tone and good projection. Onboard electronics and quality tuners complete the performance-level Applause UAE20— a ukulele for serious players.