No one has mentioned the logical alternative to soprano versus concert. There is a very nice instrument called a long neck soprano (LNS). The neck is concert length x width, while the body remains the soprano. It gains two additional oppen frets before the body, and is less expensive than a concert. For the solid wood line we represent, the savings is about $110.00. For the laminated Leolani line, the difference is about $50.00. We just got a shipment of LNS made of Zebra wood. With nice geared tuners and Aquila strings strung through the body {something found on much higher priced instruments} they are $110.00 and probably $14.00 shipping. If you purchase one from me, I will also include a tail button and a 1" wide strap. You can have a choice on 19 different colours. I will have the button on the ukulele. Let me know if you are even just curious about some pictures of the uke and the sample swatch of the strap colours. The straps are usually $11.95 with the button included and installed. They really make controlling any sized ukulele much easier whether sitting or standing. If you want a less expensive soprano, which is a standard 12 fret rather than a LNS 17 fret; the $35.00 Eddy Finn Minnow comes in seven different colours. The natural one has a red mahogany coloured back and side with a spruce coloured top. The Eddy Finn line has a ten year written warranty when you return the registry card. Since I will give you a strap for it, for the usual $45, I will include a chromatic tuner {that means it will work on any instrument } . Again, shipping is probably $14.00
I have four grandchildren in one family . One has a low and high 4th string uke, and the other three are content with the high 4th string. It just seems like last year he was seven and began playing. He just turned 15, so for more than half of his life he has played a ukulele. He now plays a marimba in his school's orchestra as well. The older twin girls just had their birthdayS on the 27th and 28th. Yep! One was born four minutes before midnight and the other six minutes after. They are now 11, and play violin for one and cello for the other. All three agree their ukuleles take up less space than their other instruments when they take a trip. I doubt if they will ever be the VonThompson Family and go on tour, but time will tell what place the smaller instrument might have in their lives. The other grandaughter has a college piano teacher for a mother, and a saxaphone playing father. She is five now. Her uke is tuned open GCEG. She has been strumming and singing since she was two.Her mom also plays slack key baritone cGCE, so she barrs 5th fret and they both play and sing together.
You are considering the making of many, many years of memories for both of you.