OP my have posted that last year but plenty will search for recs now & in the future. so In that price range (2021/~$500ish)…
Definitely recommend against Kala unless it’s from a super reliable bricks/mortar retailer who carefully tests out each instrument they sell (my local shop sends about 1/3 to 1/2 of the Kala ukes they get back to the manufacturer/distributor because of poor QC; has done so for years). Presumably, many of those instruments get dumped back into the retail world. Kala also undercuts their own ”dealers”/retailers
I’ve bought ~3 Ohana ukes from Mim’s. Recommend the Ohana/Mims combo.
I have 4 different Pono instruments, all very well made, inside & out.
2 or 3 of them originated from TheUkuleleSite.com / Hawaii Music Supply.
1 originated from a high-end instrument shop back east (Massachusetts, possibly themusicemporium.com who only Carrie’s 5 brands of ukes: Collings, Kamaka, Kanile’a, Martin, & Pono - that should tell you something about Pono’s construction quality & reliability).
I would also recommend AnueNue. I have a pair of AnueNue “fun” concerts & both are impeccably constructed inside & out, so, SO clean. My only dilemma is which do I put the lowG on, the GoldenGlow UC10 from TheUkuleleSite.com or the Kona Sky, direct from www.anuenueusa.com… their bright cheerful solid spruce tops made the deal for me. The laminate mahogany sides are open pore & remind me of Kiwaya’s laminate quality that rivals solid mahogany. These both get humidified like all my solid ukes.
I would also be wary with any instrument that’s passed through the hands of UkeLikeThePros, which I avoid like the plague. So many bad collective experiences reported on this site & red flags ragingly obvious on their’s.
I have bought pre-owned instruments that passed through the hands of AlohaCityUkes.com in Chicago, which turned out to be great.
Magic Fluke Fleas & Flukes are always on my recommended list.