I own 2 Flea ukuleles and 1 Fluke ukulele among others. I was impressed by the sound of the Flight. I'm equally interested in longevity. For example, one of my Flea is similar to yours, Baz. Basic model with plastic fretboard. The Flea has traveled with me 3/4 of the world in it's "Flea Bag" (the optional zip gig bag), usually stuffed in my suitcase through many airports and flights. It's been with me now close to 10 years and it's as much of a dream to play as the first day. I think I'll have it cremated with me!
Ha ha - I usually have piles of ukes in my video shots - vast majority are not mine. - Virtually all are on loan only. The ones behind ARE mine though and are all superb!
Flea for me by a mile Had a Flight, didn't like it at all. Gave it away. Found the headstock quite sharp at the edges when playing. Hurt! Thank you for the sound comparison Baz.
I love the Flight travel ukes. I own one of the normal models and gifted a longneck version to my nephew. Love them both very much ( the long neck version a little bit more 😉). They always make me smile, they are so much fun!
The ovation and flight are both quite “sharp” sounding and the flea sounds quite “warm” and softer. Maybe it’s the Aquila strings making them sound sharper but I really like the sound of your flea.
Great comparison! I have a Flea that will not get rid off for nothing. Got my hands on a set of them Martins made by Aquila ( dark grey ones) and really suit the Flea well. Still can wrap my mind out of how good the Flight sounds on videos, but bought one and returned it within a week. Really disappointed by the sound. Maybe got a dud. Solid as a rock, though. Now that Ovation...I guess they should keep to building guitars.
First, thank you for the great, detailed and honest analysis that helped me with my choice. I have a Flight TUSL35 BK, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Maybe I'll just add some tenor or baritone later. With wind instruments, I have outgrown the unnecessary accumulation of instruments whose difference in sound is negligible. Your video just proves how unreasonable the price/quality ratio can sometimes be. Again, everyone has the right to their choice, and that should be respected. Cheers! 🍻
DANKE, Baz, this is interesting, although the very different strings and the fact that the Flight you are using here is a longneck, water the comparison down considerably... I own both a 'Flight travel' and a 'Magic Flea' and both are fun and work as an instrument - pretty good actually! While the Flight has a belting voice, the Flea's tone and volume is somewhat subtler, more sophisticated. And that goes for the instruments as such: the Flight is coarse, the Flea is gallant and - especially w/ the internally geared peghead tuners - the 'cooler' instrument... but costs 6, probably 7 times as much...
I have a solid spruce flea. Sounds pretty good with Worth Clears tuned standard, but tuned a whole step up to D, it sounds remarkable, not tinny or tiny but syrupy sweet yet bright.
I heard from reviews that kiwaya ukuleles are the best sounding sopranos in the market, I am looking for a laminate or solid mahogany uke that is maybe half the price of that, can you recommend similar ukes to kiwayas? :) Pardon me I am not really into travel ukes 😅
Kiwaya make some very good sopranos, but to say they are the 'best' is a bit of a stretch. Very, very good, but then that would be to dismiss the likes of Kamaka and Koaloha etc. But for laminate or solid - take a look at the Chinese made Kiwayas - sound remarkably good.
The Flight and ovation would take Flight if I had to do the comparison . Fluke has it for me by a country mile . Do you play your own much or just when en route .
@@GotAUkulele Wow that took me by surpise . En route I meant on holiday . I have an anue nue soprano that I travel with. Have you ever been asked to do a annual review and a Oscar type review in light of similar Ukes . Say between the Cedar tops you tried or the quirky ones etc . Would make for an interesting pre Christmas review .
@@lesleyriseam1282 Yes - if travelling I tend to take the Flea. I once flew with an Enya HPL uke - the simple reason being the airline does not accept a uke as an extra carry on and all cabin baggage had to be a certain dimension. The soprano uke actually doesn't fit in a standard cabin bag. But.... the Enya HPL have detachable necks - so I took it apart and it fit - re-assembled it when I arrived on holiday! I used to do annual reviews, but I just have so many now and hard to pick just one that I gave up on them. Struggle to find the time to do the reviews as is!
@@GotAUkulele I got the suprano to take to visit my brother who now lives in Mautitius . Will take stock of airline rules when I fly . Thanls . Teally appreciate all you do .
@@GotAUkulele Did the Flea come with Aquila's?.... I much prefer them to Worth Browns....its amazing how much strings alter the sound of an instrument...:)
Only thing I would warn re the Flight (which I got in 2018 after watching your original review) was mine suffered a fault with the slotted bridge whereby three of the four slots cracked & failed so I had to repair it - & not through misuse or stress, as I always treat it very carefully. I don't know if this was an error with the original models, as they've clearly been updated to include strap buttons etc & whether you've heard of anyone else with the same issue. Otherwise, a great instrument if you get one that doesn't have this issue.
@@GotAUkulele Thanks. I'd had it over a year by the time the fault developed & thought thought it would be a bit cheeky maybe complaining for such a cheap instrument after that time. Though I'd contacted them but should give it another try.
I slightly liked the Flight more, but I am prepared to say that the difference could be down just to the strings. But, like others below, the Ovation didn't sound as good, and you obviously struggled to play it.
Flight, best sound
Cheers
Very close to the Flea for my ears - which is remarkable considering the price difference
I own 2 Flea ukuleles and 1 Fluke ukulele among others. I was impressed by the sound of the Flight. I'm equally interested in longevity. For example, one of my Flea is similar to yours, Baz. Basic model with plastic fretboard. The Flea has traveled with me 3/4 of the world in it's "Flea Bag" (the optional zip gig bag), usually stuffed in my suitcase through many airports and flights. It's been with me now close to 10 years and it's as much of a dream to play as the first day. I think I'll have it cremated with me!
Longevity is a very good point. My Flea is about 13 years old now - still play it all the time
I like the Flea. Great review Baz 👍👍👍👍👍👍
So do I!
I love the piles of ukes behind you. Are they all the bad ukes that are going to heat up some fire one day?
Ha ha - I usually have piles of ukes in my video shots - vast majority are not mine. - Virtually all are on loan only. The ones behind ARE mine though and are all superb!
@@GotAUkulele I misunderstood you .. i assumed you meant a few hundred bad ukes xD
Flea for me by a mile Had a Flight, didn't like it at all. Gave it away. Found the headstock quite sharp at the edges when playing. Hurt! Thank you for the sound comparison Baz.
Thanks!
I love the Flight travel ukes. I own one of the normal models and gifted a longneck version to my nephew. Love them both very much ( the long neck version a little bit more 😉). They always make me smile, they are so much fun!
Totally agree!
The ovation and flight are both quite “sharp” sounding and the flea sounds quite “warm” and softer. Maybe it’s the Aquila strings making them sound sharper but I really like the sound of your flea.
Flea is definitely warmer and rounder to my ear too. For me the Flight is far closer to the Flea than it is to the Ovation.
Oh dear. That poor Ovation. The Flight by a nose for me. Thanks very much, great vid.
My pleasure!
I like the Flea, it just sings.
For the price, the flight is good. My favourite round back is the Clearwater you reviewed some time ago.
Yes - they are terrific!
I was going to buy the flight as my first but after the Clearwater review went for that instead. Getting my 2nd uke (flight) for xmas
@@craigdowns5247 Good choice Craig, I'm really happy with mine. Another great review from Barry.
this video just basically told me a need to get my hands a flight
Yep - they are so cheap - bit of a no brainer. I will, shortly, be looking at the new Concert version too!
@@GotAUkulele can't wait - keep it up! cheers from across the pond in Connecticut, USA
I agree the Flight is very nice sounding. I'm thinking about getting another one to join the Fireball.
Great comparison! I have a Flea that will not get rid off for nothing. Got my hands on a set of them Martins made by Aquila ( dark grey ones) and really suit the Flea well. Still can wrap my mind out of how good the Flight sounds on videos, but bought one and returned it within a week. Really disappointed by the sound. Maybe got a dud. Solid as a rock, though. Now that Ovation...I guess they should keep to building guitars.
Fantastic! Thank you for doing this! Poor Ovation, especially fingerpicked it just doesn't sound very good, does it?
Not acoustic, no.
First, thank you for the great, detailed and honest analysis that helped me with my choice. I have a Flight TUSL35 BK, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Maybe I'll just add some tenor or baritone later. With wind instruments, I have outgrown the unnecessary accumulation of instruments whose difference in sound is negligible. Your video just proves how unreasonable the price/quality ratio can sometimes be. Again, everyone has the right to their choice, and that should be respected. Cheers! 🍻
DANKE, Baz, this is interesting, although the very different strings and the fact that the Flight you are using here is a longneck, water the comparison down considerably...
I own both a 'Flight travel' and a 'Magic Flea' and both are fun and work as an instrument - pretty good actually!
While the Flight has a belting voice, the Flea's tone and volume is somewhat subtler, more sophisticated.
And that goes for the instruments as such: the Flight is coarse, the Flea is gallant and - especially w/ the internally geared peghead tuners - the 'cooler' instrument... but costs 6, probably 7 times as much...
Don't disagree with any of that!
Flight for strumming, Flea for picking.
My goodness the sound of that Ovation just jumps out. Love the big sound and projection.
I found the sound of it really thin and weedy!
I have a solid spruce flea. Sounds pretty good with Worth Clears tuned standard, but tuned a whole step up to D, it sounds remarkable, not tinny or tiny but syrupy sweet yet bright.
Nice!
And the necks on Flukes and Fleas are just right for me.
I think that flight is killing it at its price point. Pity they don’t complete the range with a tenor. Thanks for the wonderful comparison.
Would be interesting!
Now they have one in concert size.
@@peterukezeller4485 Flight? Yes - review coming soon!
Flight wins strumming,
Flea wins picking …
Thank you for the comparison …
My pleasure!
I heard from reviews that kiwaya ukuleles are the best sounding sopranos in the market, I am looking for a laminate or solid mahogany uke that is maybe half the price of that, can you recommend similar ukes to kiwayas? :) Pardon me I am not really into travel ukes 😅
Kiwaya make some very good sopranos, but to say they are the 'best' is a bit of a stretch. Very, very good, but then that would be to dismiss the likes of Kamaka and Koaloha etc.
But for laminate or solid - take a look at the Chinese made Kiwayas - sound remarkably good.
@@GotAUkulele woah, thanks a lot :) never heard there are chinese made kiwayas :) best wishes to the channel and the uke community :)
Thanks! Judging from the sound alone Flights wins, in my opinion.
You are not the first to say that!
The Flight and ovation would take Flight if I had to do the comparison .
Fluke has it for me by a country mile . Do you play your own much or just when en route .
en route? I play my Flea more than any other uke I've owned I think!
@@GotAUkulele Wow that took me by surpise . En route I meant on holiday . I have an anue nue soprano that I travel with.
Have you ever been asked to do a annual review and a Oscar type review in light of similar Ukes . Say between the Cedar tops you tried or the quirky ones etc . Would make for an interesting pre Christmas review .
@@lesleyriseam1282 Yes - if travelling I tend to take the Flea. I once flew with an Enya HPL uke - the simple reason being the airline does not accept a uke as an extra carry on and all cabin baggage had to be a certain dimension. The soprano uke actually doesn't fit in a standard cabin bag. But.... the Enya HPL have detachable necks - so I took it apart and it fit - re-assembled it when I arrived on holiday!
I used to do annual reviews, but I just have so many now and hard to pick just one that I gave up on them. Struggle to find the time to do the reviews as is!
@@GotAUkulele I got the suprano to take to visit my brother who now lives in Mautitius . Will take stock of airline rules when I fly . Thanls . Teally appreciate all you do .
The flight has a mellow tone quality that I really like. The other two are too bright for me
I think the Flight sounded best. Great comparison!
Flight for me....:)
Close between that and the Flea for me - but the price is hard to ignore!
@@GotAUkulele Did the Flea come with Aquila's?.... I much prefer them to Worth Browns....its amazing how much strings alter the sound of an instrument...:)
@@EagleUkes It did originally - I find they boom a bit too much on a Flea.
@@GotAUkulele ..only played a flea once, nice instrument.
Only thing I would warn re the Flight (which I got in 2018 after watching your original review) was mine suffered a fault with the slotted bridge whereby three of the four slots cracked & failed so I had to repair it - & not through misuse or stress, as I always treat it very carefully. I don't know if this was an error with the original models, as they've clearly been updated to include strap buttons etc & whether you've heard of anyone else with the same issue. Otherwise, a great instrument if you get one that doesn't have this issue.
No - not heard of any others. Flight customer support is meant to be pretty good though?
@@GotAUkulele Thanks. I'd had it over a year by the time the fault developed & thought thought it would be a bit cheeky maybe complaining for such a cheap instrument after that time. Though I'd contacted them but should give it another try.
Flight it is for me :)
Definitely the Flight for me , all the best Baz
Thanks Michael!
Flight first, ovation best in the looks dept. though but sounded trashy.....I think I'll buy a flight over all of them....
I slightly liked the Flight more, but I am prepared to say that the difference could be down just to the strings. But, like others below, the Ovation didn't sound as good, and you obviously struggled to play it.
It's a really uncomfortable neck.
Flight sounded best to me, not much between the others, assume Flight is cheapest ?
By far - About £40. The Flea is £220, the Ovation is £240
@@GotAUkulele not a fluke that the Flight gets the Ovation? I'll get my coat
@@alanwhitney3263 Very good!