Ukulele Review: Flight TUS35 Soprano Ukulele
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- This is my quick review of the Flight TUS35 Soprano Travel Ukulele, which was on sale at Amazon for under $25 with taxes (sadly, this price is no longer available). I did buy this model and it was not a promotional unit from a ukulele manufacturer. Negatives? I'm not a fan of the paint job, the edge on the lower bout of the ukulele, and the "wood" pattern of the plastic neck. None of these is a reason to not buy the Flight TUS35 or TUS50 Travel Ukuleles. I also like fluorocarbon strings, so I swapped the stock Aquila Nylgut strings with Martin 600 strings. Positives? Everything else. It sounds great, the zero fret set-up works well, and the action is acceptable. It is loud and (other than the edge on the lower bout) comfortable to play. I did put strap buttons on this ukulele--I can't recommend installation, but it works. I'd love to see a concert version of this ukulele.
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The soundboard on these series are said to be "lindon wood", I have a black one coming. I wanted the Outdoor ukulele but the initial cost + $48 shipping to Canada was too much, but it is a quality Ukulele.
You’ll love it. They are going to make a long neck version, and I have a competitor’s copy of the TUS 35 on order.
If it's not much of an inconvenience, would you mind telling me how this ukulele compares to the Enya round one? I would like to add a soprano to my small collection but I'm on the fence between those 2 mainly ( I'm open to suggestions lol)
It all depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to use it to play with others, the volume of the Enya is going to be less than ideal. It sounds great, but no matter what you do, it is soft. That said, the craftsman ship is wonderful, the radius fretboard is only found for hundreds of dollars more on other ukuleles, and it comes with a great package including a great gig bag.
The TUS 35 is great as an all-around beater, and it is loud. Not the loudest (I'd put my KoAlohas in that category) but loud. They no longer offer the compensated saddle (I wish they did). You may or may not like the "wood textured" plastic of the neck. But you should be able to get into one of these for $49. And if you play with groups, you'll be able to hear yourself.
On both ukuleles, I'd suggest an immediate string upgrade. I prefer Martin M600s, but there are plenty of other choices.
I like them both, and if the Enya were not in its case, I'd probably play it more. So I guess I would suggest that if you buy the Enya, keep it out and store the case instead.
Does that help?
UkeStuff thank you so much for your time to answer my question. I’ve narrowed down to these 2 because they seem to have a good tone. I’ve had cheap laminate sopranos before that I simply didn’t play because I didn’t like the sound and I sold them. I do have a Enya Concert X1M and I love its mellow tone but I was afraid a soprano would sound too similar. The Flight sometimes doesn’t sound great in some videos but it’s is cheaper now at Amazon for around $38 and the Enya EUR X1 for around $63. It’s a tough decision
I'd love to get the X1M, but I don't need it...about 50 ukuleles (No joking) here at the house. I think the tone characteristics of the EUR-X1 (Round soprano) are going to be similar, if not just a little more quiet than the X1M. So maybe it is worth trying the Flight for $38. I didn't originally think the Flight was that great. I think it needed new strings, and as I've said a number of times, I had to play it next to a Magic Fluke (concert) to really appreciate it. I know better now (and the video reflects that).
That same light blue model (I don't know if it will have the compensated built in saddle or a removable saddle) as you mentioned is $38.21 today.
I'd probably go with that and give it a try. After all, if you're not happy, the EUR-X1 isn't that much more expensive to add later.
UkeStuff thank you very much. You’re always so thorough in your answers, I really appreciate it. Wow 50 ukuleles is a dream, I’m struggling to explain my hubby why I “need” a soprano lol have a great weekend sir. Thanks again!
Thank you! And you have a great weekend, too. As for the 50 ukuleles...I can't deny it, but many of them were free or nearly free; and I'm a bargain shopper. When I see an instrument that I know the value of, and it is a huge bargain, I find a way to buy it. The most I have paid for a ukulele was $690, and I sold it a year later for $650 (It was a beautiful Pono, but I never really bonded with it, and it was sold to me as part of a clearance sale by a ukulele company going out of business). My current most expensive ukulele was a B-Stock Tenor KoAloha Opio made of Sapele...and I dearly love that ukulele and wish I had one in Concert (they no longer use Sapele). My most valuable ukulele is my Koa Concert KoAloha, which I found in a local second hand store for $385. It needed work, and KoAloha refurbished it for free, giving me a $1100 for a bargain.
The bargains are out there. That said, both $39 and $65 for those two ukuleles is worth it.
And my wife heaves a sigh every time a ukulele shaped box arrives.