Durability of Magic Fluke and Flea

Jerryc41

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
10,243
Reaction score
3,113
Location
Catskill Mountains, NY
I'm thinking about getting a Magic Fluke or a Flea, but I've read and seen two negatives. The finish on the top tends to wear away, more so than on other ukuleles, from contact with the player's hands. Whenever Jim Beloff appears, he has his Fluke, and the top is well-worn. Yes, he plays it a lot, but I haven't seen that kind of wear on any other ukulele. And, aside from being hard to see, the plastic frets tend to get dented from the strings over time. Barry Maz mentioned both of these conditions in a long term review of his Fluke. Have you noticed either of these?

Magic Fluke has these instruments available with graphics printed on the top, but if they're going to wear away, what's the sense?
 
I'm getting some strum marks, but I tend to play hard and often.
Like others have said, I intend to play into saw dust.
I had seen a photo of Lil Rev's Favilla soprano with half the top gone.
My fret board is wood, so no comment on the plastic fret board.
For what its worth, when I wear this one out, I intend to get another.
I love mine!
 
The only potential issue with durability would be the top, and I think you could get that replaced by MFC for not much money. Or buy another one! Or put stickers on it to protect it. Otherwise, they're not indestructible, but damn close to it. I've accidentally dropped mine on a concrete floor and it didn't go out of tune. They're real workhorses.

Also, don't use wound or steel strings on the plastic fretboards. You'll wear them down in no time flat. The wood fretboards are as durable as you'll find on any other uke.
 
I'm getting some strum marks, but I tend to play hard and often.
Like others have said, I intend to play into saw dust.
I had seen a photo of Lil Rev's Favilla soprano with half the top gone.
My fret board is wood, so no comment on the plastic fret board.
For what its worth, when I wear this one out, I intend to get another.
I love mine!

Thanks. I like the idea of the wooden fret board. I'm close enough that I can drive there and avoid the $25 shipping charge.

You're probably familiar with Willy Nelson's guitar, Trigger. It has a bit of wear. :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhQuJTc5yFY
 
The only potential issue with durability would be the top, and I think you could get that replaced by MFC for not much money. Or buy another one! Or put stickers on it to protect it. Otherwise, they're not indestructible, but damn close to it. I've accidentally dropped mine on a concrete floor and it didn't go out of tune. They're real workhorses.

Also, don't use wound or steel strings on the plastic fretboards. You'll wear them down in no time flat. The wood fretboards are as durable as you'll find on any other uke.

Thanks. I suppose I'd have to wait for the wooden fretboard, but that's okay.
 
This thread inspired me to take a hard look at the plastic fretboard on my Fluke (purchased back in the day when there was no option for a wooden fretboard). 17 years as my main player and the fretboard shows no signs of wear. True, I've never used wound strings. And I'm not one of those players who pounds hard on the fretboard or digs in with long fingernails. The soundboard does have a color fade where my strumming arm has been rubbing against it for 17 years. It looks pretty cool that way.

It is possible that Magic Fluke might have updated their finishing materials and techniques sometime in the current century, so old Flukes may not be entirely good predictors of how today's Flukes will age.

Of course, it's not like it would have killed me to wipe down my Fluke after playing it. Outside in hot, sweaty weather. Sometimes while wearing sunscreen. Or eating barbecue ;-) A Fluke is not an investment instrument, it's a player for a life well lived. I can't imagine a wooden uke could have been through what my Fluke has survived and look or play any better.
 
This thread inspired me to take a hard look at the plastic fretboard on my Fluke (purchased back in the day when there was no option for a wooden fretboard). 17 years as my main player and the fretboard shows no signs of wear. True, I've never used wound strings. And I'm not one of those players who pounds hard on the fretboard or digs in with long fingernails. The soundboard does have a color fade where my strumming arm has been rubbing against it for 17 years. It looks pretty cool that way.

It is possible that Magic Fluke might have updated their finishing materials and techniques sometime in the current century, so old Flukes may not be entirely good predictors of how today's Flukes will age.

Of course, it's not like it would have killed me to wipe down my Fluke after playing it. Outside in hot, sweaty weather. Sometimes while wearing sunscreen. Or eating barbecue ;-) A Fluke is not an investment instrument, it's a player for a life well lived. I can't imagine a wooden uke could have been through what my Fluke has survived and look or play any better.

Thanks for the detailed reply. It sounds great! I'll call them tomorrow and see what they have available.
 
Thanks for the detailed reply. It sounds great! I'll call them tomorrow and see what they have available.

There is also a nice used one with a gig bag for sale at a good price here in the UU Marketplace:

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?131644-FSOT-Concert-Fluke-Ukulele-w-TKL-Gig-Bag

if you have not seen it yet, you should check out the Fluke & Flea appreciation thread, which you can get to by clickin the FAQ link in my signature below.

To protect the wood of the top of my own Fluke and Flea ukes, as well as others, I have taken an iPhone screen protector and trimmed to fit and stick it on sort of as like a pick-guard on a guitar, or as the adhesive plastic protectors for flamenco/classical guitars. It is clear and you barely see it.

You can get a dozen of them on Amazon or ebay for like $5 and so far in 4 yrs never had an issue with it harming the finish.

Also, in 4 yrs, the Fluke and Flea ukes I have with the plastic fretboard, show no wear on the plastic frets at all. One with plastic frets you are advised NOT to use wound strings, since the metal from wound strings will shave the frets down, so for that you'd need to get one with a wooden fretboard.

Please check the 'Fluke and Flea megathread' from the link in my signature below to learn more.
 
Thanks for the detailed reply. It sounds great! I'll call them tomorrow and see what they have available.

Also- forgot to add, ordering direct from Magic Fluke Company - if they do not have one already made with the options you want, there is typically a 2-week lead time after you place your order and pay since most of their instruments a 'built-to-order' and then you have an additional 3-7 days for shipping, so keep that in mind.

There are other vendors that sell MFC ukes that have them in stock, like Gryphon Strings, Penny Lane Emporium, Elderly Music, Hawaii Music Supply, and Uke Republic, as well as Amazon, and since these instruments do NOT require vendor setup, and come setup from Magic Fluke, this is one of the VERY RARE cases where the instrument you get from Amazon (or any other vendor) will intonate and play well 'out of the box' since the dealer has nothing to do to set it up.

The same cannot be said for most other brands of ukulele and in this way, it is another benefit of getting a Magic Fluke instrument as opposed to something that needs work to be playable.
 
Also- forgot to add, ordering direct from Magic Fluke Company - if they do not have one already made with the options you want, there is typically a 2-week lead time after you place your order and pay since most of their instruments a 'built-to-order' and then you have an additional 3-7 days for shipping, so keep that in mind.

There are other vendors that sell MFC ukes that have them in stock, like Gryphon Strings, Penny Lane Emporium, Elderly Music, Hawaii Music Supply, and Uke Republic, as well as Amazon, and since these instruments do NOT require vendor setup, and come setup from Magic Fluke, this is one of the VERY RARE cases where the instrument you get from Amazon (or any other vendor) will intonate and play well 'out of the box' since the dealer has nothing to do to set it up.

The same cannot be said for most other brands of ukulele and in this way, it is another benefit of getting a Magic Fluke instrument as opposed to something that needs work to be playable.

Thanks for all the info. I live near enough that I can drive to the Magic Fluke to get my Flea in person. I sent them an email with a couple of questions, and they said they could make whatever I want if they don 't have it in stock. I like the idea of the wood and metal fretboard. It's traditional, and the frets are easier to see.

I see that lots of places sell them - ready to go - but I like the idea of ordering exactly what I want. I like that Woodie graphic.

I wondered about sticking protective plastic on the face. I have that on all my LCDs. I'll look at the Fluke and Flea section.
 
This thread inspired me to take a hard look at the plastic fretboard on my Fluke (purchased back in the day when there was no option for a wooden fretboard). 17 years as my main player and the fretboard shows no signs of wear. True, I've never used wound strings. And I'm not one of those players who pounds hard on the fretboard or digs in with long fingernails. The soundboard does have a color fade where my strumming arm has been rubbing against it for 17 years. It looks pretty cool that way.

It is possible that Magic Fluke might have updated their finishing materials and techniques sometime in the current century, so old Flukes may not be entirely good predictors of how today's Flukes will age.

Of course, it's not like it would have killed me to wipe down my Fluke after playing it. Outside in hot, sweaty weather. Sometimes while wearing sunscreen. Or eating barbecue ;-) A Fluke is not an investment instrument, it's a player for a life well lived. I can't imagine a wooden uke could have been through what my Fluke has survived and look or play any better.

Any chance we can get some Magic Fluke with MOJO photos?
I've always loved Willie Nelsons Trigger.
 
I loved my concert Flea with upgraded hardwood fretboard and pegheds so much, that I sold my mahogany Pono and bought a second Flea. They are my only indoor ukes, one is high G, the other is low G. I'm hard on 'things', I didn't like feeling like I had to baby my beautiful Pono. I leave my Fleas out all the time so I can just grab one and start playing whenever I like. I often will leave one in the corner of the couch - something I'd never do with a Pono.

My opinion is that the upgrades are really worth it.
 
Well built. Mine is three years old, plastic fretboard, upgraded pegheds. The later was a must for me. Pretty indestructible IMHO. If I were a close drive away, I’d get solid top spruce with pegheds and wood fretboard.
My poly fretboard has no signs of where. That all being said, I just bought a Tiny Tenor, solid spruce top, laminate mahogany body and I like it better than my walnut Fluke.
 
I am a hard strummer and I noticed wear on my Flea... but that's to be expected on any instrument. As for the friction tuners... I like them to be honest. I changed the strings yesterday from Nylgut to Martins M600 and there is no need to use the peg winder because of the 1:1 ratio of the friction tuners :)... easy breezy and quick to wind it up to tune the Ukulele too!

Needless to say the Flea sounds wonderful with the M600....... there was a point where I did not want to play it anymore because with the nylguts the notes sounded so muffled compared to Martin Uke... but now I love it again. Maybe it's the new string honey moon phase haha.
 
Well built. Mine is three years old, plastic fretboard, upgraded pegheds. The later was a must for me. Pretty indestructible IMHO. If I were a close drive away, I’d get solid top spruce with pegheds and wood fretboard.
My poly fretboard has no signs of where. That all being said, I just bought a Tiny Tenor, solid spruce top, laminate mahogany body and I like it better than my walnut Fluke.

I like the "pretty indestructible" aspect. Funny, but I've never been attracted by spruce tops. That Tiny Tenor is wonderful. I have the mahogany. I bought it after a friend got a koa. Since then, another friend got the spalted mango TT.

I'm going to order a Fluke with the wooden fretboard, mainly because it is traditional, and I like the looks. I have a standard walnut Flea arriving in a few days. The Fluke will have the Woodie on the front and the Player Sound Hole.
 
I am a hard strummer and I noticed wear on my Flea... but that's to be expected on any instrument. As for the friction tuners... I like them to be honest. I changed the strings yesterday from Nylgut to Martins M600 and there is no need to use the peg winder because of the 1:1 ratio of the friction tuners :)... easy breezy and quick to wind it up to tune the Ukulele too!

Needless to say the Flea sounds wonderful with the M600....... there was a point where I did not want to play it anymore because with the nylguts the notes sounded so muffled compared to Martin Uke... but now I love it again. Maybe it's the new string honey moon phase haha.

I have Worth browns on my Fluke and Seaguar fishing line on my Flea. Fluorocarbons are light years ahead of the nylguts for clarity and brightness.

That said, I still have nylguts in the Firefly and they’re fine. You’re not really looking for crispness in a banjo (lol) and they seem right on it. I have a set of Aquila sugar strings that I really disliked on a traditional uke, but I may try them on the Firefly when it’s time to switch.
 
I am a hard strummer and I noticed wear on my Flea... but that's to be expected on any instrument. As for the friction tuners... I like them to be honest. I changed the strings yesterday from Nylgut to Martins M600 and there is no need to use the peg winder because of the 1:1 ratio of the friction tuners :)... easy breezy and quick to wind it up to tune the Ukulele too!

Needless to say the Flea sounds wonderful with the M600....... there was a point where I did not want to play it anymore because with the nylguts the notes sounded so muffled compared to Martin Uke... but now I love it again. Maybe it's the new string honey moon phase haha.

Thanks for that. I have Aquilas on almost everything (except my Martin), but if the Martins give me better sound, I'll get them. I plan to put Grover 9NB geared tuners on the Flea or the Fluke or both.
 
Thanks for that. I have Aquilas on almost everything (except my Martin), but if the Martins give me better sound, I'll get them. I plan to put Grover 9NB geared tuners on the Flea or the Fluke or both.

By chance, was your plan for the Grover 9NB install inspired by my thread on doing exactly this on several of my Flukes and Fleas? (title started with "Pure Blasphemy...")

If you've not seen that thread, you can get to it from the first post of the Magic Fluke Company mega-thread, which is linked in the FAQ page from my signature below.

If you proceed with the 9NB tuner install and have any questions, I am happy to help. Just let me know. :)
 
By chance, was your plan for the Grover 9NB install inspired by my thread on doing exactly this on several of my Flukes and Fleas? (title started with "Pure Blasphemy...")

If you've not seen that thread, you can get to it from the first post of the Magic Fluke Company mega-thread, which is linked in the FAQ page from my signature below.

If you proceed with the 9NB tuner install and have any questions, I am happy to help. Just let me know. :)

There are no conicidences! Thanks for the details about that. I have some Gotoh UPTs coming, and they will go on another uke with direct tuning. :D
 
Top Bottom