I know that I'll get hate mail over this, but I tried out a Flea and Fluke for the first time this week and wasn't very impressed with the tone. The action was great, intonation spot on, tuners a little tricky, but the tone didn't impress me. Perhaps I'm more of a wood guy since I am also an acoustic guitar player.
Disappointed by the sound of the Flea and Fluke
- Thread starter heymelbs
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gallimander
Active member
i've been debating on a fluke. i heard that they're pretty much the sturdiest ukes out there, but i'll be sure to be a good boy and try one before i buy one
Tigeralum2001
Well-known member
You shouldn't get flamed for an opinion! I'm glad that there is such a diversity of ukes to pick from. I'm sure the K brands have people who don't care for their tone, and we know many people like the Makala Dolphin.
To each there own, just keep making them!
To each there own, just keep making them!
Skottoman
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I have a concert with rosewood fretboard, and a basic plastic fretboard soprano flea. Strings really make a difference on these. I put some Fremont Blacklines on my concert and it's much brighter.
I have 8 ukes, and I'd say the flea is a very mellow, deeper tone.
All depends on what you like. I played my Pineapple sunday for my parents, and then the others I have and they liked the Flea sound the best!
The great thing about ukes is they all have their own sound. The Flea sounds like no other.... as do the rest of my ukes. Hahaaa..
If it's not your cup of tea, then so be it, but it is a nice sound to hear compared to other ukes.
Cheers,
Skottoman
I have 8 ukes, and I'd say the flea is a very mellow, deeper tone.
All depends on what you like. I played my Pineapple sunday for my parents, and then the others I have and they liked the Flea sound the best!
The great thing about ukes is they all have their own sound. The Flea sounds like no other.... as do the rest of my ukes. Hahaaa..
If it's not your cup of tea, then so be it, but it is a nice sound to hear compared to other ukes.
Cheers,
Skottoman
pdxuke
Well-known member
It's ok. I respect The Flea and Fluke lovers out there, the world is a big place and there's room for all of us--but I agree with you. I traded mine for a mahogany uke and I instantly felt better.
Thumper
Well-known member
What kind of strings did they have? I find the stock black strings (Hilo, I think) sound pretty weak and unimpressive - if that's what you were playing, I'd give them a second chance with different strings. But if they had Aquilas or Worths on them, and you still didn't dig them, then you've made a good discovery: they're not the right ukes for you.
Fortunately, they are the right ukes for me!
Fortunately, they are the right ukes for me!
leftovermagic84
Well-known member
As much as I love my fluke, I admit my mainland sounds better. That being said, my fluke is my go to for travel because it can take a beating my mainland can't
Jason Paul
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I've got both a Mainland concert and a Flea concert. I do like the Mainland quite a bit more. But, it's nice to know that I've got the sturdy Flea as a backup or a travel uke.
One difference I hadn't counted on though, is the fret spacing. The frets on the Flea are noticeably farther apart than those on the Mainland. The Flea feels "bigger". I like the Mainland better in this regard too.
But again, I'm still glad I have the Flea, and have thought about getting a soprano.
Jason
One difference I hadn't counted on though, is the fret spacing. The frets on the Flea are noticeably farther apart than those on the Mainland. The Flea feels "bigger". I like the Mainland better in this regard too.
But again, I'm still glad I have the Flea, and have thought about getting a soprano.
Jason
puremarkska
Well-known member
Pretty much in the same boat as most people here. I've had my Fluke for seven years, and side-by-side it is definitely not as bright or loud as a Mainland or Ohana ukulele. But the truth is, I play my Fluke a lot more often than anything else just because it is always there. It's standing up right next to my computer as I type this. If I knock it over, I don't even blink and I don't have to worry about dinging it or scratching the finish. If you like the brighter sound, I've found that Aquilas produced the loudest and brightest tone out of my Fluke. But if by chance you like your ukes to be even brighter than that, you'd most likely be better off with something else (but be sure to buy a stand or wall hanger if you plan to play it a lot!).
Overall, Flukes are reliable, durable, stay in tune, and well intonated all the way up. They're reasonably priced and made in the USA. There are a lot of ukes that sound better than the Fluke, but as long as you're having fun, it's all good.
Overall, Flukes are reliable, durable, stay in tune, and well intonated all the way up. They're reasonably priced and made in the USA. There are a lot of ukes that sound better than the Fluke, but as long as you're having fun, it's all good.
One thing people are free to notice or not: that on websites/dealers which feature vintage and high-end stuff for some reason the Flea and Flukes are there among the Kamakas and the Vintage Martins.
BTW, what matters more is high-end playing. Over the years what has impressed me more than gear is high-end playing. "How we play" is what we bring with us whether we use a gigbag, a hardshell case or a cardboard box.
I think it's great when people connect with whatever ukulele inspires them.
BTW, what matters more is high-end playing. Over the years what has impressed me more than gear is high-end playing. "How we play" is what we bring with us whether we use a gigbag, a hardshell case or a cardboard box.
I think it's great when people connect with whatever ukulele inspires them.
buddhuu
Super Moderator (Retired)
Aw, rats. I can't do high-end playing, and I can't afford high-end gear. Some days you just can't win... LOLz
Aw, rats. I can't do high-end playing, and I can't afford high-end gear. Some days you just can't win... LOLz
And "high-end" playing is relative...doing what you do well or if not "well" (as in technically advanced) than real, immediate...BTW, not a huge fan of simply "virtuosity": that tends to bore me...fatigue me...
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I had a really nice looking Fluke which I loved for its character, volume, durability and its standup base but I sold it because I just didn't enjoy the tone compared to a solid koa or mahogany concert. That said, I will definitely get one again in the future (but with a rosewood fretboard this time) because I loved having it next to my desk, and it held it's value so well I only lost about £30 on it from new, including restringing it.
Flukes and Fleas provide an invaluable dash of contemporary flair and fun to the uke scene in my opinion. The tone is different from solid wood though its true - not worse, but different. It's all subjective.
Flukes and Fleas provide an invaluable dash of contemporary flair and fun to the uke scene in my opinion. The tone is different from solid wood though its true - not worse, but different. It's all subjective.
Ahnko Honu
Well-known member
I recently took the time to compare my Mainland Cedar Pineapple to my Standard FLEA. Since getting the FLEA I leave it out so always handy and easily accessible so hadn't touched my Mainland in several months. I played both side by side and I was surprised at how much nicer my Mainland sounded than my FLEA even though I know the Mainland Cedar is all solid wood. I was used to the sound of my FLEA and thought it very decent which it is but when I bought out my Mainland from the first strum it blew the FLEA away right out of the water. I didn't think it possible especially since my FLEA is strung with Worth clears (low g) while my Mainland has the Aquilas which it came with and which I'm totally fine with. Mainland has a cleaner. clearer tone as well as more volume and sustain. If I had a gun to my head and had to choose just one I'd pick the Mainland, but she is so pretty I hate to take it outdoors especially hiking or camping for fear of damaging her. That's the roll my FLEA plays my truck/boat/hiking/camping 'ukulele. I love owning both, they are keepers.
BrotherUke
Well-known member
Aquilla's really improved the sound of my Fluke. All of the higher end Flukes and Fleas will come with them. Give one a try with Aquilla's I think you will get a different impression of the instrument.
It seems to me that the uke is much more sensitive to string selection. To my ear D'Adarios sound best on my Kamaka but the didn't do anything for the Fluke. The most dramatic difference I've experienced was putting Martin Clears on a Mitchell that I used to own. I couldn't believe the difference.
You will find a lot of great info on this site about personal string preferences. I'm really not promoting the brand but just the idea that the match seems to be much more important on the uke than any guitar I've owned.
It seems to me that the uke is much more sensitive to string selection. To my ear D'Adarios sound best on my Kamaka but the didn't do anything for the Fluke. The most dramatic difference I've experienced was putting Martin Clears on a Mitchell that I used to own. I couldn't believe the difference.
You will find a lot of great info on this site about personal string preferences. I'm really not promoting the brand but just the idea that the match seems to be much more important on the uke than any guitar I've owned.
