The Flea is the best instrument (sounds even better with fluorocarbon strings IMHO). This was even more evident in your direct comparison video between the Flight and the Flea. (I have a Flea soprano and rare Flea Tenor.) However, the Flight is impressive for the price. Nice to know the OU holds up to that range of temperatures. Great travel uke comparison series!
That was the best comparison video on ukuleles I've ever seen...you went from one to another quickly between strumming and picking so I can tell the difference. Great job! I hope you do more comparisons in the future. Thank you
I live in an arid environment so I am interested in composite ukuleles. I have had all of these though in different sizes. The soprano Waterman is my least favorite but I love it for kids - I bought 2 for my grand kids. I have the concert Waterman in black with Aquilla Reds and it sounds very nice. I had an Outdoor in the tenor size. I liked it but found I didn't play it as much so I donated it to a elementary education program and the teacher absolutely loves it! Indestructable! The Flea I have is the concert size. I vacillate about it. The sound is not as good as the Fluke I have with a solid hardwood soundboard but I prefer the Flea shape. Plus I use fluorocarbons on the Flea and the Flukes. May need to upgrade but the neck is boxy and bit harder to fret. Finally the Flight I have (Sakura) is a soprano and I really like it the best of them all. Great sound. Low action. Sweet tone. Thanks for your great reviews!
I already own a Flight and it has a permanent place in the back of my car for road trips. I actually really like the sound of the Waterman and you've convinced me to get one. If I don't like it, I haven't lost much and it still looks superb.
Thank you , like the sound of the flea , but will go with flight because it sounds most like the flea and price is more affordable then the flea. I appreciate you playing them side by side could hear the comparison differently more clearly. Thank you for those extra thoughts , the information is always appreciated.
i'm following the magic fluke company with interest, their instruments are so unconventional, but they manage to sound great. I've been playing violin for years, so the cricket is super fascinating to me. It's surprisingly cheap but it sounds really good, especially for under $500. With the amp option it is a powerhouse.
Love my flight and prefer the sound, but the Outdoor’s the one you need if you’re keeping it in your vehicle. I believe they also offer a carbon fiber option.
Thanks for the Video!!! To my ears the Outdoor and the Flea sounded the loudest. The Outdoor sounded really bright but those type of strings are know to be bright. The Flea seemed to be the most resonant. I own a Fight in orange, love that one! Been considering a Fluke but that price, not sure it's that much better.
Sound wise, I love the sound of the Flight best. If you take unto consideration the price, it shines even brighter! I like the design of the Flea, but the price is quite high. Great video Jodi, and I love the hat!!
The flight has the best full sound that really makes it superior to the rest you have here. The Outdoors has a nice ring to it compared to the Watermen. The flea sounds like a banjo ... no real depth or character.
FYI, the Flight also comes with a linden wood top as opposed to the walnut top on yours for about $10 less, in many colors: Black, Dark Blue, Orange, Red, etc. The bad news is they have cheaped out on the gig bag so now it's just something to carry your uke in. I think they've only done this for the travel ukuleles.
This was great! I really prefer the sound of the Flea, but I just can’t justify the expense. I think I’m going to go with the Flight...but then... Thanks for the helpful and interesting series!
Flea does it for me. Best sustain, great volume, tonal quality is nice. Outdoor is a surprise, especially strummed. Flight is a big disappointment, though. A shame--it's pretty.
Overall, I like the sound of the Flight best but I have to say I liked the Outdoor on the strummed parts. Must either be the fluorocarbon strings or easy of playing you mentioned. Thanks for a great comparison video!
Thanks for the upload! To me, Flea>OU>Flight>Waterman :) the Flight uke is definitely louder than OU but sounds slightly muddier to me. With that being said, I own the OU and my ears might have gotten used to its “clear” sound vs the loud, richer sound of other ukes.
First of all thank you Jody😊. What’s important is that we are giving the people in UA-cam land an option to hear this instruments before they buy🤗🤗🤗. We both have good intentions and that’s what really matters❤️❤️❤️. Again, keep up the good work🎙🎶🔈. ✌🏻❤️
It's IAM Thank you. I agree. There’s room for everyone here at UA-cam land. 😉 I like your channel because you play some premium instruments that I may never be able to get my hands on. I also like when you compare tonewoods. That can be very helpful in determining which one to buy. ❤️
You know what, that’s also one of my purpose. Giving the people out there a small glimpse, sound sample of some of the premium ukuleles I own. I know that not everyone can buy some of the instruments I own, but, maybe someday,someday in the future they maybe able to purchase it , at least they got some info, sound sample of it from me. Another reason is that some people that might own it, doesn’t really emphasize the sound in a video and they just basically show it in the video, without playing it that much, which is what I really want to hear. I started playing guitar back in 2000, but not until 2009 that I understood that tonewoods does affect the sound. So back in 2012 I purchased my first premium guitar(a Gibson)& I have no idea how to take care of it. I over humidified it and the wood looks moist!!! So I have to bring it to the Luthier and fixed it, but it didn’t went back to its 100% condition. I sold that guitar back in 2015. So in 2016 I started to play ukulele, & started collecting them, I used to collect guitars but I stopped and switched to ukulele collecting🤗🤗🤗. As a guitar player which is mostly acoustic playing, I love to watch sound comparison of different acoustic guitar brands & tonewoods & that’s why I love sound comparison 😊😊😊🎙🎶🔈✌🏻❤️
I like the sound of the ones with laminate wood tops better. I am undecided between the flight and the flea. Here in Europe the flight costs about 50 €. The flea is over 200 €. Easy decision. I guess, I prefer the flight. :)
That Flea does sound really nice. It’s just expensive! I have the Waterman and the Outdoor, but my Outdoor is a tenor. I think that helps it be a bit louder, but it’s so much fun to play. Thank you for this video. I like the comparison. Have you done anything with baritone ukuleles yet? I’m contemplating getting one as a sort of bridge between ukulele and guitar. I have a guitar and still play from time to time, but the ukulele has just captured my heart as my preferred instrument.
Yes, I have a baritone. I played guitar before ukulele so it was not hard to pick up the alternate fingerings. Here’s a video I made explaining the differences of a baritone. ua-cam.com/video/cHNiKa9tpac/v-deo.html It really is the perfect bridge between ukulele and guitar. Let me know if you decide to get one!
I love my soprano Flight with extended neck. I changed the strings to Martins which made a big improvement in sound. I will try another brand of strings next time though as the G sounds a bit flat. The other strings strings sound great. Just the G sounds smooshy. Any suggestions?
The Waterman sounds out of tune. How do you find the intonation on the Outdoor uke? In one take it sounded out of tune but in the others it was ok. I’m picky about intonation because I’m a classical violinist. My Kala is sharp on a couple of notes and it drives me nuts. I had it professionally set-up and they tried to tweak those notes but said it was impossible to fix. Thank you!
Thank you for the comparison. I’m looking for a uke that I can paint. Think I’m going to go with a flight. There are 2 other ABS Ike’s. One is a Vorson (looks like a Waterman, but less $. The other starts with a G( not Garry) it’s G & T ( can’t think of the name now(I’ll get for you. I wondered if you had seen them and what you think.
Nanci Sabino Hey I actually had a black plastic Vorson for a while there, had it in the back of my car and lost it to hot weather. Needless to say the neck started to warp. It wasn’t my favorite ukulele by a long shot and but it got the job done though I’m not sure it’s as “Outdoor friendly” as they say it is. That being said though, I got Mine for $20-25 so I definitely got what I paid for.
Of all of them I like the Flight the best, it has a nice sound, and looks the best to me. But me, I would probably be more likely to buy an inexpensive wood uke, you know, one that smells like wood, I like that smell. I wouldnt leave a uke in my car. In Seattle, I don't leave anything in my car.
I get it. I probably should have mentioned that a laminate ukulele can also make a great travel ukulele. I’ve been using my laminate Oscar Schmidt as my camping ukulele the past 2 years and it’s been great!
My soprano Outdoor Ukulele (just like yours), the C string sounds so flat! I put on D’Addario Titanium’s but didn’t help that flat sound that much. Does your C string sound pretty flat? Maybe it’s just my Uke.
Flea sounds best but is it just the increased volume? Flea > Flight > Outdoor >>> Waterman Edit: After seeing the prices, makes sense that Flea sounded so good ;D and Flight apparently has a wooden top so that too explains things
Thanks for the comparison. After listening to these I probably wouldn't buy one. I would rather have an inexpensive laminate for taking with me on outings.
It is a logical name for a ukulele. The Hawaiian word 'ukulele, literally means "leaping flea," from 'uku "louse, flea" + lele "to fly, jump, leap." Noted earlier in English as the Hawaiian word for "flea." The instrument so called from the rapid motion of the fingers in playing it. It developed from a Portuguese instrument introduced to the islands c. 1879
I agree the flight & the flea. Thanks... great job!
The Flea is the best instrument (sounds even better with fluorocarbon strings IMHO). This was even more evident in your direct comparison video between the Flight and the Flea. (I have a Flea soprano and rare Flea Tenor.) However, the Flight is impressive for the price. Nice to know the OU holds up to that range of temperatures. Great travel uke comparison series!
I agree. Fleas and Flukes sound better with fluorocarbons.
That was the best comparison video on ukuleles I've ever seen...you went from one to another quickly between strumming and picking so I can tell the difference. Great job! I hope you do more comparisons in the future. Thank you
Thank you. I glad you found this helpful. I definitely will be doing more of these.
I live in an arid environment so I am interested in composite ukuleles. I have had all of these though in different sizes. The soprano Waterman is my least favorite but I love it for kids - I bought 2 for my grand kids. I have the concert Waterman in black with Aquilla Reds and it sounds very nice. I had an Outdoor in the tenor size. I liked it but found I didn't play it as much so I donated it to a elementary education program and the teacher absolutely loves it! Indestructable! The Flea I have is the concert size. I vacillate about it. The sound is not as good as the Fluke I have with a solid hardwood soundboard but I prefer the Flea shape. Plus I use fluorocarbons on the Flea and the Flukes. May need to upgrade but the neck is boxy and bit harder to fret. Finally the Flight I have (Sakura) is a soprano and I really like it the best of them all. Great sound. Low action. Sweet tone. Thanks for your great reviews!
I already own a Flight and it has a permanent place in the back of my car for road trips. I actually really like the sound of the Waterman and you've convinced me to get one. If I don't like it, I haven't lost much and it still looks superb.
I just broke down and purchased the Flight for camping - hoping to get it before our first camp out in May
My vote for the Flea uku! I like the size and the sound of it.
Thank you , like the sound of the flea , but will go with flight because it sounds most like the flea and price is more affordable then the flea. I appreciate you playing them side by side could hear the comparison differently more clearly. Thank you for those extra thoughts , the information is always appreciated.
Flea sounded the best to me by far.
Really enjoyed listening to your sound comparisons and your impressions. Insightful that quiet OU could be perfect in the car.
I took my soprano waterman in my carry-on on a plane and wasn't concerned if it got some bumps. That's the only time I appreciate it.
i'm following the magic fluke company with interest, their instruments are so unconventional, but they manage to sound great. I've been playing violin for years, so the cricket is super fascinating to me. It's surprisingly cheap but it sounds really good, especially for under $500. With the amp option it is a powerhouse.
I actually started playing on a borrowed Waterman - the advantage is that once I got my own very nice Kala concert ukulele, it was easier to play 😁
Love my flight and prefer the sound, but the Outdoor’s the one you need if you’re keeping it in your vehicle. I believe they also offer a carbon fiber option.
I agree with Keebler. The flight sounds the best of the four. Thanks for the video !
Thanks for the Video!!!
To my ears the Outdoor and the Flea sounded the loudest.
The Outdoor sounded really bright but those type of strings are know to be bright.
The Flea seemed to be the most resonant.
I own a Fight in orange, love that one!
Been considering a Fluke but that price, not sure it's that much better.
I thought I was sold on Flight but dang...that Flea sounds great!
Sound wise, I love the sound of the Flight best. If you take unto consideration the price, it shines even brighter! I like the design of the Flea, but the price is quite high. Great video Jodi, and I love the hat!!
Yep, of the 4, I’m only keeping the Flight and the OU. The flight is definitely best value and a forerunner for best sound. What a great gift!! ❤️
The flight has the best full sound that really makes it superior to the rest you have here.
The Outdoors has a nice ring to it compared to the Watermen.
The flea sounds like a banjo ... no real depth or character.
FYI, the Flight also comes with a linden wood top as opposed to the walnut top on yours for about $10 less, in many colors: Black, Dark Blue, Orange, Red, etc. The bad news is they have cheaped out on the gig bag so now it's just something to carry your uke in. I think they've only done this for the travel ukuleles.
Thanks for the comparison. I liked the flea!
The Flea sounds the best.
This was great! I really prefer the sound of the Flea, but I just can’t justify the expense. I think I’m going to go with the Flight...but then... Thanks for the helpful and interesting series!
I’m glad it was helpful for you 😊
It’s down to the Flea and the Outdoor. They sounded the best to me.
Flea does it for me. Best sustain, great volume, tonal quality is nice.
Outdoor is a surprise, especially strummed.
Flight is a big disappointment, though. A shame--it's pretty.
Overall, I like the sound of the Flight best but I have to say I liked the Outdoor on the strummed parts. Must either be the fluorocarbon strings or easy of playing you mentioned. Thanks for a great comparison video!
See you later Abby.
Thanks for the upload! To me, Flea>OU>Flight>Waterman :) the Flight uke is definitely louder than OU but sounds slightly muddier to me. With that being said, I own the OU and my ears might have gotten used to its “clear” sound vs the loud, richer sound of other ukes.
Good point. The OU definitely has the clearest (cleanest) sound of the bunch.
Great video Jody😊😊😊. I love sound comparison vids too🎙🎶🔈.
I know! Yours are great. 😊 (I’m still working my way through them 😊)
First of all thank you Jody😊. What’s important is that we are giving the people in UA-cam land an option to hear this instruments before they buy🤗🤗🤗. We both have good intentions and that’s what really matters❤️❤️❤️. Again, keep up the good work🎙🎶🔈. ✌🏻❤️
It's IAM Thank you. I agree. There’s room for everyone here at UA-cam land. 😉 I like your channel because you play some premium instruments that I may never be able to get my hands on. I also like when you compare tonewoods. That can be very helpful in determining which one to buy. ❤️
You know what, that’s also one of my purpose. Giving the people out there a small glimpse, sound sample of some of the premium ukuleles I own. I know that not everyone can buy some of the instruments I own, but, maybe someday,someday in the future they maybe able to purchase it , at least they got some info, sound sample of it from me. Another reason is that some people that might own it, doesn’t really emphasize the sound in a video and they just basically show it in the video, without playing it that much, which is what I really want to hear. I started playing guitar back in 2000, but not until 2009 that I understood that tonewoods does affect the sound. So back in 2012 I purchased my first premium guitar(a Gibson)& I have no idea how to take care of it. I over humidified it and the wood looks moist!!! So I have to bring it to the Luthier and fixed it, but it didn’t went back to its 100% condition. I sold that guitar back in 2015. So in 2016 I started to play ukulele, & started collecting them, I used to collect guitars but I stopped and switched to ukulele collecting🤗🤗🤗. As a guitar player which is mostly acoustic playing, I love to watch sound comparison of different acoustic guitar brands & tonewoods & that’s why I love sound comparison 😊😊😊🎙🎶🔈✌🏻❤️
What a cool hat. Thx for the Review
The Flea sounds great, but its the most $$, of course! :)
I would love to know the weight of each?
I just love the flight uke
hows the action on the flea uke could you let me know thanks
I bought a Sea Foam Green with Black back Waterman Concert, I gave it away
I like the sound of the ones with laminate wood tops better. I am undecided between the flight and the flea. Here in Europe the flight costs about 50 €. The flea is over 200 €. Easy decision. I guess, I prefer the flight. :)
I definitely think Flight is a better value and very comparable sound. Have fun with it!!
That Flea does sound really nice. It’s just expensive!
I have the Waterman and the Outdoor, but my Outdoor is a tenor. I think that helps it be a bit louder, but it’s so much fun to play.
Thank you for this video. I like the comparison.
Have you done anything with baritone ukuleles yet? I’m contemplating getting one as a sort of bridge between ukulele and guitar. I have a guitar and still play from time to time, but the ukulele has just captured my heart as my preferred instrument.
Yes, I have a baritone. I played guitar before ukulele so it was not hard to pick up the alternate fingerings. Here’s a video I made explaining the differences of a baritone. ua-cam.com/video/cHNiKa9tpac/v-deo.html It really is the perfect bridge between ukulele and guitar. Let me know if you decide to get one!
I love my soprano Flight with extended neck. I changed the strings to Martins which made a big improvement in sound. I will try another brand of strings next time though as the G sounds a bit flat. The other strings strings sound great. Just the G sounds smooshy. Any suggestions?
The Waterman sounds out of tune. How do you find the intonation on the Outdoor uke? In one take it sounded out of tune but in the others it was ok. I’m picky about intonation because I’m a classical violinist. My Kala is sharp on a couple of notes and it drives me nuts. I had it professionally set-up and they tried to tweak those notes but said it was impossible to fix. Thank you!
Thank you for the comparison. I’m looking for a uke that I can paint. Think I’m going to go with a flight. There are 2 other ABS Ike’s. One is a Vorson (looks like a Waterman, but less $. The other starts with a G( not Garry) it’s G & T ( can’t think of the name now(I’ll get for you. I wondered if you had seen them and what you think.
No, I am unfamiliar with those. Have fun painting one! I have bought 2 cheap soprano laminate ukuleles to paint in the past. It’s so fun!
Nanci Sabino Hey I actually had a black plastic Vorson for a while there, had it in the back of my car and lost it to hot weather. Needless to say the neck started to warp. It wasn’t my favorite ukulele by a long shot and but it got the job done though I’m not sure it’s as “Outdoor friendly” as they say it is. That being said though, I got Mine for $20-25 so I definitely got what I paid for.
Of all of them I like the Flight the best, it has a nice sound, and looks the best to me. But me, I would probably be more likely to buy an inexpensive wood uke, you know, one that smells like wood, I like that smell. I wouldnt leave a uke in my car. In Seattle, I don't leave anything in my car.
I get it. I probably should have mentioned that a laminate ukulele can also make a great travel ukulele. I’ve been using my laminate Oscar Schmidt as my camping ukulele the past 2 years and it’s been great!
Do you think the Flight laminate would work in a classroom?
It is easy to play and very durable. My only concern would be the volume...
The outdoor one is nice, but the flight sounds the nicest
My soprano Outdoor Ukulele (just like yours), the C string sounds so flat! I put on D’Addario Titanium’s but didn’t help that flat sound that much. Does your C string sound pretty flat? Maybe it’s just my Uke.
The Flight is a good second to the Flea. FYI: The Flea is not a laminate, the Flight is.
Hi would what is the model number of the flight? Thank you for the reviews. I
Hi It’s a Flight TUS50 😊
Thank you. Hope I find one
imma be taking it on a plane would the flight be ok on a flight or do I have to worry about the wood
Yep, it travels great. It will be fine on a flight. 😊
@@girlmeetsuke2980 thanks for letting me know the flight will be fine on a flight
Flea sounds best but is it just the increased volume? Flea > Flight > Outdoor >>> Waterman Edit: After seeing the prices, makes sense that Flea sounded so good ;D and Flight apparently has a wooden top so that too explains things
Thanks for the comparison. After listening to these I probably wouldn't buy one. I would rather have an inexpensive laminate for taking with me on outings.
😍😍
Hi
Unfortunately the Flea sounds great picking, strumming I swear I hearing banjo music, it has that ring to it. But that price, traveling, no.
Why would you name an instrument FLEA?! Like wtf that’s gross?!
It is a logical name for a ukulele. The Hawaiian word 'ukulele, literally means "leaping flea," from 'uku "louse, flea" + lele "to fly, jump, leap." Noted earlier in English as the Hawaiian word for "flea." The instrument so called from the rapid motion of the fingers in playing it. It developed from a Portuguese instrument introduced to the islands c. 1879
Lol