They might as well have covered the whole top with this stuff. I don’t like pickguards either, it’s just transferring the scratches to another surface. Gloss black is for guitars. Gloss anything is for guitars. Not ukuleles. Bleah.
Side dots at 14 with Ortega tenors are a standard, I love my Ortega Prism tenor. Having said that, copycatting is not cool, and I actually I have long been planning to order a Flight baritone, will happen soon.
Baz I may have been the one who referred to you as the ukulele review “pro” on Ukulele Underground Forum. It was meant as a compliment, but you didn’t like it. So, my apologies…..
I had a lovely looking ortega 8 string tenor, even before I got to play it the bridge popped off. The official UK distributer offered me many false promises to sort me a replacement that was never fulfilled so I was forced to obtain a refund, so ortega QC checks are bad and the brand has left a nasty taste in my Mouth 😳
I don’t know if it’s part of the headstock / neck joint, but there is a diagonal line across the headstock that jars for me. I am looking for a Tenor but this one is not for me. As always, thanks for the review.
Ugh. Ortega always pissed me off. Their QC has always been rubbish, their designs uninspired, their specs poor, and their marketing incredibly pushy. They're v popular in my neck of the woods thanks to the aggressive marketing, and often held as the pinnacle by the uke community, which annoys me to no end. Which is one of the reasons I stopped engaging with my local fellow players.
Luna does the same thing here. A junk brand promoted to the hilt, dozens of players bought them. Ugh. It’s so blatantly obvious that I don’t trust anything the sellers say about anything.
@@nickiemcnichols5397a while back, I ordered an all-solid mahogany Luna concert with a nicely inlaid headstock, thinking that maybe it would be the exception to the rule. Nope. Neck was warped and twisted. Back it went.
Got myself an Ortega prism series tenor, very blingy and colourful, big mistake, neck is like a broomhandle, note to self, dont buy a uke you haven't tried, or at least read a review of.
“Is there anything new under the sun in the ukulele world?” is a great way to begin this video. Rarely, if at all. Yet, over the years I have unsubscribed to other ukulele reviewers, and only subscribed to you. You are clear in the way you present, there is a clear outline to your videos, you are sincere, and most important, you are very watchable. I only have two ukuleles, but only use one which I love (the Aklot Aket126). As for the backup, Ive bought and resold them. Not impressed with them or eventually got tired of them. Keep on doing what you do great.
Great review Baz, am not a fan of lazy innovation either. Think the 14th fret is odd as it is in a number of their Ukes, was it the Goucho or something like that, that had the same type of fret markers?. May be the same poor quality control in the factory and the error becomes the norm. Can’t believe they had the Gaul to go with the same pick guard colour as Flight. However, it proves Flight have done something right if it is blatantly copied. Have a great week.
I'd have said it's because Ortega are, at heart, a guitar brand (and i've seen guitar co's dabble with ukes and use a 9th marker).. but... not sure i've seen a 14th on a guitar either! I think what it mainly shows is a disregard to what they are actually making.
It may be even more important to see and hear a ukulele that we don't like than one we think we love. It offers a good baseline for developing our own preferences. This one is not my cup of tea. It almost sounds muted here by the loads of gloss applied. That thing is uglier than John Cleese in drag. Not always a bad thing. I like some ugly ukes. Not this one though. Thanks for another excellent review. Makes my day when a fresh review pops up in my feed.
I was sure this was a Flight when I saw your teaser pictures earlier in the week! Not a fan of companies who copy others so blatantly. Thanks for another great review!
I think a few people did - which is the big issue I have when people say 'they all do it'. It's one thing taking inspiration, but if you make something that makes people believe it's something else entirely, I think that's a red line.
Seems like the model could have been scRUGHy-BKT 😂 I've tried a couple Ortega's locally that caught my eye. None compelled me to bring them home but the Hydra came pretty close. Great review!!
It is strikingly similar - especially with the colour choices and the pick-guard. The position markers scream Flight too (but others have done those too?). However, the other colours are quite different from Flight's - a grey (that hints at the aNueNue) and a rather fetching aqua blue (which I actually like). Like the aNueNue I'd be itching to peel off the pick-guard anyway! Thanks for another interesting review.
If a new model is good from the beginning then there may be numerous copies, such as the Telecaster or Martin examples you gave. Don't understand why this Ortega is a copy of the Flight Iris. Good review though.
“Just like the Flight Iris, the same price, but not as good” isn’t such a selling point is it? Thanks for the review. The one Ortega I’m really curious to see reviewed is the Hydra, but that’s because I’ll be entertained by the review rather than because I’m considering it.
The fret marker at 14 reminds me that my Kanilea has a marker at 9 instead of 10, where all my other ukes are marked at 10, and i have never heard why. Anyway, good review. Wouldnt buy that one for half the price.
Odd isn't it? Sometimes are mistakes, sometimes a result of a guitar co making ukes (which Ortega are really) - but.... 14th - i've never seen on any guitar or uke (the 9 and 10 thing is a guitar uke difference)
Just a personal opinion but I don’t like or see the need for a pick guard on a ukulele. Another excellent review from the master reviewer. 👍
Nor me - though they don’t offend me. Well they do in this colour!!
They might as well have covered the whole top with this stuff. I don’t like pickguards either, it’s just transferring the scratches to another surface. Gloss black is for guitars. Gloss anything is for guitars. Not ukuleles. Bleah.
Side dots at 14 with Ortega tenors are a standard, I love my Ortega Prism tenor. Having said that, copycatting is not cool, and I actually I have long been planning to order a Flight baritone, will happen soon.
Might be standard for Ortega - but literally no other ukulele!
Baz I may have been the one who referred to you as the ukulele review “pro” on Ukulele Underground Forum. It was meant as a compliment, but you didn’t like it.
So, my apologies…..
One thing that would really annoy me is the fact that the scratch plate is not parallel to the curve of the body.
Agreed!
You said "scruffy" more often than usual.
Were you keeping count?🤣🤣
@@GotAUkulele 👍
I had a lovely looking ortega 8 string tenor, even before I got to play it the bridge popped off.
The official UK distributer offered me many false promises to sort me a replacement that was never fulfilled so I was forced to obtain a refund, so ortega QC checks are bad and the brand has left a nasty taste in my Mouth 😳
OUCH!!
Ortega's marketing dept need to have a look at their codenames. Rough Bucket indeed! Our maybe they're being unusually honest. 😂
Ha ha - missed that!!
I don’t know if it’s part of the headstock / neck joint, but there is a diagonal line across the headstock that jars for me. I am looking for a Tenor but this one is not for me. As always, thanks for the review.
Yep - scruffy joint
Ugh. Ortega always pissed me off. Their QC has always been rubbish, their designs uninspired, their specs poor, and their marketing incredibly pushy. They're v popular in my neck of the woods thanks to the aggressive marketing, and often held as the pinnacle by the uke community, which annoys me to no end. Which is one of the reasons I stopped engaging with my local fellow players.
Agree with all of that - well said. Never impressed me.
Luna does the same thing here. A junk brand promoted to the hilt, dozens of players bought them. Ugh. It’s so blatantly obvious that I don’t trust anything the sellers say about anything.
@@nickiemcnichols5397horrible isn’t it. In the UK at least I take comfort in the fact that the decent uke stores don’t stock this brand
@@nickiemcnichols5397a while back, I ordered an all-solid mahogany Luna concert with a nicely inlaid headstock, thinking that maybe it would be the exception to the rule. Nope. Neck was warped and twisted. Back it went.
Are you trying to say chinese makers make copies of better brands !!!! How dare you 😂😂😂
Got myself an Ortega prism series tenor, very blingy and colourful, big mistake, neck is like a broomhandle, note to self, dont buy a uke you haven't tried, or at least read a review of.
Ukes built by a company that don't understand ukes is the conclusion i've come to over the years
“Is there anything new under the sun in the ukulele world?” is a great way to begin this video. Rarely, if at all. Yet, over the years I have unsubscribed to other ukulele reviewers, and only subscribed to you. You are clear in the way you present, there is a clear outline to your videos, you are sincere, and most important, you are very watchable.
I only have two ukuleles, but only use one which I love (the Aklot Aket126).
As for the backup, Ive bought and resold them. Not impressed with them or eventually got tired of them.
Keep on doing what you do great.
Thanks Saul!
Great review Baz, am not a fan of lazy innovation either. Think the 14th fret is odd as it is in a number of their Ukes, was it the Goucho or something like that, that had the same type of fret markers?. May be the same poor quality control in the factory and the error becomes the norm. Can’t believe they had the Gaul to go with the same pick guard colour as Flight. However, it proves Flight have done something right if it is blatantly copied. Have a great week.
I'd have said it's because Ortega are, at heart, a guitar brand (and i've seen guitar co's dabble with ukes and use a 9th marker).. but... not sure i've seen a 14th on a guitar either!
I think what it mainly shows is a disregard to what they are actually making.
I like your shirt more than I like the ukulele, keep the videos coming Barry 👍.
Thanks, will do!
It may be even more important to see and hear a ukulele that we don't like than one we think we love. It offers a good baseline for developing our own preferences. This one is not my cup of tea. It almost sounds muted here by the loads of gloss applied. That thing is uglier than John Cleese in drag. Not always a bad thing. I like some ugly ukes. Not this one though. Thanks for another excellent review. Makes my day when a fresh review pops up in my feed.
Thanks
⚫️🔵🟤 … 😖
Not digging the tone or the blue pickguard and fret markers but that's just my .0002
I was sure this was a Flight when I saw your teaser pictures earlier in the week! Not a fan of companies who copy others so blatantly. Thanks for another great review!
I think a few people did - which is the big issue I have when people say 'they all do it'. It's one thing taking inspiration, but if you make something that makes people believe it's something else entirely, I think that's a red line.
Eh! Meh! I like hearing that the tuners are good though.
Seems like the model could have been scRUGHy-BKT 😂 I've tried a couple Ortega's locally that caught my eye. None compelled me to bring them home but the Hydra came pretty close. Great review!!
Thanks for sharing!
That Ortega logo would look really good on a Snail ukulele 😁
Ha ha - yes!!
I don't mind the looks at all. For the price, I think it is a decent deal! Thank you, Baz!
Though you can get a pretty much identical looking uke that sounds better for the same money!
You and your channel are the best, Baz!✌🏼❤️
Wow, thank you!
It is strikingly similar - especially with the colour choices and the pick-guard. The position markers scream Flight too (but others have done those too?). However, the other colours are quite different from Flight's - a grey (that hints at the aNueNue) and a rather fetching aqua blue (which I actually like). Like the aNueNue I'd be itching to peel off the pick-guard anyway! Thanks for another interesting review.
Staggeringly similar - this is no accident!
Thanks Hazel!
I rather like the long fret markers…..IF they continue to the side.
If a new model is good from the beginning then there may be numerous copies, such as the Telecaster or Martin examples you gave. Don't understand why this Ortega is a copy of the Flight Iris. Good review though.
Yep - good point
Sounds mottled. Thanks Barry 😊
enjoy the rest of the weekend
“Just like the Flight Iris, the same price, but not as good” isn’t such a selling point is it? Thanks for the review.
The one Ortega I’m really curious to see reviewed is the Hydra, but that’s because I’ll be entertained by the review rather than because I’m considering it.
No, not a great selling point!
In a word: scruffy 😂 Totally agree it’s underwhelming and choked-sounding.
Yup
Happy Father's Day! This uke I'd be disappointed in if I bought it without playing
Yep.
Thanks for the review. I like the Iris better. Happy Father’s Day!
Me too!
The fret marker at 14 reminds me that my Kanilea has a marker at 9 instead of 10, where all my other ukes are marked at 10, and i have never heard why. Anyway, good review. Wouldnt buy that one for half the price.
Odd isn't it? Sometimes are mistakes, sometimes a result of a guitar co making ukes (which Ortega are really) - but.... 14th - i've never seen on any guitar or uke (the 9 and 10 thing is a guitar uke difference)
Just looked at a bunch of Kanileas online and it appears they use the 9th fret on baritones but 10 on their other sizes.
I own a couple of Ortega Ukes, just not a fan of the blue pickguard . . .
Reviewed several Ortega's. None have been terrible. But would love one to come along that knocked it out of the park.
@@GotAUkulele Agreed!
In my opinion it is a very beautyful ukulele. Thanks a lot for an excellent review ❤.
Though largely identical to another very beautiful ukulele.....
Which sounds better!