I've had my eye on this one for a wee bit now. I have gotten to play it and it is marvelous just as you have said. Best thing is they are made about a half an hour from me so I may take the drive any day now.
Magic Fluke also makes a travel size 5 string banjo, tuned to standard G, that I bought for my wife this past Christmas. She has some REALLY nice, REALLY expensive banjos, but the Magic Fluke has become her favorite, go to banjo. Great company, great sound for a reasonable price!
Hey Baz. I've been lurking on your channel for years. Never commented until now. Great review as always. Keep it up. I had a John Daniel pixie made off of the back of your review. Mine is No. 137. I love it. Anyway, I hope you stick with the channel for many years to come. By far the best and most comprehensive ukulele review channel on here. All the best from Yorkshire. Rob.
just watched your review of the Deering good times version and I must say while both look nice and both sound good, I think the deering has a brighter clearer sound.
I have been hounding ebay looking for a vintage USA made banjolele and now that I have seen this video, I think I may just need to pony up and go new. Seems like a good company to support.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since spotting it as pending on the reviews page. It's a shame that Magic Fluke don't switch to better tuners as standard, but then it's not so much that they're bad as simply underwhelming compared to every other part of their ukuleles. This tenor looks as though it directly addresses most of the grumbles I've heard about the Firefly.
I've given up on my concert Firefly. the tuners are so poor that I can't keep it in tune through a song though I've made the adjustments the company owner suggested. Waste of money because of the tuners. I own a Duke Uke 10 which is great for claw hammer and blue grass. It is the banjo uke I found to sound most like a banjo.
@@carolbeswick9552 the reason for using those tuners is to make the instrument more affordable for those who don't want to spend the extra money on a peg head upgrade. It is unfair to give up on your firefly when you're just blaming the tuners. Also, those tuners are not even bad, you just have to play your firefly more to break it in so it will stay in tune for a longer period of time.
Thanks for the demo. Just received my Firefly Concert Banjo Ukulele today. Very disappointed, because I can not manage to tune it. The bridge is in the correct place, lined up with the pencil marks. Has D'Addario strings. I used my electronic tuner set on chromatic, and just Horrible trying to tune it. Are there some tricks you can tell me about how to tune with Grover 2B tuners, cos so far I hate them. Thanks.
I'd ignore the pencil marks - simply set the bridge such that the crown of the 12th fret sits exactly at the halfway point of the string. As for the tuners - just a knack to it - tiny movements
Hi Baz, I love your reviews and look forward to them every week. Quick question - do you think that tuning this to standard tenor banjo tun ing CGDA would sound ok?
I think you’d need to be careful to use the right string gauges, but I think some people have done this. Standard strings would be too tight at cgda above this pitch and likely too floppy at cgda below
It's a very nice uke. But those 1 to 1 tuners are a deal killer for me. I suppose one might replace them but they should've had them in the first place. Plus not all tuners are going to work for it, you might have to drill too. But I really like the design. It reminds me of what they call a mountain banjo. Which is like a home made deal but now banjo players are liking that there's something a bit different to play. I could imagine if one were to close the back by nailing a circle of wood to the back, then you drilled holes in the wood on the face side of it, it would act as a sort of resonator. I wonder how that would sound. Just a thought. I like making and modifying things. Lol.
@@GotAUkulele Aren't peghead tuners the same thing? Like a 1 to 1 ratio? Like violin tuners? Aren't they kind of a pain? Wouldn't you rather have machine head tuners? Don't they keep better tuning and aren't they easier to tune with?
@@PaulTheSkeptic No - Peghed's have small gears in side. No, I hate machine heads on ukulele - too heavy and ugly to look at - it's a myth they keep tuning better and I don't find friction pegs difficult. Never have.
Hi Barry, started learning the ukulele around 3 months a go and have been hooked on your videos since. My first ukulele is a Fender Hau'Oli, what is your opinion on this uke and do you plan on reviewing any fenders on the future as I haven't seen any on your channel. Keep up the good work pal from Dean in Manchester.
Hmmmm. This one just doesn't do it for me. Duke 10 is leading for me. Second is the good time. Duke 10 is cheaper and includes gig bag. This banjo sounds way too bright and almost on the sharp side. In a somewhat annoying way.
I asked Dale and he said that the drum parts they source are only available in the blonder color. I had the Soprano version in the darker Walnut and liked that look better. Also, I will say that Dale/Patti at the Magic Fluke are super-responsive, friendly, and willing to think through creative ideas that you as the customer might have. They're amazing.
The soprano wasn’t built the same way though. The drum ring was made from a composite - kind of a cardboard tube type material that was naturally darker. Yes, Fluke are a highly helpful company all round.
I think it depends on the style you play. For bluegrass, for sure I would agree with you. But for the Formby style trad and tin pan alley stuff, a lot of that was about strumming and fan strokes.
I've had my eye on this one for a wee bit now. I have gotten to play it and it is marvelous just as you have said.
Best thing is they are made about a half an hour from me so I may take the drive any day now.
Magic Fluke also makes a travel size 5 string banjo, tuned to standard G, that I bought for my wife this past Christmas. She has some REALLY nice, REALLY expensive banjos, but the Magic Fluke has become her favorite, go to banjo. Great company, great sound for a reasonable price!
Sounds great!
I have never heard a banjolele before! I am IN LOVE with that sound!
Hey Baz. I've been lurking on your channel for years. Never commented until now. Great review as always. Keep it up. I had a John Daniel pixie made off of the back of your review. Mine is No. 137. I love it. Anyway, I hope you stick with the channel for many years to come. By far the best and most comprehensive ukulele review channel on here. All the best from Yorkshire. Rob.
Thanks very much Rob!
hear hear....
As always a well balanced and useful review. Many thanks.
Thank you!
just watched your review of the Deering good times version and I must say while both look nice and both sound good, I think the deering has a brighter clearer sound.
Yes, I think so too. But then the Deering is massively heavier
Nice
Never pictured myself with a banjo
But that’s nice
Great review
As always
I have been hounding ebay looking for a vintage USA made banjolele and now that I have seen this video, I think I may just need to pony up and go new. Seems like a good company to support.
Yeah - a very good company
If you're still looking, there's a Gibson 40's Banjolele up now
I've been eagerly awaiting this since spotting it as pending on the reviews page. It's a shame that Magic Fluke don't switch to better tuners as standard, but then it's not so much that they're bad as simply underwhelming compared to every other part of their ukuleles. This tenor looks as though it directly addresses most of the grumbles I've heard about the Firefly.
I agree - wouldn't be a huge leap to stick Grover 6's on there and would be night and day in quality. But yes - I really fell for this one
I've given up on my concert Firefly. the tuners are so poor that I can't keep it in tune through a song though I've made the adjustments the company owner suggested. Waste of money because of the tuners. I own a Duke Uke 10 which is great for claw hammer and blue grass. It is the banjo uke I found to sound most like a banjo.
@@carolbeswick9552 the reason for using those tuners is to make the instrument more affordable for those who don't want to spend the extra money on a peg head upgrade. It is unfair to give up on your firefly when you're just blaming the tuners. Also, those tuners are not even bad, you just have to play your firefly more to break it in so it will stay in tune for a longer period of time.
Thanks for the demo. Just received my Firefly Concert Banjo Ukulele today. Very disappointed, because I can not manage to tune it. The bridge is in the correct place, lined up with the pencil marks. Has D'Addario strings. I used my electronic tuner set on chromatic, and just Horrible trying to tune it. Are there some tricks you can tell me about how to tune with Grover 2B tuners, cos so far I hate them. Thanks.
I'd ignore the pencil marks - simply set the bridge such that the crown of the 12th fret sits exactly at the halfway point of the string.
As for the tuners - just a knack to it - tiny movements
Hi Baz, I love your reviews and look forward to them every week. Quick question - do you think that tuning this to standard tenor banjo tun ing CGDA would sound ok?
I think you’d need to be careful to use the right string gauges, but I think some people have done this. Standard strings would be too tight at cgda above this pitch and likely too floppy at cgda below
Nice little instrument. It would really add to it if they had a more traditional minstrel banjo headstock.
They are great!
It's a very nice uke. But those 1 to 1 tuners are a deal killer for me. I suppose one might replace them but they should've had them in the first place. Plus not all tuners are going to work for it, you might have to drill too. But I really like the design. It reminds me of what they call a mountain banjo. Which is like a home made deal but now banjo players are liking that there's something a bit different to play. I could imagine if one were to close the back by nailing a circle of wood to the back, then you drilled holes in the wood on the face side of it, it would act as a sort of resonator. I wonder how that would sound. Just a thought. I like making and modifying things. Lol.
Peghed tuners will fit (and I think MF offer them as an option) - personally though, these are my favourite style of tuner
@@GotAUkulele Aren't peghead tuners the same thing? Like a 1 to 1 ratio? Like violin tuners? Aren't they kind of a pain? Wouldn't you rather have machine head tuners? Don't they keep better tuning and aren't they easier to tune with?
@@PaulTheSkeptic No - Peghed's have small gears in side. No, I hate machine heads on ukulele - too heavy and ugly to look at - it's a myth they keep tuning better and I don't find friction pegs difficult. Never have.
@@GotAUkulele If you say so.
I am not telling you that your personal subjective opinion is wrong, but you are questioning mine? I mainly use friction pegs. Always have.
I know I’m 3 years too late, but is there any way you know the name of the song you started to play at 6:00? Thank you so much
Link in the video description!
Could you do a tutorial for that fun little tune you play?
ua-cam.com/video/rkk9CXQ1AZU/v-deo.html
A low bridge takes the overtones out for the most part.
Where can I get one in the UK?
You'd need to speak to a dealer of Magic Fluke instruments - Southern Ukulele Store, World of Ukes or The Uke Room
Hi Barry, started learning the ukulele around 3 months a go and have been hooked on your videos since. My first ukulele is a Fender Hau'Oli, what is your opinion on this uke and do you plan on reviewing any fenders on the future as I haven't seen any on your channel. Keep up the good work pal from Dean in Manchester.
I have a Fender tenor review coming in the next couple of weeks - watch this space!
I want to buy a banjo but the price here is sky high
Hmmmm. This one just doesn't do it for me. Duke 10 is leading for me. Second is the good time. Duke 10 is cheaper and includes gig bag. This banjo sounds way too bright and almost on the sharp side. In a somewhat annoying way.
Interesting - I my ears actually found this one far more rounded and mellow than the Duke
Wish this came in a darker wood though
Very common in uke banjos though - the Duke and the Deering are this colour too - suppose they were going for that
I asked Dale and he said that the drum parts they source are only available in the blonder color. I had the Soprano version in the darker Walnut and liked that look better. Also, I will say that Dale/Patti at the Magic Fluke are super-responsive, friendly, and willing to think through creative ideas that you as the customer might have. They're amazing.
The soprano wasn’t built the same way though. The drum ring was made from a composite - kind of a cardboard tube type material that was naturally darker. Yes, Fluke are a highly helpful company all round.
I just got a concert firefly banjo ukulele. It has darker wood, walnut.
The real banjolele sound comes with fingerpicking.
I think it depends on the style you play. For bluegrass, for sure I would agree with you. But for the Formby style trad and tin pan alley stuff, a lot of that was about strumming and fan strokes.
I liked the Duke better.
opposite for me.
I don't like the looks of that one my banjo uke is a lot more solid
This feels extremely solid despite the looks. And less cumbersome than many banjos. Really comfortable