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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| The Fluke | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2006 03:37 am |
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1st Post |
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PJ Approved
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I'm very pleased with my Fluke ukulele from Flea Market Music. I have a lot of ukuleles that are more expensive than the Fluke. They are well protected resting in their plush lined cases. Not the Fluke. It stands up on it's end near my kitchen table waiting for me each morning. In the evening, it stands alertly next to me while I type at the computer. I pick it up often because it's so handy. If the dog knocks it over; well, it's just a Fluke - they're not easily hurt, and they're easy to replace if they are broken. Mine is almost always in tune - even after sitting out over-night. The tuners are easy to use when I do need to adjust the tuning. I have ukes with a better tone than my Fluke, but they cost much, much more money. In fact, I've never heard as nice a tone on any wooden ukulele that was in the price range of the Fluke which has a laminated Spruce top and a durable plastic back. Another plus for the Fluke is it's wonderful outdoors, especially in my rainy climate. Whether I'm at a picnic, a festival, or a parade, I never worry about rain. I know my Fluke could carry water if I needed it to. The only problem I've had with my Fluke is holding it. It needs a strap unless you can pin it inside your right elbow and play it high on your chest. I finally got a 'Flea collar' from Flea Market Music and it works well for me. It's a low-profile hook that fits into the sound hole without crimping my strumming or picking. A piece of velcro keeps it centered. I highly recommend this uke for a first instrument. Or for a twentieth instrument. It's got great tone, it stays in tune, it's not expensive, it's rugged in outdoor weather, and it's easy on the fingers. The only problem I experienced was that it is difficult to hold, but that can be corrected with a 'Flea collar.' One more thing, if you like to use wound strings, you need to purchase the Fluke with a wood fret board. Most of them, like mine, have a plastic one. And there is now a Fluke with a koa top, but the price is steep. The low price is one of the big appeals of this instrument, so I don't feel tempted by the koa top. Hope this has been helpful. PJ
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| Posted: Sat Feb 11th, 2006 03:29 pm |
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2nd Post |
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mwalimu Approved 
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I also love my Fluke. Initially, I was a little disappointed, but I changed the strings (I got one with a rosewood fret board) and now I love it. Holding it IS a problem, I went with the strap solution. I also have a Kala 6 string. When I want to strum I use that one. When I want to pick, it's the Fluke.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16th, 2006 12:21 am |
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3rd Post |
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beeconk Approved
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mwalimu wrote: I also love my Fluke. Initially, I was a little disappointed, but I changed the strings (I got one with a rosewood fret board) and now I love it. Holding it IS a problem, I went with the strap solution. you touch on two questions I have about ukes: one - do the 6 and 8 string ukes not lend themselves well to fingerpicking? and two: what is it about the Fluke that does lend itself to fingerpicking? The width of the fretboard?
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16th, 2006 02:50 am |
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4th Post |
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mwalimu Approved
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To answer your question: I can pick the 6 string, but I can't do some of the more fun things that you can do when you finger pick, like pull offs and hammer ons. They don't sound a clear on the doubled strings to me. Also, the direction you pick the string affects the sound. When I pick upwards I get more of the low A, when I pick downwards I get more of the high A. This isn't necessarilly a bad thing, but it's different and a little more complicated (IMHO). Now the Fluke is simpler. Only four strings. Thumb alternates C and G, index on E and middle on A, sometimes I only use my index and thumb and "travis pick". Since there are no extra strings there is a little more space to move around and everything sounds cleaner to my ear. I just got the "Play Loud Ukulele" DVD and I've been playing around with the hammer on and pull off techniques on it. Although I can do them on the 6 string, they sound much better on the Fluke. Last edited on Thu Feb 16th, 2006 02:56 am by mwalimu |
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 12:08 pm |
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5th Post |
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ichadwick Approved 
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Having one uke leads to having a litter of them, it seems. I started with a Kala tenor spruce top, added a Bugsgear electric shortly after, and then decided I needed a third to keep them company. Or maybe one to keep in my store in case I get the urge to play at work... Well, I read and re-read all the glowing comments about the Flea and Fluke ukes on this board. They seemed like a fun instrument. I decided, "Hey, I gotta get me one of those." And so I haggled with an online seller a bit and ordered a Fluke last week. I expect to receive it next week sometime, mid-month-ish. I wil post my comments after I've had a chance to play it. What worries me is that it might lead to more. Okay, it WILL lead to more. After all, no one on this board seems content to own a single uke ( should that be written 'ook'?).
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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| Posted: Wed May 28th, 2008 11:27 pm |
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6th Post |
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ichadwick Approved
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Here a Fluke, there a Fluke, everywhere a Fluke, Fluke... I knew it would lead me to ruin. I traded my Ohana long-necked soprano to a another addicted soul for a tenor Fluke, one I want to string in low-G and apply custom paint to... I'm soon going to have to decide which other isntruments to sell to make room...
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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| Posted: Wed Jun 4th, 2008 06:48 pm |
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7th Post |
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ichadwick Approved
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A postscript to my last comment. I got the tenor Fluke and am really enjoying it. I'm not sure it can be switched to low-G because I need a plain (unwound) low G string. Are there any available? I am unsure... But I like the tenor more than the concert. They have different strings, so they sound different (bodies are the same size though), but the tenor seems easier to play and has a slightly different tone. So now I need ANOTHER damn uke to string as low-G. Will this madness ever end? I have my eyes on - well, a whole lot of them, including a cedar-top Pono.
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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| Posted: Fri Apr 10th, 2009 01:17 pm |
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8th Post |
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ichadwick Approved
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An update. I sold the concert Fluke and kept the tenor and it's still one of my most-played ukuleles, in great part because it sits easily on a living room hutch where I can pick it up easily any time I wander by. I would prefer a rosewood fretboard, instead of the plastic one. I use a silver Sharpie to add position dots to the side of the fretboard, but they rub off in a few weeks with play. I added some water-slide decals to the front to customize my Fluke with an agave motif. Pictures on my uke page, linked below.
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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| Posted: Fri Apr 10th, 2009 02:53 pm |
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9th Post |
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UkeForever Approved 
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You've been Flukified: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/3/?song=2175
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| Posted: Sat Dec 19th, 2009 07:01 pm |
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10th Post |
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CountryMouse Approved 
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mwalimu wrote: I also love my Fluke. Initially, I was a little disappointed, but I changed the strings (I got one with a rosewood fret board) and now I love it. Holding it IS a problem, I went with the strap solution. What kind of strap do you use? How is it attached? I am thinking of getting a Fluke, but I can't play an ukulele without a strap. I don't see how a strap button could be installed in a Fluke or Flea, with no block inside. Help? Thanks! CountryMouse
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