The Flight Pioneer Electric Ukulele - more than a gimmick

Музыка

The Flight Rock series Pioneer is one of 4 Electric solid body Ukuleles that have taken the Ukulele world by storm. By no means a new invention but the first to bring a quality, useable instrument to the masses; check out my indept review of the Flight Pioneer and the merits of the series on the whole.
This review is unpaid and not done in my capacity as manager of the Southern Ukulele Store... I record these videos in my own time in an effort to contribute to the uke world in my own way. Therefore, I would be so grateful if you checked out one or all of the links below... your support and interest in my content means the world to me.
Intro 0:00
'Gravity' Sound sample 0:34
Review and Rundown of the Pioneer 1:31
Which Amplifier to buy 9:30
The Controls 11:04
Review 12:04
'My Girl' Sound Sample 13:03
'Lean on me' Sound Sample 13:28
'Bring it on home to me' Sound Sample 14:30
'Plug in baby' Sound Sample 15:10
Outro 15:31
Paypal Tip Jar - www.paypal.com/paypalme/ukesw...
Special thanks to my Patreon supporters who effectively paid for this instrument.
IMPORTANT LINKS
Email - ukeswithalex@gmail.com
Ukes Website - ukeswith.com
Music Website - alexbeds.co.uk
Merch Store - ukeswith.bigcartel.com
Patreon - / ukeswithalex
Paypal Tip Jar - www.paypal.com/paypalme/ukesw...
KZread Channel - / ukeswithalex

Пікірлер: 72

  • @jeffberry1567
    @jeffberry1567Ай бұрын

    Love mine. Had a loose wire when I got it, but it was only $10 to get it fixed, and customer service was great. Now I'm using it with a belt mounted amp while walking around. 😊

  • @SlaughteredDecay
    @SlaughteredDecay2 жыл бұрын

    This is in my opinion the nicest looking Flight electric ukulele i have seen, the proportions just work better than with Centurion for example.

  • @iHeartUkes
    @iHeartUkes2 жыл бұрын

    I got the Pioneer last week. We cannot wait to unbox it tomorrow!! Your review and demo is awesome and I am so glad you gave the Pioneer special attention.

  • @marimaeabreu
    @marimaeabreu2 жыл бұрын

    I have seen and heard alot of talk about electric ukuleles lately and I can see the appeal and why many adore them. They sound great, thanks for sharing Alex. 👍

  • @UkuleleSolos
    @UkuleleSolos2 жыл бұрын

    Really great, thorough video and excellent sound demos! I've been considering an electric uke for a while. Although the least popular model I think the Pioneer would actually be my first choice. I used to play an Epiphone SG back in my guitar days. Love the idea of bringing that history into my ukulele playing.

  • @CornishCockney
    @CornishCockney2 жыл бұрын

    Nice one Alex. You've sold me. Thanks for all the trouble you go to to share your knowledge and experience.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    Actually you are the one that nudged me to do the conversion... it works great.

  • @seldakleijn9915
    @seldakleijn99152 жыл бұрын

    So helpful! Thank you!!

  • @andydunn5673
    @andydunn5673 Жыл бұрын

    Great little demonstration Thanks for bringing it together for us For my 1st electric uke This or the Risa alp at double the price

  • @markattardo
    @markattardo2 жыл бұрын

    I have a Centurion and enjoy it quite a bit. My advice to anyone considering one of the electric Flight ukes is to purchase from a dealer that checks them over and does a set up. My first Centurion wasn't from a dealer and it had issues.

  • @4stringboy
    @4stringboy2 жыл бұрын

    As usual Alex you’ve put your love into this video and now (along with the previous SUS video) the Pioneer would be my electric uke of choice - who doesn’t want to play John Mayer?

  • @4stringboy

    @4stringboy

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh and 50,000 points for Muse

  • @nankypooh655
    @nankypooh655 Жыл бұрын

    I just got the Harley Benton SG electric uke, and this seems much better. First of all, Flight seems to have put on a much nicer bridge. I also like the fact that Flight saw fit to actually put on two strap pegs on the body, which HB didn't do. (Strike one against HB) also I like the fact that you can actually see the pick ups on the Flight while the pick up is built into the body on the HB version. (I'm assuming they're using either a Piezo or a Fishman pickup) I also like the fact that there is both a bridge and neck pick up, along with individual volume and tone controls for each, and a three way toggle switch. Harley Benton only has one volume and one tone control for their hidden pick up. As far as the sound is concerned, other than the fact that mine came with steel strings, I didn't hear much difference in sound between it, and my Epiphone Les Paul acoustic/electric hybrid uke. (Which, basically, just looks like a traditional uke cut into a Les Paul shape, and has a sunburst finish) I'm not complaining too much about the sound, though, since I like my Epi LP, but here's what was really disappointing about my recent purchase of my Harley Benton counterpart: It arrived out of tune. Now that's not such a big deal, I don't really expect any guitars to be perfectly tuned when shipped through the mail, but the fact of the matter is, after I tuned all the strings, the A string kept slipping out of tune every time I played it, so I kept retuning it until the A string finally SNAPPED! After I removed the string, I noticed that the tuner was rather loose and wobbly. So, not only do I have to take my uke to the local luthier to get a second strap peg affixed, I also have to have them check out my tuning peg, and maybe even replace it. And if all four tuning pegs are equally wonky, I'll have to have all four replaced. I am definitely saving up my money and am going to try out a Flight SG. Luckily there is a ukulele shop where I live that carry them, and I hope they'll let me try one out and inspect it before purchase. They're going for around $425.00 were I live, including the gig bag.

  • @lindyloumonkeypixie1213
    @lindyloumonkeypixie12132 жыл бұрын

    Hi Alex, thanks that video is really helpful, been playing acoustic Uke a couple of years, just got my electric pathfinder a couple of months ago but as I had not ever played guitar was finding some of the jargon confusing.

  • @SlowJuro
    @SlowJuro Жыл бұрын

    This is the exact review I needed/ although they are $500 in the states now. I’m a lefty player and was worried about how it plays flipped.

  • @amberyooper
    @amberyooper8 ай бұрын

    If Flight decides to make a baritone uke with this body style, I'll be all over that!

  • @scottpetrie6179
    @scottpetrie6179 Жыл бұрын

    Another fab video Alex. Could you advise what I should restring my Flight Vanguard (that I bought from Southern Ukulele Store) as I seem to be fretting the existing strings out of tune due to playing acoustic ukulele's for years - I think my Vanguard is currently strung with 10's. Have a great evening and keep the great videos coming.

  • @Sonstwer
    @Sonstwer6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the review and the beautiful playing. Is there any electric ukulele that you would give 10/10 points?

  • @ginodefreitas5292
    @ginodefreitas52926 ай бұрын

    Hi Alex, great review as always! You mentioned that Flight would be releasing a left hand electric uke at the end of 2022. I can't seem to find this or any other good left handed electric options. Do you happen to know of any?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    6 ай бұрын

    They have made two limited batches of left handed pathfinders now and both have sold in just a few days. You probably need to email me at Southern Ukulele Store and I can put you on the waiting list for them next time they make some... Because its such a specialist thing, it doesn't last long at all.

  • @ronalddobson3130
    @ronalddobson31302 жыл бұрын

    Good review, so good I bought one. However I disagree with you about accepting minor defects in an instrument just because it costs £300. At that price I would expect a high quality finish. Kala can do it, so should Flight.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    I will happily agree to disagree. Kala don't make solid body electrics but if they did my professional hypothesis is they would have exactly the same kinds of defects.

  • @suew7299
    @suew72999 ай бұрын

    Need a Guitelele version!

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    9 ай бұрын

    Its going to blow your mind when you discover that there is such a thing as an Electric guitar 😜

  • @lkaufman1062
    @lkaufman10622 жыл бұрын

    I didn’t catch you talk about the frets. I bought a Flight soprano Uke and the frets are horrible! Both the treble and bass sides need a serious filing! Whereas my $75 Kala’s frets are smooth as butter!

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    The frets are excellent on practically all of the flights over £200... they need work out of the box at the lower price point.

  • @Ghost21PG
    @Ghost21PG2 жыл бұрын

    Hey Alex, Great work As a self taught ukulele player, I wanted to upgrade my ukulele from acoustic to solid body electric uke, Don't wanna learn acoustic guitar and then acoustic one, So I was pretty much confused between Flight Pathfinder, Vanguard and now that I've seen this review, Pioneer. Which one should I go for? Considering that I have 0 experience in playing electric uke and have to learn all of it by myself. I want to keep the instrument for a lifetime basically and I don't have the budget to go for Risa so which one should I purchase? Also One question I had in mind, Single coil + Humbucker setup on Flight Pathfinder vs Humbucker + Humbucker setup on Flight Pioneer and Vanguard. Is there much difference between the two?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    I would go with the one that visually excites you the most as the playability between each is practically nothing in my opinion. I don't feel the single coil is a massive plus or minus. If you are a player with a real technical hand and tone then the various subtleties will come through. I doubt many would notice

  • @prettygneissproductions

    @prettygneissproductions

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this comment, I’m in the same boat. That beachy finish on the Pathfinder is what I fell in love with at first, though I prefer the warmer tones of the other models. But being a beginner to electric, it’s probably best to just get the one I’m more likely to see and want to pick up and play.

  • @fzelders
    @fzelders2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this video Alex. You told something about the strings you prefer/recommend (g c e a thicknesses). Can you recap this here? Thank you!

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    I used a set of Daddario EXL115W strings as they have an extra wound string and a good tension.

  • @fzelders

    @fzelders

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex Thank you! Have a nice day Alex! :)

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    You too!

  • @umbumplorry
    @umbumplorry Жыл бұрын

    Hi Alex, quick question, the flight ukulele you are playing appears to have a 'low' G ? Can it be changed for a 'high' G ? Thanks for the video. 👍😊.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes it can.

  • @umbumplorry

    @umbumplorry

    Жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex Thank you.

  • @UkuleleSolos
    @UkuleleSolos2 жыл бұрын

    Seriously considering one of these. It's between this and the Risa TE. Do you know if the Pioneer has individual saddles for setting the intonation of each string?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes it does. I wouldn't have been able to convert it succesfully if it hadn't had decent parameters... I get why someone would pay extra for the Risa but I don't think there is enough of a quality difference to justify the difference in price. The Risa's were about £100 cheaper pre pandemic and that made sense to me in the wider context of value for money against where its made and what goes into production.

  • @UkuleleSolos

    @UkuleleSolos

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex That's great, thanks Alex. Good to hear about the minimal difference in quality for the price too. I think that's made my mind up. I'm not really up to speed on electric guitar strings. Can you recommend a string set for this uke and I'll order these at the same time when I place my order through SUS.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    I use Roto 11's

  • @Dinosaurthingything
    @Dinosaurthingything6 ай бұрын

    How does it do with distortion? I’m assuming decently at least due to the humbuckers, but I’ve never seen any attempt on these. Edit: now that I’ve watched all the way through it does indeed do well with distortion.

  • @stolenwall4555
    @stolenwall4555 Жыл бұрын

    Hello. I would like to ask for advice. In our country, there are not many shops focusing on ukulele. Do you think a guitar shop can set up and tune a Pioneer?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    Why not just buy it from a shop outside your country who will take the time to set it up? A good guitar shop can set up a pioneer but they will probably moan about it 😅

  • @stolenwall4555

    @stolenwall4555

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@UkesWithAlex I bought it from the small shop outside my country (but close) with whom I had a good experience before. I'm always afraid of shipping. I've heard horror stories from friends. Prices can reach up to 100 euros.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    Southern Ukulele Store ship across Europe for £29.50-39.50.

  • @randallmoore4000
    @randallmoore4000Ай бұрын

    Are you still using this 2 years later, and not as an after thought? The SG is my favorite style by the way.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Ай бұрын

    I convinced Flight to do a run of left handed pathfinders. I sold the Pioneer and used the Pathfinder a lot until very recently... I enjoyed the electric because I was in a band, now I'm not doing band stuff on the regular I am not using it nearly as much.

  • @mattgalletly
    @mattgalletly Жыл бұрын

    I'm a baritone ukulele player. What strings would I use to convert this into a baritone uke? And is it even possible?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    I doubt it's possible. Look at a Fanner uke instead maybe

  • @cjpearceyt
    @cjpearceyt2 жыл бұрын

    Excellent demo - sorely tempted - but I really want to keep the look for our band of classic ukes and I almost always play soprano - bought an Anuenue off you and it’s awesome. - is there any way of getting a good electric sound from such a uke (you offered to fit a pickup) or best to go full on solid? Thanks great video :)

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    I think you are fighting a losing battle if you want to get this sound out of a Soprano nylon strung uke. The best option for you would probably be the Risa Soprano LP. Best of luck!

  • @cjpearceyt

    @cjpearceyt

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex thanks - will pop down

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    That isn't something we keep in stock at SUS more than maybe 1 month a year just for your reference

  • @cjpearceyt

    @cjpearceyt

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex ah ok sorry yes saw you have the Vanguards in stock

  • @zaragozaendosruedas6448
    @zaragozaendosruedas6448 Жыл бұрын

    It's only available for left handed players ? Or if I buy it the strings will be for right handed . ?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    They are right handed only.

  • @NicSeraphi
    @NicSeraphi2 жыл бұрын

    Hi there! I purchased one of these recently and had it re-stringed left handed by a "professional" (he also adjusted the nut by cutting into it), but the G string won't tune high enough no matter what I do. I've snapped 2 strings trying already. Would you have any idea as to why this is happening? (sorry if this doesn't make sense)

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    They come low G. Are you saying the Low G won't go upto Low G or are you trying to string a low G string up an octave too far to High G?

  • @NicSeraphi

    @NicSeraphi

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex I wasn't aware it was supposed to be low G... I played around with it before having it re-stringed and I guess I never noticed? I had been trying to tune it higher than middle C , as I have been taught to do with my acoustic ukulele. Thank you for the helpful reply! sorry for my stupidity😅

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@NicSeraphi At least we know what's wrong

  • @pams8259
    @pams8259 Жыл бұрын

    have you done a review on the flight vanguard?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    I've shown it off on the SUS channel yes.

  • @pams8259

    @pams8259

    Жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex what is sus channel? link?

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    search - Southern Ukulele Store and then Vanguard on the channel itself.

  • @pams8259

    @pams8259

    Жыл бұрын

    @@UkesWithAlex thanks

  • @therockinghousewife4241
    @therockinghousewife4241 Жыл бұрын

    What's the tuning

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    Жыл бұрын

    GCEA low G

  • @Lewisjls
    @Lewisjls2 жыл бұрын

    where can i buy one.

  • @UkesWithAlex

    @UkesWithAlex

    2 жыл бұрын

    I've already answered this question on the Southern Ukulele Store video. Its out of stock at SUS but will be back soon. Otherwise just Google it... plenty of dealers have them.

  • @ivanrowe2880
    @ivanrowe2880 Жыл бұрын

    Why buy one if you do not play METAL???? No thunderous riffs,gallops does is sound good strumming?

  • @SGBass
    @SGBass2 жыл бұрын

    I have seen the Centurion, Pathfinder and the Risa models previously, and not been overly impressed for the price. The Pioneer changes that for me. Thanks for making me need another ukulele Alex!

  • @ukeinatoque

    @ukeinatoque

    2 жыл бұрын

    I wasn’t thrilled with my pathfinder until I changed out the strings to a slightly beefier Ernie Ball power slinky. Now it sounds great!

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