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. 😊
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.
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.
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.
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. 👍
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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!
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 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😅
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?
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.
@@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.
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?
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 😅
@@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.
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 :)
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!
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.
This is in my opinion the nicest looking Flight electric ukulele i have seen, the proportions just work better than with Centurion for example.
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. 😊
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.
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.
Nice one Alex. You've sold me. Thanks for all the trouble you go to to share your knowledge and experience.
Actually you are the one that nudged me to do the conversion... it works great.
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.
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. 👍
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.
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!
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!
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?
Oh and 50,000 points for Muse
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.
Great little demonstration
Thanks for bringing it together for us
For my 1st electric uke
This or the Risa alp at double the price
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.
If Flight decides to make a baritone uke with this body style, I'll be all over that!
So helpful! Thank you!!
Thanks for the review and the beautiful playing. Is there any electric ukulele that you would give 10/10 points?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Are you still using this 2 years later, and not as an after thought? The SG is my favorite style by the way.
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.
Need a Guitelele version!
Its going to blow your mind when you discover that there is such a thing as an Electric guitar 😜
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?
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
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.
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!
The frets are excellent on practically all of the flights over £200... they need work out of the box at the lower price point.
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. 👍😊.
Yes it can.
@@UkesWithAlex Thank you.
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)
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?
@@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😅
@@NicSeraphi At least we know what's wrong
I'm a baritone ukulele player. What strings would I use to convert this into a baritone uke? And is it even possible?
I doubt it's possible. Look at a Fanner uke instead maybe
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?
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.
@@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.
I use Roto 11's
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?
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 😅
@@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.
Southern Ukulele Store ship across Europe for £29.50-39.50.
It's only available for left handed players ? Or if I buy it the strings will be for right handed . ?
They are right handed only.
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!
I used a set of Daddario EXL115W strings as they have an extra wound string and a good tension.
@@UkesWithAlex Thank you! Have a nice day Alex! :)
You too!
have you done a review on the flight vanguard?
I've shown it off on the SUS channel yes.
@@UkesWithAlex what is sus channel? link?
search - Southern Ukulele Store and then Vanguard on the channel itself.
@@UkesWithAlex thanks
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 :)
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!
@@UkesWithAlex thanks - will pop down
That isn't something we keep in stock at SUS more than maybe 1 month a year just for your reference
@@UkesWithAlex ah ok sorry yes saw you have the Vanguards in stock
What's the tuning
GCEA low G
Why buy one if you do not play METAL???? No thunderous riffs,gallops does is sound good strumming?
where can i buy one.
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.