Risa LP vs Flight Centurion & Pathfinder - Battle of the Electric Ukuleles
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- There are currently two brands vying for attention in the Ukulele world offering up multiple models for those that want to try their hand at a solid body instrument with steel strings strung GCEA. Risa have been doing it a long time and have made such convincing Gibson and Fender copies that it even got them into a bit of legal trouble at one point... Since around 2011 these models have been the market leaders and with good reason.
In November 2020, Flight released both the Pathfinder and Centurion models to much fanfare. They are much cheaper than the Risas but do they really match up? Yes and No, as we try to explain in the video - it's exciting that Flight are bringing an affordable solid body to the masses but it does also open a can of worms as the adjustment from nylon acoustic to steel electric brings its own challenges and necessary changes to how the instrument needs to be used.
The Flights do all the right things in all the right ways but they do need lots of tweaking to get the most out of them. Even so, the Flight Centurion is stunning value for money and hopefully this video will help some of you figure out whether it really is the right instrument for you, whether the refinement of the Risa is a must or perhaps you will hear them and think something different altogehter?
Our old Risa videos can be found here;
Risa TE
• Risa TE style Electric...
Risa ST
• Risa ST style Electric...
The full range of Risa Electrics can be found here (stock may vary);
www.southernuk...
The full range of Flight Electrics can be found here
www.southernuk...
The Risa does definitely sound better on your video.. However, I'm neither rich nor a good player, and so I got the lovely Flight pathfinder. As someone who's never so much as seen an electric ukulele (let's be honest.. who even knew they existed??), I really love it. I think it sounds great, looks and feels really good quality - stunning finish on it, and it's an absolute joy to play. I'm really happy with my choice. Maybe one day I'll upgrade to a Risa, but I am not in any way dissapointed in my choice of the pathfinder and in all honesty I'm not sure what I'd gain from spending the extra money. The pathfinder really is fab and I love it. There is nothing at all about it that I don't love. I have never once looked at it and wished I had anything different. It's just a really lovely little instrument. Thanks for these really informative videos guys from Southern Uke.
The Risa pickups sound Awesome! You can definitely hear the difference in quality.
Coming from an acoustic background I'm thankful you mentioned the need for a lighter touch in order to get the best out of the instrument, I'll keep saving for the Risa after watching this review
Definitely the Risa over the Flight products. Thank you for as always an informative review!
Been waiting to hear how the new flight electric ukes sound, interesting comparison to the risa lp, thanks for doing the video!!!
I got the Flight Centurian. Its awesome.
RISA makes top-notch quality products bar none. Flight makes good value products. Both are good for what they cost
I think I am looking at a completely different instrument, mind blowing :)
Flight has added another competative ukulele to their name. I am not into electrics but I can see the attraction. I think they offer value for money and that for the real electric enthousiast the Risa is a better choice. When I heard the differences when the inner Rob got out the differences were audible.
Bloody hell... I look tired. You can tell this was filmed after a night of no sleep :p
I think you’re adorbs. You guys do great reviews.
it just now took me to realize its a DIFFERENT person playing the ukes and actually giving the info damn am i dumb xD
Really good, though how to get some basic lessons to enable a pathway to transition to electric from acoustic (keeping both of course) ....?
Listened to a few sound comparisons and the Risa is sublime! Nowt wrong with the Flight, sounds ok and would be an asset to any ukist, but the Risa does IMO sound better!
Never knew they made solid body ukuleles, mind blown
Wow! I’ll stick with acoustic but....wow! 🤯
In theory...if you replace the stock strings with something like NYXL1046BT 10-46 by D'Addario or GHS David Gilmour 10'-46 and replace the humbucker pickups to something like Seymour Duncan humbuckers or DiMarzio Pandemonium humbuckers on the Centurion and Pathfinder. And replace the next pickup on the Pathfinder with something like a DiMarzio True Velvet single coil you will get something that is even better. Sounding that sounds awesome. Even on my electric guitar I do not keep the stock strings and pickups. Even something as simple as changing the strings to something else and adjusting / improving your playing technique can do wonders too.
Genuine question - How would you fit any of the pickups you have mentioned into the cavity? Part of the problem with solid body ukuleles is lack of available options to modify them like you can with guitars. Maybe in the future of course but the mandolin pickup on the market are largely hit or miss or discontinued.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore A bit of carpentry. And a extra price if you have a luthier do it and you will have to buy the pickup. The rails style are the best option as a replacement. With my "Centurian" I lucked out in that it did not require too much out of the box for setup other than replacing the strings. I have a cheap Vorson LP-style that I used to experiemt on that I replaced the pickups for. Carpentry on it was made easier because the wood was workable. About 1/2 inch was cut into it on each side to make the rails-style pickups fit. Rails-style work best as it will pick up the sound no matter the strings position. I ended up using the NYXL 10-52 strings. To compensate for the hot pickups i have EQ adjustments options depending upon the situation as i ultimately decided not to play carpenter on my "Centurian" and stick to the stock pickups. With the Vorson the change in pickups and strings made a remarkable improvement to the ukulele's playability. the Vorson was only $119 US or so and i do not mind experimenting with it. My flight is $326 and I am satisfied with it.
The issue with the risa is that the sky is the limit. You should plug it into a big marshal stack but with flight it’s intermediate. It can be used more broadly and not make you feel like you drowned $500
Seems like if you put pots with a bit more resistance in the Flights they might sound closer to the Risa.
I just ordered the centurion!! Im so excited! And: I wish I could play like you. Please could you make a tutorial on how to play what you play there?? Please??
Hi Annie, you asked this literally today in another video and I replied about Phils private lessons. I hope you find my other comment.
Hope you enjoy your centurion when it arrives!
I have wanted a solid body ukulele for some time. Unfortunately the Risa is out of my price range. I’m quite happy with the compromise Flight has made to make a solid body affordable for casual player.
I was looking forward to seeing Alex play those upside down LOL.
Is it possible to add a Piezo pickup so ot can mimic an acoustic sound
No. I reckon you'd butcher it trying as well.
I've had a custom-built solid uke for many years now, i have found by trial and error, string gauge is very important, having played a Flight in my opinion they come with far too light strings from the factory.
The Risa is great you get what you pay for, but the pathfinder has a good sound for a third of the price.
"hmm interesting a underated channel....hmmm and he plays ukulele, he seems cool. SUBBED!"
Solid-body electric uke? I almost had a stroke, Alex. 😱
If you're interested in seeing some more custom or one off (non production) solid body ukes please check out Brian Fanner out of South Africa (Fanner Guitar Works) and Adam M out of Bend Oregon (Joynerinstruments). I own a Brian fanner whisp and LOVE IT so much!!
www.fannerelectricukulele.com/
Went for a Risa ST but I seriously considered the Fanner baritone scale Exosphere. They look and sound awesome. I couldn't wait for the custom order to be built though... maybe next one :)
Can you use a guitar amp for an electric ukulele? I'm already poor so I don't want to get too much new equipment lol
Yes you can
I love pathfinder!
Are they sopranos, tenors or....concertos?
tenor
You mentioned that the weight of the solid bodies are heavier than an acoustic ukulele. What does the Risa weigh?
I'm really struggling... My son is 13. He's heavy handed. Been playing the ukulele for 8months. Which should I get him? The centurion or the pathfinder? Does the pathfinder have a wider neck?
The necks are the same.
Honestly, if he's heavy handed I think you are going to have a hard time with any of them. These electrics require a really light touch.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore thank you for your response! This is him playing, is he heavy handed? I'm only guessing, th-cam.com/video/bHC-4BfbnA8/w-d-xo.html
I think that Flight have gone backwards with this, after all of their great work with the accoustic models. It sounds awful but considering the price that's all that can be expected. I know that they won't blot their copybook, but it just seems cheap and gimmicky. The written description that you gave says it all really. Thanks very much Alex, take care.🎶🎸🌞
I was wondering if you might have some advice for tuning these tenor scale steel string ukuleles to DGBE?
Sadly I don't. I guess the place to start is to buy a set of electric guitar strings and try the 4 lowest strings and tinker from there. 🤷🏻♂️
Only difference exists in people's minds...its more expensive ergo it must sound better lol...when in reality they all have good tone.
Risa LP
hello where can i buy one in mexico i can't find
That's really not something we can help with.
Try uke republic in the USA.
What kind of amp do you use with these? Is it the same as an electric guitar?
An electric guitar amp would yield the best results but a decent Acoustic amp would work too and give off a more jazz like warm sound.
Am I alone in wondering why on earth fender do those silly nylon stringed looky likey tele/strat nonsense instead of going the more serious Risa/flight route of proper steel string/humbucker pick ups as the Lord ( or Jimi?!) intended?
Are they lazy ? mad? afraid?
They are definitely missing a trick...
I wonder how the Risa sounds with overdrive.
Thats why god invented humbuckers :D
Our other videos on the Risa show it off in that regard.