Episode 27 Magic Fluke Ukuleles

November 1, 2025

Magic Fluke Ukuleles

A Family-run Business that has been contributing to the current third ukulele revival for the past 25 years

📍 Sheffield, MA

His website: https://magicfluke.com/ 

Thoughts and Reflections

My journey to Magic Fluke and the making of this episode was an interesting one.

It started with first discovering Friendly Banjos, and I bought one for my 3-year old Nephew. That's when Zack (of Friendly Banjos) and I started talking! I found out that he had teamed up Magic Fluke to help him build these banjos. It was by coincidence that in a few months I was going to go through Western Massachusetts (where Magic Fluke and Zack were at).

Especially with Zack's help, he arranged for me to meet with himself and the team at Magic Fluke for a morning visit in August (2025). The filming was structured with the probable intention to do one long combined video, and that's how I initially edited it. Though as the first draft video length was surassing 50 minutes, it became clear to everybody involved that separate videos would be both better for storytelling and viewer engagement. And thus I plan to release Zack's Friendly Banjos episode next (on November 15th).

The whole team at Friendly Banjos was amazing and kind, they have such a firm philosophy that I heavily support. I also love every instrument in their line up and really would like to buy every one of their instruments. It isn't often I can say that!

I regrettably didn't get a chance to chat with Hannah (their only non-family staff member at the moment) as much, who has been working there for a few years, especially because we have a shared and unrelated interest in tech theatre. And didn't get to speak with Josh, one of Ben/Phyliss' other son who is a huge part of the operation at Magic Fluke. 

An interesting anecdote. A few days before releasing this video, I discovered that I have been playing a Fluke ukulele for the past 2 years without realizing it. A very embarrassing discovery...

So I teach at an international school in Japan for the past 2 years as a music teacher. My classroom is filled with loads of different instruments, and I had kept about 3-5 of these Fluke ukuleles in my classroom (with another 15 in the storage room). Myself and the students would sometimes play on these instruments. I found the headstock to be unique and found the sound appropriately loud. Don't get me wrong, the Fluke ukuleles have a very distinct shape and style. However, even then after researching the Magic Fluke company, I somehow didn't make the connection that they were the same instruments. During the video, you hear me get close to realizing it when I ask about the headstocks; I asked "I've seen unique headstocks like these, are you the only ones making these?" 

I was referring to the instruments in my classroom, thinking they were a different brand but with the same headstock style. They replied that they are the only ones making these. And I moved on in thought. 

Even though I continued to be in school for the next few months, I didn't even bother to check the ukuleles. In my mind, it was inconceivable that this school in Japan would randomly buy 20 of these Fluke ukuleles. I thought they were cheaper knockoffs. Anyways, a few days before releasing this video I happened to look inside it and was absolutely shocked and upset at myself for not finding out sooner. I immediately brought it home, fiddling around with it, with the intention of writing/performing some short original tune for the video, which you can see @18:55. 

Anyways, Dale told me that these instruments I had were made around 2008/2009 when they were still making instruments in their Conencticut basement, and sold them at the time when popularity in Japan was exploding.