Meet our Manufacturing Partner Magic Fluke
Click to be directed to www.magicfluke.com
Magic Fluke was founded in 1999 by Dale and Phyllis Webb, starting in the basement of their home in New Hartford, Connecticut. Dale, a mechanical engineer, was encouraged by Phyllis’s brother Jim Beloff— a musician and publisher who saw a growing demand for affordable, quality ukuleles.
Their first model, the “Fluke,” was built using thermoformed parts made in a kitchen oven, and shipped with three color options beginning in June of 1999. As demand grew, Magic Fluke expanded their product line to include multiple types of ukuleles (soprano, concert, tenor, baritone), banjo-ukuleles, mandolins, violins, and solid-body electric ukuleles.
In 2011, to accommodate growth, they moved to a larger, solar-powered workshop in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Despite the competitive pressure from imported instruments, Magic Fluke remains committed to USA-made, affordable, durable instruments. Many components—wood, hardware, finishes—are sourced locally in New England when possible, and in some cases materials come from the Webbs’ own trees.
Today, they produce roughly 4,000 instruments per year, with more than 55,000 units built since the company’s inception. The company is still family-run: Dale and Phyllis lead, with help from their sons.
Beyond The Ukulele
Magic Fluke's journey began with the creation of the Fluke ukulele, an instrument that broke the mold with its distinctive triangular shape and composite back. This initial success paved the way for a series of innovative products, including the Firefly banjo ukulele, the Flea Mandolin, the Firefly Banjo, the Cricket Violin, the Flea Ukulele, and the Fluke SB, and more. Each of these instruments combines traditional craftsmanship with modern materials, resulting in a perfect blend of sound quality, and playability.
A Perfect Partnership
At Friendly Banjos, we are grateful to partner with Magic Fluke. Their expertise and passion for creating accessible, US-made instruments perfectly align with our mission: to make the best beginner string instrument on the market.
We believe a child’s first instrument should be a joy to play, not a struggle. That's why there could be no better partner. With the help of Magic Fluke's unmatched manufacturing and their commitment to excellence, we are able to craft an instrument of uncompromising quality, made right here in America. These are not clicky-clacky little toy banjos; they are precision-built instruments that not only look and feel amazing, but sound beautiful too.
Album: Ben Webb from Magic Fluke making a Friendly Banjo
