Flight Maia EQ-A Solid Mango Top Steel 8 String Baritone Ukulele w/Gigbag

Back in September 22’ Alex experimented by stringing up a Flight carabao baritone with steel strings. The void of a steel strung baritone ukulele in the Flight roster needed filling however the bracing simply wasn’t up to the tension of the steel and the experiment was ultimately unsuccessful. Almost two years on the Maia baritone appeared in all its mango topped, rosewood back and side steel strung baritone glory.

Admittedly we were a little skeptical about a steel strung acoustic 8-string baritone ahead of their arrival, but they are so perfectly executed that it's arguable these are amongst the best things Flight have contributed to the ukulele world. Officially they are launching early next year, but we have managed to sneak an early release with an initial stock of nine or ten before 2026 even arrives.

This really is something totally unique from Flight. The fullness and brightness of this baritone 8-string stands entirely alone in the ukulele world, think "Wish you were here", "Hotel California", or "Wanted dead or alive" if you're not totally sure what an 8-string baritone is all about. Flight have brought this iconic sound to the market for the very first time, and we are blown away with the execution.

If the already loud nature of the Maia isn’t enough it is also fitted with a double C1U pickup should you need to amplify or record it. Wrapped up in a Flight branded gig-bag this uke is treat, ticking boxes we didn’t even know could be ticked!

Listing shows a typical example

Please note that traditional nylon/nylgut/fluorocarbon strings are not suitable for this instrument, steel strings only!

Specification:
Solid mango top
Laminated rosewood back and sides
Steel strings - dD,gG,bb,ee
38mm nut width
19 fret baritone scale length
Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge
Bone nut and saddle
Scalopped cutaway
Double C1U pickup
Pinwell machine heads
Pearloid rosette
Padded gigbag included