I love those sound holes! It gives the uke such a cool aesthetic when it doesn't have a hole right in the middle. Vangoa seems to make some nice instruments for the money.
Good looking Uke. It does have nice grain and I like the sound holes. The sound hole on the side is unusual. I've made a couple instruments where I didn't want to put a sound on the top and put them on the side instead. But that is the first professional made instrument I've seen like that. Very cool 👍
I ordered the soprano version, expect arrival on Friday. I am very new to the instrument and have already collected several that have good reviews from experienced players. Thank you for your detailed reviews! Recent new subscriber. 🙂
Side sound ports have been a custom item for years now. It's fascinating how makers of cheap instruments eventually pick up on these features to shrink the difference between higher end and low end.
I like the placement of the Vangoa box in the background of the sound sample! I have an Irin version of this...not finished as nicely as the Vangoa. I'd send people interested in this model to the Vangoa rather than the Irin!
I should be receiving the identical model ukulele this evening. I'm keeping my fingers, eyes and knees crossed that the action isn't too low on my uke. Thanks for the info, Steve!
I received the Vangoa Ukulele, tonight. Here's my initial take: 1. The strings are not full in tone quality- weak low tones. 2. The volume isn't as loud as my other concert ukuleles (Aklot, Mitchell and Cordoba). 3. The first string C fretting buzzes on full strum or pluck. I must use a controlled (gentle) strumming technique in order to avoid that string from buzzing- forget fortissimo playing. 4. The strings are taking a long time to settle-in and stay in tune. I think changing to Aquila strings will prove more reliable and stable. Basically, what I think is hurting this Vangoa Concert Ukulele is the string quality. If I change to a better quality string set, I hope things will improve significantly. Perhaps then, the quality of sound will be evident from the walnut material the ukulele is made of.
Okay... 1. The strings are still stretching, so I'm constantly tuning. 2. I found an old (plastic) gift card and cut a strip from it that fits perfectly on the saddle groove. I then put the bridge back inside of it to raise the action that much. I can strum the ukulele with a little more authority; the buzzing has gone away. The tone seemed to improve- a slightly more volume and clearer tone (unless I'm hallucinating). 3. I still believe a better set of strings will improve things. 4. My students like this style of ukulele because of the wood selection.
Hi Christy. No, I have not reviewed that instrument. I did review their 6-string version. I can report it was well built. I have reviewed a couple of other branded banjo ukuleles if you would like to check those out. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Oh no! It's a shame there's fret buzzing. Unfortunately, any kind of shim beneath the saddle will have a substantially negative impact in the transference of vibration from the strings. You'll end up losing vibrations to anything beneath the saddle, so the ideal solution would be to start with a new blank saddle and shape it to fit. Luckily, those are not expensive (10$ or so?) and they are quite easy to shape, so the fret buzzing isn't really a major issue.
I agree, a new bone saddle is the best option. Still, a maple shim saturated in CA glue (Super glue) is also pretty dense, works pretty well, and is less work for the untrained player than shaping a new saddle from scratch. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@stevesstrings5243 That sounds like a good solution too. I've just heard people say "oh yeah I put a shim in there" and found toothpicks and folded bits of paper underneath the saddle. Oh dear!
Are we really talking about a shim under the saddle or just under the bridge? I think I'd buy a new bridge and use the old one as a template. I'd quite like a Concert uke to tune CGDA. Having one viola-shaped would be great.
I love those sound holes! It gives the uke such a cool aesthetic when it doesn't have a hole right in the middle. Vangoa seems to make some nice instruments for the money.
Totally agree!
Good looking Uke. It does have nice grain and I like the sound holes. The sound hole on the side is unusual. I've made a couple instruments where I didn't want to put a sound on the top and put them on the side instead. But that is the first professional made instrument I've seen like that. Very cool 👍
The side sound hole is definitely not typical. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I ordered the soprano version, expect arrival on Friday. I am very new to the instrument and have already collected several that have good reviews from experienced players. Thank you for your detailed reviews! Recent new subscriber. 🙂
I’m glad you found the review helpful! Check out my other reviews as well! Thanks for watching, commenting, and subscribing!
Side sound ports have been a custom item for years now. It's fascinating how makers of cheap instruments eventually pick up on these features to shrink the difference between higher end and low end.
I agree, the competitive market for affordable instruments is pressing the manufacturers to really up their game!
I like the placement of the Vangoa box in the background of the sound sample! I have an Irin version of this...not finished as nicely as the Vangoa. I'd send people interested in this model to the Vangoa rather than the Irin!
I've not seen the Irin up close but the finish on the Vangoa is good!
Thanks for the confirmation. I was thinking this looks like the Irin but with better quality control :-).
I really like how unique it looks. 😊
I think so too! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I should be receiving the identical model ukulele this evening. I'm keeping my fingers, eyes and knees crossed that the action isn't too low on my uke.
Thanks for the info, Steve!
I received the Vangoa Ukulele, tonight. Here's my initial take:
1. The strings are not full in tone quality- weak low tones.
2. The volume isn't as loud as my other concert ukuleles (Aklot, Mitchell and Cordoba).
3. The first string C fretting buzzes on full strum or pluck. I must use a controlled (gentle) strumming technique in order to avoid that string from buzzing- forget fortissimo playing.
4. The strings are taking a long time to settle-in and stay in tune. I think changing to Aquila strings will prove more reliable and stable.
Basically, what I think is hurting this Vangoa Concert Ukulele is the string quality. If I change to a better quality string set, I hope things will improve significantly. Perhaps then, the quality of sound will be evident from the walnut material the ukulele is made of.
@@rodrodriguez460 Thanks for letting us know your first impressions!
Okay...
1. The strings are still stretching, so I'm constantly tuning.
2. I found an old (plastic) gift card and cut a strip from it that fits perfectly on the saddle groove. I then put the bridge back inside of it to raise the action that much. I can strum the ukulele with a little more authority; the buzzing has gone away. The tone seemed to improve- a slightly more volume and clearer tone (unless I'm hallucinating).
3. I still believe a better set of strings will improve things.
4. My students like this style of ukulele because of the wood selection.
@@rodrodriguez460 If the shim works well, you can improve the transmission of energy by supergluing the shim to the bottom of the saddle.
A good review. It looks the same as the Irin walnut ukuleles sold on ebay that were popular about a year ago.
You make a great point! I hadn't looked at an Irin closely before. They are very similar!
Hi Steve, Have you ever done a review for Vangoa's Concert Size Banjolele?
Hi Christy. No, I have not reviewed that instrument. I did review their 6-string version. I can report it was well built. I have reviewed a couple of other branded banjo ukuleles if you would like to check those out. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Looks like they get their gig bags at the same place Donner does. Good bags, with the zipper went farther around.
I think you are right! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Oh no! It's a shame there's fret buzzing. Unfortunately, any kind of shim beneath the saddle will have a substantially negative impact in the transference of vibration from the strings. You'll end up losing vibrations to anything beneath the saddle, so the ideal solution would be to start with a new blank saddle and shape it to fit. Luckily, those are not expensive (10$ or so?) and they are quite easy to shape, so the fret buzzing isn't really a major issue.
I agree, a new bone saddle is the best option. Still, a maple shim saturated in CA glue (Super glue) is also pretty dense, works pretty well, and is less work for the untrained player than shaping a new saddle from scratch. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@stevesstrings5243 That sounds like a good solution too. I've just heard people say "oh yeah I put a shim in there" and found toothpicks and folded bits of paper underneath the saddle. Oh dear!
Are we really talking about a shim under the saddle or just under the bridge? I think I'd buy a new bridge and use the old one as a template.
I'd quite like a Concert uke to tune CGDA. Having one viola-shaped would be great.