This is how good your reviews are; 1) I have no intention of buying another ukulele for the time being, but I still listen to your reviews. 2) I stopped listening some time ago to other reviewers. 3) I did not listen to you about your negative review about a Fender ukulele. The brand name drew me. Worst ukulele purchase of my life. 4) Your review of my Aklot AKET 26 was spot on. I love it. Please continue to keep up the great work!
If I didn't already have so many instruments already I'd be tempted to get one of those just to tinker with. It really is a beautiful looking instrument...
Thanks for the review. Wouldn't mind getting this to try a comfort-edge ukulele. And who knows, maybe I'd luck out with a decent setup. Looking forward to the unusual instruments you mentioned are coming up.
I tried a Vangoa uke, but intonation was off, so it had to Vangoa back to Amazon. 😂 Thankfully, I was able to reward myself with a couple of Martins and Flea/Flukes. My favorite cheaper ones are Enyas, Flight travel, some Donners, some Aklots, and Cordobas (since they’ve made guitars for eons). Lanikai and Ohana are great mid-range price ukes IMO.
The advantage of cheap instruments is that you can practise your set up skills. I had a lot fun with my Minnie the Minx Beano ukulele. £15 and another 15 for decent strings, replacement nut and bridge. Still not great, but a lot better.
@neiljackson3133 - That's actually a pretty good idea. And this instrument would be a good one for me to practice setup because I'd like to try a comfort edge and I don't mind the looks of this ukulele in spite of it being flamed.
I know that this is not something that you generally do but it would be cool if you did a video with a before and after setup. I think that new strings (perhaps something a shade darker in tone), better tuners, a recut nut and saddle and a little lemon oil on the bridge could let this instrument shine and be well within the abilities of an average player.
Thanks Baz for another fare review. Do like the look, however, this amplifies the reason to buy from a specialist store. Removes the list of headaches. Have a great week.
This was an interesting review. My first ukulele was a vangoa soprano. Actually, I still have it and recently gave it to my granddaughter to learn how to play. I was very surprised that a $45 instrument came with some bells and whistles and I don’t mean straps and pics, but the instrument itself had everything from buttons to looks. It had excellent sound for a cheap ukulele and still does. All I did was change the strings to Martins for my granddaughter because they were a little softer and the instrument even sounds better. I really believe you get a lot with Vangoa for your money….DOC
What a shame! A little bit more attention from Vangoa would go a long way. I am sure those are not Fluorocarbon strings. If they are, they are really cheap .. they come across as poor quality Nylon strings to me. Still don't like the contrast of the binding. However, if Vangoa did a setup on these instruments, I wouldn't mind having one to have in the boot of my car for playing out and about ..at that price! I was thinking £90. Great review Baz and interesting. Thanks again.
These instruments are good to buy when you want to learn how to do setups. I got a similar one several years ago gave it a setup and learned how to add buttons. I eventually gave it away but it was good for learning without breaking the bank. On this one it looks like the saddle is really low. Maybe that's why they didn't lower it.
I think it's a nice little instrument. Don't mind the colour and marquetry. Take your word for the tuners, would prefer they turn slower. It sounds typical of a ukulele. I suppose we're looking for that little extra. For the price I wouldn't expect too much. Like the review.
I read somewhere that if the action is 1mm too high at the 12th you’d have to take 2 mm off of the saddle. According to that theory, If this is 3.75 at the 12th you’d need to take 1.5 mm off at the saddle. Wouldn’t that take the saddle too low ?
Hello. I think this can be a good project for a serious beginner, and learn a lot by setting it by him/her self and have a pretty good looking instrument for not a lot of money. Also it is a shame about really nice details that some Chinese instruments have, like the binding in this one, while other are so neglected. I watch you from Mexico!!
At first look, I thought the edging was snakeskin, but since the uke is cheap, I kinda like it . Replace the flabby strings and lower them, put up with the massive tuners as long as you can... and it's a deal!
Cool binding decor. That's the best bit of it, the looks. Fairly good value for a beginner maybe, but it has the relatively predictable issues for Amazon instrument plus some troubles with intonation make it a no for me.
If just lowing the saddle would bring it in, then not bad, nut work is kind of a next level fix. 34 mill is deal breaker but it would be really good instrument for those wanting to learn how to work on them...do it right, respectable little uke, screw it up and you're not out much. Thumbs up as project uke.
This is how good your reviews are;
1) I have no intention of buying another ukulele for the time being, but I still listen to your reviews.
2) I stopped listening some time ago to other reviewers.
3) I did not listen to you about your negative review about a Fender ukulele. The brand name drew me. Worst ukulele purchase of my life.
4) Your review of my Aklot AKET 26 was spot on. I love it.
Please continue to keep up the great work!
Thank you!
Oh my god, I wish other instruments had real reviewers like Baz.
Kind words Nickie - thanks!
If I didn't already have so many instruments already I'd be tempted to get one of those just to tinker with. It really is a beautiful looking instrument...
Vangoa actually makes a fairly decent acoustic guitar, thanks for the review Barry 👍.
Thanks!
The best one i brought from amazon is the Yamaha Acoustic Guitalele, GL1! So much fun to play! :)
Wow! I have been thinking about buying one. Good to read. Thanks.
Thanks for the review. Wouldn't mind getting this to try a comfort-edge ukulele. And who knows, maybe I'd luck out with a decent setup. Looking forward to the unusual instruments you mentioned are coming up.
Thanks!
Thanks for your video, I want to get into ukulele and your video are very helping. Take care.
My pleasure!
Great review as always. It would be nice if they watch this and use your feedback to improve.
Fingers crossed!
I tried a Vangoa uke, but intonation was off, so it had to Vangoa back to Amazon. 😂 Thankfully, I was able to reward myself with a couple of Martins and Flea/Flukes. My favorite cheaper ones are Enyas, Flight travel, some Donners, some Aklots, and Cordobas (since they’ve made guitars for eons). Lanikai and Ohana are great mid-range price ukes IMO.
Great review Barry many thanks
Thanks Richard!
Pretty! It certainly looks like a more expensive instrument! Thanks for doing these reviews.
It really does, and it's not done badly either!
Good, interesting review 👍
Thanks! 👍
The advantage of cheap instruments is that you can practise your set up skills. I had a lot fun with my Minnie the Minx Beano ukulele. £15 and another 15 for decent strings, replacement nut and bridge. Still not great, but a lot better.
A lot to be said for that.
@neiljackson3133 - That's actually a pretty good idea. And this instrument would be a good one for me to practice setup because I'd like to try a comfort edge and I don't mind the looks of this ukulele in spite of it being flamed.
I know that this is not something that you generally do but it would be cool if you did a video with a before and after setup. I think that new strings (perhaps something a shade darker in tone), better tuners, a recut nut and saddle and a little lemon oil on the bridge could let this instrument shine and be well within the abilities of an average player.
Sometimes i've done that, but massively busy at the moment so not sure I have the time. Sorry!
Please don't be sorry. We appreciate all that you do.
Thanks Baz for another fare review. Do like the look, however, this amplifies the reason to buy from a specialist store. Removes the list of headaches. Have a great week.
Absolutely it does!
This was an interesting review. My first ukulele was a vangoa soprano. Actually, I still have it and recently gave it to my granddaughter to learn how to play. I was very surprised that a $45 instrument came with some bells and whistles and I don’t mean straps and pics, but the instrument itself had everything from buttons to looks. It had excellent sound for a cheap ukulele and still does. All I did was change the strings to Martins for my granddaughter because they were a little softer and the instrument even sounds better. I really believe you get a lot with Vangoa for your money….DOC
Thanks Doc!
What a shame! A little bit more attention from Vangoa would go a long way. I am sure those are not Fluorocarbon strings. If they are, they are really cheap .. they come across as poor quality Nylon strings to me. Still don't like the contrast of the binding. However, if Vangoa did a setup on these instruments, I wouldn't mind having one to have in the boot of my car for playing out and about ..at that price! I was thinking £90. Great review Baz and interesting. Thanks again.
Wondering about the strings too!
These instruments are good to buy when you want to learn how to do setups. I got a similar one several years ago gave it a setup and learned how to add buttons. I eventually gave it away but it was good for learning without breaking the bank. On this one it looks like the saddle is really low. Maybe that's why they didn't lower it.
Agreed on practice uke - there’s plenty of saddle to lower though. I’ve lowered less!
A great price for the way this looks. The setup spoils it a bit, but still, for the price, it is pretty darn good! Thanks, Baz!
Agreed!
I think it's a nice little instrument. Don't mind the colour and marquetry. Take your word for the tuners, would prefer they turn slower. It sounds typical of a ukulele. I suppose we're looking for that little extra. For the price I wouldn't expect too much. Like the review.
Fair enough!
Enjoyed your review!
Do you ever hear back from brands after your reviews?
Yes, sometimes!
@@GotAUkulele- Bet they're pretty upset with you after a bad review! 😊
@@e.castlerock8454 Some have been - though this isn't that bad. 8.1 certainly isn't. It's just setup that lets it down.
I read somewhere that if the action is 1mm too high at the 12th you’d have to take 2 mm off of the saddle. According to that theory, If this is 3.75 at the 12th you’d need to take 1.5 mm off at the saddle. Wouldn’t that take the saddle too low ?
Pythagoras teaches that but it's a broader range than that - but yes, I'd be taking about 1mm of this saddle to start with
Hello. I think this can be a good project for a serious beginner, and learn a lot by setting it by him/her self and have a pretty good looking instrument for not a lot of money. Also it is a shame about really nice details that some Chinese instruments have, like the binding in this one, while other are so neglected.
I watch you from Mexico!!
Agreed!
At first look, I thought the edging was snakeskin, but since the uke is cheap, I kinda like it . Replace the flabby strings and lower them, put up with the massive tuners as long as you can... and it's a deal!
Yep
Cool binding decor. That's the best bit of it, the looks. Fairly good value for a beginner maybe, but it has the relatively predictable issues for Amazon instrument plus some troubles with intonation make it a no for me.
Yep - predictable indeed - easily fixed, but the buyer shouldn't have to..
For what they are selling for it is really attractive.
Yes, very nicely done in the body!
You think when they sent the instrument to you they would have set it up properly but as always I enjoyed your review
You would indeed!!
57 euro discounted on amazon roght now, looks ok at this price but does it stands up to competitors? Is there anything better at this pricepoint?
There's one or two 'similar' - like Donner - but not much. Most else i've reviewed from Amazon at this price is pretty poor.
Pretty instrument, but the intonation problem is a deal breaker for someone that wants to play from the get go. What a shame.
Yep true - perfect example of 'avoid Amazon for ukes'!
If just lowing the saddle would bring it in, then not bad, nut work is kind of a next level fix. 34 mill is deal breaker but it would be really good instrument for those wanting to learn how to work on them...do it right, respectable little uke, screw it up and you're not out much. Thumbs up as project uke.
Yep. project uke is a good way of putting it - and the core uke is decent