Vangoa VU703 Concert Ukulele - REVIEW

Keeping the mix of ukuleles on the reviews balanced is important so this week we go to another Amazon sourced ukulele in the Vangoa VU703 Concert Ukulele.

Whilst I don't recommend Amazon as a place to source your ukulele, it's important that I do delve into their offerings regularly to provide some balance to the broken Amazon reviews system. I should say though that I note that some people automatically assume that anything I review from Amazon will do poorly, but this is simply not the case. Whilst the averages are skewed very much in favour of them being poor, on occasion a brand will stand out as doing something decent. You'll find those if you go through the reviews, but brands that spring to mind are Donner and, of course, Enya who I first encountered in that way. I didn't grab this from Amazon myself, rather Vangoa reached out and loaned it to me. Let's take a look

SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW

The VU703 is a double bout, regular shaped concert ukulele made from laminate okoume wood in the body. I shouldn't be too dismissive of language translation, but it was actually difficult at first to determine from the listing what it was made from, not least because of a reference to it being 'burlywood' (a new one on me!). What it actually is is a tiger flamed okoume, that wood itself often being used as a cheaper substitute to mahogany of which it is similar. It's a paler wood than I would personally like, and whilst the flaming is there you only catch it in certain lights so it is quite subtle. The faces are well bookmatched too. It's a shame I think that on this example the flaming is much more pronounced on the back and sides than it is on the top, but it is there if you look for it, just very slightly. More on that later. They need to get their naming right though as there is also a reference to it being 'Agathis Tiger Maple' which is actually two different woods!

The bridge wood isn't specified but does look like a real block of 'something' dark or stained dark. It's a pin bridge that is very smooth in the finish, but looks a little under finished insofar as it looks like bare wood. I am not suggesting it needs gloss (which I don't like in bridges!) but a rub with some oil will easily improve it. The pins are white plastic and it holds a straight topped saddle that is not specified, but looks like bone. Spacing here is about 43mm.

The decoration is a bit too much for me if I am honest, but I understand that is a subjective point and many will be taken by it. Around the top is a mix between some almost 'Spanish / Moorish' looking edge binding and that is paired with more rope purfling on the top face both of which seem to be made of wooden pieces. I think it stands out a little too much against the body and I personally think the binding and top purfling clash like the wrong tie with the wrong shirt, but there is no denying that it has been well done. On the lower bout is a comfort edge bevel which I am pleased to see is the colour of the body and not pale like some of the really gaudy ones I see around that look like sticking plaster. Around the sound hole is more rope marquetry which is also tidy. Finishing the body is a satin coat which is so thin that it leaves the instrument looking like bare wood. It's not scruffy in itself, but I think if you are going to put a finish on you at least need a bit more than this! It honestly feels like they forgot it! I also think a gloss coat would make the flaming shimmer more. Still, all things considered (and when you see the price) there is quite a lot on this uke that is well done and it will appeal to many as was shown from the comments the early sneak peek pictures I put up received. It's a head turner whatever you think of it.

Inside is pretty decent with notched linings and braces that are not overly thick. There's a touch of glue seepage and one or two wood shavings, but I have seen worse. The top is also pleasantly thin!

The neck is made from more okoume. It's made of three pieces which massively noticeable joints at the heel and headstock and is also, thankfully, finished in satin. It tapers to exactly the sort of profile i'd expect for a cheaper Chinese instrument with a very rounded nut profile and a skinny 34mm nut with spacing of 24m. Not for me, though may be ok for you.

Topping that is an unspecified fingerboard but looking closely it's made from lots of long laminated thin strips which were likely glued together in a larger block off which these were sliced. They often call this 'tech wood' so it could be anything really and the dark stain is exactly that, a stain. This doesn't actually bother me because it's a more sustainable technique than using raw rosewood or ebony. I say that, so long as it is tidy and to be fair to Vangoa this is largely that and even in colour too. I will say that it's not super smooth though, but I really am nitpicking. In fact down the edges I can almost sense some edge 'rolling' to take away the 90 degree sharp edge which is highly unusual on a cheap uke! Those edges are also stained in a dark colour which largely hides the fret ends of which you get 18 with a 14th body joint. Again, to be fair to Vangoa there are no sharp edges at all on this example. Outward position dots in pearloid face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th and you get the very same down the side. 

Beyond the bone looking nut is an 'interestingly different' headstock shape which looks to be faced in something, though that something doesn't match the body. The Vangoa logo is laser etched in the top face.

The tuners are 'parts bin' guitar tuners with sealed gears which I don't care for much on a ukulele either on looks or weight. They work ok though on tension and hold, but the gearing is very high meaning the slightest turn will see your tuner needle zap across the screen!

And like many Amazon ukes, this is one where they thrown the kitchen sink at you. You get a set of unbranded flurorcarbon strings, two strap buttons and a branded gig bag. But you also get the now  well known 'goodie bag' which contains spare strings, a cloth, picks, a starter guide, a clip on tuner and a strap - and a real strap too rather than one of those brands that inexplicably fit strap buttons to the uke and then supply you with a sound hole hook strap.. I don't actually pay much regard to these extras really and don't affect any of my scores for them. At the end of the day, there is no such thing as a free lunch and in reality these probably cost Vangoa pennies... But anyway.. the price.. At the moment I think these are only on US Amazon and as ever with Amazon pricing you have to bear in mind the date of my review as they change all the time. At the moment we are looking at $69.99. So it's in that cheap, but not the cheapest price range for Amazon. But I have to say, when I first looked the flamed woods and the quality of the decoration here I expected it to be nearer the $100 mark or more. So as such, relative to itself I think this is remarkably cheap!

So going back to my introductory paragraphs, not all Amazon ukes I look at are terrible and this one certainly seems to be bucking the trend so far. Sure, there are some subjective points I dislike like the nut width and tuners, and objectively the finish is very thin, but the decor is really well done and it's an attractive instrument that I was sure would be more expensive. This is not plain flat wood colouring with cheap plastic binding. But that's only half the story, we have to play it..

In the hands it feels extremely light at only 490g but it is very slightly off balance in favour of the headstock. Blame those tuners. The setup out of the box too needs real work with a slight reduction needed at the nut and a large reduction needed at the saddle which has an action of over 3.5mm (maybe more) above the 12th fret. That in a nutshell I suppose explains why I recommend buying from a real uke dealer who will deal with that - Amazon will not... Still, easily fixed IF you know what you are doing, but still not right.. We shall see how that high action affects play and intonation. 

What I will also say about the strings though is that they are very low tension and a very light gauge. This means they are something of a pain for being easily pulled out of tune when playing and are not particularly resilient to the high action which involves pulling them down considerably at the upper frets. So, a setup AND a string change needed in my opinion.. Sigh..

Basics first. The volume here is not bad - certainly not the loudest instrument I have played and i'd like a bit more bark, but it will do you ok. Sustain though is quite average and tails off quite quickly. Maybe a string change would also help here too.

To review the tone, as you will see in the video, is quite hard because I am afraid that setup is affecting intonation up the neck but also in some first position chords due to the high nut. It's so noticeable it sounds way off. Underneath that is a fairly pleasant sound though which works as a jangly peppy rhythmical sound when strummed and is nice on the ear. Fingerpicking too it is quite chimey and pleasant too in a very laid back way which I rather enjoyed. It's just a crying shame that the combination of the strings and setup let it down as I think there is something decent sounding underneath here. I think laid back and pretty sums it up.. if it was in tune!

So, all in all, this one sits with those reviews of Amazon instruments which are not for completely ignoring. There is a lot going for this one and it looks (and is decorated) like a much more expensive instrument even if the style is not for me. There are things I would change like the strings, tuners and nut width which are subjective points, though the setup is pretty dreadful too on this example. Yes, that can be fixed, but a first time buyer shouldn't HAVE to (or may not know how to). But I have to look a bit deeper and underneath that issue is a well made and pretty reliable instrument that belies its asking price.

As ever with Amazon, go carefully (and certainly if you don't know how to set up - avoid COMPLETELY), but it's nice on occasion to see something quite nice if you are prepared to work on it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNV9CVGZ

UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP

Model: Vangoa VU703

Scale: Concert

Body: Laminate flamed Okoume

Bridge: Unspecified pin bridge

Saddle: Bone

Spacing at saddle: 43mm

Finish: Satin

Neck: Okoume

Fingerboard: Tech Wood?

Frets: 18, 14 to body

Nut: Bone

Nut width: 34mm, 24mm G to A

Tuners: Sealed chrome gears

Strings: Unbranded fluorocarbon

Extras: Strap buttons, gig bag, strap, cloth, picks, tuner, spare strings, guide book

Country of origin: China

Weight: 490g

Price: (at time of writing) $69.99

UKULELE PROS

Generally very good build

Very well done decor and finish (subject to below!)

Pretty tone woods

Reasonable volume

Pretty core tone

Very low price

UKULELE CONS

Finish might as well not be there

Neck is not for me though tidily dressed frets
Give me open tuners
Poor setup affecting play

Average sustain

UKULELE SCORES

Looks - 8.5

Fit and finish - 7.5 out of 10

Sound - 7.5 out of 10

Value for money - 9 out of 10

OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 8.1 out of 10

UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW

© Barry Maz

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