Vangoa VA20CE BKM12 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

Vangoa is a relatively new brand that focuses on building high quality, entry-level acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars. Based in China, Vangoa aims to provide beginner and intermediate players with affordable yet playable instruments.

While not a household name like Fender or Gibson, Vangoa has quickly made a name for itself by offering guitars with good build quality and sound at price points accessible to most budgets. Their Acoustic-Electric Guitar VA20CE BKM12 model delivers on that promise, offering novice players a chance to get started on acoustic-electric without breaking the bank.

Body & Neck

The Vangoa VA20CE features a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The neck is made from nato wood with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The body binding and soundhole rosette add nice visual flair.

The satin finish on the body, neck and fingerboard provides a smooth feel and enhanced resonance. The compact concert body shape is comfortable to hold and balances nicely on a strap. The neck has a standard scale length with a C-shaped profile that fits nicely in the hand. It has 20 frets total, with inlay dots on the 5th, 7th and 10th frets for orientation while playing.

Overall the Vangoa has a well-crafted neck and body with attractive looks and a resonant, balanced tonewood configuration suitable for various styles of playing. The smooth neck and compact body make it comfortable for both rhythm and lead play. The laminated spruce top provides bright, balanced tone while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and emphasis to the midrange frequencies.

Compared to other acoustic-electric guitars in this price range, the Vangoa VA20CE stacks up well with its combination of playability, looks and well-rounded tone. The Martin 11DX2E-02 is another quality option to consider that offers all-solid wood construction with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The Martin produces a slightly louder and richer tone, but comes at a higher price point. The Vangoa offers great bang for your buck if you're looking for a comfortable, attractive acoustic-electric that covers a variety of musical styles.

Hardware

The Vangoa VA20CE features quality hardware that enables stable tuning and bright, balanced tone.

Tuning Machines

The guitar has enclosed die-cast chrome tuning machines with pearloid buttons. The tuning machines keep the strings locked in tune nicely and make re-stringing an easy process. Overall, the tuners perform well and hold tune reliably.

Bridge

It has a rosewood bridge and saddle which provide a solid base for the strings. The material and design allow for projection of full bass and bright trebles. The bridge transfers string vibrations efficiently for balanced tone across the frequency range.

Saddle

The compensated saddle is made of sturdy white synthetic bone. Its curved shape helps achieve proper string intonation up the fretboard. It pairs nicely with the nut to give notes clarity and prevent buzzing. The saddle material also adds a touch of brightness to the tone. The hardware components work together to produce a balanced, resonant acoustic tone. With quality tuning machines, bridge, and saddle, the VA20CE's hardware enables good playability and reliable performance. While budget-friendly, the hardware is well-made and gets the job done. The guitar stays in tune nicely and projects pleasing tones. Though not as high-end as solid wood and bone nut and saddle, the materials deliver good functionality. Overall, the hardware equips the VA20CE to be a quality entry-level acoustic-electric. It provides a solid foundation for the guitar's sound and playability. The hardware allows beginners to learn on an instrument that intonates properly and produces balanced tone. More advanced players may want upgraded components, but the stock hardware performs admirably given the affordable price point.

If you are looking for a quality acoustic-electric guitar, check out the Martin 1100010E. The Martin 1100010E features solid spruce and mahogany construction with Fishman electronics for excellent amplified tones. Its hardware includes chrome enclosed tuners and a Richlite bridge and saddle for rock-solid intonation and sustain. With its comfortable neck, Fishman pickup, and Martin's signature sound, the 1100010E delivers versatile acoustic and plugged-in performance perfect for gigs and practice. Though more expensive than the Vangoa, the Martin 1100010E's solid wood body and professional-grade electronics justify the higher cost for serious players. The 1100010E continues Martin's legacy of fine craftsmanship and tone in an accessible acoustic-electric package.

Electronics

The Vangoa VA20CE features a built-in preamp and piezo pickup system to deliver amplified tones. The undersaddle piezo pickup captures the guitar's natural acoustic resonance and feeds it into the preamp.

The preamp features simple but useful controls:

• Volume knob - Controls the overall output level of the preamp. Allows you to dial in just the right amount of volume whether playing live or in the studio.

• 3-band EQ - Provides bass, midrange, and treble controls to shape your amplified tone. Boost mids for projection and cut, add treble for clarity and sparkle, or bump the bass to fill out the low end.

• Tuner - An integrated chromatic tuner makes it easy to tune up accurately before jamming or performing. Very handy to have this built right into the preamp.

• Phase switch - Flips the phase of the signal, which can help reduce feedback at high volumes. Useful for live playing situations.

The control layout is intuitive and provides plenty of tonal shaping options. The preamp and undersaddle pickup combine to take your acoustic tone and amplify it with quality and clarity.

Sound & Tone

The Vangoa VA20CE delivers impressive acoustic resonance and amplified tone for its class. The solid spruce top provides clear, balanced acoustic projection with tight bass and bright treble. The mahogany back and sides add warmth and fullness to the tone.

When amplified, the VA20CE maintains the acoustic character through its preamp and pickup system. The tone is not colored significantly, just enhanced in volume and dynamics. The mid-range stands out with nice presence, while the highs have shimmer and sparkle. Plugging in delivers rich, dynamic sound for performing.

Overall, the acoustic and amplified tones are well-balanced and versatile for playing diverse musical styles. The Vangoa punches above its weight in sound quality for the price. Players will appreciate the crisp yet warm unplugged tones, and the vibrant amplified tones.

Playability

The playability of the Vangoa VA20CE BKM12 is quite good for its price point. The neck has a slim C-shape profile that is comfortable to grip and allows for easy fretting and chording. The action is set low out of the box, so there is little resistance when fretting notes up and down the neck. This makes it easy for beginners to press down the strings without excessive finger pressure.

The fretwork on the VA20CE BKM12 is also well done. The frets are smoothly finished with no sharp edges to irritate your fingers. The ends of the frets are neatly trimmed as well. There is minimal fret buzz present when playing, even during more aggressive strumming. Overall the guitar plays very smoothly both when fingering chords and playing single note melodies up the neck. The comfortable neck, low action, and quality fretwork come together to make this an easy and enjoyable acoustic-electric guitar to play.

Comfort & Feel

The VA20CE BKM12 features a comfortable concert body shape. Its dimensions - 20" length, 16" width, 4" depth - make it lightweight and easy to hold. The concert design balances nicely on your lap or with a strap.

The compact size also makes the guitar very playable while standing. The cutaway design allows easy upper fret access too. Weighing about 4.5 lbs, the VA20CE BKM12 is lightweight for prolonged playing sessions without fatigue.

The neck has a low oval C profile that fits comfortably in your hand. It feels great for chordal rhythms or fingerstyle playing. The satin finish on the back of the neck allows for smooth shifts up and down the rosewood fingerboard.

Overall, the VA20CE BKM12 offers a comfortable, ergonomic design suitable for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Its compact concert body provides excellent balance and easy playability.

Extras & Details

The Vangoa VA20CE comes with a few nice extras that add value for the price. It includes a basic gig bag for safe transport and storage. The gig bag is padded and has backpack straps, though it's made of thinner material without a lot of structure. Still, it's useful for protecting the guitar when on the go.

The guitar comes strung with Vangoa's own polymer-coated strings which produce a bright, punchy acoustic tone. The polymer coating helps prolong string life. Replacement strings may be necessary down the line, but the included set provides a balanced sound.

Some other small details are the diecast chrome tuners, 4-ply bound pickguard, and USA-designed MAPEX bridge. While not top shelf, these components get the job done on an entry-level acoustic-electric. The tuners hold tune well, the pickguard protects the body, and the bridge anchors the strings solidly. Overall, the hardware choices are fitting for this price range.

A few thoughtful extras like the gig bag and strings make the Vangoa VA20CE a well-rounded beginner package. The additional details complement the guitar's build and electronics to deliver pleasing bang-for-buck value.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Quality all-laminated wood construction for rich, full-bodied tone
• Easy playability and comfortable slim neck profile
• Onboard preamp and tuner for amplified performances
• Attractive design available in multiple color finishes
• Budget-friendly price point for beginners

Cons

• Factory strings may need to be replaced sooner than expected
• Electronics and equalization could be improved for better amplified sound
• Lower-end hardware compared to more expensive models
• Limited fretboard radius not ideal for intricate soloing
• Lack of cutaway limits upper fret access

Conclusion

The Vangoa VA20CE BKM12 is an affordable acoustic-electric cutaway guitar for beginner to intermediate players. Overall, it provides decent bang for your buck with its solid spruce top and quality hardware like sealed die-cast tuners. The built-in EQ helps shape your tone, though the pickup and electronics are fairly basic.

The playability is quite good right out of the box, with a comfortable neck profile and low action. It stays in tune nicely and projects well unplugged despite the thinner body depth. The cutaway helps access higher frets, though the neck joint and upper fret access could be better.

Finally, the Vangoa looks sharp in gloss black with the abalone rosette and binding. The bundled gig bag, picks, strings, and digital tuner add value. Overall, the VA20CE BKM12 is recommended for new players looking for an affordable, playable acoustic-electric with decent unplugged sound. More advanced guitarists may want to consider other options with higher-end features and electronics. But for the price, the Vangoa VA20CE BKM12 is a solid choice.