Vangoa LEFT-HANDED Banjo 5 String Mahogany Open Back Banjo with Resonator, Remo Drum Head, Geared 5th String Beginner Kit with Manual, Full Size
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This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt
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Availability:
Only 5 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Sunday, Aug 17
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Size: 38 Inch
Style: Left-hand Full Size Banjo
Features
- Professional TonePremium Africa Mahogany full-size banjo with arched resonator projects a more clear exciting sound and it is removable for a mellower and softer open-back tone
- Top Quality Remo Head]Weatherking frosted drum head ensures a stable tone, while clean bright, and less sustain. Chrome-plated 24 brackets precisely control the head for a more accurate sound
- Durable Construction]Adjustable truss rod helps easily adjust to enjoyable action and keep the neck straight for perfect intonation, geared closed 5th white jade peg is smoothy and precise to adjust
- Gorgerous Classic LookGlossy finish clearly shows the beautiful natural wood grain, supports you with a comfortable touch and high protection. Sturdy fretboard, slender neck ensures a smooth, safe sliding up and down
- Save Your Time Vangoa prepares everything you need to start, beginner guide, tuners, back-up strings, fingerpicks, cleaning cloth, truss rod wrench, Allen key, even a pick-up for plugging into an amp to get louder sound on your performance while provides a better movability
Brand: Vangoa
Size: 38 Inch
Color: Mahogany Brown
Item dimensions L x W x H: 38 x 13 x 3.5 inches
Top Material Type: Mahogany
Back Material Type: Mahogany
String Material Type: Nickel Plated
Finish Type: Polished
Instrument: Banjo
Item Weight: 8 Pounds
Item Weight: 8 pounds
Product Dimensions: 38 x 13 x 3.5 inches
Item model number: VBJ-4L
Date First Available: May 16, 2020
Back Material: Mahogany
Body Material: Laminated
Color Name: Mahogany Brown
Scale Length: 670mm
String Gauge: Light
String Material: Nickel Plated
Top Material: Mahogany
Neck Material Type: Okoume
Number of Strings: 5
Material Type: Mahogany
Size: 38 Inch
Proficiency Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Sunday, Aug 17
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
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Similar Products
Top Amazon Reviews
Size: 28 Inch
Style: Portable Banjo with Tone Ring
The bottom line: After 90 minutes of setup work and a new bridge I now have a pleasant-sounding mini banjo that is easy to play. I anticipate taking this little gem to bluegrass jams and stage performances where I am sure it will be a novel wonder. I mention quite a few negatives in my review, but almost all of them are issues that can be resolved if you have the skills to do some basic setup work on your instrument. I am an intermediate level banjo player who plays at frequent jams and gigs around town. I wanted a small banjo that I could take traveling with me for the summer, but it needed to be more than a child’s toy. I decided to purchase the Vangoa Mini 5 String 28” banjo because it appeared to have enough features that I should be able to manage the setup and adjust it to make it playable. I also picked this model because it has a resonator, which is a must for getting enough volume to play with other musicians. I also liked the blond maple finish. It reminds me of the Deering Goodtime banjos. I was a little concerned because there are some glaring mistakes in the Amazon listing (and also on the Vangoa website). I think Vangoa could probably sell more banjos if they did some editing to their listings. The most glaring error is that it says repeatedly that it has a “Beautiful Tone Ring”. There is no tone ring! The author of the listing obviously has no idea what a banjo tone ring is. What they are referring to is the resonator, which is attractive. The tone ring is a metal ring which sits between the banjo head and the wood banjo body. The instruction manual does a better job of identifying the back as a resonator, but it also labels the banjo body as the resonator, so there is a little room for improvement there too. The luthier or luthiers who designed the mini banjo knew what they were doing. The design and construction follow most of the key steps for making a traditional banjo. The marketing team, however, needs to spend a little more time with the luthier. The marketing language is messed up enough to scare off anyone who has knowledge about how banjos are constructed. The Amazon listing also grossly misrepresents the gauges of the strings. The strings on the banjo are 0.009”, 0.011”, 0.0125”, .0.21”, & 0.009”. The Amazon listing says the strings are 0.09 to 0.25 inches. (I don’t think any of us want to see a mini banjo with 0.25” strings!) If they want to abbreviate the string gauges, it should just read 9 – 21. The absence of a tone ring is probably a good thing for this small banjo. As it is, the banjo has a nice mellow woody tone that is very pleasant to listen to. If it had a tone ring the sound would be much brighter. Tone rings generally add volume by amplifying the higher frequencies and providing more sustain. The lack of a tone ring and the fake calfskin head contribute to a nice warm tone that does not hurt the ears. It sounds better than I expected it to. The kit includes a plastic gauge for setting the bridge in the proper location. This is a brilliant idea and it works like a charm. The instructions tell how to set the bridge using a tuner. The steps are accurate, but the plastic guide is much more beginner-friendly. The fact that any instrument this small has a truss rod is impressive. The listing indicates it is a “Two-way Truss Rod”. I removed the cover to inspect the truss rod to determine if it really was a two-way rod, as those are generally found on more expensive instruments. I was unable to determine for sure if it is a two-way truss rod. Since the rest of the sales description is not accurate, I don't really trust them on this issue. Removing the truss rod cover revealed a split in the wood which will probably never cause a problem. When I attempted to adjust the truss rod, the nut would not turn. I suspect that the truss rod is bound up by glue from the assembly process. I would have liked to induce a little relief in the fretboard, as it is virtually flat. I managed a eigth turn to the left, so we will see if that makes a change. The scale is so short that neck relief is not a critical issue. This truss rod is stuck and won’t turn, so it makes little difference if it is a single action or double action rod. I did about 90 minutes of setup work to get the banjo in good playable condition. I expected it to arrive with a poor setup, as almost all economy instruments do. I was not disappointed. Here is the work I did to improve the playability out of the box: I removed the resonator to access the internal adjustments. I tightened the coordinator rod to bring the string action much closer to the frets. I tightened the lugs to bring the head tension up to 89 on my drum dial. Some of the lugs were not bearing an even load, so I worked to equalize them so they were similarly torqued. I then reinstalled the resonator. The banjo was now much easier to play, but there was a noticeable buzz in the second string. It was not fret buzz, and it took a while to track it down. I noticed that the 5th string nut was too high, and was holding the string too high over the frets. The buzzing was minimized if I bypassed the 5th string nut, but that wasn’t a long term solution. There is actually a chapter in the instruction manual about how to track down and fix buzz issues. I followed the trouble shooting steps in the manual and determined that the buzz was probably coming from the bridge. I found a spare bridge from another banjo and replaced the bridge. The buzz is now gone. I thought I may have induced the buzz by installing the bridge backwards, but as far as I can tell, I had it correctly installed. The included accessories get a mixed review from me. The tuner works, but has a terrible battery door. It would only open a few degrees. I eventually dislocated the hinge when I tried to open it enough to insert the battery. It is a great idea to include a functioning tuner with a student banjo, as every student needs a tuner. But this tuner has multiple modes. It has a mode for C tuning, G tuning, and two others I don’t yet understand. And pressing the power button changes the tuner mode if you press it less than 2 seconds. I am sure there are many students who will have trouble tuning, and probably break some strings, because they accidentally changed the mode of the tuner and did not realize it. The strap is nice. It is like a ukulele strap, and it has enough adjustment to fit a large adult. The picks are not anything I can use. There is a set of plastic pics, and a set with metal finger picks with a plastic thumb pick. The plastic picks are for small fingers and have a nice usable shape. The metal pick set is poorly designed and would be a discouragement for any beginner who tries them. I will be throwing the picks away. (The last time I bought some finger picks I think I invested about $45, so I am picky about my picks.) The case is a nice padded gig bag that looks like it will protect the instrument very well. An electronic pickup is included for those who want to play through an amp. I have noticed a trend lately that instrument makers include a transducer on cheap instruments so they can market them as “acoustic-electric” instruments. That would be about the only function served by this transducer. I suspect Vangoa invested about $1 to include this piece of electronics. Maybe less. It is nice to see the extra strings included. I suspect that beginners are going to break a few strings because of the confusing tuner, but this exposes another problem with the design of this instrument. All 5 strings are anchored by a single nut and bolt on the tailpiece. It is going to be virtually impossible to change just one string without taking all 5 strings off. The instruction manual says to change strings one at a time so you don’t lose bridge placement, but those instructions must be for another banjo. It might be possible to upgrade the tailpiece so that strings can be changed one at a time, or it might also be possible to use ball-end strings in the current tailpiece. This banjo does not include an arm rest. It would be more comfortable to play if it had one. I have played it with A tuning and C tuning. C tuning is definitely the sweet spot for tone with this little guy, but A was also OK. Being in C tuning is a bit of a liability for playing much in bluegrass jams, as that key does not come up much. A capo can be used to play in D, but I wouldn’t recommend going any higher than that. I have attempted to play it is G tuning and it was a bit of a nightmare. It would not stay in tune, and fretting any note made things go noticeably sharp. There is information on the Internet about how to get a mini banjo to sound good in G tuning by installing heavy gauge strings. I may give that a try one day. But for now, I plan to keep it in C tuning.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2025 by James James
Size: 38 Inch
Style: Full Size Banjo with Resonator
I decided to learn the banjo, and this one fit my budget perfectly as a beginner. It arrived in beautiful packaging, and I was immediately impressed. While admiring it, I read through the twelve-page user guide. The included zipper case and accessories were a nice bonus. I did have to be careful when separating the vacuum-sealed strings. Unfortunately, the fifth string (D) was broken upon arrival, so I had to restring it right away. It was a bit of a hassle, but I took it as a learning opportunity. The sound if the banjo is much better than I expected for such an inexpensive instrument. I appreciate that the company sells replacement strings, and I plan to order an extra pack of the Vangoa strings. So far, I haven't broken any others, and I hope I don't. The case has a helpful pillow to support the instrument between the peghead and the fifth string peg. The box itself is also sturdy and great for long term storage. The Vangoa tuner has been invaluable, though the battery died after only about twelve tuning sessions. I learned the hard way that leaving the tuner in the box drains the battery, the red button is very sensitive so I keep it out now. The neck has a crack that initially worried me, but I've realized it's just a flaw in the glossy paint and doesn't affect playability. I do find myself checking the tuning before each session. Storing it in the bag after each use means I definitely have to retune it before playing again. The banjo feels comfortable in my hands, whether I'm sitting or standing. I'm enjoying learning and playing every day. I've supplemented my learning with a children's book and a finger placement chart, both of which have been very helpful. I've also bought additional books to aid in my learning. I'm committed to this! This banjo is perfect for me to learn on before upgrading. Just a heads-up, storing it in the bag means it needs retuning before each play session. Overall, I'm very pleased with the banjo and the company I bought it from. I'm having a great time learning on my Vangoa Banjo. Thank You. April, 3, 2025
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025 by Camp G Camp G
Size: 26 Inch
Style: Mini Banjo with Tone Ring
Very pleased with the banjo. Looks good and plays good. Only down side was the strings. They were looped ends. Wrapped around the hold down screw. Other than that banjo was great.
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024 by Grant R
Size: 28 Inch
Style: Portable Banjo with Tone Ring
I play for the fun of it and this is the perfect size to sit on a shelf next to my chair .. I pick it up often. I use a ukulele stand. It was very easy to set the bridge. I’ve only had to retune once, it holds a tune well. I thought I was going to want it restrung for open G but the open C tuning is just fine. Easy to play, the frets not as deep as full size banjo. A lot lighter but heavy enough to feel sturdy. (I’m 61 years old, female. My left shoulder gets tired on my big banjo :/ ) Awesome deal too! Very nice padded case and extra stuff!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023 by Julie Tucker