Effects Switch, Volume Control, Effects Mix Control
Bridge with Piezo Pickup
Headphone, Output, and Aux In Jacks, Effects LED
9 Volt Battery Compartment |
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Famous for its bold and unconventional designs, Vox has a storied reputation for creating unusual and sometimes eccentric instruments. During the early to mid-1960s, Vox introduced the coffin shaped Phantom guitar and bass, the Guitar Organ, the Mando guitar, the Mk6 Teardrop shaped guitar and bass and the Winchester guitar that utilized the die cast base of a wah-wah pedal as its body. Vox also produced guitars and basses in 1967-68 such as the Ultrasonic with onboard battery powered effects that included wah, repeat percussion, fuzz and treble boosters.
Nearly fifty years later, Vox continued their legacy of developing unusual guitar shapes and unique onboard electronics with the 2016 introduction of their six-string Starstream Type 1 modelling guitars. The Starstream Type 1 was Vox’s 'Swiss Army knife' of guitars, featuring 27 emulated instruments plus built-in digital effects. Its unique look was defined by a wooden central core encircled by a sculpted plastic frame that reimagined the traditional dual-cutaway guitar shape. This "frame" design would become the inspiration for the VFU-1 Actaeon electric mandolin.
Debuting at the January 2024 NAMM Show, the instrument was originally introduced as the Vox Actaeon VFU-1. However, its name was quickly streamlined to simply "VFU-1" on both the official Vox website and in factory price lists.
The VFU-1's core structure, encompassing the body, neck, and headstock, was milled from a solid block of African Okoume hardwood. Its fingerboard and bridge base were crafted from rosewood, while the surrounding frame is made of formed plywood. Two finishes were offered: Rosewood or Flame Maple Blue.
Featuring a 380 mm (15") scale length, "C" neck shape and a 300 mm (12") fretboard radius, the VFU-1 was a concert-sized instrument equipped with seventeen frets. The headstock utilized Graph Tech tuning pegs with a 6:1 gear ratio.
Without a hollow resonance chamber to project sound naturally, the Vox VFU-1 operates as a "silent" ukulele designed for amplified play. It utilized a Belcat Omega 2 piezo pickup integrated into the bridge to capture vibrations which are then shaped by a battery-powered preamp featuring an adjustable volume control. A head phone jack was also included for silent practice. While compatible with any standard PA or guitar amp, it paired optimally with the Vox Uke 50, an amplifier specifically engineered by Vox for the tonal range of electric ukuleles.
The VFU-1 also featured digital Chorus and Reverb effects, controlled via a button on the lower edge of the core structure. One can cycle through the effect options by pressing this button multiple times. A dual color LED near the output jack indicated the current setting: green for Chorus, red for Reverb, and off when inactive. A Mix knob, also located on the lower edge of the core structure, adjusted the blend of the ukulele with the digital effects.
The VFU-1 Ukulele retailed $839.99 USD with an average "street price" of $599.99 USD, including gig bag. |
