Vantage VP700 (710)

Well...didn't I go and do it again!   
Just when I thought my GAS was all gone. It wasn't.

I have been feeling rather low and sorry for my bad self, especially with this bloody arthritis, etc. So getting yet another guitar that would frustrate the hell out of me wasn't on my radar. Then, I saw a Kijiji ad for a Vantage electric guitar. 

I couldn't tell exactly what model it was from the 3 fuzzy pix but it looked like it might be either a VP700 (set neck) or a *gasp* VA800 (neck thru). And the price could not be ignored.   So-o-o long story short, I hoped in the car drove to the far side of Toronto to have a look.

It was love at first grab!  
I flipped her over to reveal that she was a set neck model VP700 (or more precisely, a VP710 because of the finish). As near as the boyz on the Mats forum can figure from the obscure serial numbering system and a few other clues, this is looks like a 1981 build. She's bloody amazing!

So far I have done nothing to her. It's been raining here most of the day so no chance to get outside and do the usual tear down and documentation pix, but here are some quick ones I took before the deluge with my phone cam:












The only "issues" so far are cosmetic. The knobs have been replaced with some horrible white thingy's, and a previous owner had replaced the screw in the neck side strap button with a...wait for it...nail!   The mini toggle is a little bit wobbly so it may need replacing at some point, but other than that and few minor bumps, she's perfect! No fret or fingerboard wear, and she still has the original plastic sticky paper over the cavity cover and TRC!

She's as comfortable as humanly possible with incredibly low action, a bone nut, and a recessed bridge. Plays like whale snot! And of course, MMK45's so she looks like a beauty queen but punches you up the throat when yer not paying attention! God, what a lovely guitar!

I'll be tearing her down over the next few days and documenting it over at the Matsomoku Forum if you care to follow the progress.

Very nice indeedy... 
Sure those are 45's?

Westbone wrote:...Sure those are 45's?

Nope. Not yet.
I hope to be stripping her down today and I'll know for sure.

Deep down, I'm hoping they're 53's  
But to avoid disappointing myself I'm saying 45's. None of my gits have 53's so this will be my first if it turns out to be the case. On a quick play with old strings, they sound wonderful what ever they are.

61 + 53...  possibly.

Fingers crossed.  

fingers crossed here for ya mate....a 61 and a 53 sound like a great combo   

Lovely guitar Barry, do you know what the woods are?

Best of luck  and that's a beauty and a rare one at that. Congrats

Neck: 7.73 /3.94
Bridge: 11.39 / 5.78
Both: 4.60 / 3.30

Meadows wrote:Lovely guitar Barry, do you know what the woods are?

The usual Maple and Walnut down the centre.
3-piece Maple neck with Ash veneer on headstock front.
Wings are Ash, finished in "Harvest Ash" rather than the more common dark walnut stain.

Looks heavy but is surprisingly light.

mortarman120gang11c wrote:Best of luck  and that's a beauty and a rare one at that. Congrats

Cheers Arthur. She is even more lovely after a bit of scrub-a-dub and new wires.

And Holy S**T! Those pickups plus the set neck and string thru make my Thunder sound like a transistor radio!  

That's a beaut Barry,  congratulations!

Your a happy bunny, you should be..  

The bone nut, steel saddles make a great deal of difference. Plus those pups.
Not all that fond of brass nuts.
Notice all Westone upper end guitars have bone nuts from around '83.  TunderII, Session. Rainbow, Prestige etc. and some steel saddles. Plus 53, 61, 75's.

I really like these 53 equipped. Bone nut steel saddles '83 on. As one on the right. Simple controls.

Yessiree! This pickup combo has got to be the best that I've heard from Uncle Mats. And I suspect rivals popular Seymour Duncan/Dimarzio pairings out there.

It gave me the same startle reflex that I got when I first plugged in the Thunder and kicked in its active circuit. The difference, to my fractured ears at least, is more articulation and clarity...along with the power!

That 61 can be a mellow Blues/Jazz monster or a straight ahead Rocker. And the 53? Well, a regular blowtorch, if you need it. I'll wager there would be no problem even being heard above the drummer!

A few more pix and comments over at the Mats site.

Barry, you hit the lottery on that one!      What a great pickup combo!!!

It does not get any better than that my friend. That has to be an awesome pickup combination.

The weather this weekend finally warmed up and became Summer-like for the first time in many days.
As there is apparently more heavy rain forecast later today and the next couple of days, I sprinted outside for a few new pix with the camera. The sun is very strong today, almost too bright.

Biggest visual change is the knob replacement. I have yet to get a black switch tip.
 

That looks in super condition, as well as sounding good!!.. 

If you need a Mats type switch tip?? I'll send you a few. I need the old knobs that you had on it.. 

I left them at the shop in the junk drawer.  
But I can retrieve them on Wednesday when I'm in, assuming Bob hasn't used them or given them away!

Westbone wrote:...I need the old knobs that you had on it...

They're on their way as I type.

Just seen this post!!
Cheers Barry..  

Does a Mats tip fit your vantage? or is it a different switch?

Westbone wrote:...Does a Mats tip fit your vantage?

Yup! Just tried a Spectrum tip on it. Same thread.

On their way..obviously black any other colour? cream/ivory.
Send you a few.

Surprise me.   

That was quick, arrived today...  

Cheers Barry.

Yours is on the way.

Excellent! That was quick.

Look familiar?

Yes, looks a lot like a guitar I was outbid on!

  £71.99

Bought a brand new one of those back in '81 for £50 but sold it on a few years later, fool! It was still like brand new.

It's no Vantage/Aria/Westone but is a Mats made.. 

Hondo....

Sgt. Vimes wrote:Hondo....

H 1030....

If it's the same one,  I was put off by the playwear between the pickups. 
61's in a 1030!?  Only seen 45's or dm's in these hondos,  good score mate!

Westbone wrote:That was quick, arrived today...  

Cheers Barry.

Yours is on the way.

Picked up the mail today! Cheers mate. Very nice.

Barry wrote:

Westbone wrote:That was quick, arrived today...  

Cheers Barry.

Yours is on the way.

Picked up the mail today! Cheers mate. Very nice.

Geez, quicker than the mail in the UK!!

Especially as we have a dyslectic postman! Keeps putting all the mail in the wrong houses, can't even read the bloody numbers. He's an import from an eastern land...

Thanks again Damian!

Again, that's a cracking looking guitar Barry,  love the colour!

Just in case anyone state side fancies a VP, just came across this little fella....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vantage-700vp-Electric-Guitar-MIJ-/331361381009?pt=Guitar&hash=item4d26ad6a91

What a lovely-looking guitar. I like the symmetrical body shape. It looks quite wide; does it sit higher when resting on your knee? 
I must admit I don't know anything about Vantage, nor do I know much about all the other brand names from this era, but I'd like to learn more. Is there a post that has already covered this topic, by any chance?

A good place to start your education is over at the Matsumoku information pages: CLICK HERE
Vantage was primarily a Canadian private label but is found world wide.

If you need more in depth discussion you'll find lots in the Forums: CLICK HERE
Scroll down for specific brands, including Vantage.

As for the size no, its quite small, not wide at all. More along the lines of an SG. Very comfortable to play.

Thanks Barry, I have a lot of reading to do! 

Barry wrote:

Thanks again Damian!

Just seen this post.

See it's fitted....   smart!

Just catching up with this - nice axe Barry.  Great pickups.

Hey, thanks Ian! Where ya been? Long time no hear.

"Great" don't begin to describe these pups. Friggin' amazing more like!

...holy cr@p, do I love this guitar!!

I took this out on rotation today, I haven't played it in almost a year!
First thing to note was that it was still in tune! Not to pitch but in tune with itself. Just remarkable.

I plugged her in to my Danelectro Nifty Fifty amp, clean, no O/D or effects. Man oh man, those pickups are just the sweetest sound I've heard in some time. Clear and articulate, but with ballz when you ask for them!

Together with the bone nut, stainless steel saddles, and the set neck, the guitar felt almost alive in my hands. Honestly, words fail to do the experience justice. What a fantastic design, one of Uncle Mats' better efforts.

I just wish I had had this guitar "back in the day". Who knows, might have made me a better player.

Nice! 

Vantage are even more under-valued and unappreciated than Westone or APII but the supply over here has dried up!

Play on, minstrel!!

I don't think we'll be organizing a Tag Day for you any time soon Johnny.
You've got a few top notch Vantage models as I recall.

:-D

Only the VA900, which I've had from new and which is bruised, battered and now in retirement at Don's house!
I do, however, have an Invader II, the VS 696-12 and the Avengers; AV310, AV 325 (x2), AV395 and the neck-thru X-99, so enough to be going on with!

Actually, I have the X-99 and the 395 out on the stands what I laughingly call my DAW at the moment; great fat sounds from that 395, eh!