Vantage VA900

Here it is....



...ain't she just the prettiest thing...!

I'm surprised no one commented on this!

That is a very nice guitar. It looks really comfortable. Have you had it for a long time?

Are those MMk45s? They sound quite good in my Thunder I-A.

Thanks, it is and I've had it since new; purchased in Australia in 1980, carted through 3 countries, countless gigs and studios and never let me down! It has always had the sound I've required at any time due to the then trick electronics! The p'ups will be MMK but I'm not sure what as I've never had cause to take 'em out; I'll do it at next string change and let you know!!

Do I see Schaller strap buttons on it? It's a good investement if you use the locks. I have those on my Rickenbacker.

Looks very "Alembic", if you ask me ! Not a bad thing either.

Oh, yes - Uncle Matts take on Alembic, for sure! And as you say, not a bad thing at all!!

The p'ups are an MMK 53 in the rhythm possie and an MMK 61 in the lead, and they scream!! Or whisper.... or in fact whatever I want to do with 'em!!

Hows life treating you down there?

Shes a babe, looks reliable, solid as well as good on the eye, I want one!!!

Take care

all the best

Bluesman

that's a seriously nice guitar!

I had a friend who bought one of those from a guy in the subway. Played really nice and sounded sweet through his Princeton. I won't say the price but it was an awesome deal.

Hi Folks!
I thought, now I should also post a picture of my Vantage VA 900!
I bought them in 1986... In 2009 I replaced the original, microphone PU's by two Seymour Duncan (APH-1 N Pro 2 in neck, SH-14 Custom 5 in bridge). Now looks and sounds great.

That's the gem:







Greetings from Switzerland
Benschi

Hiya, Bensci - nice to see another Vantage in here, eh!!!

Hi Benschi,

Nice guitar you got there! Would you have pictures of the back of it?

P.

Those Vantage guitars look like serious pieces of kit, I will certainly keep my eyes open for one of those.

On the subject of unusual guitars, this is one of mine that I do most of my performances with....



A British guitar made by Gordon Smith Guitars Ltd. I had it custom built at the workshop.

Very nice guitar, I'm not smart enough to deal with that many switches. What do they all do? I imagine coil split for 3 then what phase?

Ooooo, too-o-o-o many mini switches!!!
Totally confusing to an old rhythm player.
Nice guitar otherwise though!

Im tend to agree with Barry - far too many switches for this kiwi - see Apple Mac discussion elsewhere!! - but that colour is gorgeous and 3 x h/b ....hmmmm, nice!; does it sound LP Custom-ish?

Gordon Smith is a boutique luthier in England isn't he? I think Bluesman in here had one and regarded it quite highly....

I had it made about 21 years ago and the too many switches was one of my wild wiring inventions that I had at the time. Normally, one of these guitars (Gypsy Model) would only have 2 pickups and would be wired like a Les Paul with 2 volumes and 2 tones, but the volume pots would have been push pull switching type for coil tapping. I personally like to control volume constantly while playing (between rhythm & lead) from the gutiar and I only wanted 1 volume (in an easily accessible position) and 1 tone (which is wired at both sides of the pot, 7 being neutral, 0 being treble cut, 10 introduces a .001mf capacitor as a treble bleed, this can be added to taste for helping chords at a lower volume cut through). So the “too many (silver) switches” list as ~ 3 for coil tapping, 1 on off switch for the bridge pickup (to enable all 3 pickups on at once), 3 for running the pickups in and out of series in any configuration (like a 4 or 6 coil pickup, ie, neck & middle, middle & bridge, neck & bridge or all three as one), and 1 to put it in and out of this mode. The switch with a black tip is a standard 5 position strat type toggle switch. I agree that although the tonal variation is extensive it is totally unnecessary. I rarely use the series switching, as there is more than enough tonal variation with the 5 position toggle and coil tap switches to suit any occasion.

Frenchy wrote:Hi Benschi,

Nice guitar you got there! Would you have pictures of the back of it?

P.

Hi Frenchy

Thank you
Of course, here are two:







Kind regards
Benschi

Absolutely beutiful John.

Can´t wait ´til Johann sends us up here our three NOS VA-800s...

It only dawned on me yesterday that my guitar practice amp that my uncle gave me a few months back is a Vantage... but I just checked, looks like 1991 from the serial and made in Korea... doh

Only gets bass through it anyways Haha