Vantage Spirit VLP510

Latest addition to the herd is this Vantage Spirit VLP 510, early 80's model with an earlier headstock script design.
Two FS pickups with coil tap function, the usual high standard build quality, great neck, weighs in at a healthy 3kg and very well balanced on the strap, no neck diving.

Overall very pleased so far, have started to clean her up, the bridge pickup feels a little thin but that could just be the character of these pickups, its adjustment or there may be an issue to address. It was obviously owned by someone back in the day that did not use a guitar stand as the rear lower body edge has those tell tell wear signs.

Worth checking one out if you get the chance for sure 

https://s1016.photobucket.com/user/Meadows61/media/Vantage%20Spirit%20VLP510/Vantage%20spirit%20510%20001_zpsb3gg8uut.jpg.html?sort=2&o=0

Very nice Si!
I'm a big Vantage fan as you may recall...gots 9 of 'em!

But I don't have this classic LP version (the EntertainAr comes close, but no cigar). Wine also happens to be my favourite colour too, so well done again!

As for the pup, it should be an Alnico construction rather than our beloved MMK45 (ceramic). Maybe that accounts for the difference you're hearing?

Get a meter on there and give us a reading eh? Better if you can peek under the hood and see if you have Mats pups in there or sumthin' else.

Like it a lot!

Nice one Simon.

Try raising the bridge pickup up to the strings. It's miles away.

Damian's right.
Missed that. Losing me touch.

Thanks Guys

Great advice as always, have adjusted the bridge pickup upwards and there is now a much improved signal and having dropped the neck pup slightly, a better balance between the two now, thanks.

The coil split function is a very obvious drop in volume, particularly on the bridge but I will see how they feel at gig volume.

The pots are almost grinding during rotation due to lack of use and the neck volume pot could be a contender for replacement, but I have every faith it will ease up gradually as I continue applying the lubricant spray (I want try and keep it all original if possible, although I might not be adverse to trying a sett of 45's in her at some stage)

Regarding the pups, the only marking on them is the letters "FS" stamped onto them, no other markings so I do not know if they are Matts?

I have just had to order a new meter as my previous one was leant out and apparently can no longer be found....

Try a set of these, excellent!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tonerider-Humbucker-Pickup-Rocksong-Alnico-II-Humbucking-Pickup-4-colours-/380705772413?var=&hash=item58a3d5137d:m:m-gQLQtLn0SwjqqfqV7oUsQ

Or here, with extras.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tonerider-Rocksong-Set-Black-2-Free-Orange-Drop-Caps-0-022uF-600V/181976669695?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3De2ce90083ba845dda2962a4eaaa1433c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D181974725319

Thanks Damian, will check them out, I like the fact they are Alnico II's and not the modern V's, less brash to my ears for the cleaner tones.

Meadows wrote:...Regarding the pups, the only marking on them is the letters "FS" stamped onto them, no other markings so I do not know if they are Matts?...

Not sure if we've ever determined that for certain Si. John may know.

I suspect they may not be but they do appear regularly on a lot of the early Mats models of all brands. I have a neck pup in my Urchin which appears to have been factory installed, but it has no markings at all. It's physically thinner and comes in around the 7.5K mark, and the bridge is an MMK45. Go figure.

I've got something here - can't remember which instrument at the mo' - that has pickups stamped with FS on their bums. It may be the APII LC440 or one of the Vantages but to my eye they looked OEM and untouched...