Another Vantage in rag order...

... yes, I know... I'm not to be trusted!

Anyway... Avenger AV325 for A$120 to my door could not be ignored, and here it is!







Plans for this are a little vague presently, but a veneer and purple burst for the finish is likely at this point, and a hardware change if I can't replace the one tuner I ruined in the process of restoring it! I think I shall put P90s in this, while keeping the control layout as it is in case I want to go back to OEM.



The neck had already been stripped down and I removed the frets as they were well worn, and I don't like skinny frets.



My usual Avenger mod for the output jack...



The usual loading with usual values; they have been in starage somewhere damp at some stage as the corrosion on the bottom was epic!



And this is how it arrived at my door... this lass can pack a guitar, eh! Apparently it was hers from new and wears it's many bruises and nicks proudly; it went through a few more family members before she got it back, decided to restore it, got a little way in before deciding that she was in over her head.

It is quite complete - knobs aside - though the finish is munted...

Bit of fun, really!!

I have an Avenger neck up in the shed and from memory it had a mix of tuners on it . Post a pic and if I have a match you can have it

 EDIT  - Oops sorry I just checked - the avenger neck has a full set of aftermarket Grovers

Thanks for checking, bloke!!

What happened to the rest of it??

Think you might do a military theme on this one?  I

corsair wrote:Thanks for checking, bloke!!

What happened to the rest of it??

 
I have the body and 3 x MMK45 that came with it plus some wiring - previous owner butchered the body - it was a single pick up and they routed it to take 3 x humbuckers and carved out the control recess to take extra controls. Maybe routed is a bit generous - chiseled is a bit more accurate
I cant decide whether to make a new body for 2 humbuckers or rout the body properly and cover the mess with a pick guard - So it sits on the shelf until I decide

I only paid $60 for it a couple of years ago so figured the MMKs were worth that

Oooh, sounds a little ugly....

... if the body is really munted, perhaps a new body in tbe design that takes your fancy might be the ticket? 

You could show us, if you like?!

The Chad wrote:Think you might do a military theme on this one?  I

No, mate... well, not at this point in time! Still undecided about fit and finish though leaning towards a burl or flame veneer front and back and purple burst.

Perhaps a set of P90s, too, as I've got a gazillion guitars with MMK45s, eh!!

'oly smokes! Is that your third Avenger?
I think you have another great project there John.
Is it me or does it seem to have water damage?

"Rode hard and put up wet" would be my guess, plus a little bit of neglect; nothing terminal, mind!

5th, actually! 

The Avenger line is also one of my favourite Uncle Mats' labels. The Avengers are great little workhorses, very similar to the Spectrums in the Westone lineup.

And like the Spectrums, you'll see them in very basic to very beautiful configurations. Grab 'em if ya see 'em.

5TH!!?? That's where they all are

Good luck, but you have what it takes to do her right C.
Have fun, enjoy the project. Will be following.

Cheers mate!

Ahhh, my 2 WW2 Pacific theatre projects are Avengers; a 310 and a 325, I have a 395 from very late in the Matsumoku era in flat black ( yes, I know; a bit yucky!) and another 310 in the US that was sold to be on the proviso that I pick it up in person!! About 8 years ago.

Plus this one.







We're underway... slowly!

And as Barry says, these are a great wee player out of the box, and with a little time and dosh expended can be very good indeed. The X-99 I had briefly was a majorly good guitar; the only reason I flicked it on was becasue I didn't like the sound, and I'm quite sure the flat black finish adversely affected me; silly, eh!

They're much lighter than the Spectrums and would hence be much easier on the shoulder for gig purposes and they are really quite versatile, sound wise, with coil tapped MMK45s you can get pretty much an approximation of any sound you want.

DimensionIV-addict wrote:5TH!!?? That's where they all are

I've got the other 4 Avengers.
Sorry, none left!

Actually saw one downtown Toronto not too long ago. Unfortunately not familiar with the models but the price was around 200.00 if I recall correctly.

Nearly done on this, fellas; I fretted the neck last night and whacked it together this morning and will let the string tension tweak the neck for a day or two before I set it up.









That gloss finish is smoo-oo-ooth, and the neck which is totally unfinished apart fron sanding to about a 2000 grit, is just sublime!

Not everyones cup o'rosie lea, but I really like it, and the brief play through an amp would indicate that it is much louder than the Spectrum install; possibly due to the string through body deal?! Ideas??

Yup. String thru definitely has extra sustain on mine. Although, the surface mount model fair roars too! Must be the ash body has a not insignificant contribution methinks.

That Gotoh bridge is real nice, and I like the electro socket replacement too.

I dig the distressed look.

"distressed" don't even come close, this baby was tortured (or more correctly, Torchered ) with a paint stripper! 

Yes. Yes it was. Until it shrieked.

Going to set it up today....

Hey matey, I noticed that your original pix at the beginning of this post are MIA!

Yeah... no idea why, though! The pix are still there on Photobucket, eh!

Job done, though the action is a touch low for my tastes... there'll be a trc with John's Rat on it eventually!!

Liking it 

Looks like it's made from a bit of driftwood.....nice.

Shabby chic look.