The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

New member here; just thought I'd share.

I recently got a 1980 Vantage VS650 off Ebay for $199 + $50 shipping. I finally took it apart the other day to clean off all the previous owners' DNA and took some photos. I tried posting them here, but files were too large, so here's a Photobucket slideshow link:

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/lazy_goblin/slideshow/1980%20Vantage%20VS650

I'm really digging this guitar! Very well made and totally lives up to the Matsumoku hype that I've read about for years. The only thing non-original are the knobs. It was missing one when I got it, so I ordered 4 new cream one's to replace them (they're better quality and color anyways). The toggle switch is also broken off, but still functions. Need to replace that too. Everything else is untouched and functions perfectly. Overall a great player with some nice, honest wear.

Thanks for looking!

Looks nice- other than the picture with the weird-looking guy holding the guitar.

Good job on cleaning it up!

I had a Vantage VLP-510 with those FS pickups. They seemed like a good medium-output PAF-style set. I've seen an eBay seller claim that his Vantage had original Gibson T-Tops, but he didn't get the high price he was asking.

I think it's great that we can get guitars like the VS, VLP, Aria CS/TS for less than they're "worth". My only problem is buying too many. Don't tell the purists here I said so, but they're also good for experimenting with pickups and wiring schemes.

-Steve W.

Very nice!
Welcome to the nut house.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Great score lunchbox!
You've done a real nice job on the cleanup too.

The Vantage line has some beauties in it, you're now the owner of one of them.
Enjoy that bad boy!

_________________
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

Thanks guys. Yeah, she's really nice, the quality is top notch. I've been a Gibson player for most of my life. I thought I'd try something new for a change, and I'm not disappointed. This is the first bolt on neck I've had since I owned a Kramer DMZ-2000 back in the early '90's (which I never should have sold). I think next I'd like to get a VP with a thru neck.

I think maybe you mean a set in neck, the VA series are the thru neck models.
Nice Guitar btw.
Cheers.

_________________
My Guitars- http://matsumokuguitars.com/

Well, I'm not sure I'm going to keep her now. I got her all back together and it looks like the neck pocket needs a shim. It's got a deep bow in it and the action is way too high. I tightened the truss rod until the neck is completely flat, and I can't get the saddles any lower without terrible buzzing.

darn....

If the saddle adjustment allows you to get the strings where you want them & the neck is flat you dont need to shim the neck.
Sounds like the neck needs a fret dress.
Pretty muck every vintage guitar I have worked on has been in dire need of a fret dress.
some times its due to uneven shrinkage in the neck timber, due to a variety of reasons.
Usually, however, the last 5 or 6 frets need planing down for whatever reason, usually lack of use imo.
High frets at the end of the neck will cause horrendous buzzing.
Cheers.

_________________
My Guitars- http://matsumokuguitars.com/

These could be your best friends in this situation.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Thanks guys. Yeah, it could just be a fret dressing. But looking at the gap and angle of the neck, it's pretty off. This happens a lot with bolt on necks afaik, hence I'm not a huge fan of them. I found this Premier Guitar link for the fix, but I don't have the tools to do it. Mine looks exactly like the first photo; high and can't really bring done the saddles much more.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19686-guitar-shop-101-how-to-shim-a-bolt-on-neck