The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

I have come across a MIJ Vantage VA10 1984 (serial no. starts with 84) acoustic guitar with the nice looking oval soundhole for sale at $225 - pickup only and 30 minutes away.

I had a look in the forum here and some members were excited about it, but not a lot of information. Is it something I should be excited about?

It looks in very good shape with a few little nicks hear and there. It has full body binding (nice aged cream colour) and solid top - I saw a VA15 review which stated solid spruce top and laminated back/sides. Looks to have the original Vantage branded machine heads. Fret board looks clean with little use - looks like rosewood? Bridge timber looks very dark - maybe ebony?.

Like many of these oldies it has probably been sitting in a wardrobe for the last 20-30 years.

The price has dropped from $270.

What are these things worth?

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Aria TA-100 (1982); Aria PE-175 Herb Ellis (1985); Aria TE500 Backaroo (1975); Aria ES700; Aria RS600H; Aria RS Special V; Aria RS Inazuma (x2); Aria RS Wildcat; Aria RS Bobcat; Aria Diamond LP; Vantage Invader 2; Maton CJ85; Ibanez BTB 670 Bass

VA series VANTAGE guitars were introduced in 1982. Nice looking with their oval sound holes, but made under a wide spectrum of quality. VA 10 model is the low end of the series. Laminated top - nothing fancy.
I've owned a VA20 and a VA25 (both of them new old stock!). No keepers. Too weak (soundwise) from my POV.

A Vantage VA20 (NOS) is still available at ebay Germany:
http://www.ebay.at/itm/Vantage-VA-20-TB-Westerngitarre-mit-2-Jahren-Garantie-/261660925934?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item3cec34dfee

In my opinion you better watch out for a VA40 or VA50 with solid top. I'm owning a VW 180 and this is a very light and great sounding acoustic.

Hope this is of some help,
Johann

BTW: you can find a link to my VA-acoustics catalog in the Vantage section of this Forum.

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All vantage-branded guitars were lower-priced instruments aimed at the beginner-to-intermediate market. It has no interest to collectors and very little demand among players! (www.allexperts.com)

Thanks Mozart.

I had a look at it and bought it. It is laminate top but man it sounds fantastic - crisp through low end, mid range and high range. Interesting thing though - looking at it closely at home the top, even though laminated, is actually bookmatched. Never oticed that before?

It has a really nice sound though. I like it so much I am going to install a LA Baggs under bridge pickup and us it at church. Apart from good looks and sound, I find it very comfotable to play.

There are a couple of small issues with it though with some warping in the top sound board just below the neck- looks like it has been exposed to heat at some time and the bracing right under the neck has pulled away from the sound board a little. It may be fixable with glue and clamps? If not it seems to be stable. Apart from that it is in very good condition with liitle play. Hope to get many years of playing from it.

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Aria TA-100 (1982); Aria PE-175 Herb Ellis (1985); Aria TE500 Backaroo (1975); Aria ES700; Aria RS600H; Aria RS Special V; Aria RS Inazuma (x2); Aria RS Wildcat; Aria RS Bobcat; Aria Diamond LP; Vantage Invader 2; Maton CJ85; Ibanez BTB 670 Bass