Hi Folks,
I have been doing quite a lot of research lately on the continual struggle to properly date all of my Vantages.
This has been spurred on by what I consider to be flaws in some of the currently accepted methods of dating.
I have been focusing mainly on the VA, VP, & VS series.
All of the info I have gathered points mainly to being able to classify them firstly into 2 main categories, either pre or post 1980.
I firmly believe that 1980 was a big transition period for the Vantage Brand.
Bolt on neck models received there own Vantage branded neck plates, which now carried the first number denoting year of manufacture in the serial 0-7, definitely no argument there.
The Headstock Logo was changed from the small horizontal Vantage Logo to the Large V with Vantage written Vertically.
Changes were made & hardware upgraded with tuners receiving the V Logo
The edge routing of the bodies also changed from a very slight edge round to a very rounded edge.
Neck profiles also became slimmer on some models.
So to sum up, a pre 1980 model will have, starting from the top.
Pre 1980 (not that many around)
Vantage written Horizontally, small print on the headstock.
Tuners will be either the black hex bodied gotoh’s or the plain backed non logo type with the screw fixing directly centre below the tuner body, not off to the side like the post 1980 tuners do.
Neck plates will have “ Steel Adjustable neck Made in Japan” & the serial will probably start with 05
The body will be the same shape but the edge routing will be quite square with only a slight round.
I am yet to finish compiling pickup data, but it seems that at least the VS range pickups were marked either F/S or blank with both having a small T in the centre of the bobbin tops, MMK’s were also around but it seems only in the VA & VP series, but as I said I do not have enough data to be sure of the accuracy of this.
Pots were different also, being shinier in appearance with a rounder top edge.
Truss rod cover generally will be marked with the model number, numbers first, eg: 600VS, 700VP etc, VA models will have the word “Artist” in front of the number
Post 1980 (the majority of Vantages out there)
Vantage written Vertically in larger print with the large V on the top.
Tuners will have the V logo on the back.
Neck plates will have the large V logo & datable serial
Body edge routing will be quite a decent roundness
Pickups will be MMK’s
Pots are duller in appearance with a square top edge & have an M printed on them.
Truss rod cover generally will be marked with the model number, letters first, eg: VS600.
VA models now follow the same system.
Serial Numbers (set & through neck models only)
Ok you say, but I have a VP700 that fits the post 1980 description & I know it’s a 1977 model by the serial number.
Firstly let me say all VP700’s serial numbers begin with 7, it is merely a model number not a year of manufacture.
Secondly it is a 5 digit number, all 5 digit serials start with the model number.
Check your guitars, it’s a fact.
6 digit numbers are different & follow the post 1980 neck plate system with the first number being the year of manufacture.
I have not seen a pre 1980 guitar with a 6 digit number, but post 1980 have both.
Dating
Pre 1980 bolt on neck models are not accurately dateable at this time other than Pre 1980.
Pre 1980 fixed & through neck models with a 5 digit serials are not accurately dateable at this time as the first number is the model number.
Post 1980 bolt on neck models, first number is the year of 1980 they were made.
Post 1980 fixed & through neck models with a 5 digit serial are not accurately dateable at this time.
Post 1980 fixed & through neck models with a 6 digit serial are the same to date as bolt neck models.
Using these criteria to identify your Vantage guitar also seems to clear up a lot of the anomalies previously put down to the change without notice blurb.
I have come to these conclusions through carefully studying firstly my own collection of Vantage guitars & all others I have seen either on the net or in the flesh.
I have also been compiling all of my data on a spread sheet for some time, which notes all of the differences I have mentioned & I feel I now have a reasonably good sample size to draw these conclusions from.
I would think that a few pre-post, transition models also exist but I am yet to see any.
If anyone has any additions or corrections to this system please supply a full description of the guitar in question so as I can see where it possibly fits in to this.
If anyone would like model comparison photos just ask, I have lots.
I also believe as I think some other member do, that the Early 80’s catalogue on the catalogue pages is in fact a 1979 catalogue, as the guitars shown match exactly the description of a pre 1980 model.
So there you have it, the "Trevor method", that’s the method that I use, what do you guys reckon,
Let the flames come.
Cheers,
Trev.