The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Now that's a special one! Although the headstock logo appeared here before, appearently (I missed that one), this is the first time I see one like this. A very early VLP, I'd think. Too bad you don't have it anymore ... Thanks anyway for the pic, It just might stirr up things here again (and we love that )
Welcome to the board!

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http://www.GuitarDir.com has been hacked by some mindless fool, destroying years
of gathering info on guitars by non-commercial guitar lovers. Why?

1979! You might have been one of the first owners of a Vantage guitar! Worldwide!
The V-100 is a fascinating piece of Vantage history: Open Book headstock, unique logo and other attributes make her look like a first attempt of Jam Industries/Ericson Musik to bring a new brand to the Canadian market!
Thanks for the pic!

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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)

First commercial use of the Samick Vantage lettering: April, 1992
http://trademarks.justia.com/741/17/vantage-74117689.html
Filing date: 1990-11-21

First commercial use of the "Avenger" trademark: May,1 1981 (registered byJam Industries)
http://trademarks.justia.com/733/93/avenger-73393016.html

Hey Squid, Avengers are Maybabies too!


...still diggin'.....

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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)

6/8/1979

must be American date writing = June 8, 1979

And this is: The first commercial use of the VANTAGE trademark in the USA!
Registered by MTI (New York City) who owned the rights until 1989

http://www.trademarkia.com/vantage-73284027.html

If I'm not going wrong this must mean: "US Vantage start" in June 1979!

It's really sad nobody here has made a copy of the 1979 MTI price list:
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3906

I'm pretty sure Vantages have been available some months earlier in Canada! Especially the "Canadian" V-100 model is a strong hint for a Canadian introduction of the Vantage brand early '79 (if not even late '78!)
Here is a link to the Canadian Vantage trademark registration:
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&status=OK&fileNumber=0423852&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=101

Couldn't find a "first commercial use" date on the Canadian sites though!

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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)

More updates done!
I've added information about logo/lettering evolution and serial numbers.
Furthermore I've put together a summary of all available catalogs.

Links and additional information should help guests and newcomers to identify their guitars!

Adjustments and suggested improvements welcome!!

Johann

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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)

I wasn't fast enough to buy this, but I snagged a photo. It was being advertised as a Korean model but I think it's an early Japanese Vantage and it's red.

Just thought I'd add to the knowledge base.

Thanx for posting the pic!

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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)

As for the start of VANTAGE: most references point to 1979! Not sure for the V-100, but first catalog's models are '79.
For example: 1979 stamped bridges in 700-VP or (22 frets) 800-Artist guitars:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-Vantage-700-VP-Early-Vintage-Electric-Guitar-Japan-Matsumoku-w-OHSCase-/221493996219?pt=Guitar&hash=item3392122abb

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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 for all your work on this brand Johann. Much appreciated.

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Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

Looks like I'm not the only one working on this topic....
I stumbled over this site: http://www.vantage-guitars.com/

Still under construction! Nevertheless the site gives a good model overview via pics.

Guess it's one of this board's scandinavian members who has done this summary...
Waiting for the finished version!

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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)