The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, and just learning to play the guitar. Also, I'm left handed. I discovered this forum while trying to discover information on a Vantage Gibson Les Paul copy that has been offered to me. I have not seen it in person yet, but the seller tells me that it is of Japanese manufacture, and all original.... except the pick guard is missing.

He sent me some pictures, and the guitar looks to be in good shape. I'm concerned about finding a left handed pick guard, and am wondering how hard/expensive they are to find. Also - how can I verify if it is indeed Japanese, and if so of Matsumoku manufacture?

Any particular "gotcha's" that I need to know about for this guitar? I'm kind of hopeful that it will work out, as it is hard to find a decent lefty guitar for a reasonable price.....

Link to pic: http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267 ... 142148.jpg

Very pretty! If it is a Mat the neckplate will display the magic word "Japan". (AFAIK all Japanese Vantages were made by Matsumoku). If it's not marked "Japan" it was made in Korea or elsewhere.

Hello, another lefty....

The headstock looks Japanese from the 1980s...
Could you find out if there's a serial number on the back of the headstock?

As far as lefties are concerned, they come up occasionally, but are not easy to find.
Japanese Vantages are my all time favorite guitars and are very well made.
As far as price goes, it varies from bargain to ridiculous...
Being lefties, there are fewer of them but also less demand.

Where are you and how much is the seller asking?

Regards,

Tony C.

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1983 Vantage VP820 Lefty
1983 Vantage VP825B Lefty
1984 Westone Thunder 1 Lefty
1981 Vantage VSH-455 Lefty
1973 Ibanez 2354S Lefty (made on the other side of Matsumoto)
(plus a couple of Yamaha acoustics)

She's a beauty! Someone here has a right handed one with a pickguard. I'd get a tracing of that guard and cut my own. Speaking from experience, I'd start on a piece of paper or thin cardboard because it aint gonna be a direct replacement.

You can do without the pickguard too.

Personally, I prefer it without. . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------>

Can't you hear me when I call ... BigBossMan. Welcome here! VLP 500 L, I'd say. The real thing. Tobacco burst, right? I'm with Jorg's first comment. Have someone trace a right-handed pick guard, and take on the jig saw! (I could do it for you, got a VLP 540 right, can make a PDF of the tracing if you like?). Not a bad guitar to start out with at all! (even without the pick guard. You'lld have to be pretty clumsy to do serious damage to the guitar without it.

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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?

Hi BigBossMan! Welcome here!

Spirit VLP 500 from 1980 - 1983. Made in Japan!
The first digit of the ser.number on the backplate will tell you the year of production.

Interesting detail: my old logo VLP 500 has got black knobs:
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=7384#p48545

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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 the great welcome, and thanks for the helpful advice!

I went to see the guitar today, and ended up bringing it home with me. Dusty with some nicks and scratches, but all original and everything works great. I ended up paying $80 for it, so I'm thinking I'm not going to lose on the deal if I need to move it along.

Serial number is 10901XX, and it clearly says "Made In Japan" on the neck plate. So..... 1981?

1981, and you got one heck of a deal. Way to go, bro!