The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

BR just made it perfectly clear. That's about as close as you'll get dating your Invader (for now).

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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?

Pierre sir is it possible for you to send a post with the ser no off of your I5 please and bishop thank you so much for the information about the I5 I'm going to upload some pictures of my I5 with this post hope you guys enloy !!

If by chance you are looking to sell that invader I'm deeply interested mr Pierre I would love to have my custom sitting beside an original copy that would make me happier then a kid in a candy store

Technically shouldn't it be a Vantage Invader?

For those goofy with how serial numbers work, there are no standards, but "I" is the Invader run (if they marketed it as and Explorer they would start a different run), 5 is the year (in this case "85" as it is mid 80's) and 00043 is the 43rd off the line. Even if they only plan on making 44 of them, the machinery is set to punch the number of guitars they can make... when they change machines you get a different number of digits.

I've located one, in Canada I500043 Made In Japan stamped on the neck plate (bolt on neck.) That is assuming I recall correctly.. may have the wrong last two digits, but it was low. It was clearly the "Star Destroyer" copy of the Ibanez shape in the Vantage Invader series - not the sparkly paint though - forest green with black hardware. Lonely, unkempt, nicked. Unplayed for a long time. The neck was straight. The bridge looked like it would need TLC. Very light indeed. Custom fitted case. The owner passed away suddenly over a decade ago, his nephews just going through this thought it was an Ibanez DT350 - but it is clearly a Vantage Invader (MIJ '85) from the headstock and neck plate. I can get it for a pretty low price with the fitted case.

I didn't really "play it" since the strings were years old.. but the neck was dead straight and all the bridge pieces were intact.

I have questions... I have no idea of what they are worth. How well do they play? How are the pickups? If they play well bu the pickups suck I may put in some Gibson 57's .. or maybe some P90's... I think it whispered P90's to me. I haven't bought it yet... but without knowing what it is worth how do I know if I'm doing the right thing?



Any estimates of value? It would be the base model - the higher models had sparkly paint I believe.

Thanks,
Ron [too many guitars... they just call to me... but most have been Ibanez or Godin - this is the first "cheapie" that didn't look great but I felt might play great!]

I'm looking at a Invader... the HSS looks cool (to the point of wanting a trade) but what is the switching on that thing? Care to share?
-r

the 3 switches turn on/off the pickups , and the knobs are volume and treble and a pull option for splitting the humbucker.

I have my Invader in repairing progress, and I hope i get the upper fin to its old shape. But then there is the next problem in getting it a repaint.
Could be very expensive. Maybe i could ask a local famous bassbuilder here in town (Le Fay Basses, one of the finest in the world).

Corsair Love your Invader I have one which I purchased from a local Guitar store for $40.00 In a Fifties era Fender case. It was missing the Bridge and Pickups. The three way switch and Volume pot and Tone pots (Push Pulls) are intact . I am having Trouble figuring how to wire in the Pickups and would appreciate if you had a wiring diagram or photo of how they wire up. I am assuming that one is coil cut and the other is series parallel or phase. Thanks Gerry.

so after all these years for me it comes to the point I have to sell my beast...

Anybody a rate of the value?
Should I put it on Egay with a min. limit?

It tears my heart, but there is no more room here for this unique monster killer...

There is far too little of these instruments throughout the market to form a meaningful value in $.

Only the usual way (eboing,...) canl tell you the truth!

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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)

And thats why they are rare...
I dont know what limit to set...