The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Got answer from JAM industries / Erikson Music

Peter Patrick, General Manager of Erikson was so kind, to answer some of my questions.
I'm in contact with him, asked some more questions, and hope he can provide me more infos from the erikson archives.

Here is what he wrote:

From: Peter Patrick
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 12:22 PM
Subject: RE: VANTAGE guitars

Hello,
Yes, Erikson Music was the creator and international supplier of Vantage products from about 1978. We originally built these for our Canadian market and all electric guitars were made at the Matsumoku factory in Matsumoto. Acoustic guitars were made at several factories including Katoh , Terada and Ida. We expanded to world wide distribution in the early 80’s and Vantage was sold in most major markets abroad including Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, Australia, Japan, the UK. The Chushin factory in Matsumoku also started building electric guitars for the brand as demand was such that other sources were needed.. Late 80’s saw production go to Korea and Samick was the primary factory for electrics, acoustics and other products like amps and mixers. Economic conditions and increased prices from Korea influenced us to stop Vantage production and international business in the last 90’s. I am sorry I don’t have exact dates on all this but I hope this will be of some help. I am also not sure how may catalogs there were but I am pretty sure there were more than 4 versions over these years. There were electric and acoustic catalogs made to represent all the products from the various builders. We have some stashed away in our archives and if I can manage to wade through the bins I will get a more accurate answer for you on them.

Regards,

Peter

Peter Patrick
General Manager | Erikson Music

Note: Kudos to Peter!! I don't have enough knowledge of the Canadian mentality. But here in Austria you won't get answer from a General director that easy!

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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)

Very cool info.

I've received a second mail from Peter Patrick:

From: Peter Patrick
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 10:13 AM
Subject: RE: VANTAGE guitars


Hello,

Sorry I don’t have a more accurate time line. We had a huge archival collection that was partially discarded during a move to a new facility in 2000 so some dates are sketchy. Yes, the Japanese Vantage guitars were awesome. I still have the VA912 which to me is the best 12 string electric guitar ever made. I owned a Rickenbaker 12 and it had nothing on the Vantage thru neck beauty and it is better now than it was in 78 when I got it. I also have the 6 string active model from the same series. I will try to gather the catalogs that we do have and perhaps I can scan them to send when I have them all. We (Jam Industries) owned and controlled the rights to Vantage world wide and any moves to other factories including Samick were purely for economic reasons. Prices from Japan went through the roof in the late 80’s and world markets demanded lower priced guitars so the move to Korea was made and Vantage was never the same afterwards.


Best regards

Peter Patrick

General Manager | Erikson Music

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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)

JAM is clearly a class operation. I'll have to take a closer look at what they're selling these days.

My thanks to Mr. Patrick for taking the time to educate us.

A big +1 to this!! Johann, make sure the man has our sincere thanks, eh!!

I do my best, John!

And don't forget to make sure, that the man who has contacted the man has your sincere thanks!

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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)

Quite right. Thanks, Johann!

So humbled!! Yes, indeed... go you good thing!

Thanks for digging that up Johann! Very educational.
As for being a class act, well, yeah...Canadian, eh?

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"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." -Chuckles the Clown
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

I'm surprised no one from here has made him an offer for this yet...

TC

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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)