The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Starting this thread for notes on the '82 Vantage Avenger I bought in '86, sold in '87, then re-claimed in '09. I'll pull over some related posts in the "Avenger Variations" thread, then continue here.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

Another of my old Avengers (AV-320?), a single-humbucker (MMK 45). This was recently located in VA, not far from me, owned by a 6-year old. Yikes. I'll be getting a serial # soon to verify.

EDIT: serial # 2040604, 1982.

Original finish was the blue shown, kind of a matte finish.

Truss adjust at the body.

"Vantage" is in Vivaldi font, "Avenger" is in smaller block print. There's a stripe on the headstock near the logos.

Strings are ~1/2" from the body at the base of the neck.

Nut is plastic, kind of Gibson Les Paul style.

Bridge is chrome, I can't remember how the strings attached or the saddle size.

Don't remember the neck finish.

Full black pickguard.

Tone knob is not a push/pull coil tap, there's a mini-toggle.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

Last of the cross-posts from the Variations thread:


It's...sad. Not in an unfixable kind of way, just in an "it really didn't deserve this" kind of way. At least it's been played - I've seen worse condition without signs of ever being played, this puppy has some MILES on it.

Quick check on condition:

Everything is loose. Pots, jack, switch, tuners, screws, even the nut! Visible fret wear, but playable. Lots of pick wear on pickguard and body. Lots of legit wear around the strap pegs. Couple good big ol' dings, couple more little dings. Lots of nice wear on the fingerboard, gives it real rock 'n' roll cred. Missing a ferrule on the B string tuner. Original volume & tone knobs, both damaged. This thing will be up & running with an easy hour's work, double that if I take it all apart & take my time & actually clean things. "Before" pics won't look much different than "After" pics, so I'm not going to bother. Look for a family portrait tomorrow with the three Avengers after their little reunion moment.

Initial comparison of this '82 to my '81s, purely my opinions and preferences:

Pros:

Nicer bridge, string through body. Neck feels slimmer. Has a body contour at the right elbow, the '81s don't.

Cons:

Volume knob too close to the strings, like a Strat. Micro switch for coil tap, I like the tone knob switch. Neck comes in really shallow above the body & pickguard. Output jack on edge of guitar on chrome plate, not in the face. These are all the reasons why I sold it in '87 or so.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This one is now dubbed the "Hollywood Avenger"...the first one to play it onstage (as documented here in the 3 Avengers in '86 thread) was Jimmy Hollywood, the party where I delivered it to its next owner was the evening I met & started dating a young lady named Eve Hollywood, and the new owner's stage name lately has been Johnny Hollywood. Can't escape its fate.

More later...

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

A couple of detail pics:

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

Can I have it?!


John like... John throw tantrum if it's not forthcoming... Jorg, Don and Kees can all bugger off....

So, you reckon this is not a 310; is it routed for another h/b under the pickguard?

Sure. Come on over & check it out.

Not routed for another h/b under the pickguard. Not sure what the spec differences are between an AV310 and AV 320, actually - do you know? I know my 325 had two humbuckers, and my 315 had a single coil lead and humbucker rhythm.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

The original receipt from when I bought this guitar in NYC:

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

More notes:

Two very loose tuners, can't yet find exact replacements in my stock, I'll wait to figure out its fate (keep or sell) before proceeding with repair or replacement. Hole for "B" string ferrule was significantly larger than others, don't know if that was the cause of the loss of the ferrule or a symptom of use without ferrule...

Output jack was FUBAR, now a nice sturdy Switchcraft.

I'll be looking for ways to gently pack in under the pickup/pickguard, maybe reduce some of the microphonics. It's really not bad, but might be improved.

It's a fine guitar, and lighter/more comfortable in some ways than the '81s. I'll probably be shimming the neck very slightly to get just a touch of pitch-back and be able to raise the bridge saddles just enough to hide the allen heads & keep them from chewing up the sides of my hands.

Black dome knobs have replaced the OEM speed knobs...pretty sure I have intact originals to return to stock if desired.

This Royal Blue is a close match to the team colors of the school my wife teaches in. Might need to make a custom pickguard with school insignia.

I just love MMK45s. Listen to the tone on Alice In Chains' song "It Ain't Like That" at intestine-rearranging volume levels, and you'll hear the fun noises I've been making all day here.

It would be easy to replace this pickguard with custom. It would be easy to re-finish this guitar. It would be easy to add a second pickup. All in all, this thing has a lot of potential either as-is or as a starting platform for customization. It'll never have the solid feel & piano-like sustain of the higher-end guitars, but for a Ramones/Green Day/Alice In Chains/Georgia Satellites/etc. roar, it's a whole lot of fun.

The single-coil sound on this '82 sounds more Telecaster-ish than on my '81s. Think of Bruce's "Glory Days" intro as an example.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

I may have tuners and ferules for you. I will check the parts box. They are old style, not the 10mm like more modern gotoh, schaller,etc., yes? If so they are yours.

I found a ferrule, but have used up my stock of tuners fixing the Fly Ashtray all these years...

I'll check what's worn, the key or gear. I'll get a better pic of them, too - thanks very much! The guitar's staying in tune for now, but with no strings on the keys have an awful lot of slop to them.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK