A brief history of VANTAGE guitars:VANTAGE: 1978 - 1998
"Vantage" (and "Avenger") are/were registered trademarks for Jam Industries Ltd, Montreal/Canada
1977: registration of the "Vantage" trademark in Japan (Matsumoto/Nagano)
.......
The Vantage concept was an initial motivation on the part of an established company
.......(matsumoku kogyo) to design and build a product line that would reflect its own pride and expertise
.......of manufacturing abilities (From the 1980 "marketing manual", published by MTI).
.......The Vantage line was developed by Mr.Matsura, in cooperation with the canadian distributor Marty
..........Golden (Jam industries) and the US distributor Ernie Briefer (Music Technology Inc., NY)
1978: contract JAM industries/Erikson Music(CAN) - Matsumoku (JAP)
.......April 20, 1978: filing in for registration of the "Vantage" trademark in Canada
.......Vantage was developed for the north american market first
1979: "Music Technology Inc." (MTI) became US-distributor
........1979-06-08: "first use in commerce" for the "Vantage" trademark in the USA (registration filed in
...........1980-10-31)
.......(MTI was holding the rights for the US market until 1989)
....... first VANTAGE guitars at music stores (CAN, US)
.............Canada possibly earlier (early 1979 or late 1978??)
1980: worldwide distribution:
.............Jam Industries/Erikson Music (Montreal): CAN
.............Music Technology Inc.(New York): USA
.............Paiste Distribution (Hamburg): GER, Switzerland
....................(Mexo: Germany 1984 - 1986)
.............Dynamic Musical Enterprises (Chatswood, NSW): AUS, NZ
.............Stack Music (Bexhill, East Sussex): UK
.............Musik Hofrichter (Vienna): Austria
.............Codim-France (Lyon): France
.............+ Distributors in Sweden, Italy, Japan
.......Vantage slogan: "sound by design"
.......MTI slogan 1980: "The Must Line To Have For The 80's"
.......(1982 slogan: "Born to rock")
1978/79 -1984: all Vantage electrics made by Matsumoku/JAP
...................Acoustics made by Katoh, Terada, Ida (and other japanese companies)
1984/85: Chushin (Matsumoto/JAP) also started to build Vantage electric guitars for Erikson Music / MTI
1987, Feb.: matsumoku kogyo had to close after the Singer (sewing machines) company, who partially
...........owned Matsumoku, nearly went bankrupt.
.......Matsumoku couldn't afford to buy itself out of Singer. Land and equipment of the company were sold.
.......A memorial stone at a park in Matsumoto/Nagano reminds of the former guitar production
1987/88: Post matsumoku production in Japan???
1989: There seems to exist a gap between japanese and korean Vantage production! No 1989 Vantages!?
1990: Start of korean and (later) indonesian production of Vantage guitars by "Samick"
.......1990-11-31: filing in for the registration of Samick's "Vantage lettering" trademark (US)
1990 - 1998: amps, mixers, microphones, aso. wearing the Vantage label
1998: End of "Samick" Vantage production. Due to economical conditions and increased prices from Korea
............Erikson Music stopped international business
VANTAGE logos:.......1978?/79: angle "Vantage" lettering (V-100 model only)
.......1979/80: horizontal "Vantage" lettering (vivaldi font)
.......1980 - 1996: Big "V" logo + vertical "Vantage" lettering (vivaldi font)
..................some slight variations of the "V" and the size of lettering over the years
..................Avenger models (6 tuner on one side) carry their own "Avenger" lettering
.......1992 - 1996: either Big "V" logo + vertical "Vantage" (vivaldi font) or (more often) Samick's
..................trembling "Vantage" lettering" (first commercial use: April 1992) or Samick's "Trembling V".
.......1997 - 1998: Late Samick's "uppercut V"/Vantage lettering (mainly for Indonesian made instruments)
VANTAGE serial numbers(electric guitars/basses)
.......1978?/79 V-100 model: "V-100"-sticker, no serial
.......1979 models: VLP Spirit: six digit ser.nos. 05xxxx
........................Vantage Standard (VS): five digit ser.nos. 6xxxx
........................Vantage Performer (VP): five digit ser.nos. 7xxxx
........................Vantage Artist (VA): five digit ser.nos. 8xxxx
........................Ghost (VP 750): no or hard to read serial number, 1979 models: 4 digit serial number
.......1979/1980 (until 4/80): 6 digit serial numbers: 0xxxxx
.......1980 (April) - 1984 (June?): 7 digit serial numbers, first digit = year of production (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
..................................................................digits 2 + 3 = month of production
........................................6 digit serial numbers for VP795 models
.......1980/81: VA900 series: 6 digits: first digit (0 or 1) = year, 2+3 digits = month
...................................7 digit # for late '81 models
.......1981/82: "Special" series of VP and VA models: five digit ser.nos: 71xxx or 72xxx(VP), 81xxx or 82xxx(VA) (following the number system of
..........................their '79/ '80 predecessors)
.......1984 -1988: letter prefix serial numbers: (A-L)xxxxxx: letter=month, first digit=year of production (unconfirmed!)
.......1990 -1998 (Samick models): -
VANTAGE catalogs:This is what we've got: (still searching for more...)
Made in Japan:
catalog 1: 1979/80 models
http://www.matsumoku.org/models/vantage/catalogs/c1980s/catalog_th.htmlcatalog 2: 1980/81 models
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3295catalog 3 "Born to rock": 1982/83 models
http://www.matsumoku.org/models/vantage/catalogs/1982/pg1.htmlcatalog 4: 1984/85 models
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4985Acoustic catalog 1982.
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=8393Missing catalogs from the Japanese era: 1979 flyer?, probably a 1983 catalog for 83/84 models, a 1985/86 catalog or flyer?
Made in Korea:
1993 catalog: no link available
1995 catalog: available at vintaxe.com
1996 catalog:
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=5724#p342021997 flyer: available at vintaxe.com
1997 acoustic guitar flyer: available at vintaxe.com
Missing catalogs from the Korean era: 1990 - 1992 years, 1994 catalog, 1998 flyer!
VANTAGE electric guitars & basses:MIJ ONLY!
1978?/1979:
........V-100: LP copy, open book headstock, angle-lettering-logo, sunburst + black + (wine)red
1979:
........first 3 Models with "Vantage headstock", horizontal-logo:
........600 VS, 700 VP, 800 VA(=800Artist)
........5 digit serial numbers (first = model)
....... late '79 :
first Vantage catalog with 1979/1980 models:
.......... basic line renamed: VS 600 "Witch", VP 700 "Mystic", VA 800 "Phantom"
...................................VS 600B "Witch bass", VP 700B "Mystic bass"
......................colour: "mat brown"
......................Mahogany(VS)/Ash(VP,VA) bodies with maple/walnut center stripes, maple necks
.........................(early VS models were made with dark stained mahogany necks and without
.........................walnut stripes)
...........+ "traditional design" line:
...................................VLP 500/510/540/550 "Spirit" (Les Paul copies, bolt on neck, 4 colours:
...............................................tobacco burst brown, wine red, jet black, cherry sunburst
...............................................later(81?/82?): two more colours available: burgundy (VLP 520),
..................................................................................................brown burst (VLP 530)
...............................................mahogany bodies + carved birchwood top, mahogany neck
....................................750 "Ghost" (The Paul copy, mat brown colour only, mahogany)
1980: all models with 6 digit serial numbers (first digit=year) until 4/1980, then 7 digit Serials (004xxxx = April '80, 012xxxx = Dec.'80)
...........(most of the "Ghost" and "790" models are without or hard to read serial number)
.......VS 650 "Witch" (light variant of VS 600) in "natural", VS 650B "Witch bass" (light variant of VS 600B)
.......VP 710, VP 710B (light variants of VP 700/VP 700B, in "harvestash")
.......mysterious Peavey T60 copy (not in catalogs, no name so far, I call it VT 60)
............mysterious matching bass: "VT 40", maple fretboard, 2+2 tuners
.......790: set neck model, advertised in music magazines
.......Around May, 1980: introduction of the new top model VA 900 "Devil" (active circuit) with the new VANTAGE "Big V" logo
.......12-string version=VA 912 "Devil" (passive electronics)
.......VA 900B "Devil bass" (active electronics)
.......VA 900B-FL "Fretless Devil bass"
.......VP 790 "Demon"
.......changes in design and production throughout 1980: new Big V-logo, new edge routing, V-logo tuners,...
.......logo changes on all old models: VLP, VP 750, VS 600/650, VP 700/710, VP 790, VA 800/810
.......late '80:
(second) catalog with following 1980/81 models:
1981: VS series extended with VS 600R rainbow series: VS 600R + VS 600RB
............all guitars and basses in 3 colours: "Sundown Red", "California Blue", "Midnight Black"
............Ash bodies instead of mahogany (VS 600)
............(early ' 81 ?) 2 knob versions, 3 knob versions
........VS 695 "Vamp", VS 695/12, VS 695B "Vamp bass", VS 695B/FL
....... VP series extended with VP 795 "Demon II", VP 795B "Demon II bass"
....... top of the line still: VA 900/VA 912/VA 900B/VA 900B-FL
.......... (produced only in 1980/81, 6-digit ser.no.starting with 00 or 01 = year)
...........2 colors: harvestash + "mahogany?"
....... Special: 24frets VA 800/VA 810 (5 digit ser.no: 81xxx or 82xxx)
........................as successor of the 22frets VA 800 Phantom
........Special: VP 700/VP 710 (5 digit ser.no: 71xxx or 72xxx)
....... new series introduced: Avenger (AV 310, AV 325, AV 325B)
...................AV 310: single HB, 2 knobs, natural finish
...................AV 325: 2 x HB, early ' 81 models: 2 knobs + natural finish, otherwise 4 knobs + translucent color finishes
.............VSH "Vantage semi hollowbodies" 435, 445 "Haunt", 455 "Specter"
....... VLP spirit stayed in program (discontinued 1983)
........late '81: introduction of the FV 575 "Voodoo" (flying V) and FV 575B "Voodoo bass"
..................(not to find in catalogs)
..................First as lim.ed.models (tru blue,apple red, jet black, nice white)
..................Later regular in black and white
1982: "Standard II"model introduced (SG-shape)(not to find in catalogs), black, 6-string + 4-string
........Lim.edition versions of the VS 600 in tru blue and apple red
........Special edition of a VS 690 "Super-witch" in blonde
........Lim.edition of the "Ghost": VTP 750 in walnut
........late '82:
(third) 1982/83 catalog ("born to rock") - new products:
....... Avenger series extended:
................AV 315: HB/S pickup configuration, AV 315B
................AV 330: S/S/S pickup configuration
................AV 330MX (like above, but one piece maple neck, matching headstock, metallic colors)
....................limited edition colors available: purple, silver
....... introduction of the VE (vantage entertainer) series:
.............. semi solid VE 545 (chrome HW) bolt on neck, VE 565 (golden HW) set neck
...............solid VE 550 (chrome HW), VE 570 (golden HW), both with set neck
...............solid "Entertainar" with bounded headstock, block inlays (bolt on neck)
...............solid "Entertainar" with unbounded headstock, Dot inlays (bolt on neck)
........VS series: new VS 696 "Vamp II", 696/12, VS 696B (?)
............( brass nut, more contoured body than 695, colors:trans black, trans red, trans blue)
........VP series: new VP820, VP820B
........introduction of X-series models: X-77, X-77T (Tremolo), X-77B, X-88, X-88B
........mysterious FV-588 model (sunburst)
1983: VLPs "Spirit" (Les Paul copies) and FV-575 "Voodoo" (Flying V copy) discontinued
........Mysterious LTD: a VLP 540 with LTD written on the trussrod cover (not to find in catalogues) (?)
........new performer models : VP 825, VP 825B, VP830 (active electronics), VP 830B
........more entertainer models: semi hollow body VE 450 (chrome HW), VE 470 (golden HW),
.............late '83? or '84, both set necks, with pointy f-holes
........more X-Series models: X-99, X-99B
1984: matsumoku stopped producing "natural wood design" guitars
........X-35 (2 humbucker)
........X-33 (3 single coils)
........
catalog No.4 : came out mid/late '84 for 1984/1985 models
........it's not confirmed if this catalog's models were made by Matsumoku, Chushin or elsewhere in Japan!!
........New serial number system: 6 digits + letter prefix: letter might be month, first digit might be year of production (not confirmed)
........completely new lineup: guitar world was demanding for metal axes+trem bars
........New Avenger series: 315, 315T(tremolo), 315B, 315 TX + 325 TD X(with graphlex neck), 325 B X(bass)
........New X-series: 33-TD, 33-TD X, 33B XF(fretless), 38-TD X, 77-TD X, 77 B X, 99-TD X (neckthru),
.........................99 B X, 99 B X headless
........economy price series ("basically hot"): 315 S, 315 ST, 315 STX, 315 SB (bass), 315 SBX (bass)
........Invader 1 , Invader 2 (both introduced: around october 1984)
1985: same models as (late) 1984
1986: slightly updated '85 models +
........Invader 5-TD (SSH)
VANTAGE acoustic guitars:made at several japanese facilities, including Katoh, Terada & Ida
classical/nylon strings:
VC 100 (1979/80) (cedar top, mahogany back and sides)
VC 120 (1979/80) (cedar top, mahogany back and sides)
VC 150 (1979/80) (cedar top, rosewood back and sides)
steelstring acoustics:
VANTAGE WESTERN:
(1979 - 1983)
VW 80 S (198?)
VW 100 (1979) (natural finish)
VW 150 (1979) (natural finish)
VW 160 (1980) (same as 150, but tobacco sunburst finish)
VW 170 (1980) (same as 100, but brown sunburst finish)
VW 175 (1980) (same as 100, but wine red finish)
VW 180 (1979) (natural finish + abalone)
VW 190 (1980) (same as 150, but brown sunburst finish)
VW 195 (1980) (same as 150, but wine red finish)
VW 250 (198?) (same as 180, but with double goldplated hardware, natural finish + abalone)
(VW 100, VW 170, VW 175 with black celluloid binding)
(VW 150, VW 160, VW 190, VW 195 with white celluloid binding)
(VW 180, VW 250 with white celluloid binding + abalone purfling)
All VW models available until 1983
VANTAGE FOLK:
VF 110S (sunburst)
VANTAGE ACOUSTIC:
(introduced 1982)
VA 10 LT, VA 10 DK
VA 12 LT, VA 12 DK (12 strings)
VA 15 LT, VA 15 DK
VA 20
VA 22 C - R(red), VA 22 C - B(blue), VA 22 CE, VA 22/12
VA 25
VA 30 DOK (N), VA 30 DOK, VA 30 ACS, VA 30-12
VA 40, VA 40 E, VA 40 CE, VA 40 CET, VA 40/12, VA 40/12 C, VA 40/12 CE, VA 40/12 E
VA 50 S, VA 50 SLC, VA 50 LCE, VA 50 LCET
LTD
LTD CE
VANTAGE NATURAL:
VN 200F (1980), VN 200D (1980), VN 200-12 (1980)
VN 220D (1980), VN 22-12 (1980)
CL 15 LT (craviola style)
sources: "Fachblatt", "Int.musician & recording world", Vantage catalogues, PAISTE Germany, Vantage marketing manual (courtesy of GDK9), Erikson music, my guitars and the guitars of the "Vantage family", & finally the huge knowledge of this board's fantastic people.
O.K. guys, this is my personal time frame for all MIJ Vantage guitars.
I DO NOT claim to be right in every point. There's still a lot of open questions, mysteries and things that don't fit. Let's just take it as a basic for further discussion.
cheers, Johann