help to Identify my Japanese Vantage entertainer.

[Brenny]

Hi, I got this beautiful guitar in a trade, plays very well, sounds amazing, very well built, however, I can't find any info or pics about this exact model, most of them are semi hollow, this one is solid with a set neck, which is strange because every other solid one on Google has a bolt neck, I know it's from the matsumoku factory, but it's a bit of a mystery, the tuners have been changed and I'd like some info about them too, any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[BadPenguin]

Seems to be a Vantage VE???A There is NOT a lot of info on these, probably one year of manufacture, and possible Japanese market only. This is the only info I found on it, and it's NOT lot. And alas, it's a bolt on.
http://www.matsumoku.org/models/vantage/ve/ve.html

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

Seems to be a VE-550.

http://www.vantage-guitars.com/ve-550/

 

[Brenny]

Note, there are no f holes, it's completely solid, and the inlays are smaller than the VE 550, plus a set neck. Im baffled as to what model this is haha

 

[Paul46]

It looks a lot like this one.....

 

[Brenny]

Yeah it looks very similar, I wonder if he took the gold pick-up covers off , these models must be pretty rare

 

[warmachine]

Only match I could find for your guitar was...your actual guitar. Lol

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-vantage-entertainer-guitar-204952615

 

[warmachine]

Bad Pen

Seems to be a Vantage VE???A There is NOT a lot of info on these, probably one year of manufacture, and possible Japanese market only.

Not saying there is a relationship to the Vantage, but I have seen some similar double cutaway Les Paul types by Memphis and Aria Pro. Despite the odd choice of headstock (Flying V type) they look to be well built. You have any knowledge about them?

Heres the Memphis:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/322205145952

 

[BadPenguin]

Memphis, Aria Pro, Vantage, Westone, Electra, same factory, different brand names. All made by Uncle Matt in the 70's up to 87. It wasn't uncommon to have the exact same guitar, under different brand names. At one point oin the early 70's, you could have the Aria, Aria Diamond, Epiphone, Conrad, Ventura, Conqueror, be the exact same guitar, with a different headstock logo.

 

[brokentoeswalker]

We have lots of Vantage Guitars here in Canada.... i always thought they were made/labeled Vantage for the Canadian market. Mats made goodness. Solid guitars, i've seen neck thru, bolt on and set neck examples.

 

[Brenny]

Here are the pickups , notice it's a glued in neck with a bolt , I presume for extra protection..... Plus it has the mmk 53 pickup set, very high output, similar to my dimarzio super distortion copies in my old Yamaha studio lord.

 

[brokentoeswalker]

Looks all original 'cept for the tuners to boot. That's a nice bonus. Sen/Ash body ?? What's the mini-toggle do ?? I've seen people asking good money for the higher end Vantages here. I'm not sure if they get them though. Lotta gear snobs wouldn't even pick one up or bless their eyes on one lol. Your gain.

 

[Brenny]

I'll never sell this thing, I'm completely blown away by the quality, the mini toggle is a coil splitter, so again, bonus, sounds absolutely amazing, plays very nice too, just like a Les Paul but with more fret access I think it's an ash body with a 3 piece maple neck.

 

[warmachine]

I'll never sell this thing, I'm completely blown away by the quality

Vantage guitars are ones I’ve watched for a couple years now but know the least about. I have put a few ebay bids on the 335 copy the VSH-455 but never won yet. I’ve since satisfied my 335 thinline collecting except I almost did a buy it now on an semi hollow Entertainer. You got a killer find here!

Can you measure the widest part of the body? And then the widest part of the horn to horn? I have some measurements from an old Aria Pro PE-145 that predates the Vantage by several years. It is a more ornate guitar, but the body outline seems similar to yours.

The Pe-145:
weight 8.8lbs
13 3/4” body
10 1/4” horns