Vantage 960BA 6-string - early '90's

fishstick666 · #1 10-17-2011, 12:40 PM

***Traded locally*** Early 90's Vantage 960BA 6 string bass (I bought it used in 1994). Perfect condition, never gigged, beautiful wood work (Mahogony body, maple neck, rosewood finger board). This was evidently Vantage's top of the line at the time. I bought this bass because it had (and has) one of the best actions I've ever played. The string spacing is perfect - spread enough to slap but not so far apart to slow down your playing.

Here's a pretty accurate review:
ActiveBass: Reviews of Vantage 960BA

I do agree that the electronics are a bit average, but that's an easy upgrade that can be done to suit whatever sound you're looking for. The playability of this bass is outstanding.

Some more reviews from Harmony Central:
Basses: 960BA by Vantage | Harmony Central

$450 shipped CONUS, Paypal and I have some gig bag/case options available

Possible trades:
G&L L2000 (US or Tribute), L1000
Peavey T40 or T45
Sterling SB14
hit me up with anything 4-string

fishstick666 · #2 10-17-2011, 12:42 PM

more photos

fishstick666 · #3 10-18-2011, 07:27 AM

I should be studying but I'm looking at talkbass bump!

fishstick666 · #4 10-19-2011, 03:40 PM

TimWilson · #5 10-19-2011, 09:11 PM

Wow, the memories! I toured with one of these — IDENTICAL to this one — for more than ten years, and it never failed to deliver. It always played great and sounded awesome, especially after I replaced the pups and circuit with Duncan Basslines. It even survived my half-assed de-fretting. But I finally destroyed it with a terrible routing job to drop in soapbars.

Bump for the memories.

fishstick666 · #6 10-20-2011, 03:51 PM

Tim - any ideas on when exactly/how long these were produced? Doesn't seem to be much info available on them.

TimWilson · #7 10-20-2011, 04:42 PM

Wish I could help. I literally stumbled onto mine in an Akron, Ohio music store, and I had never seen one before. I bought mine on a whim, and it just turned out to be my main touring bass for years. I had never heard of them before then, and have never seen anything about them since. All I can really say about them is that they are a VERY surprisingly good bass with more road quality than you would expect. If times was better, I'd grab it myself.

fishstick666 · #8 10-22-2011, 11:47 AM

Saturday price drop and trades added bump! Buy this today and I will call you and beat box over the phone for 1 whole minute!

FunkMetalBass · #9 10-22-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishstick666

Saturday price drop and trades added bump! Buy this today and I will call you and beat box over the phone for 1 whole minute!

Now that's an offer nobody can refuse.

fishstick666 · #10 10-23-2011, 02:27 PM

Ok, I can see you guys are playing hardball. Let's up the ante: if this bass sells today I will include 2 minutes of beat boxing AND I throw out a few dope rhymes! That's a bargain at any price!

basspro · #11 10-23-2011, 06:12 PM

Is this a MIJ Matsumoku Vantage or Korean version?

fishstick666 · #12 10-23-2011, 07:02 PM

I'd love to know myself. As far as I know, Vantage Japan had a "made in Japan" on the back plates, but this a neck through, so no back plate. I've been over the entire bass (and cavity) and there's no writing at all. The tuning pegs all say Vantage, and the serial number is S93083196 if that helps. I haven't found anywhere to check Vantage serial numbers.

Anyone?

basspro · #13 10-23-2011, 10:22 PM

After seeing the serial number,I'm pretty sure this was made at the Samick PT Factory in 1993.

JDJen · #14 10-24-2011, 07:17 AM

It is Korean made, and I'm 99.9% sure Cort was the manufacturer of these at the time.

I used to be a Vantage and Cort dealer from 93-97 and my distributor said these both came out of the same factory. Cort also made the Conklin Groove Tools basses too.

These are very well made instruments and highly under rated.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #15 10-24-2011, 08:01 AM

Wow- that was the first six-string I ever tried. Haven't seen one in a long time.

fishstick666 · #16 10-25-2011, 08:52 AM

Price drop bump and open to more 4-string trades.

fishstick666 · #17 10-27-2011, 05:22 PM

Price drop bump! It's rare, it's pretty, it plays like butter!!! Act before midnight Friday and I will throw in 5 minutes of spoken word!

Rock Candy · #18 02-15-2012, 11:30 AM

So here I am on my honeymoon, trying to find info on my new bass.
Not only do I find info, I find my bass was YOUR bass! Talk about a small world! Imagine how i felt checking the serial number on the headstock only to find out the bass I just bought from GC used to be yours... apparently it was purchased from another store and returned to my local store without it's case. I find it interesting how these things travel around; every piece of used gear I have purchased I have always wondered about its' history - now i have one I can say i know a bit about. This is very cool.
in case you care, it has a very good home with me.

Rock Candy · #19 02-15-2012, 11:39 AM

oh, and just curious...
1. did it have a name?
2. why did you sell it?

fishstick666 · #20 02-15-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Candy

So here I am on my honeymoon, trying to find info on my new bass.
Not only do I find info, I find my bass was YOUR bass! Talk about a small world! Imagine how i felt checking the serial number on the headstock only to find out the bass I just bought from GC used to be yours... apparently it was purchased from another store and returned to my local store without it's case. I find it interesting how these things travel around; every piece of used gear I have purchased I have always wondered about its' history - now i have one I can say i know a bit about. This is very cool.
in case you care, it has a very good home with me.

That's awesome, and it sounds like it found a good home. And not too far away - I'm in San Diego county and traded the bass to GC - San Marcos for one of the new Gretsch G5123B Electromatics. I've had the Vantage since '93 and purchased it used myself (in Santa Cruz). I always loved the Vantage - the wood work is stunning and isn't that the sweetest low action you've ever seen!?!? I sold it because I just can't go back and forth between a 4 and 6 string, and I'm really a 4 string guy. If I play both, I have to start thinking when I'm playing!

Don't worry - you aren't missing an original case - I traded it in with a Carvin case.

And, it's never had a name, so it's up to you!

*Just one caveat - if you play any Journey songs with the bass, I will have to come repossess it!

Glad it's with another TBer.