Vantage 650B Double P yay or nay?

3234718 · #1 03-20-2013, 08:40 AM

Fair condition with a case for $200

Also, any ideas as to what the four knobs and one switch do. Any info, experience, critiques would be much appreciated.

aproud1 · #2 03-20-2013, 08:44 AM

Probably weighs 11 lbs but those sound pretty good.

Dragan · #3 03-20-2013, 08:49 AM

go for it,it's sweet little playable bass. mine has different pups config and its bolt on, but I guess they re pretty similar. that was my first bass,I still got it.
btw. mine weigh no more than 7 or 8 pounds.

Basshappi · #4 03-20-2013, 09:50 AM

I messed around with a few of those back in the day. I remember them being well made a good sounding. As long as the neck is in good shape for $200 you can't go wrong.

I guessing here but the controls are probably vol & tone for each pup and the switch is pickup selector.

dalkowski · #5 03-20-2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basshappi

I guessing here but the controls are probably vol & tone for each pup and the switch is pickup selector.

Precisely -- the ol' Les Paul setup.

If the case is the Vantage hardshell case, 200 is a steal. In any case, if the bass checks out to your satisfaction, that's a fair price, IMO.

Only downsides are: it might be neck-divey and I think it's a 3-point bridge—can't adjust individual string height.

I worked in a shop that sold tons of Vantages of this vintage (late 70s, early 80s). They were good values. There's a Vantage bass that's a step up from this one that I wouldn't say no to—I like to call it a poor man's Alembic.

RCCollins · #6 03-20-2013, 10:05 AM

Git on it, man!

3234718 · #7 03-20-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basshappi

I guessing here but the controls are probably vol & tone for each pup and the switch is pickup selector.

So there's volume for each pickup and a pickup selector? Seems a bit redundant, but what the hell. The yays have it. Pics to come tomorrow.

Gaolee · #8 03-20-2013, 10:43 AM

I would say NAY, personally. I had one, and I hated it. It had neck dive from hell and weighed about 12 pounds. It sounded just fine, but so it goes. For the price, you can always sell it again, so I guess that's a qualified Yay.

bkbirge · #9 03-20-2013, 03:06 PM

I'd say "Yay" for a double P just to try it. $200 isn't a lot of scratch for a unique bass. Also I'd take out the frets and then say "Mwah".

rickwebb · #10 03-20-2013, 03:23 PM

Buy it. I would.

VanillaThundah · #11 03-20-2013, 04:12 PM

Yeah for $200, why not?

RCCollins · #12 03-20-2013, 04:15 PM

Worst case scenario you sell it to one of us and break even!