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NBD: Vintage Matsumoku (Vantage) Double P

#21
SpazzTheBassist said:
Check and see if any pots are push/pull
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Nope, no push/pull pots. Good suggestion, though.

I do think cheechi was correct about the wiring, so we know it's working as intended. I will have to dig though to see if I could integrate a push/pull pot to act as a serial/parallel switch. I've never gotten into how those pots are built, but I have at least a passing understanding of electrical circuits and components...
 
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#23
CTBassGuy said:
The redish body sides on your Memphis are beautiful. I saw a few Arias of that color and would have grabbed that over the blonde of mine, if one was available.

It's amazing how many brands came out of Matsumoku that seemed to have been considered 2nd rate, at the time. The fit and finish seems to be as good as my Carvin of that same timeframe. Of course, there are quite a few folks who feel that way about Carvins too... :whistle:
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I completely agree. I saw this one hanging up in my local mom & pop music store. And my first thought was it looked like an Alembic with that three piece body and neck through. It had it's fraternal twin, a 6-string guitar, hanging right next to it.

After looking at it every single time I went in there over the space of four months, I finally asked them to try it out. This was back in the pre-GC days when you didn't just walk into a music store and try things out.

Plugged it in and lo and behold it sounded great. Action was a little high (isn't it always?) but it sounded great even so. Price was $345. Not exactly cheap since that'd be about $900 in today's dollars. But it came with a hardshell case (like most things did back then) so it was reasonable for the times. My SO's first Strat, which we bought the same year at the same place, cost us $675 to give you another number to help put it in perspective.

Funny thing was I sort of assumed it wasn't really a neck-though. For the price I figured they just did something clever with paint or veneers. But when I got it home and had a closer look - and then popped one of the pups just to be sure - I realized it actually was the real deal.

When I went back to the shop a few weeks later figuring I'd grab the guitar too, it was already gone. They said they sold it the same day they did mine to some guy who was watching me when I tried out the bass. He was impressed enough by how it sounded that he asked to try out the guitar as soon as I left. Guess he had his eye on the guitar for awhile too. :laugh:

I asked them if I'd get a partial sales commission since I helped sell it. They just smiled that smile they always smiled.

Those were the days. (Not!) :thumbsup:
 
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#25
hintz said:
That's is absolutely beautiful, congratulations!! As someone who might never afford an Alembic, I totally want one of these! :)
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If you acquire one, I'd be really interested in your opinion comparing it to your BC Rich basses. The bit you show in your avatar looks gorgeous (I assume it's one of them). I'm sure the Vantages are not in the same league, but I'd still be curious.
 
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#29
rashrader said:
That might be the one that was on my local Craigslist. I looked at it multiple times!! Enjoy.
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Actually, I tried to buy that one, but the lister would only ship it if I paid via a money order. I just was not comfortable with that; no protection for me... The one I got was actually out of Iowa.

So if anyone is in Baltimore, there is a VP-710B up for sale there (or, at least was...)! :D
 
#30
Jazz Ad said:
These were really inexpensive, entry level models. I thought they sounded terrible but I may have been biased. At least they're beautiful and well built.
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Respectfully beg to differ. I worked in a shop ca. 1980 that moved its share of Vantages and I remember the models we carried as excellent value options. They had a bass that was 1-2 grades above the OP's that looked like the poor man's Alembic -- so. much. brass. AND all their instruments came with nice hardshell cases!
 
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#39
CTBassGuy said:
If you acquire one, I'd be really interested in your opinion comparing it to your BC Rich basses. The bit you show in your avatar looks gorgeous (I assume it's one of them). I'm sure the Vantages are not in the same league, but I'd still be curious.
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Thank you!! For sure if I ever get to try or buy a vantage!!

diegom said:
Are there any Double P, reversed? Or that was not a thing?
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. I dunno about this brand, but reversed double P's were a thing with other brands from this era
IMG_0527.JPG


I prefer this setup as it has a more compressed, even tone than a regular dual p.
 
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