NBD: Vintage Matsumoku (Vantage) Double P

[Mo Bass]

I'll thank (blame, jk ) @Killed_by_Death for the GAS for this one. I had a Fender Blacktop P NBD last month, and he brought up the Fender Blacktop Jazz (jazz neck and 2 P pickups). Seeing those, I got a serious GAS attack, but, if you can find them, they're like $750.

Then I found out about the Matsumoku-made Vantage VP-710B, and fell in love. Last week, I jumped on one from e(vil)Bay, and it was delivered last night.

View attachment 3363175

It needs some TLC, as it's almost 40 years old now, but the 2 P pickups sound awesome through my V4B-RI and flatback 810. There are a few things that need to be addressed (listed below), but it feels terrific. It's a Jazz spec neck and the frets are very low and thin. I think I can get the action almost as low as my fretless basses. It's amazingly light too; the lightest of all, now 5, of my basses. It is a little neck-divey, but with my 3.5" straps and right forearm, it's not a problem.

TLC things:
- Fretboard needs a serious cleaning (you can see it in the picture, I think)
- I think the pickup switch needs to be rewired (center position seems to have the pickups in series vs parallel; if either volume knob is off, there's no signal)
- bridge needs to be replaced (notorious bend that the 3-post style Gibson and Epiphones get)
- New strings, once the bridge is replaced; I think the ones on it might be originals...

By the time I'm done, though, I should have less $ into it that I do my used PRS SE Kestrel. I have no idea why these Vantage basses do not have a larger following, but they seem to be every bit as good as a vintage Aria Pro II (made in the same factory...), and those go for over 3x the price of the Vantages.

More pics to come as I clean her up.

Know this is an old discussion, but what strings did you end up installing? Just picked up a Vantage double P. Kinda want to try flats.

 

[CTBassGuy]

Know this is an old discussion, but what strings did you end up installing? Just picked up a Vantage double P. Kinda want to try flats.

Rotosound 77 Jazz flats; it sounded really good with those strings IMO. It sat in the mix really nicely.

Which model Vantage did you get?

 

[Mo Bass]

Rotosound 77 Jazz flats; it sounded really good with those strings IMO. It sat in the mix really nicely.

Which model Vantage did you get?

Its a VP795B, so switch on the horn and 3 knobs. 34" scale. Neck is straight and everything seems to work properly too. Its a really different sounding bass. I havent tried Rotosounds before, my other bass has LaBellas flats on it. Thanks for the recommendation!