Vantage 655VG

I LIKE THIS GUITAR, 655 VANTAGE. I PLAY IT AND BOUGHT.
PICKUPS ARE GOOD AND VERY GOOD QUALITY CRAFTMANSHIP
I RATE IT WITH THE BEST GUITAR MAKERS
I LOVE MY VANTAGE 960BA SIX STRING BASS
I WANT A VANTAGE ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR
A FRIEND HAVE HIS VANTAGE 635 OVER 20 YEARS AND STILL PLAYING
AND KNOW ALTERATION TO HIS GUITAR

I WOULD BUY ANOTHER IF LOST
42 YEARS PLAYING EXPERINCE
I HAVE A GRETSCH JET 71 MODEL FOR 30 YEARS
MY GUITARS ARE USE FOR LIVE AND RECORDING
WHEN YOU NEED GOOD GUITARS AND ON A BUDGET
I CHOOSE VANTAGE THEY WILL LAST

Mid 90s, maybe 2001...hard to tell from the serial number. Korean/Samick made. 20 frets. Laminated Spruce top. 2 volume/2 tone, 3 way selector switch. 2 humbuckers. Maple neck, maple body. Natural, glossy poly finish. JazzBox archtop, 17 inch lower bout. Tune-o-matic gold bridge. Stock tuners. Jumbo frets, average-to-thin neck.

Sounds like a big bodied jazzbox. Mellow on the neck pu and bright on the bridge pu. Actually sounds surprisingly well considering the overseas electronics. An upgrade to Gibson 57's wouldn't hurt, but it's fine the way it is. Playing thru a 72 Fender Deluxe Reverb and really sings!

Bought it used, so factory setup was a moot point. But, the setup was very easy. A little neck tweaking and pickup height adjustment and she plays like butter. Very low action and smooth as silk. Intonation is spot on. Finish is superb! The Samick/Vantage Korean factory really takes pride in their finishes.

Well, sure it's great for live playing, just don't use it as a baseball bat. Hardware seems fine...a little tarnish on the gold plating, but that always happens with age. Seems to be a very dependable guitar.

Once again, bought it used. I know nothing about Vantage support. Friends have told me Samick stands behind their guitars very well, so I have no doubt the Vantage company does as well.

I've been playing jazz for 30 years and own a number of other guitars like SGs, Samick HJ450, Epi Joe Pass, Sorrento, Teles, Strats and a DeArmond 155. This Vantage is right up there with the other Samick/Epi products. Same factory afer all. It's a lovely jazz guitar that allows you to play and have fun and not worry about your overpriced Gibson L5. Upgrade the tuners and pickups and you've got a very capable jazzbox for a third the cost of upper end guitars. I'd get another in a second!

I first bought this guitar in Spring of '99 and when I saw it I new I wanted it. It is a Vantage 655VG Semi-Acoustic with 20 frets. I primarily use this guitar for my rhythm playing due to lack of high frets, but recently I have been using it for lead guitar having discovered that it has a beautiful action. I had to customise the action a little at first but that was no problem due to the adjustable bridge making it as easy as possible to get the action needed. The pickups themselves are 2 Humbuckers one located at the neck the other at the bridge. With a 3 way selector switch for easy changes. It has a beautiful Rosewood neck with pearl fret marks. The neck itself is very thin and designed for lead guitar playing, but as I said I like to go higher on a guitar so it is my rhythm guitar.

I like this guitarts sound as it gives a beautifully fluid sound, which is the reason why I bought it in the first place. When played the way it was intended it gives the perfect sound for blues guitaring and also a good rhythm sound too. But if overdrive or any loud effect is put on it produces a lot of feedback to due its wide body.
The only dislike is if I use it for loud songs it doesn't sound as good as when it is clean. But overall a beautiful sound is gained from this guitar if played correctly!!

The action it came with was ridiculous so I needed to adjust it a great deal to get my desired action. There was one fault with it and that was on the 12th fret on the low E it always rattled and had to be taken in and serviced which was done and the rattle went.
When altered to the desired setting this can be very good though.

The guitar itself was played live within a week of buying it and it did exceptionally well I thought it sounded perfect. I think if treated well all guitars can last on stage but this one is only really for acoustic sets so it should stand the test of time. I always have a backup guitar when my band are gigging and this is usually the backup. But in acoustic situations this is always first in line without fail and without a backup too because I can rely on this.

It came under a 1 year warranty and I used it for my fret board fuzz problem. It was dealt with quickly and effectively so I was happy.

I have been playing for just under 2 years and enjoy the experience of being onstage. I would only have liked to have got the thinner bodied version of this guitar but I still like this one anyway.