Vantage 928GDT

I believe it is a 92 Model though I am not 100% sure.
It has a 24 Fret set neck, 7pc Maple / Mahogany Neck runs the length of the guitar and has what appears to be Ash Wings set to the sides of the neck to make the body. Rosewood fretboard.
Fitted with 2 singles and a humbucker (All Passive, and not too brilliant sounding, though not bad)
Standard strat style switch with a 2nd mini toggle for coil tapping on the humbucker.
I have since changed the humbucker for a PAF and will change the singles to Blue Velvets.
The finish is, how do I describe this??? The set neck which runs full body length is left natural with a clear gloss coat so it looks rather like a tiger stripe / racing stripe at the back and down the centre of the face (Light wood, Dark wood, Light wood?gorgeous) , and the Ash body parts which are fixed to the sides of the neck have translucent red lacquer applied. It really looks superb. The construction is similar to some of the Yamaha and Canora style guitars of the Later 70s / Early 80s.
Shape is very much like a Washburn KC series crossed with the Satriani style Ibanez guitars and it had a single locking Floyd fitted (I changed it to a double locking system for stability). A sleek players strat.
Tuners are gold plated gotoh style (replicas) Knobs also Gold Knurled metal (Probably brass) and the mini toggle for switching the Coil tap is also gold.
The neck is wide flat and plays like a dream, longer scale like a Fender extended to 24 frets.
It is most likely Korean as Samick who made them are Korean, but the other reviews all claim Vantage are Japanese made? Doesn?t matter, if it looks decent and plays well I couldn?t care if it was made in a Siberian sweatshop!

Now that I have done some personal mods I love it. It was not perfect (for me) originally, but with the PAF pick-up (coil-tapped) and a decent floyd it is great, all it needs (for me) are my preferred singles. To be fair the original pick-ups would suit a lot of guitarists down to the ground, but I like a raw bluesy vintage sound, even though I do use a trem-bar (ala CC Deville and co.), I do like the classic vintage valve amp type tones. For this reason the pick-ups / trem were not quite my cup of tea.
Having said that, I play mostly classic rock to heavier rock, with a bit of funkier stuff, some big production ballads, there is even some country in the mix... Hey whatever pays $$$!
It is not at all noisy, Ok it hums with my Paf split, but no more than my Strats or Teles and the range of sounds are more than adequate, but will be better suited to my playing with the Blue Velvets in the neck and middle position.
It sustains nicely, and plays beautifully now.

Originally (2nd hand) it needed minor work, now I have set it up and I love it.
The action went down low easily, and it now plays as good as it looks, which is like a million bucks.
Visually, it is flawless! I tend to buy guitars with stunning natural timbers under transparent gloss coats due to the fact I love nice looking woods. This guitar is definitely in that league.
In fact I never even plugged it in at the shop. It looked superb so I played it to feel the neck, and figured, hey if the pick-ups suck! I?ll change ?em. I might have had 2nd thoughts had I noticed the single locking tremolo, but now I am glad I bought it.
I don't like gold plating as it always turns to crap, I have owned and still do own several guitars with Gold hardware and it never lasts, not even on my Les Pauls.
I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would put a single locking Floyd Rose type tremolo on a guitar, they might as well go with a standard Strat style, coz the tuning stability would be about the same. I guess it came down to the Dollar value!
Hint if you keep the single locking trem use Fender Bullet type strings as the tuning stability is far better than with normal ball ends.

Even as original it would be fine for live use as long as you were not too heavy on the trem.
It would last well through all sorts of playing use (Apart from major whammy workouts)
The lacquered finish over the woodwork will last forever, I can't say the same for the gold plating!
I changed the strap buttons for Schaller lockers, just as my own personal preference, I have them on all my guitars but the originals were as good as any non locking buttons. I just like to know my babies are secure. I?ve seen too many guys drop a guitar when a strap is worn loose, and before I used locking strap buttons I have had my own guitars threaten to scare me that way.
I wouldn't do a gig with any guitar without a back-up, and this is no different. Not coz I don't trust them, simply nothing is totally infallible, strings can break, besides I like to have a couple guitars on hand for different sounds. I doubt the wiring will die, but I have had Les Pauls crap out at gigs, which are worth more than 10 times this guitars value.

They (Vantage) were made by Samick, but I don't think Vantage are in production any more.
Not that it matters it is like 10 years old so I am on my own.

I have been playing forever, like 23 years or so ?I?m in my early 30s.?.
I currently have too many guitars and amps to list but some are, Amps from; Fender, Vox, Peavey and Rolands (my 2 main amps)... Guitars (Acoustic, Acoustic/Electric) Ibanez (Vintage), Ovation (98 ltd), and Fenix (Custom, Fenix Rule #1) and electrics by Fender, Gibson, Hondo, Valley Arts, Aria Pro 2 and Fenix (Yeah again 2 Electric Fenix as well as my acoustic electric, they?re awsome!)
I would be ropable if this were stolen after the work I did getting it right. I love it, and would love a 2nd one, with a fixed bridge / string through set up. Somewhat rare.
Aesthetically it looks stunning / absolutely beautiful. Though the cheap hardware is a definite downer. However with a little time and money invested it rocks. With the new singles loaded it should rate right up as one of my favourites.
Others may hate its retro styled neck through body design, or love it as it was without a single alteration. It is all subjective and personal.
The neck through design to me ranks up there with the Fender custom shop guitars. Great craftsmanship.
I have definitely seen and played a lot worse priced at a hell of a lot more, and to the same token found some amazing cheaper guitars, which just defied all logic.

If it looks appealing, close your eyes and play it to hear how it sounds (unless like me changing pick-ups is a viable option). If it sounds and feels awesome, buy it. If it sounds half decent and feels awesome, it may be worth working into something really special.

Don?t be lead by a particular brand name supposedly being good, bad or otherwise. There are some total dud Fenders, Gibsons?. out there, and some incredible no name guitars.
Try to look past the brand logo and let your Ears, Hands and Eyes make their own unbiased decisions. You might just find yourself playing a cruddy branded guitar that really rocks. On the other hand, if you let a name lead you into a sale, then you may end up playing an overrated dud guitar that cost you a packet.

In this game you don?t always get what you pay for, but you do always get what you deserve.