Vantage Les Paul Copy

I bought this guitar in 1983. Red wine finish, 2 humbucker, 2 tone, 2 volume and phase switch. Guitar has a rosewood fretboard. Not sure about type of wood the body is made from.

This is the first guitar I ever bought. Since then, I've added a US Fender Strat and Gibson Sonex. I play out of a 62 Fender Tremolux Head and 69 Hiwatt cabinet and use a Marshall Guvn'r pedal. Even though this guitar is about 25yrs old, made in Japan and cost me $200, it's what I still play 90% of the time. The pickups are hot, beefy and responsive. It sounds awesome for most rock.

I've set the guitar up myself and have had no issues with bad frets, wiring or otherwise

The only thing I've replaced in 25yrs are the tuning pegs that crapped out really early on. Other than that, it's lived through lots of gigs, lots of moves and the occasional drop. The body has held up really well, considering I've treated it like a $200 guitar.

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I've been playing for 25yrs and used to gig alot. I'm still amazed at how this cheap guitar sounds so good and plays so well. A friend of mine had a mid-90's Vantage and it was complete garbage, no comparison at all. I think the ealry days of Vantage produced some good instruments for the money but after the 90's quality started to fail.

1980 Vantage VLP-510 "Spirit" Les Paul copy
- Wine Red finish, Cream accents & Chrome hardware
- Arched birchwood top, mahogany back & sides
- Bolt-on mahogany neck w/rosewood fingerboard & 22 frets
- 24 3/4" scale
- 2 alnico magnet humbuckers (possibly supplied by Dimarzio)
- 2 Volume/2 Tone, 3-way pickup selector and coil-tap
- Rotomatic type tuning machines
- Tune-O-Matic bridge & Stop Bar tailpiece

I play a lot of hard rock/heavy metal and this guitar is great for it. Coupled with my 100-watt Marshall MG half-stack this guitar has lots of bottom end when you want it, and a very full sound (even with the coil taps engaged!) You can make this guitar sound pretty much however you want - unless what you want is weak and thin. I've had a Washburn Dime332 Signature and an Epiphone 1958 Goth Explorer and my Vantage walks all over both of them...and pretty much any other guitar you can get in that price range.

When I bought the guitar it was about 16 years old and had a bit of fret buzz. Took it to the local music store and had it set up, and they got rid of all the fret buzz and brought the action down. Plays like a dream now! Being a used guitar it had a few minor dings and some buckle rash - but nothing out of the ordinary. I had to reconnect the coil tap and replace the toggle switch, but other than that - the electronics are excellent.

I don't gig, but if I did, this thing could handle it. Considering it's 27 years old and has all of the original parts (barring the pickguard and toggle switch), I'd say it's pretty durable. This guitar is built twice as solid as anything you could buy today for what one of these is worth.

Vantage (at least pre-Samick Vantage) is no more. Even finding info on the internet about these is tough. The best site I've found is www.matsumoku.org.

I've been playing for about 10 years. Other guitars: Epihone Goth 1958 Explorer, Vibra acoustic, Vantage VW100S acoustic - but this one is my favorite by far. I'm hoping to buy some more Vantages - these guitars are great! If it were stolen, I'd hunt the guy down, beat him with the guitar, then proceed to play it as though nothing had happened. If you have one of these, hang on t it!

Vantage les paul copy. wine red or deep burgundy finish with creme edging (pick plate missing) Date of manufacture unknown. serial number on back 1090407 (hope it's not stolen). 22 frets. Made in Japan. one Humbucker and one seymour duncan bridge pickup. I think rosewood finger board.
Standard two volume and two tone dials. Two way switch to phase between the pickups. Don't know anything about electrickery as I only play so as far as passive or active electronics ???

I don't have any musical style as I'm quite experimental and have played 25 years or so. I like progressive rock and anything experimental. I have played thru a 100 watt valve marshall. I usually use the seymour duncan bridge pickup setting for a heavier sound. I use an old Korg effects box and individual sounds effect boxes added after the Korg settings. I find the treble settings on the humbucker a little twangy but if I tweak the tone down a tad it gets a better sound. It has a varied sound range and I like that depending on what I'm recording or playing. Great sustain due to the actual weight of the guitar. I have played some very expensive guitars in my time but my vantage still comes up trumps.

I had the frets shaved with a simple but revolutionary glass block shaver (which was as long as half the fret board but ensured even shaving of all the frets) and then individually cleaned each fret up. This was done by a guitar technician. The seymour duncan pickup was wired backwards on purchase. It was cutting out it's own sound. This has since been rectified. The original nut was plastic and broken. Replaced with a whale bone nut (not green and should be banned). Bridge needed reconfiguring and lowering to allow the harmonics to work perfectly. Also I play a lot of lead and needed a lower action. No fret buzz or problems with disappearing notes on bending. According to the technician he stated that the neck on my Vantage was in superb condition compared to $2000 Fenders he had getting new neck replacements because they were so bent. I saw one (fender)with my own eyes, I was agog at the bend in the fender neck. (Sorry Fender but true). He went on to say that the wood was the best quality during the 70,s due to japans superb standard and quality control with wood imports during those years. The finish is a little dinged and missing a scratch plate but I don't care about looks. People are mostly drunk at gigs anyway. Grow your hair long if you want to cover your axe. Ageing axe scars give character anyhow. Overall $160 to repair. Good value

I rely on my equipment and this one is a beaut. No probs with any of the hardware although I do need to tune midway after bending the shit out of my strings. I'm a demanding player and take a lot of risks. Nothing has ever given way on this guitar except a volume button fell off once. Strap buttons are solid no problems. As far as having a backup, no, that's the thrill of live work. I only ever play one guitar so I get used to the subtleties of one guitar good and bad. The devil you know.

nil. 2nd hand.

25years I've been playing. The first guitar I owned 20 years ago funny enough was the exact same one as I own now, down to the colour (bizarre) as I've never seen one like mine. Wished I hadn't sold the first one. If it were stolen or lost I would dedicate a webpage to my lost machine. I couldn't afford an equivalent sound for price..impossible. I dislike the weight when gigging as my shoulder takes the load. I wished it was lighter but It would lose the sustain in heavy playing. I can live with that.
If I had to choose between my exwife and my vantage. Hmmm my vantage of course :-)

* Burgundy Wine Woodgrain finish (semi hollow inside?)
* 2 humbuckers with coil tap switch in addition to standard treble/rhythm/both switch
* 22 frets
* 1980
* DiMarzio style humbuckers (passive)

Bought this back in 1980 for about $125. Sold it by 1983 and just acquired back in 2006. How crazy is that?

No it's not a Les Paul (a copy of a Les Paul Jr.) but its great playing guitar with good action,and good tone. A coil tapping switch gives 6 sounds instead of 3 (rhythm/treble/both x 2<coil tap on/off>)

You can get great Beatles Abbey Road style sounds so for that reason alone I love it. The finish if fragile but the guitar itself is very solid.

The guitar was set up well when I bought it and has amazingly held up well 26 years later (I'm getting it reset up)

I think if you are looking for late Beatles/Zeppelin sounds I think this guitar will do you well.

Its a beautiful lookin guitar.

Finish seems a little fragile (it has one very boo boo on front). The hardware for 1980 standards is excellent. I think new machineheads now might be adviseable but again by the standards of the time they were very good.

The humbuckers like alluded to have a bluesy sound. If you're looking for a real heavy metal guitar this is not your cup of tea.

I can depend on it I think but I would have a back up of something!

No opinion. I'm sure Vantage was swallowed up by somone or went belly up.

A bit of nostalgia for me but a great sounding low end guitar.

Made in 1980's, Japan; 22 frets.
Solid mahogany; Wine Red finish with cream trim and pick guard.
Typical Lester Paul layout: 2 volume, 2 tone, 2-way switch, miniature coil-tap switch to switch from humbucker/single coil.
2 exposed humbuckers
Rosewood fingerboard.
Les Paul style bridge.
1/2 the wieght of the real Les Paul's made in this time period.

In 1982 I sat for an entire day playing 5 different Les Paul's and 5 different LP Copies like this one. The Vantage was the only one that came even close to the real LP and was 1/2 the wieght and an 1/8 of the price.
I try to play blues/rock (was a beginner in 1980, still a beginner in 2006). I use an old Tryanor TS-15 plain no frills amp. Can really hear the difference between Humbuck and single coil settings. Nice warm tone on rythm pickup. Clear and clean on the lead pickup.

The action is great, pretty low, the original setup was really good. I am only bringing the unit in now; 2006 (bought new in 1982) for a good once over. There is an intonation problem that shows up but I play very little so I ignore it and on the G string; which seems flat from time to time.
The pickups sound great, the fit and finish are shiny, really nice.
I'd give it a 10 if it weren't for the G string; maybe after its checkup.

I don't play live, but I have two kids... I've had to change the machine heads (they were made of metal/plastic, with a plastic neck that went into the headstock; they broke)(this might fix my G string problem). I have a couple of chips in the finish where the kids banged it into a hard edge. I used my wifes dark red nail polish to seal it. Always works even after sitting in the case for years.

Bought it, played it, never talked to the company.

This was my first new guitar and is now a part of my history; I'd cry if anything ever happend to it.
I'm sure that with anything that is a copy, there's going to be good one's and bad one's.
Play it; if you like the sound buy it (it's cheaper than the real thing.)

I have owned about 30 les pauls from gibsons to ibanez through to hohners,profiles,hondos etc.The best copies of the old gibsons are some of the newer gibsons,then the hohners fron the 70's[if you can find one],the few ibanez setneck models and not to forget:Profiles,profiles,profiles.
The vantage is well built,mahogony body and neck and coilsplitting,why?,because if you want single coilsound you play a telecaster or a nighthawk.

The humbuckers are sweet sounding,but gutless,they are not Dimarzios,only look like it.
I have been experimenting with pickups for 15 years and came to the conclusion:certain pickups only fit certain guitars.
Anyhow I was about to sell the guitar when I put a pair of humbuckers in it which I had ripped of an old Hondo guitar years ago.{hondo made good necks and by now great pickups because of aging on often shitty bodies]
The result blew my mind.Incredible sweet tone with a lot of punch just right for the banging style of blues I am playing.The tonevarity is incredible and the whole guitar has changed
When you love a guitar you play different things suddenly

Well made,typical good japanese copy from the late 80's early 90's.
Lots of room for improvements

Very tough,heavy well built guitar,good looking,good for any gig.

After the alterations it is a fantastic guitar

Made in 1980's, Japan.
22 frets.
Solid mahogany.
Typical Lester Paul layout: 2 volume, 2 tone, 2-way switch, miniature coil-tap switch.
2 humbuckers
Rosewood fingerboard.
Les Paul style bridge.

Used with 5-watt Kalamazoo Model One and Peavey Classic 50.
Boss Compression Sustainer and occasionally Boss Digital Delay.
The pickups are quiet and sensitive-in the "crunch" position, my tube amps can be overdriven (but no feedback) with low volume settings.
Palm-muting sounds are excellent.

This guitar was thrown around quite a bit before it was acquired, but that didn't seem to do any harm. A few sprays with Deoxit in the switches and pots will clear up any scratchy sounds, etc.

Built like a battleship--can't hurt it. And if you did manage to hurt it, no suicide would be likely because you can afford to replace it.

Wouldn't have a clue where to contact the mfr., nor would I have to.

Playing for XXXX years (rather not say).
If stolen, big deal.
Love everything about it: there are the follwoing guitars at the ready at all times=American Standard 1995 Strat, American Standard 1993 Tele, Ibanez RG 570. But guess which one I automatically reach for, no matter what genre I'm into? Yup!
The only weak spot: Wish someone would tell me how to keep the darn thing IN TUNE!!! Have tried Militec lube, etc. Have to tune it after each track.

This is essentially a Les Paul Junior copy. I am guessing it was made in the 80's, not sure where, but probably Japan. Dual DeMarzio pickups, set neck, brass nut, single cut-away, no binding... just a big slab of mahogany. Mahognay/rosewood neck. Standard LP scale. I got it as a project... someone had sprayed "granite" paint all over it...it looked like shit. The original finish was a natural dark brown. I refinished it turquoise with white pearloid pick guard and truss rod cover... sort of retro.

The DiMarzios rock!

This is a very well built guitar... very solid. Good neck action. Feels just like a Les Paul.

The tuners look a little chintzy, but it stays in tune. Everything else is rock solid.

The pawn shop refused to give me a warranty.

I've owned lots of nice guitars, including several Gibsons and 1960's US-made Epiphones. This comes as close to the real thing as any copy out there, including the new Epiphones.

Japanese made LP copy, probably late 70s, early 80s (sounds promising already), burgundy with cream binding, pick-ups and scratchplate. Bound neck with pearloid inlays. Very heavy, so it's clumsy like a LP, although body has a hollow ring to it. Twin humbuckers with coil tap switch (this is a smart feature). The bolt-on neck is slim and more suited to a small hand.

This is not in the same class as most Epiphones or Vester. It is, however, an excellent, Japanese budget guitar. The pick-ups are very clear - sharp and bright when played clean. They really pass the test for me by handling Marshall, Mesa and Hughes & Kettner distortions well. In fact the guitar comes into its own on overdriven sounds, with a nice, tight crunch possible. I also find it a good slide guitar, as a fine tone is not so important. The coil tap lifts this guitar out of the ordinary, permitting six useful sounds.

The guitar is beautifully finished, with good quality bridge and tuners, and a fast neck. At first glance it might be a Gibson, if not for the Vantage headstock. This is a budget guitar, which punches way above its weight.

Built like a Sherman tank, I have used it as slide guitar and back up on stage for years.

Vantage is little known in Australia

Playing semi-professionally for ten years, I remain impressed by the consistent standard of workmanship, finish, playability and tone of this unit. While it was at the cheap end of the market, it compares with much dearer LP copies.

Made in Japan. cherry red transparent woodgrain Les Paul copy. Standard 2-tone 2-vol setup, with a small coil splitter switch under the pickguard. 22 fret rosewood-looking fretboard.

Well, despite the consensus on this page, I would have to say that my guitar sounds like complete crap. After 16 years the intonation is still not right, despite multiple trips to various luthers. The neck pickup sounds muddy and flabby, and the bridge pickup is thin and entirely without character. It *does* really scream if you crank it up, but what doesn't? It sounds best with both coils split to singles on the middle position. It *is* a very noise-free quitar, and the neck is very slick and fast. The frets buzzed a lot on the G string, but a new nut fixed that, and made the action a lot more comfortable even when very low.

I play jazz/blues through a Fender Princeton Chorus, and bought this guitar used around 1987. I was a dumb kid with not much money but a lot of desire to play Led Aeppelin. I bought this thing for maybe $200 Canadian and played it through a tiny Peavey amp and a ridiculous fuzz box that I soldered together out of a Heathkit. It sounded like, well, if a mullet could make a sound, it would be that sound. Assertive and aggressive, but hopelessly cheesy and unoriginal. I installed a DiMarzio in it for a few years, but it made little improvement. The irony is that this hunk of junk has been my principle guitar for 16 years, long enough for me to have worn .25" of steel off the bridge with my (bad-habit, I know) palm jammed agaist it during solos. These days I play mostly jazz, and for that this guitar is simply intolerable. The only reason I was looking it up online -- and so discovered this page -- is because I'm trying to get a sense of its current resale value.

This guitar has a pretty raucous sound that will either sound great to you or awful, depending on how you feel about heavy metal music. (but no amount of distortion can ever get that smooth metal distortion sound).

The hardware seems cheap but semi-decent, and in that sense well-suited to the overall product.

Yes, this guitar is built like an armoured Panzer division backed by Stuka dive-bombers, etc, etc. But really, if durability is all a guitar has to offer, what's it really good for? Maybe you could garden with it, or change a tire. It certainly wouldn't hurt the tone.

N/A

16 Years. I also own a bunch of other unremarkable guitars, most notably a 1968 Framus. If my Vantage were stolen, I would weep for joy. The only thing I like about this guitar is that it has a great fast neck, and for some reason it will do fantastic pinch harmonics. I hate the fact that it has no sustain, the tone is either flat and dull, raspy and rusty, or tinny and shrill, and the intonation bites. It's semi-ok with really fat strings.

Made in Japan, 22 frets, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, 3-way pickup selector on top, coil switch, very pretty cherry-sunburst finish, tune-o-matic bridge, very fast and comfortable neck

The sound is very full and ballsy, full-on screamin' rock with the bridge humbucker, great for AC/DC type rock; the bridge pickup has a completely different sound, gets a really heavy, Tony Iommi type of sound. With the coil switch on, the rhythm pickup gets a very Fender-ish sort of tone; very versatile. I played it through a Peavy amp for a long time in a lot of bands, and the band members always were trying to get the other guitar players to get a tone somewhwre near as good mine; they were playing Gibsons or Jacksons or Schecters, through Marshall or Fender amps.

The action is great, pretty low, the initial was really good. There is an intonation problem that shows up every now and then on the G string, which makes it get a little flat above the 12th fret, but my local luthier can adjust it out.
The pickups sound great, the fit and finish are shiny, but really nice.

I've gigged extensively with this guitar, it holds up like a Sherman tank. The hardware has some rust, but I got it used about 25 years ago, and I have played it to death, rode it hard and put it up wet many times. The finish is great, except for where I have dropped it and cracked it. The strap buttons I have put longer screws in. I depend on it big time; I have gigged with it extensively without a backup.

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I've been playing about 25 years. These days, I mainly play a Fender Fat Tele through a Fender tube combo. I still break this axe out every now and then because the sound really rocks, and it remonds me of when I first started playing, and I was playing AC/DC, Krokus, Judas Priest, Sex Pistols, Dokken, Def Lepperd, etc, and it really lends itself to a great hard rock sound, although it is very versatile, and gets a lot of different sounds through the different pickup settings and coil switching.
This has been a great guitar, I love it to death and would never part with it.

Les Paul look, but not sound or feel. Guitar was made with a very light wood but I have no idea what kind, poor components were used throughout. It was made as a bent top with space between the top and body as I found out when I eventually cut it open with a band-saw. It has the usual LP configuration; 22 frets, H/H, separate volume/tones for each pickup, also a phase switch.

?To-die-for? sound, meaning I wish I would every time I heard it. Anemic, no character at all. Really bad clean or distorted. Zero sustain, always out of tune, even from fret to fret along the length of an individual string. This guitar would excel for lip-syncing or for those air-guitar occasions where you would rather have a real guitar in your hands. If you actually had to plug it in, forget it.

This guitar actually LOOKED pretty good with a nice cherry red opaque finish. Not flash, but not cheap either. Its appearance was by far the best thing about it, functionally it was a disaster. Couldn?t be set up properly , wouldn?t stay in tune, lots of dead spots and notes would be out of tune halfway up the neck even when it was intonated properly and the truss rod was set correctly.

It was always out of tune, even 5 minutes after having just tuned it. The one thing this guitar would have been great for is burning or otherwise destroying on stage. I?m sorry I never had the opportunity to do so. Eventually I ran it through a band-saw above and below the strings and behind the bridge in a lame attempt to make a travel guitar. Finally what was left went in the rubbish bin.

No experience either positive or negative here.

This was the first electric I owned, bought before I could really play electric at all (I had strummed an acoustic for 2-3 years before that) and before I had any idea what to look or listen for. Essentially I bought it because it was cheap, looked like a Les Paul and the salesperson touted it. With all the frustrations this axe provided I?m surprised I stuck with playing electric as long as I did and developed the deep love for playing I did. In all seriousness I suspect Vantage probably made some really good and really bad guitars, all with the same body type and name. Mine was terrible. On the other hand, when I visited Ed Roman's shop in New York, he had one hanging on the wall which he said played and sounded great (and Ed is hardly known for speaking well about import guitars!), and others in reviews below have obviously had some good experiences. If you see a Vantage you may want to try it out, but consider it as an individual item because the brand name and model give you no clue at all of how it will play or sound.

I mostly play jazz/rock such as Steely Dan, Doobies, etc. I?ve played for just over 25 years, and had the Vantage LP clone for close to 18 of those. Nowadays I play through an Emery Microbaby (1-2 watt amp with interchangeable tubes) amp into a 12? Weber speaker through either a Rode NTK tube mic or Shure SM-57 and add reverb afterwards. Generally I play with no effects except possibly a compressor on the front end. I never ran the Vantage through this rig, but I don?t think it would have helped much anyway. Garbage-in Garbage-out. My current guitars are a Heritage H535 for jazz/blues tones, a Stewart Travel Strat, an Ibanez S540LTD with Duncans and a Moonstone Eclipse neck-through with custom Bartolini single-coils. Like most people, during my many years of semi-serious hobby playing I?ve owned and played lots of other gear as well, but these are the ?keepers?; the Vantage wasn?t and I?m surprised I had it as long as I did.

Made in Japan, would guess at Early eighties, stripped of hardware and kept in an attic for 14 years by a close friend, given to me for nothing when I switched from Bass to Guitar after 15 years of Bass Playing.

22 frets as standard, medium gauge. Mahogany body with a possible Maple cap. Magohany body is split in two with a thin strengthening strip (same as a Gibson Les Paul 70's Deluxe). New hardware fitted by myself. Twin Kent Armstrong P90's housed in a regular humbucking size case. Finish is Tobacco Sunburst - stunning.

Tuners replaced with Tulip-shape replicas.

Glued in the neck for better sustain and tone.

I play Blues and Rock - Great sound for this type of music.
Played thru a Marshall AVT-50 Amp with a V-amp used for delay.

Good crunch sound from the Rhythm pickup, will play dirty or clean. Good lead sound for solo's. - My best Sound is both pickups combined, rhythm control back off a little - really sings!

Noise from the P90's is slightly worse than humbuckers. Sound is not quite so deep as my Gibson Les Paul Studio, and it sustains slightly less. Tone changes dramatically if you add strings that are too light - This guitar likes 10's 11's or even 12's best.

Compares well with my LP Studio, very close in sound but slightly lighter in tone, which makes it a good alternative for lighter tracks.

Did all repairs and set-ups myself, even after 14 years of storage in an attic, the truss rod enabled me to set the neck straight with little effort.

Got the action pretty low, and no choking on string bends, no rattles. Better neck than most Gibsons, better than mine definately, thinner and not as deep a D profile. Guitar was easy to work with and repair !

I have played it live, the hardware has taken a few knocks and it still looks relatively new. - No cracks in the varnish even though it survided 14 years of fluctuating temperatures in a hot/cold attic.

Strap buttons are fine, I can and do depend on this guitar, usually as a backup for the LP Studio, but play it on quieter No's.

Would use it without a backup no problem.

N/A - Made by the same manufacturers as Westbury / Aria / Electar as I understand, but never had to contact them.

Been playing Bass for 15 years on and off before switching to guitar for the last three.

If this was stolen I would hunt for a replacement for sure.

I love it's dependability, it's stunning looks and the fact that I restored it.

Japanese Knock off of the Les Paul. I bought mine used in 1979.
Better fit and sound than most other knock off companies produced back then. Not as heavy as the real deal Les Paul but has nice balance.

Great sound from the twin/dual pickups and second overdrive/blending toggle

great action. Nice fretwork. rosewood neck and inlays very nice.
Shaller type tuners, solid binding work on the body.

I have performed with this guitar for over twenty yrs and it has survived the abuse. I had to replace the tone switch once and am on my second cable jack. These components are certainly not as hefty as the Gibson but they have been fine for me.

I like this guitar because it has a lightning quick action, doesn't weigh a ton and has a great sound. Sustain is not quite the same as
the Gibson but the solid drive these pickups (in my opinion) deliver surpass the Humbucker's. I bought this axe used for 125.00. Having recently seen Hondo and other Les Paul knock offs selling upward of 500.00 as vintage pieces, I think I got a great deal.

Guitar was made in Japan, not sure what year. Most likely late 70s. 22 Frets, H/H pickups, unsure what make. Looks very much like the real deal Les Pauls IMO. I got mine used with a hard case. SUPER high quality feel to it. Very heavy and well made. Nothing extraordinary as far as features go, but what it does have is plenty for me.

KILLER sound. Better than my Jackson Performer which I think is pretty good. I am playing thru an old 80s model Randal Stereo Chorus Amp and a Zoom Fire 7010 multi effects module. This guitar is butter smooth. Very nice sound, full tones.

Don't know how it was set up some 25 or more years ago, but it seems set up nice now. No noticable flaws.

Finish seems to be bullet proof. I haven't had it long enough to gig with it though.

N/A

I have been playing for about 15 years on and off. I also own a Jackson Performer, and an Art & Lutherie Cedar top Acoustic. If this guitar was lost or stolen I would definately seek out another one to replace it. I couldn't IMAGINE a better guitar new or used in this price range, or within a couple of hundred bucks for that matter.

I own a 1983 japanese version of this guitar, and i bought it 4 years ago, when i bought it i really have no idea about the amazing guitar i was buying. the last owner have changed the bridge pickup to a dimarzio paf pro (in that time i was buying this guitar just because de pickup... i was paying R$ 280 in the guitar and this pickup used use to cost R$ 200, i said fuck it, i going to buy a pickup and take a guitar body for free...)
when i got home and pluged into my old amp (some little solid state marshall)i was amazed WHAT A SOUND!!!! ok it has a paf pro... and this pickup is great, but a great pickup in a shitty guitar sounds like shit! the wood is great (too heavy maybe...) and de finish is also very good... i love this guitar and i will never sell it. in this period of 4...5 years i have changed about 12 times my guitar set up (among fenders, jackson, kramers and others... )but this les paul will always be there

Well i play TRUE METAL! (thank you manowar and running wild!) this guitar is amazing, i love the paf's sound and this axe really is a true badass... it looks great (very classic i must say), it sounds amazing, this guitar has a sustain that i never seen in other guitar (maybe in ibanez 540s and musicman axis...). now i am using a gx130 combo (crate) and the sound is better, with this guitar and amp i just need a cable to have the perfect sound...
soon i will change the neck pickup for an evolution or distortion... to make this guitar "complete" but the neck pickup also sounds great!

well 4 years ago i use a very low action... and this guitar as like that... and sounded perfect... nowadays i use a higher action and it sounds better! i don't now any problems in this guitar...

This guitar is a panzer! reaaly well built!!! the chrome hardware is a little bit old... but its totally vintage now, and i like it! the strap buttons needed some reinforcement some time ago (bond glue!!!)
i already done a gig without a backup guitar, and i would do it again! in 4 things i trully believe and trust in this life... my father, my mother, my dogs, AND MY LES PAUL!

there is no information on the net about this guitar! hey folks i work with webdesign , let's make a site about this guitar!! for those who're interested pitao@ig.com.br i wanna do! this guitar deserves a tribute page!

i'm playing this axe about 5 years, and i still in love with her! i own a fender stratocaster 62'reissue , a crate gx 130c amp, a boss gt3 mutieffect processor, some stomp boxes, and a lot of other things (like guitars that have no name laughs!) but the only item i will never sell (even if i'm starving!") is this guitar, i have friends that have gibson les paul guitars, (studio and std) both prefer my guitar then their gibson and so do i!) of course gibson guitars gives to you more than a guitar... give status! who never said look at this guy's gibson guitar!!! it's ficking great... ok i said it a tousend times... but i am totally happy with this guitar!

I bought my 'The Paul' copy in '79-'80. I think I paid about $300-350 back then, brand new with a hard case included. I have replaced the original pick ups with a Dimarzio 'Humbucker From Hell' in the neck position, and a Seymour Duncan 'JB' in the bridge position. I have also added switches in order to split the coils and it gives it a sort of Tele sound. The neck and body are a brown stained Mahagony and the fretboard is a rosewood. I have the original tuners and I have had no problems wit them.

Originally I was into a heavy 80's sound, and the pick up sounded great through my Peavey Backstage amp. As time has past, I am more of a R&B Blues player and the replacement of the pick ups and now playing through a 1965 Silvertone Amp....the sound is creamy. My friend played it and was thoroughly impressed with the sound and overall play, and he has had many guitars through his career. With my switching I can get the full blues sound or the SRV sound if I choose.Originally The sound was alright, but now it's dynamite! The only dislike I have is that it has recently develpoed a buzzing from the frets....off to get the frets milled.

I have not had alot of adjustments done to it over the year, and in fact I had left my guitar for a while in the closet, and after a few year...it did not take much to tune it back up, and it stays in tune.

The guitar has been pushed over and also dropped over the years...through the accidents from my 4 children. The finish on the guitar is rock hard and there are very slight pick or rub marks on it...the marks on it are from being dropped.The strap buttons I tighten very rarley, but that is part of maintenance. I totally depend on it, and have had back ups but never had to use them.

This is the tricky question....what support? I either fix it myself or get my buddy down at the local store to do it.

Overall it has been a great guitar for me, my other choice was a used Gibson 'The Paul' which it is copied after. Both played identical I felt, but the Gibson was used and the Vantage had a case...so I went with the Vantage. The only disapointment or regret I have is that the resale of the Vantage is at best $250, and the Gibson 'The Paul' is $800-850. I can't complain though, the Vantage did stand up to the Gibson and still plays fantastic.

Mine was made about 1982, in Japan. It is a limited edition (LTD on the truss bar cover), with beautiful clear finish on henna-coloured timber. It has the LP-like 3-way pickup selector on the top, 2 vol, 2 tone controls and a 2-way phase switch. The 2 humbuckers are good. The tuners are screw-down types. Came with a Vantage hard case.

Sounds good either straight or through distortion pedals. I use it through Fender tranny amps or my MusicMan 65 tube amp (and what a gem that is!!). It has a full sound, typical of humbucking PUs on a nice heavy guitar. For a while I raised the action and used it for slide guitar. It did this job very well. Much more solid than a strat in the same job (even a genuine strat).

Guitar was set up ok (I think... it was 19 years ago).

Guitar has been going OK for 19 years and looks like doing more. Chrome hardware a little corroded by now (but lasted longer than the hardware on my Gibson Lucille). Hard case fell apart after 10 years (hinge broke), but what the heck.

Don't know. Helpful in the shop where I bought it (Lismore, Australia)

Playing about 20 years. Own several electric and acoustic guitars. It is mid-range (ie can't compete with a Gibson Lucille, but much better than those obnoxious cheap Strat copies). Main dislike is the short-radius kneck, which is good for chord work but not so great for solos. I wouldn't buy another (like it) because I now favour RGZ-style guitars for the type of work that Les Pauls and SGs do.

Bought in 1981; paid $300 (cdn); Lefty, 22 frets; 2 humbuckers, 2 vol, 2 treble, 3-way switch, 1 phase switch. I stop playing around 1987 and restart this year 2002. Tune-o-matic.

style of music: ACDC, Led zep, Pink Floyd etc... I play on a Peavey Rage 158. It can be clean or with distortion it sounds terrific (for my style). It is relatively quiet (no hum).

The action is medium. I needed to readjust the height of the strings to avoid those "frets buzzings",

I Think it is reliable. After 15 years of wardrobe, I took it and plugged it in and it was still ok. I changed the 3 way switch because there was a bad contact and cleaned the pots. Otherwise, nothing has change on this guitar. I shure would use it in a gig without backup, but shit happens... Strap buttons haven't moved since I have it.

I have played from 1977 to 1987 and then "rebegin" to play in 2002. I own an acoustic Epiphone, used to have an ampeg flanger, overdrive, and ibanez sonic-distorsion. I am very glad to have buy this guitar. Back in the early 80's, it was not very common to have a lefty guitar in store. So when I saw it, I jumped on it...No regrets.

This is an old looking LP copy, it has 22 frets, is very heavy, has some pearl-inlay on a Gibson shaped black headstock. The Vantage name is in print letters which "V" upwards. There is no serial or any I.D. on this guitar. It is stained dark red and has an arched top.

Sounds ok, however a previous owner did serious modifications to the pickups therefore I cannot say how it sounded originally

Overall I would say the guitar has been well made, fairly fast, stockier neck then others I have played, stays in tune.

Man I would not want to have this hangin off of me for 2.5 hrs. It is a heavy piece. I would want to drop it either. But it still plays well and I am sure it is a late sixties or early seventies axe.

No Idea, I know that they were bought out by Samick

This is a different guitar for me, I have three Gibsons which are my players, this is a nice copy that was made a long time ago and has been played to death by alot of caring owners. This has given this guitar a vintage look and feel that you often do not find in copys. I would like to find out more about this guitar but searching the net has not produced any results. Can anyone help me to narrow down where this guitar was made, approx.year, etc. Thanxs Ab Gamble

It's a Les Paul copy.
Don't know when it was made(think early 80's),but i know that it from Japan.22 frets.
Solid-Top. 2 Volume and 2 Tone controls.H/H pickups.
Paid 250$.

Made in Japan
- early 80's, the end of the period of good cheap Jap guitar manufacture.
This Vantage Les Paul Copy is black in color with silver hardware and 2 white humbuckers, three way selector & phase switch, white scratchplate, rosewood? fretboard. Guitar is completely standard and in immaculate condition (unscratched). It even has the clear protective stickers over the backs of the machine heads that you peel off when you take it home. It must have been purchased and not used. Paid $270 Australian for it and it came with its original case(case was nothing special)

Great Les Paul sound(may even be superior). When I purchased it I was in a rush so couldn't play it long - basically plugged it in and tested it. I purchased it from a guitar shop and the assistant was pretty non plussed about it when I asked what he thought of it - I don't think he liked it much. It sounded OK in the amp it tested it with and looked great so I picked it up anyway. I plugged it into my G60XL Crate at home and was stoked by the sound - amazing - real thick and loud and a good variance between the rhythm & lead pickups. When played with distortion the rhythm pickup so super thick and heavy and the lead is just so dirty! It is a great hard rock giutar but also sounds great clean. The thing sounds much thicker than anything else thats been plugged into this amp, Gibbo's included. This axe rocks. Has heaps of sustain - shits on my Ibanez Blazer in the sustain stakes and the Ibanez is real good. When used with the phase switch gives it a thinner sound but it is still rich. Everything about the sound is ace! no shit - even if you don't like the axe because its a copy the sound is just so good.

The guitar was virtually unused when I bought it so everything works well - have never had any problems with it and the quality of the finish, hardware(chrome), plastics and electrics is A1. The action is great also. The neck is not as slick as the maple neck on my Blazer (which is unreal) but it is still good. The top is nicely arched and looks all the better for it.

This guitar is one of the heaviest Les Paul copies going round and I reckon it would be heavier than an original even though the body is about 1/2cm thinner and has a bolt in neck(oh well , there were always going to be some trade offs for the cost). It weighs a ton - heavier than my friends Gibson Marauder (another heavy axe). I reckon it would stand up to hard treatment well, nothing seems like it would break easily, however I have never gigged the axe so i'll subtract afew points

never had any dealings

Great solid axe, with an amazing thick sound. I've seen a couple of others for sale second hand at low pices(sub $200 Australian). They are a bargain if you are after a cheap guitar because there are no compromises apart from the label. I could have bought a Yamaha SG1500(slightly rougher but still real nice) at the same time for $190.00 Australian from a pawnbroker that truly has no idea, but took the Vantage cause of the condition - dickhead! if I had the chance again I would have bought both - The Yam is a classic and the Vantage has the sound that entitles it to be but definetly isn't.

Mine was made in the us and its got regular amounts of frets(24) its got a lamintated top. all tones are give. Everything works great on it and for any guitarist its a Great guitar to have. thanks bu bye.

It suits my music style very well, my amp i use alot of distortion to be like my faveorite band aerosmith. yeah i sounds really good. its loud but not annoying. the sound is extremely clear. its rich and full so to speak. there is alot of variety in the guitar sounds. I love the sound it sound almost identical to a gibson les paul.

The guitar itself was made very well, everthing on it has held up very well like the tones knobs and the volume controls have all held up very well. but where the amp cord goes into the guitar is a different storrie the screws need to be tightened every once in a while. the wood finish on the guitar looks fantastic.

This catagory the vantage les paul is outstanding in. it does withstand live playing cause ive done it before. its also lasted a long time and still looks new afer 2 years of non stop playing it. the finish is still great on it an seems like it will hold up. the strap buttons are still solid. i do depend on it and i play at gigs with out back up.

the vantage sellers were extremly nice and i was new to guitars 7 years ago when i bought my first one and that has held up very well, ive never had to get my guitar repaired. the warranty is a lifetime warranty.

this is my seventh year and i own a 4 foot amp, a fender sratacaster, and a gibson. i didnt need to ask anything because i new everything from the great dealers. i love everythng about the guitar and hate nothjing. my faveorite feature is the grear sound quality. i went in the store and could have gotten any guitar there but i tryed them all out and this one was the right buy. it has everything doesnt need anything more.

Early 1980s, brown wood pattern, made in Japan. 22 frets, solid body, 2 volume and 2 tone switches, 2 humbuckers (no name), no idea what wood its made of, bad finish, slippery.
As i said, and les paul copy, a bit smaller than a real one, non-locking tuners, thin neck, came with hard shell case.

Not good, low string to brigth and high string to low and buzzy. I use a Marlboro G20-R amp, old but reliable and good. It has a bad sustain and is not good sliding with either. Not much diffrense in sounds, just thin. I really dont like it. Not the worst guitar but dont suit my style, maybe good for blues but not hardrock

Not any big flaw, just, i dont like the guitar, pickups where decent, have in to get checked

I think its going to be sold soon, u cant depend on the straps buttons, woulnd use it without backup.

Doesnt have ONE!!!!

Been playing for about 6 months, but i know this is u get what u pay for, not much. I will most likely buy an Epiphone Les Paul or a Fender Strat. I didnt buy it, my dad did but I woulndt think the thougt today. I dont thinks its good, but there are worse guitar, i dont like the fact its hard to play and sound cheap, but its one of those first guitars u buy to see if u really wanna play, as such a guitar, its quite good. If it was stolen (cant image that!), i would buy something else. But if u want a guitar for $100-$150 its a good choice, but i say spend $600 and buy a Fender Strat or a Epiphone Les Paul.

Well, I don`t know what year this was made. The model number reads DL-405. It has a features of a Les Paul. The only diffrence is the cutaway which is a bit slanted. Cherry red, comes with gig bag. 22 frets and 2 HB`s.Made in Korea.

I put a Seymour Duncan`59 in the bridge position and it sounds great for playing classic rock tones eg LedZep.. I use a Trace Elliot Brat 15R amp. Switch to neck p.u., roll off the tone and you can easily get Clapton`s woman tone as heard on "Sunshine". It can also make clean tones for jazz as well..

I think it was well made by Samick. Action was okay. Everything was fine.

I never played live before and I think this is much lighter than a real LP.

If this was stolen, I`ll get another one. I sold off my Epi Dot 335 to get this and I`m delighted.