Vantage VA-900 Matte Oak 1980

Built at Matsumoku in Japan, the VA-900 was a flagship solid-body model around 1979–81. It features the brand’s neck-through “Transmit” construction, multi-laminate woods, and a flexible active/passive circuit that summed up late-’70s/early-’80s engineering.

The VA series pushed Vantage toward pro specs with a 25.5″ scale, 24 frets, and broad tonal options via coil-tap, phase reverse, and an onboard preamp with EQ. The result is a versatile studio and stage instrument that covers clean, hi-fi tones through to tight, mid-forward rock sounds.

This 1980 example is finished in Matte Oak, weighs 4100 g, has frets at roughly 90%, and comes with the original case. Fit and finish are what you expect from top-tier early-’80s Japan: excellent fretwork, exclusive brass hardware, and just overall quality feel. Such a cool and unsual guitar!

SPECIFICATIONS

• Construction: Neck-through “Transmit” multi-laminate; adjustable truss rod
• Body woods: Laminated ash/maple with walnut stringers
• Neck woods: Laminated maple with walnut stripes (continuous through body)
• Finish: Matte Oak (satin)
• Scale length: 25.5″ / 648 mm
• Fingerboard: Rosewood; 24 frets; brass nut
• Pickups: 2 × Vantage #600GD humbuckers
• Electronics: Active/passive; onboard preamp with boost; active bass and treble; coil-tap and phase switches; 3-way selector; master volume; low-battery LED; 2 × 9V power
• Hardware: Gold-plated sealed tuners; high-mass brass bridge/tailpiece; knurled brass knobs
• Weight 4100g
• Case: Original hard case included