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This is a late 70s or early 80s vintage Japanese version of a Gibson “The Paul” or “Firebrand” Les Paul style guitar. The solid mahogany body is in great shape with virtually no buckle rash and only very minor wear on the walnut finish and all the chrome is still shiny. Because of this and the minimal fret wear it is clear that this guitar has spent most of the last 40 years sitting in its hard case (included). Sometime in the last 40 years someone sanded the headstock, so the finish on the headstock is not original (or very good) and the name is missing (replaced by a Chicago in script). Because of this, I have no idea what brand this is, but it fits perfectly in the Vantage branded hard case it came in, so it is likely a Vantage guitar and it was almost certainly manufactured in Japan's famous Matsumoku factory where high quality guitars were made for many different brands in the 70s and 80s. This particular guitar looks very similar to a Vantage VP-750 Ghost except it is a bolt on neck with a more Gibson-ish headstock and the back cover plate is shaped differently. It is also similar to a Memphis Firebrand copy but again the neck and back coverplate shape are different. Maybe it was a prototype or a one-off? In any case, this is a rare Matsumoku guitar that plays and sounds great. This guitar appears to be all original except for the sanded headstock and the “Chicago” logo on the headstock. The Chicago logo appears to be made of metal and is glued to the surface, so it should be easy to remove if desired. Setup and restrung with Ernie Ball Slinky 10s, I set the action low because the straight neck allowed for low action. If you prefer higher action, it is an easy task to raise the bridge a bit. Get your late 70s/early 80s vibe going with this beautiful guitar!

It comes complete with a nice Vantage branded hard case. This case fits this guitar perfectly but may not fit a normal Les Paul since it is shallower than a standard Les Paul case (The headstock angle on the guitar is shallower than a Gibson). This case is in good shape except that the lid opens all the way up because the strap is stretched and there is a hole on the top at the logo and a couple of rust stains inside but otherwise this slender and super sexy vintage Vantage fitted case has no weird odor and is in remarkably good shape for a 40-year-old case.

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Listed2 years ago
ConditionVery Good (Used)
Very Good items may show a few slight marks or scratches but are fully functional and in overall great shape.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • Firebrand or The Paul copy
Finish
  • Walnut
Year
  • 1979
Made In
  • Japan

tom's Shop

Woodstock, IL, United States
Sales:53
Joined Reverb:2017

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