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Description

Vantage VS-600B Series (shown in Natural finish)

Finishes: Dark Tobacco, Amber, Red, Natural stains, and Solid Black finishes in matte and gloss.

Offering the electric bassist maximum punch and tonal clarity in a highly playable and cost-effective bass guitar, the VS600B features an ultra-hot, custom-engineered Vantage 600PB bass pick-up placed at the optimal point between bridge and fingerboard for ... Finishes, Natural wood, matte finish.

Mahaogany with laminated maple center block and walnut stripes

Rosewood Fingerboard 34 1/4" scale 22 frets One Vantage split coil humbucker pickup Volume & tone controls Bolt-on neck

In production 1979 Made in Japan Factory: Matsumoku in Japan

Scott Honea

Scott Honea

Vintage Vantage VS600B Witch Bass For Sale on Reverb

Video thumbnail for Vintage Vantage VS600B Witch Bass For Sale on Reverb by Scott Honea

Vintage Vantage VS600B Witch Bass For Sale on Reverb

Scott Honea

Scott Honea

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Vantage VS600B.

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners suggest replacing the stock 3-point bridge with a budget-friendly alternative for improved playability, often available for less than $20 on platforms like Amazon.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Flatwound strings, specifically D'addario Chromes, are recommended for enhancing the VS600B’s sound quality, especially for those seeking a vintage tone.

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  • Owners often change the bridge to a BadAss model, a popular mod choice in the 1980s, to enhance performance.

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Build quality

  • The VS600B is noted for its excellent condition despite age, with some examples in "close to spectacular" condition, indicating robust build quality from the 1980s.

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  • Despite age, these basses maintain sound integrity, with some models still producing excellent sound even when visually worn.

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Comparisons

  • Compared to other Matsumoku designs like Aria Pro II, the VS600B is praised for its original design and unique aesthetic, often preferred over modern off-the-shelf options.

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Value and pricing

  • At 350€ including a hard case, the VS600B is considered a rare find, especially in uncommon colorways, offering a unique value proposition for collectors.

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  • Discontinued status and rarity make pricing variable, with some sellers overpricing due to scarcity.

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User experience

  • Neck dive is a common issue; a thicker strap is recommended to alleviate discomfort during extended play sessions.

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  • The sustain is highly praised, contributing to a rich and resonant sound appreciated by many owners.

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  • One owner has maintained their VS600B since 1981 and notes it as neck-heavy but robust, attributing part of its solid feel to its original bridge and pickup setup.

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Use cases and applications

  • Described as an Alembic copy, offering high-quality sound without the high cost, appealing to those seeking boutique tones.

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  • An intriguing backstory adds to the instrument's appeal, with one unit previously owned by a deceased Swedish artist, motivating the current owner to preserve its original form.

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Features and functionality

  • The VS600B's DiMarzio-style pickups may have adjustable pole pieces for string balance, although this feature is more commonly beneficial in J-style pickups.

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Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 5 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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willgullis

Great bass thick chunky tone

The aggression you get out of the pickups on these is chunky and growly as a p bass should be feels smooth and stylish to play only downsides I would give it is that it has quite a lot of neck dive from such a long neck and shorter body

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Like to have tone rolled back and chuck it through a muddy chorus for a slightly synthy dig and low thud

From Gear Setup
cormac_sweeney

Great bass

I bought this bass guitar from a pawn shop for $175 AUD, it is by far the best sounding bass I've ever played, the high gain pickup makes it the perfect choice for rock n roll/metal, the neck is good, has mountains of sustain and while it is the cheaper of the Vantage VS series bass guitars, that in no way means the quality is the same, it's a very well constructed instrument.

the_patchman

Heavier than Slayer

My backup pole-driver this is. It is really heavy! Besides that, this is an excellent bass guitar. The pickups are great, it plays nice and easy and the weight doesn't bother quite as much as you would expect from something that weighs as much as your everyday lamppost. If you can find one, buy it and put some nice expensive strings on it. You won't regret it. I guarantee.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Lemmy Kilmister uses Vantage VS600B

Lemmy Kilmister

Bassist, Guitarist

Motörhead

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo Lemmy can be seen using a Black Vantage VS600B Bass.

This photo was taken during a show with Twisted Sister as some of the band members can be seen in the background.

See how Mark Mendoza uses Vantage VS600B

Mark Mendoza

Bassist

Twisted Sister

...
Verified via YouTube

Mark "The Animal" Mendoza, bassist of Twisted Sister is using a Vantage VS600B at 7:02

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Vantage VS600B, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Ampeg SVT 810AV Bass Amplifier Cabinets
1
Ampeg SVT-VR
Ampeg SVT-VR Bass Amplifier Heads
1
Music Man Stingray
Music Man Stingray Electric Basses
1
Marshall 1960B 4x12'' Cabinet
Marshall 1960B 4x12'' Cabinet Guitar Amplifier Cabinets
1

Community setups

Show yours
willgullis

willgullis

Gear IQ 371

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