REVIEWS_GUITAR REVIEW

Vintage VSA500CR
Vintage has been producing some terrific guitars at very low prices for a while now,
one of their latest iterations being the VSA500CR, a take on the classic 335 shape
but with some interesting design choices and a surprisingly high-end feel.
Tom Quayle checks the Cherry Red variant out and gives his verdict.

T
he VSA500CR forms part of
Vintage’s ‘Reissued series’ – the
company’s take on classic electric
guitar designs, at highly affordable prices.
Vintage often surprise us with just how good
their instruments can be at these wallet-
busting prices and the VSA500, finished here
in classic Cherry Red, is no exception thanks
to some excellent design choices and superb,
Wilkinson hardware.
In true 335-style form, the VSA500 is
constructed using an all-maple, semi-acoustic
body and a set-in, Mahogany neck plus
Rosewood fretboard, complete with acrylic
dot inlays. The body and neck are finished
with cream binding and finished with a
well-executed Cherry Red stain and Gloss.
The design is somewhat different from the
symmetrical 335 classic though in that the
horns and body bouts have been slightly
deepened and offset from one another for an
asymmetric look that really suits the body
shape and aids upper fret access. To further
aid your journey up the dusty end of the
neck the VSA500 also features a lovely offset
heel design that drastically improves the feel
past the 17th fret. It’s a bold move to mess
with classic designs but, in this case, it pays
off well with a guitar that could definitely
be said to be more user-friendly than the
original.
As with all Vintage Reissued guitars, the
VSA500 sports Wilkinson hardware for
exceptional quality at this price point. Here
you get Wilkinson Deluxe WJ44 tuners
with vintage style buttons, a Tune-O-Matic
bridge, and Stop Bar Tailpiece plus a pair of
Wilkinson Alnico Double Coil Humbuckers
– all finished in classic chrome. The design
is finished with a black 3-ply scratch plate,
3-way pickup switch and the obligatory
compliment of volume and tone controls for
a 335-inspired guitar.
Construction is excellent for this price point,
more than surpassing expectations. From
the superb fret finishing to the well-executed
neck joint and carve, the VSA500 feels like
a guitar costing two or even three times as
much. As crazy as it seems, at times you
could be forgiven for forgetting that you’re
not playing a full-fat 335 from the big ‘G’
here (albeit it with offset horns or course!).
Playability is equally excellent thanks to a
very nice factory setup with a very even and
low action plus the friendly neck profile. »

Guitar Interactive Issue 53

 THE REVIEWS VINTAGE VSA500CR

STAR RATING

PROS
» Exceptional value for
money
» Useful design additions to
the classic 335 shape
» Very well-made guitar
» Excellent hardware
» Great factory setup

CONS
» Absolutely none!

Check THE SPEC

Vintage VSA500CR
Mahogany set-neck // Maple with
maple top body // Wilkinson
alnico double coils // Tune-O-
Matic with stop bar tailpiece

For more information, please visit:

https://www.jhs.co.uk/brands/
vintage/vintage-electrics

www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com
 REVIEWS_GUITAR REVIEW THE REVIEWS VINTAGE VSA500CR

“Tonally, the VSA500 is a great performer too

thanks to the pair of Wilkinson Humbuckers...”

Vintage VSA500CR

The gloss neck may put some people off
but, unlike a 3-grand Gibson, you would be
forgiven for sanding this neck down given
the price point.
Tonally, the VSA500 is a great performer
too thanks to the pair of Wilkinson
Humbuckers. Vintage in nature, these two
can provide a wide range of tones from fat
and warm jazz to rockabilly and throaty
blues, all the way up to heavy rock and
saturated lead tones if pushed hard enough.
There is plenty of detail and dynamic range
here for complex chords and subtle picking,
but they don’t get overly muddy when paired
with more gain. Thanks to the vintage style
output, rolling the volume controls back
cleans things up nicely without losing too
much high end clarity and tuning stability
is rock solid thanks to the quality machine
heads.
It’s tough to find anything negative to say
about the Vintage VSA500CR. As long
as you’re not a brand snob there is a huge
amount to recommend here regardless of the
price and, once you factor in the incredible
affordability into the equation, it becomes
hard to ignore just how much value, and
quality is on offer here. If you’re in the
market for an affordable semi-acoustic for
pretty much any style, Vintage have you
covered here, with a guitar that is not only
as good as the competition but in some ways
exceeds it for a remarkable price. Highly
recommended.
END «