Having read Del Halterman's authoritative biography of The Ventures, "Walk Don't Run," I'd like to clarify one issue in this discussion:

- The use of studio players to replace members of The Ventures was not something that happened widespread.  Yes, The Ventures didn't play on the Let's Go version of "Wipe Out" and on the "Only Hits" album.  But they did play on just about everything else, sometimes with additional musicians to fill in the sound.  That was the case with the In Space and Play Telstar albums.  The Ventures were there in the studio PLUS additional musicians who contributed to the final sound.

I think this is also supported by Malcolm Campbell's "Driving Guitars," which is the definitive rundown of the 1960s output of The Ventures.  By and large, The Ventures were the main performers in the recording studio, sometimes with additional musicians adding to the overall sound.  But very few tracks were put out without involvement of any Venture members.

As I commented over on the Underground Fire 2 discussion group, of all of the Ventures' output, the only song I truly do not like is the Let's Go version of "Wipe Out," and The Ventures vindicated themselves on the later On Stage album by producing the definitive Ventures version of that song.

Arnold