Author Topic: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars  (Read 4163 times)

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Ventures Bass
« Reply #15 on: June 09, 2013, 01:21:30 pm »
Enough of those movies crap!  Let's move on to Ventures bass.  :-[

Everyone knows Nokie Edwards played Fender P-Bass when he joined The Ventures.  I did not know how to play bass until recently, so before I invest $1600? for a Fender American Vintage '57 Precision Bass reissue, I got myself a cheap US parts P-Bass on Craigslist to try it out.



Fender American Vintage '57 Precision Bass (Reissue)




I am glad I did as I do not care for the wider and thick neck of P-Bass, $1600 was saved.  I have also tried a few MIA & MIM Fender Jazz Basses (Bob Bogle played them anyway) including the 1996 Ventures Tribute Jazz Bass but just couldn't fall in love with them.

Finally I found a "Joe Osborn Signature Jazz Bass" which I really like. The neck is even smaller and thinner than the Fender JB.  It was made by a Chicago based boutique bass shop called Lakland.  Joe is a popular studio musician who played bass on many well known albums including Johnny River's original "Secret Agent Man" 

The much thinner neck is perfect for me (my favorite Birdseye fret too), and the tone is true Fender Vintage tone  (Lindy Fralin Single Coil pickups).  It has the Look, the Tone and the Feel I want.





This is short clip showing Joe Osborn working with Lakland Bass to design this signature bass


I asked my good friend; Mike to test it out for me.  Too bad he does not play surf.



This was my playing bass of "Walk Don't Run", please don't laugh at me.  :-[



Finally, here is my guilty pleasure:  Nothing to do with The Ventures, just a most beautiful bass I ever own.  A Don Grosh J4 Bass. (Very rare, Don did not make too many of them, usually buyer needs to wait for 2-3 years) 

It has a beautiful 5 A Birdseye fretboard and play and sound great.  This bass is way too good for an amateur bass player like me.  So I have agreed to sell to Mike (the Alaya Conscious Bassist) whenever he wants it.





Here is Mike playing it:



 :)
« Last Edit: June 10, 2013, 01:02:26 pm by DesertSurfer »
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline wstagner

  • Little Mister
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1279
  • Rarely a day go bi I'm not aggravate aboot sumtin.
  • Location: Illinois near Chicargo over by here.
    • View Profile
    • Classic Pumps
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #16 on: June 09, 2013, 01:25:11 pm »
I like the smaller neck on the jbass.  It feels nice in me leff hand.

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #17 on: June 09, 2013, 01:44:54 pm »
Lakland JB neck is even smaller and thinner than Fender JB.  Perfect for me.

 :)
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline wstagner

  • Little Mister
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1279
  • Rarely a day go bi I'm not aggravate aboot sumtin.
  • Location: Illinois near Chicargo over by here.
    • View Profile
    • Classic Pumps
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #18 on: June 09, 2013, 02:38:38 pm »
Did I ever tryit? I cant memba.
U will get back to play mor base after nexx Sunday.

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #19 on: June 09, 2013, 06:12:58 pm »
I don't think so.  I brought it to the practice once a few years ago but no one seemed to notice it.
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline wstagner

  • Little Mister
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1279
  • Rarely a day go bi I'm not aggravate aboot sumtin.
  • Location: Illinois near Chicargo over by here.
    • View Profile
    • Classic Pumps
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #20 on: June 09, 2013, 07:19:13 pm »
Ok...i cant memba
try 2 memba 2 brigit week afta the carshow

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #21 on: June 09, 2013, 07:42:56 pm »
Sorry, it is in storage now.
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline abstamaria

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 100
    • View Profile
What a collection
« Reply #22 on: June 09, 2013, 11:38:36 pm »
Thanks for the informative posts, Vincent.  Strangely, there is not much information on Ventures gear, so this is all very useful.

I am not a collector, but our amateur band has tried to put together more or less "correct" gear for the early Ventures and Shadows instrumentals we play. Not surprisngly, I find we have a few similar guitars, including the Hank Marvin Fiesta Red Stratocaster.

It;s quite a coincidence, too, that Anna has a Fiesta Red PBass on which she has kept the pickup cover, as in your photo.  She uses that for Shadows stuff.  I'll try to post a photo.

Best regards,.

Andy
« Last Edit: June 09, 2013, 11:40:54 pm by abstamaria »

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Let's enjoy ourselves, Andy
« Reply #23 on: June 10, 2013, 08:04:40 am »
Thanks, Andy.  The best are yet to come.  It will probably take 20 or 30 more posting to go over all my collection.  There were stories behind the gears I collect which may be more interesting than the gears themselves.  How many of you would drive 9 hours one way to pick up a guitar?  How many would wait up until 2 or 3 AM to bid a guitars on eBay. Would you go to the rough neighborhood to meet with Craigslist sellers?  I have done all those foolish things....

I used to be a so called "Collector" (Not really, I am a small scale collector and no comparison to those real collectors. I am just a old foolish guy tried to put my lifetime saving into guitars for retirement fund.  Whether it will prove to be a wise decision or not,  I have a lot fun!) until I met with my band members about 4 years ago, I started to realize playing is much more rewarding than collecting. 

I remember after playing for one year or so with my band (after being yelled and stopped numerous times during practice), my band leader came to me and said "Vincent, you used to a "collector", now your are a "player"..."  That was one of my best compliments in my life.

Fiesta Red Bass is very cool.  Speaking of Hank Marvin Strat, did you try the CS HM at Music Gallery?  I brought my Japanese HM strat over there for AB comparison and possible trade.  But I did not go for the trade as I just couldn't let my old faithful Hanky Marilyn go. (Yes, the fiesta red HM strat is my Marilyn Monroe)

So, Andy let's continue to imitate the bands we like and play the tunes we love... And enjoy ourselves!

Talk soon.

Best,
Vincent

« Last Edit: June 10, 2013, 08:27:37 pm by DesertSurfer »
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Ventures Jazzmaster
« Reply #24 on: June 10, 2013, 05:41:15 pm »
Fender US made Jazzmaster

We all know Bob Bogle used Fender Jazzmaster to play their big hit: "Walk Don't Run".  The Jazzmaster tone is indeed unique with that special JM pickups.  Since the WDR was released in 1959, Bob's JM must have been made in late 50's.



I Couldn't find nor afford a vintage 50's Jazzmaster, so I've got myself a Fender US made '62 Jazzmaster Reissue.  A plain and simple JM in sunburst which looks just like Bob Bogle's.





When my friend Mike at the local music store called me about a Team Built Fender Custom Shop Jazzmaster which he personally spec out, I dashed to the store to check it out.  At first glance, I was a little disappointed because it is not in sunburst as Bogle's.  Then I was attracted by its beautiful Birdseye neck and the satin black color seemed to grow on me.  I decided to trade my 62 JM for this CS beauty.













Here is the detailed spec of this JM:

CUSTOM SHOP SPECIFICATION:

BODY SPREAD BASS ALDER 2 PC C/S 22"
CHOOSE COLOR BLACK
SORT FOR LIGHT WEIGHT NO SORT
STANDARD OR CUSTOM NECK CUSTOM NECK
BACK SHAPE 62 JAGUAR
FINGERBOARD RADIUS 9.50" RADIUS
NECK THICKNESS AT 1ST FRET .820"
NECK THICKNESS AT 12TH FRET .900"
NECK BLANK GUITAR BIRDSEYE AA
SIDE DOT MICATAR WHITE 3/32"
FACE DOT IVORY VINT
FRET WIRE DUNLOP 6100 JMB
NUT BONE
NECK FINISH LIGHT TINT
NECK FINISH NITROCELLULOSE LACQUER
FINGERBOARD EBONY
BIND HEAD CAP NO
NECK TEXT (30 CHAR) 62 JAGUAR SHAPE
BIND FINGERBOARD NO
NECK TEXT (30 CHAR) BONE NT-9.5"R-6100 FRET
NECK TEXT (30 CHAR) AA BIRDSEYE TINTED MN
FINISH PACKAGE CLOSET CLASSIC
PLATING CHROME
PICKUP MID POSITION NONE
PICKUP BRIDGE POSRIGHT HAND/LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND
PICKUP NECK POSITION JAZZMASTER NECK
BRIDGE ASSEMBLY ADJUSTABLE JAG/JAZ
TUNER KEY VNT NCKL
STRING SETS FOR GUITAR 010-013-017-226-236-246
CASE BRN TLX GLD JAG
GEN TEXT FOR GUITAR (30 CHAR) 62 JAZZMASTER EBONY BLK
GEN TEXT FOR GUITAR (30 CHAR) 62 JAGUAR SHAPE
GEN TEXT FOR GUITAR (30 CHAR) BONE NT-9.5"R-6100 FRET
GEN TEXT FOR GUITAR (30 CHAR) AA BIRDSEYE TINTED MN
GEN TEXT FOR GUITAR (30 CHAR) EBONY FRETBOARD
LIKE STANDARD NECK ASSEMBLY 62 JAZZMASTER
NECK TEXT (30 CHAR) EBONY FRETBOARDITION JAZZMAS

 :)
« Last Edit: June 10, 2013, 06:01:39 pm by DesertSurfer »
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Ventures Tribute Jazzmaster
« Reply #25 on: June 10, 2013, 05:54:08 pm »
Ventures Tribute Jazzmaster made in Japan

In 1996 Fender have issued a trio of Ventures Tribute guitars including a Jazzmaster, Strat and Jazz Bass which were marketed in Japan only, very hard to get in the US.  When I saw someone out of State selling the trio on Craigslist, I contacted him right away, and finally took the risk to buy the trio without seeing them.  The guitars were in mint condition, but somehow I just didn't like the lace sensor pickups on the Strat and did not play the jazz bass well (probably needed a set up and I just started to learn bass). 

So I put the following trio photos on Craigslist but mentioned clearly I was only selling  Strat and Jazz Bass not the Jazzmster.

I did not wait too long, some one from other State contacted me and said he would drive 300 miles to see these guitars. I was a little skeptical but surely he showed up.  But he insisted that he would only buy as trio.  His offer was pretty good so I gave in.



In 2008, I saw someone was selling an autographed Jazzmaster on eBay with a reasonable BIN price. I grabbed it right away. There are 5 autographs of all the members; Don, Bob, Nokie, Gerry and Leon (unfortunately Mel passed away in 1996) 



It turned out the seller was Don Wilson's son; Tim Wilson.  Tim sent the guitar promptly in excellent packing.  Tim even have Don autographed on the case.  An autographed Japanese poster was also included.



As seen in the photo, this JM was redesigned and looks, works different than the regular JM.  No special button switch at top left corner but a toggle switch at top right corner, and the position marks are huge.



The Ventures was inducted into Rock n Roll Hall of Fame just a few months ago, I could tell that Don was very happy by the way he signed:







At 2011 Ventures Fan Jam in Philadelphia, I had great pleasure meeting Bob Spalding and asked him to autograph on the guitar.

 :)
« Last Edit: June 18, 2013, 08:29:04 am by DesertSurfer »
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #26 on: June 25, 2013, 08:17:13 am »
My wife and I are in process of moving to a small house in desert which has no internet access.  I won't be posting for a long while.

 :)
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline abstamaria

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 100
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #27 on: June 25, 2013, 09:59:05 am »
What happened, Vincent?

Andy

Offline DesertSurfer

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Location: Mojave Desert / Windy City
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #28 on: June 25, 2013, 12:36:49 pm »
Thanks for your concern, Andy.  Nothing bad happened.  The Bank did not take our house nor my wife kicked me out.... :P

We want to sell our house in Chicago and move to our retirement home in desert country for a long time.  When we saw our neighbor sold her house in 3 days a few weeks ago, we figured it is the time for us to make a move.  A friend helped us to find a moving company that offered us a very attractive rate.  So, here we come, West Coast!

 :)
"Do I surf? I can't even swim!" ....Nokie Edwards
I can't either, so it's safer to surf in desert..

Offline tabalt11

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 516
  • Location: Drexel Hill, Pa.
    • View Profile
Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
« Reply #29 on: June 25, 2013, 12:50:48 pm »
Guess that means you'll surely 'never'
attend the East Coast Fan Fest again!