Info Appreciated on Ventura LP Jr. Special DC Copy

[mobaar]

Hi all,

So, as I am wont to do every couple of weeks or so, I went to the 4 pawn shops in my local area to look for guitars. Saw some neat guitars but nothing that I could get a good price for (A Hondo II LP copy, a MIM Squier Tele, etc.) until the last shop I went to. I saw a Ventura brand double-cutaway LP copy with P90 pickups. Save for a wonky switch that needed replaced, the pickups sounded amazing even through the shop's 10W cheapo amp, so I pulled the trigger on it for $100.

I've done some searching and found people with other versions of Ventura guitars but almost nothing on this one, except for a picture of it in a Ventura catalog from the 1970s, listed as a V-999 "Scooter": http://www.catoosatrading.com/images/ven_cat_1970_3.jpg

Ventura guitars made their instruments in Japan, and although some get excited that it might be similar to the Ibanez lawsuit guitars, I have no way of knowing if it was made in the same plant, and honestly, I don't really care.

AFAIK, it was their first foray into solidbody electrics, after doing hollowbody guitars in the 1960s and 1970s, and this style may have gone into the early 1980s.

At any rate, I'm curious if anyone here has additional info on the guitar. It seems well made, and apart from the bolt-on neck and thinner body (I think it's about 1 1/2" but considering how light it is, I don't mind!), it's a pretty decent match to Gibby LP Jr. Specials. The P90s sound great. The only markings that may help identify age and specs are the neck plate, which has the serial # 763946 and some black type on the neck itself that is hard to read but says "6033-002"

Here are some pics of the guitar. I'd really appreciate your thoughts, as I have limited experience with this brand and would really enjoy knowing opinions. The body has some chips here and there but is in pretty darn good quality considering it's 30+ years old.

















These last pictures show the only gripe I have about this guitar. The fretwork is really not all that consistent. Some of the frets are slightly shorter than the width of the fretboard, and the cuts was sometimes slanted. It doesn't reflect in any playing issues that I can tell...and although the neck is bound in black, I don't think that makes the excuse. It's hard to see but I took a couple pictures:






Thanks for your thoughts and feedback.

~Mo

[GammyBird]

Nice axe. Looks like a decent price too. Do you think it may have had a refret? A somewhat crappy one too....

[mobaar]

Originally Posted by GammyBird

Nice axe. Looks like a decent price too. Do you think it may have had a refret? A somewhat crappy one too....

Thanks for the reply. That's an interesting thought. It certainly COULD be a bad regret job, but most guitars I've seen needing a regret have much more wear on the fingerboard than this one has.

It's not a huge issue for playing but my inner OCD alter-ego cannot abide. Good thing that alter-ego is so quiet! I may think about cleaning/resoldering and selling to get a new Rondo or GFS but at the same time, she sounds SO good...

~Mo

[Mr Teeny]

For $100 I'd say you got a steal especially if the case was included. Everyone should have a double cut junior or special reckon you'll regret it down the line if you flip it unless you really need the cash or get a decent offer.

I'd be inclined to agree with Gammybird, looks like a poor refret , can't imagine that come out of the factory like that.

[GammyBird]

Keep that if you like how it sounds. A luthier can refret it for you and you'll be set to go!

[vintageJIM]

4 $100 ? ............ I mean do U really need frets?

I played cello 4 years & F U know where to put your finger tips, then frets are kinda useless, or at least very over rated ...........

[Phoenix59]

I had a Ventura acoustic 12-string many years ago. They make pretty decent stuff.

[mobaar]

I think you guys are right on about keeping it. It's not every day you come across a nice deal like this. I sometimes enjoy discovering and flipping guitars more than I like owning these rusty gems, but with the sound it has, it's at least worth gigging a few times to see if we are compatible. I've never done a re-fret so I'd probably get a qualified luthier to do it.

I'm still interested in learning more about what I have - anyone own this model? Know more about it?

Thanks for all your responses so far!

~Mo

[rayspang]

I'm pretty sure Matsumoku built most Venturas. Cool guitar! more Ventura information can be found at the following link.

http://www.catoosatrading.com/ventura_guitar.html

[mobaar]

Originally Posted by rayspang

I'm pretty sure Matsumoku built most Venturas. Cool guitar! more Ventura information can be found at the following link.

unofficial bruno ventura guitar page

Thanks. I've seen that page, and it at least got me started in the right direction. There isn't much info on this particular model, save for that single image of it in the Ventura catalog. I'd imagine it's a Matsumoku too, good quality, low price point. I just have no way of verifying it, as I've never come across anyone saying they owned or purchased this particular guitar. Most of the Ventura guitars I come across are the acoustic guitars, which provide a little more info (like a model number).

It's not a huge deal I find out information, but it's always good to know the story, better to know if I can get a manufacture date of the guitar. I was born in 1981, so if it was made in the same year, that'd be just gravy.

~Mo

[rayspang]

I also had a Ventura 12 string in the late 60's. A very pretty guitar as I remember. If the neck plate says "steel adjustabke neck" and Japan, its an Uncle Mat guitar. You probably won't find much more information than you already have as Ventura, although relatively common in the 70's, was not really a major brand. And being on low end, serial numbers were either non-existent or just a sticker of sorts.

[candletears7]

That's rad. $100 man, I'd have snapped that up in a second also. Good score!

[jacco]

That's a Matsumoku neckplate and what seems to be a 1976 serial number

[mobaar]

Originally Posted by jacco

That's a Matsumoku neckplate and what seems to be a 1976 serial number

Very helpful. Thanks. Didn't realize the serial plate was that literal about dating, so that's good to know. Also I didn't know that neckplate was unique to Matsumoku.

I'm happy with 'er!

~Mo