How to get the Ventures (!) sound.

[abstamaria]

I apologize for this digression. I play Shadows mostly and have benefited immensely from this forum on advice on the correct strings, amps, picks, and technique. But I do play some very early Ventures pieces, principally those with Bob Bogle on the lead, and find there is very little information on the correct gear. The eraly Ventures have quite a distinct sound as well, lost when they shifted leads and later to Mossrites.

For the Ventures, I use a '62 reissue Jazzamaster and a Fender reissue Twin Amp.

What strings should I use? Information on the Internet seems to say that the Jazzamaster was designed for flatwounds, which were the only type available then anyway and incidentally also avoid the bridge rattle problem. To get the early Ventures "sound," one must use flatwounds of the thickest gauge possible. The Pyramid flatwounds have gotten good recommendations; they are available in 13-52s. Would you agree with this?

Many thanks.

Andy

[JimN]

Hi, Andy,

I've never used Pyramids so couldn't say. Nevertheless, I remember using Hofner tapewound once or twice (not a happy experience, back in the sixties) and someone told me that Pyramid made them for Hofner. So perhaps that's a negative. On the other hand, the Hofner strings were a fair bit cheaper than Pyramids.

However, it strikes me that 13-52 is a bit light on the bass side. Perhaps D'Addario Chromes at 13-56 might be a little better.

The other 'trick' for a Bob Bogle sound would be to use both pickups on at the same time. That contributes a lot to that "plummy" tone.

HTH,

JN

[cockroach]

Hi Andy!

With the Jazzmaster and Fender amp and heavy strings, you would be pretty well set up to get Bob Bogle's sound...

But I suppose you have no interest in getting Nokie's sound then?

If you are interested, let know!

[dave robinson]

. . . . . . . .and throw away the guitar tuner . . . .

[cockroach]

Stop that Robinson!!

Or we Nokie fans will GET you....

[dave robinson]

Looks as though I hit a nerve then . . . . . . cochrane

[dave robinson]

Seriously though, I have a Jap Fender Jazzmaster which now has two Seymour Duncan pickups fitted and by using both pickups together with the Fender amp and a bit of reverb, the sound is very close to the records on Walk Don't Run and Perfidia.

[abstamaria]

Thank you, Jim, John, all,

What made a profound contribution in my case to my Shadows sound was my shift to thicker strings, roundwound, using a Strat and Vox, of course. I thought the right strings will also help for doing the early Ventures pieces. The link below leads to one of the several articles that suggest flatwound versus roundwound for the Jazzmaster.

http://www.jag-stang.com/2007/09/02/det ... er-review/

My Jazzmaster reissue came with flatwounds and a spare set of strings "specially made for the Jazzmaster" that were also flatwound, so the article seems correct. I changed to thicker roundwounds but will now try flatwounds again, this time in the thicker gauge you suggest.

By the way, if his strings were so thick, how did Bogle do all those bends, for instance, in Bulldog?

I like Nokie and will graduate to him yet, John. He must have used thinner gauges? Did Nokie play Gandy Dancer
and Trambone?

Many thanks, again.

Andy

Dave, I know some Ventures recordings seem to have been played on slightly out of tune guitars. Quite strange. I wonder why

[abstamaria]

Here is another article on flatwounds only for Jazzmasters:

http://www.ggjaguar.com/quest2.htm

Regards,

Andy

[eugene]

Hi ! abstamaria.

I live in Japan. So,I've seen The Ventures since 1965.

I also love Bob's sound very much.

And I bought Fender Japan Jazzmaster when Fender USA did'nt make Jazzmaster&Jaguar.

I saw Bob playing many times in his unique style.

He would use tremolo(vibrate)arm very often.

And as JimN said, he used both pickups on at the same time.

His later years, he would use light gauge strings.

But it seemed so terrible for him.

I wolud like to recommand this strings set.
http://store.daddario.com/category/1458 ... dium_13-56


So sorry for my poor English.

Good luck abstamaria !

Sincerely yours.

eugene