I posted this in the fledgling “Fans of the Ventures” site, hoping to be less off-topic on that forum. I am posting here, too, as there seems very little interest among Ventures fans in capturing the Vnetures “sound,” perhaps because of the wide variety and long evolution of Ventures pieces. I encourage discussions in that Ventures site, so perhaps there can be the same level of enthusiasm for Ventures techniques and gear as we do here for the Shadows.
I am trying to approach playing the Ventures in the same way most Shadows enthusiasts play Shadows covers. That means trying to play a piece in the same style and with the same sound as the original recorded version. I realize Ventures fans (and the Ventures themselves) don’t subscribe to this approach, so I am setting this out for those who enjoy this sort of endeavor. Shadows fans seem to.
As the “sound “ of the Ventures varies tremendously from piece to piece and it is difficult to categorize Ventures styles and sounds even by era (as it is with the Shadows), I will focus here on the original 1960 version of “Walk Don’t Run.” Here are my guesses, probably wrong, on what gear to use, so please correct me as necessary.
Lead Guitar: Bob Bogle used a 1959 or early 1960 Jazzmaster, so that would be ideal. For the cover guitarist buying a new guitar, a Jazzmaster made to pre-1963 specification, with the thick rosewood fretboard (often called the “slab board”), seems closest. In 1963, the rosewood fingerboard became much thinner. The Ventures Jazzmaster had this slab board.” Fit with thick (13-56?) gauge flat-wound strings. Three-color sunburst ideal (the equivalent of Hank Marvin’s trademark “Fiesta Red”).
Rhythm Guitar: I am assuming Don Wilson used his first Stratocaster, probably a 1959 model with a maple neck. See the cover of the Walk Don’t Run album (with the real Venmtures on it). This was most likely fitted also with thick (13-56?) gauge flat-wound strings.
I would assume that a 1956-onward Strat would be correct, as the pre-1956 Stratocasters had ash rather than alder bodies. Fender changed over to a rosewood fretboard in 1960, so those models would not be spot on. All-maple-necked guitars are supposed to have a brighter tone. I note that Don changed to a rosewood-fretboad Strat by the time of the Colorful Ventures album, which shows him with such a guitar.
- Ventures WDR.jpg (31.55 KiB) Viewed 10564 times
Bass Guitar. I assume a Precision bass, also fitted with flat wounds, but I am guessing here.
Amplifiers: According to the book “Walk Don’t Run,” for the March 22, 1960 recording, the “amps consisted of two Fenders, (Vibrolux and Bassman), and a Gibson model GA-40.” I assume Bob used the Vibrolux and Don the Gibson amp. I know too little about the Vibrolux and GA-40 amps to recommend current equivalents.
If one has to get a new amp rather than vintage ones, perhaps a Fender Twin Amp or a ’65 Twin Reverb, both tube (valve) reissues by Fender, would be satisfactory. Would those have the same valves and circuitry as a Vibrolux? To my ears, the sound is very close.
The current Bassman amp is a guitar, not a bass, amp and different in both design and sound from the original. The new Fender TV Bassman bass amp might be close, but this is a hybrid amp, so an all-tube bass amp might be a better alternative. Perhaps those more knowledgeable than me can set me up straight on this.
So there. I hope this is interesting to you. Comments and corrections will be appreciated.
Best,
Andy