It is good you were able to chat with Nokie, George, Jim, Abel (and Dick Dale too, Abel!). I saw Nokie last at a Ventures show here in Manila a few years ago. He was no longer able to stand and played leaning against a stool.
I always thought that being identified with the Ventures was a mixed blessing for Nokie. That brought him steady income, but he must have wanted to play his own music in his style, I thought. He must have wanted to become his own guitarist.
Nokie and Don Wilson seem to have swapped guitars in that publicity photo.
(As an aside, Nokie only played bass for the hit - WDR - that brought the Ventures to fame. There is some debate as to his role in the original recording of Hawaii Five-O.)
Andy