Ventura guitars

[Lorilee]

I'd like some opinions about the quality and playability of Ventura guitars. I'm looking at a Ventura v122nat. Thanks!

[L20A]

I haven't heard of Ventura guitars for many years. Are they still in production?
I once owned a 12 string Ventura.
It was an all laminated guitar.
I could never get it to tune and finally sold it.

[Bob Womack]

Given that they are laminate, they might be good for the highway...


B-dump, bump, tisss...



Bob

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Given that they are laminate, they might be good for the highway...


B-dump, bump, tisss...



Bob

Beat me to it.

[stormin1155]

I had a '70s era J-200 copy in my shop recently. It was all laminate, but nicely constructed. It needed a neck reset and had a broken truss rod. Fortunately I elected to remove the fingerboard before removing the neck, because the neck joint was not a typical dovetail, and using steam and pressure to try to remove it would have been a disaster. Instead the neck is attached to the body with five wooden dowels. I ended up sawing the neck off and doing a bolt-on conversion, which turned out fine.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Lorilee

I'd like some opinions about the quality and playability of Ventura guitars. I'm looking at a Ventura v122nat. Thanks!

Lorilee, as you may have gathered, they’re not all that well thought of. All that I have ever had my hands on have been all-plywood entry level guitars.

Now, the Ventura guitars that I have experience with have all been 1970’s vintage Japanese-made guitars. Has the name been revived for a new line of instruments?


Wade Hampton Miller

[KenL]

My very first guitar, way back in the mid-70s, was a Ventura.

And even though I didn't know anything about guitars back then, I figured out that it was a complete piece of crap. Luckily, I was able to take it back.

I then bought my Alvarez 5023, which was a really good guitar for $150. That one I still have.

But that was a long time ago. Maybe they are better now, who knows?

[Wade Hampton]

After I wrote my last post I did an internet search on Ventura guitars. If they’re making guitars again they’re really hiding it well; all mentions I could find were for old ones.


whm

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Given that they are laminate, they might be good for the highway...


B-dump, bump, tisss...



Bob

Most but not all. In the 1970s, Ventura offered a couple of higher end guitars that were built with solid wood. I cannot recall the model number but I came close to buying a Ventura knockoff of a Martin New Yorker. It was all solid wood.

[Lorilee]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Most but not all. In the 1970s, Ventura offered a couple of higher end guitars that were built with solid wood. I cannot recall the model number but I came close to buying a Ventura knockoff of a Martin New Yorker. It was all solid wood.

Yes this one is solid wood. Back and sides are rosewood, but I'm not certain of the type of wood for the top. This one i think is an older guitar. I think the company may still be in production but they reportedly don't allow any internet advertising or pricing. I don't get that.

[ceciltguitar]

My second guitar, in probably 1971, was a Ventura laminate classical guitar. It cost $80. I played it for years. Family members passed it around after I joined the Navy. Now my son has it. Today, it still sounds better than many $1000 guitars, IMHO.