Specs
Brand: Ventura
Country of origin: Japan
Manufacture date: unknown, probably late 70's/early 80's
Model: unknown
Body: semi-hollow, ES-335 style
Neck: bolt-on, thin C-shape profile
Width at nut: 1.7"
Scale length: 24.75"
Neck radius: 7.25"
Frets: 22
Pickups: Gibson '57 Classics (non-original)
Bridge: ABR-1 copy
Tailpiece: trapeze
Electronics: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way selector switch
Hardware: gold-plated (except bridge and tailpiece - chrome)
History
This guitar has been in my family since the early '80's. My uncle acquired it around 1983 I think (not sure if he got it new or used). I really liked it and eventually he sold it to me in 1986. I used it as a backup guitar with my band in college. When I graduated, I sold it to my brother who set it up to play left-handed. In the mid-90's, he replaced the pickups with real Gibson humbuckers. Recently, I got a good look at it again and it just seemed like a great project to work on. So I found a nice lefty cherry Epiphone Dot to trade him for it.
Condition
Overall, it's in pretty good shape for a guitar that's probably about 30 years old. The finish has a lot of small nicks here and there and a few small gouges down to the wood but is actually holding up well. Very nice flame on the front and back. It's actually a cool cherry sunburst - dark at the edges and more transparent in the middle to show off the flame. The action on this guitar has always been really low, due to the straight neck and small frets. But those frets are really worn now, almost completely flat in some spots. Most of the inlays are starting to come loose at the edges. The hardware and electronics are not of a very high quality which is not surprising in a budget copy like this. The Gibson pickups of course are great with just a little wear on the gold plating.
Goals
Number one priority will be a re-fret. I have no experience re-fretting a guitar and this was probably the biggest motivation for me to take on this project. Next will be to try to fix the inlays. Also I want to try my hand at touching up the finish. Then on to things I've done before: Replace the nut. Replace all the hardware and electronics with similar but higher-quality parts. I want to keep this close to the original vibe but elevate the quality as much as possible.
Way cool!
ReplyDeleteI have the same guitar I have been unable to date it but saw one on reverb that said it was a 1968. it is a great guitar I got mine about 1980. I used it for 12 yrs then my nephew has had it for 25 yrs now it back to me. going to put dragonfire humbuckers in as ones in it have problems and a new bridge and it's good to go.
ReplyDeleteI also have the same guitar that I got in four prices and repaired and reassembled myself. It has become my favorite of the 19 guitars that I own with the most comfortable neck I have ever played. It is also nice to play unplugged without annoying the rest of the family. It is just loud enough to hear clearly over the PC speakers with an MP3 or video playing without turning up the volume. My research also showed this was probably a 1868 Japan model, though possibly made as late as 1973. Whilst not an official 'lawsuit' guitar it was made at the same factory and time by the same people. Mine has upgraded pickups installed badly by a previous owner and fixed correctly by yours truly.
ReplyDeleteIt is a copy of the 1958 Gibson ES335
DeleteI also have the same guitar. I purchased mine new in 1978 and it is excellent all original condition. The only slight difference that I can see from picture is that my amp plug is on the side vs on the front. May have been a change from model years. Would be curious if other have amp plug on side or front.
ReplyDelete