1996 Trio of Ventures Tribute (已賣掉)

投機者紀念系列

1996年Fender為投機者推出一個紀念系列有Jazzmaster, Stratocaster 和 Jazz Bass, 是用黑色的塗裝設計用投機者團員的建議. Don 負責 Jazzmaster 的設計, Bob 負責Jazz Bass 的設計, Gerry 負責 Stratocaster 的設計.

紀念系列海報: Bob, Gerry, Leon & Don


Trio of Ventures Tribute (已賣掉)

投機者樂團 (The Ventures) 所用的吉他

Fender ... Mosrite....Fender .....Wilson Bro.

投機者樂團是在1950年末期由 Don Wilson 和 Bob Bogle 創立的, 剛開始時他們用 Fender 的Stratocaster, Jazzmaster 吉他 和 Precision Bass 後來 Nokie Edwards 加入他們改用 Jazzmaster和 Jazz Bass.

(Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jazz Bass)


(Jazzmasters, Precision Bass)


我的 1957 Vintage Reissued 類似 Don 用的


我的 62 RI Jazzmaster (已賣掉), 類似 Bob 用的


換 Fender Custom Shop Team Built Jazzmaster


在1960年初, Nokie發現Mosrite吉他很合適他們的音色而介紹投機者其他團員使用, 他們決定背書這個品牌, 專用Mosrite 表演錄音, 因而使Mosrite吉他大紅, 尤其在日本不但流行而且變成收藏品,



(Mosrites have been extremely popular in Japan)


有許多唱片都用Mosrite當封面.

(Mosrites)


(Mosrites)


1966 Mosrite Mark I Ventures model


1965 Mosrite Ventures II


1984 Mosrite Mark I (assembled by Tony Hunt)


1965 Mosrite Celebrity III


1967年左右投機者和Mosrite老闆Semie因一些金錢糾紛不再背書Mosrite, 又回來改用Fender的Jazzmaster, Nokie 則獨來獨往, 仍舊用Mosrite, Fender 的 Telecaster, Tony Hunt 或其他吉他 (見另一篇Nokie的私人吉他).

撇開 Mosrite 後﹐投機者基本上 Don 又回去用 Fender Jazzmaster﹐Gerry McGee 喜歡用Fender Stratocaster﹐Bob 基本上用 Fender Jazz Bass. 有段時期 Don 和 Gerry 還用過 Gibson 的 SG. Nokie 則用 Telecaster﹐Tony Hunt 等吉他﹐自己表演時才用 Mosrites。(Nokie 部份﹐另文介紹)

1996年Fender為投機者推出一個紀念系列有Jazzmaster, Stratocaster 和 Jazz Bass, 是用黑色的塗裝設計用投機者團員的建議. Don 負責 Jazzmaster 的設計, Bob 負責Jazz Bass 的設計, Gerry 負責 Stratocaster 的設計.

紀念系列海報: Bob, Gerry, Leon & Don


Trio of Ventures Tribute (已賣掉)


Ventures Tribute Jazzmaster autographed by 5 members 五個團員簽名的 Jazzmaster


同年Fender 也和Nokie設計生產 Nokie Edwards Signature Telecaster 吉他

Nokie with Fender Signature Telecaster


Nokie's Fender 1996 N.E. Telecaster


到了2000初期, 投機者創辦人Don Wilson用兒子名義開了一家Wilson Brothers吉他公司, 開始製作Wilson Ventures Model 吉他, 開始由Aria在日本製作, 後來改在韓國生產, 現在有些在中國製作.

Fillmore 2000 Nokie Mosrite 失敗後﹐Nokie也不甘示弱自己設計生產HitchHiker吉他, 先在美國生產(Jaskon Custom Shop), 最近也轉去日本Aria製作.

(HitchHiker, Wilson Brothers)


(Aria Wilson Brothers Ventures Models; VCM 2001, 2002)


2004 Aria Ventures 40th Anniversary 1st model VCM 2001 投機者40週年紀念琴


Wilson Brothers Ventures VM-65 model:(已賣掉)


2008年投機者被引進Rock N Roll Hall of Fame 表演時投機者樂團用了Jazzmaster(剛開始為了尊重因病不能出席的 Bob Bogle, Bob Spalding用 Jazzmaster 演奏Bob Bogle成名曲“Walk Don't Run”) 之後 Bob Spalding 用Wilson Brothers Bass, Don 用 Wilson Brothers吉他, Nokie 是用HitchHiker彈奏 "Hawaii Five O" .

(HitchHiker, Wilson Brothers guitars were used 2008 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Concert)


Nokie's HitchHiker guitar


投機者的相關網站﹕

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ventures

http://www.theventures.com/index_files/home.htm

.

1996 Ventures Tribute Jazzmaster

[1996 年Fender為投機者推出一個紀念系列有Jazzmaster, Stratocaster 和 Jazz Bass, 是用黑色的塗裝設計用投機者團員的建議. Don 負責 Jazzmaster 的設計, Bob 負責Jazz Bass 的設計, Gerry 負責 Stratocaster 的設計. 這三把吉他主要是在日本發行﹐美國分銷的很少﹐每種不到400把﹐收藏性高]

Fender 1996 投機者簽名琴: Ventures Tribute guitars

我過去收集的Fender 1996年投機者Ventures紀念琴, 三把 ( Jazzmaster + Stratocaster + Jazz bass) 前年賣掉了.



今年初又去買了同型的Jazzmaster, 這把吉他上有目前投機者五個團員的簽名, Don Wilson, Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee和Leon Taylor ( Leon 是過世的鼓手Mel Taylor的兒子, 可惜這把琴沒有請到Mel簽到名, 此琴出了不久, Mel就過世了).



Ventures 紀念琴中我最喜愛 Jazzmaster , 不太喜歡Stratocaster 和 Jazz bass, 去年向我買的是位 Ventures 吉他收藏家, 堅持三把一齊賣才要, 我只好忍痛割愛, 現在又買了 Jazzmaster 回來, 又有五位團員簽字, 非常高興. 這把吉他是1996年 Fender 為投機者樂隊特別出的限量版﹐日本生產﹐這把是第 021號。

我是向投機者樂隊創始人兼團長 Don Wilson 的兒子Tim 買的, 他這個年青人很夠意思, 送我一張 Don 和 Bob在去年重新錄和整理的私人CD, 在市面上沒有賣, 只送私人朋友的, 而且他請他老爸 Don在吉他盒子上也簽名, 他還幫我把吉他在他老爸的"Rock N Roll" Hall of Fame的獎牌前照了張相, 洗出後會寄給我.



為了答謝Tim的好意, 我寄了一些公司的高級刀具給他和他老爸Don, Tim聽了很高興說他以前是搞餐館的, 對廚房的刀具有特別的愛好!

昨天收到琴, 試彈了和過去的那把一樣, 把她放入牆上的陳列盒, Tim 告訴我 Don 昨天出發去日本開始他們50週年日本冬季巡迴音樂會(去年一共40場全爆滿), 我實在佩服Don, 一個75歲的老頭還可以在臺上蹦蹦跳跳, 不停的演奏2個小時(中間休息半小時).

投機者50週年音樂會一定會出DVD的, 大家拭目以待吧!

**************

今天收到一個筒子裡面有照片和 Poster 是 Tim 寄來的. 幾張照片是Don Wilson Seattle 家中歷年金唱片和其他獎包括 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 獎座的陳列. 照片是Don Wilson 兒子 Tim 把賣給我的吉他和Don Wilson 家中歷年金唱片和其他獎座放一起照相寄給我的﹐

Poster 是1997 日本音樂會用此紀念琴表演 Poster 廣告, Don Wilson & Bob Bogle 親筆簽名。 是我送Don Wilson一些公司的產品禮物 Don 回禮的, 外國人也講禮尚往來。

吉他照片﹕





Don Wilson, Gerry McGee 簽名




Bob Bogle 簽名


Nokie Edwards 簽名


Leon Taylor 簽名


Don Wilson 簽名


Don Wilson 親筆簽名


Don Wilson 家中歷年金唱片和其他獎陳列包括 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 獎座


1997 日本音樂會用此紀念琴表演 Poster 廣告, Don Wilson & Bob Bogle 親筆簽名





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2001年 投機者40 周年吉他

2001 Wilson Brothers VCM 2001限量發行版

這是投機者(The Ventures) 創始人 Don Wilson 的吉他公司 Wilson Brothers 在日本由 Aria 代工的 Custom Shop VCM 2001 吉他。 是慶祝投機者40周年的限量發行版(#00023), 手工非常精細, 琴盒也是40周年的特製版。

VCM2001型號底下的琴橋和大搖是Aria 改進式的﹐後來 Don Wilson 又把它改回他熟悉但是容易滑出有問題的 Jazzmaster式的琴橋。型號改為 VCM2002﹐VCM2001 從此絕版, 產量非常少。主要原因可能是Aria 式的琴橋造價高, 原來 VCM2001的賣價幾乎是 VCM2002 ($1999) 的一倍。

VCM 2001 用Aria 式的琴橋


VCM 2002/2003 用Jazzmaster式的琴橋



VCM2001 和2002琴頸和琴身有邊條 binding﹐VCM2003 沒有。賣價稍微便宜一點($1799)。VCM 吉他只接受訂購﹐要幾個月﹐Wilson Brothers 沒有存貨。

Wilson Brothers 其他吉他在韓國或中國製造。投機者在日本表演喜歡用這些 日本Aria VCM吉他﹐在美國則喜歡用韓國的VM型號。我過去有一把韓國的VM65﹐彈奏和音色都比較 VCM差﹐我賣掉了。日本製的品質還是高出很多﹐當然價格要4-5倍。Wilson Brothers 的賣價一般是 打七五折

韓國的VM65, 琴橋 搖桿是用 Fender Stratocaster 式的


我收藏的 Ventures 40周年的限量發行版VCM 2001 :

Body: Alder, Carved Top
Neck: Maple, Smooth Bolt-on Joint
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Nut: Original, Metal
Frets: 22F, 305R
Scale: 648mm(25-1/2")
Pickups: VOS-1;Original Single Coil (AlnicoⅤMagnet)*2
Controls: Volume*1, Tone*1, 3-position pickup Selector Toggle Switch*1
Tailpiece: Original Vibrate Unit & Bridge
Hardware: Chrome















Harmony Central Review by marty: (VCM 2002)

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Wilson+Bros./VCM-2002+Ventures+Model/10/1

Product: Wilson Bros. VCM-2002 Ventures Model
Price Paid: US close to 2k
Submitted 07/10/2004 at 11:05am by marty
Email: none

Features : 9

Top of the Wilson Bros line Made in 2003 - 2004.
Solid Alder on the light side of medium weight body, solid maple bolt-on neck with luxury width (in comparison to the thin Mosrite necks), rosewood fingerboard and Mosrite style small dot inlays (though not quite as small as Mosrite inlays), fully bound (body and neck), metal nut, P-90 style pickups with the neck pick-up cocked in the fashion of the vintage Mosrites, one volume, one tone control, 3-position pickup switch. Jazzmaster style bridge / vibrato. It doesn't have lottsa features like 12 buttons and knobs and built-in fuzz but the only feature of concern to me is quality. The Jazzmaster bridge needs a buzz stop to keep the strings from popping out so I took off a point.

Sound : 10

The VCM-2002 has a tone closer to a Mosrite than a Jazzmaster. I've A/B'd it with each. It is not exactly the Mosrite sound but it's a good sound of it's own. I use it through a Fender Custom Vibroverb and Twin. It has no single coil buzz.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10

This one was beautifully set up with excellent action. I see no flaws of any kind. I do complain about any Jazzmaster bridge. I put a buzz stop on this one and it works nicely.

Reliability/Durability : 10

It will withstand live playing. A buzzstop is required if you have a strong attack and apply significant string bending. The electronics are sound and l'd be confident without a back-up. The strap buttons are solid.

Customer Support : 10

I dealt with Tim Wilson, one of the owners and he was very affible. I haven't needed to go for repairs yet but I feel he would be on it if I did.

Overall Rating : 10

I've been playing guitar since the early '70's and play mostly fingerstyle instrumental. This guitar is expensive but a solid value. It is the same guitar that Aria put out a few years ago with a different bridge and sold for nearly twice the price. Don Wilson loves the Jazzmaster bridge so that was his "improvement" on the Aria Ventures model.

Harmony Central Review by Bruce Duncan: (VCM 2003)

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Wilson+Bros./VCM-2003+Ventures+Model/10/1
Product: Wilson Bros. VCM-2003 Ventures Model
Price Paid: US $1,700.00
Submitted 10/25/2004 at 03:42am by Bruce Duncan

Features : 10

This review is of the Brand-New Wilson Bros. VCM-2003, Ventures Signature Guitar.

After decades of making money for Fender, Mosrite, and Aria, playing and endorsing their guitars, Don Wilson of The Ventures, decided to design a line of electric guitars on which The Ventures would own the company and reap a better financial reward from their sales. There are four series of Ventures guitars being manufactured for Wilson Bros., each designed and priced to appeal to a different market segment.

At the top-end are the VCM models. The VCM-2002 is the ultimate top-end, and most expensive model, retailing at $1,999. Next is the subject of this review, the VCM-2003, which retails at $1,899. Both models feature solid Alder body, solid, white-bound hard maple neck with Rosewood fingerboard and metal notched nut, a generic Jazzmaster vibrato tailpiece and bridge assembly, two height-adjustable HOT P-90 type pickups, one volume, one tone control, 3-position pickup switch, vintage mint pickguard with "The Ventures" logo laminated in a prismatic/ hologram applique, similar to the logo affixed to the headstock. The tuners are Kluson reissues, so all '60's Fender players will feel right at home with the way this VCM tunes up. The VCM-2002, for the additional $100. adds white binding around the top-edge of the guitar body. A custom hard-shell Ventures-logo case, covered in brown faux-alligator is included in the price of both models.

The VCM-2002 and VCM-2003 come with a 25 1/2" scale neck, with 22 narrow-wire frets. The design and appearance of guitar and neck are quite Mosritish, though the headstock has been styled to differ from the "M" notched pattern of the original Mosrites, and the treble-side horn has been slightly shortened compared to that of the original Mosrite, to create a visually more balanced appearance.

Everything about the VCM-2003 shouts, "Quality!" The operation of all controls, switches is smooth and flawless. The pickups are sweet high-output single-coils that rival the best I've heard on Gibson or Gretsch instruments. The finish quality is superb, gloriously high-gloss and the color selection should please just about anyone. Mine is Blue Metallic, which I think of as "Ink-Blue Metallic" It is a darker-than-customary metallic blue and is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Other colors include Pearl White, and Candy Apple Red.

The quality of the neck and fretwork is above reproach. The neck addresses one of my sorest complaints with my old '65 Ventures Mosrite, that of a much narrower-than-needed neck and string-spacing. As much as I loved the vibe of the Mosrite, it wasn't played as much as my L-series Jazzmaster, because the Jazzmaster's neck felt so much better and caused less cramping in my left hand and fingers.

The VCM-2003?s neck, 1 11/16? wide at the nut, feels much closer to that old Fender neck than to the Mosrite, with a 9.5 radius, which is also slightly flatter on the fretboard, making leads a lot easier to play, while still permitting ease in playing chords.

The factory set-up had the intonation right-on, but allowed a string height about 1.5mm above optimal, (easily fixed with my trusty Allen wrench!) The fit of neck into neck socket is tight and firm, contributing to a very "alive" feeling with lots of acoustic sustain.

Being a Jazzmaster-style vibrato set-up, means it has the threaded-bolt string saddles. This has historically been considered the Achilles-heel of the Jazzmaster because with the violin-like angle at which the strings cross the bridge, there is very little ?down-force? to hold the strings in place. The two main complaints of players have been buzzing of the saddles, and the tendency of the strings to hop out of their notches on the saddles, especially when tuning and stretching the strings. Switching to 11-guage or heavier strings is a help. Some players substitute the Fender Mustang bridge, (which fits into the same studs) w

Sound : 10

I am lead/rhythm guitarist of the current-day instro band, "Longboard Ranch" and we have been described as one of the best all-originals-traditional-style surf bands in the US. We?re similar to The Ventures, except we use a lot more reverb and echo! In all the years I've played guitars, I've been seeking an ideal combination of aliveness, sustain, tone, and aggressive attack, because I am extremely particular about the sound of my guitar..

I can confidently say that in my collection of over 40 vintage and reissue Fenders, Mosrites, Gretsch, Danelectro, Univox, Vox, Rickenbacker, etc, this new Ventures VCM-2003 IS the best of the bunch and has quickly become my favorite axe. I feel an almost primal connection with this guitar, which exceeds my bonding with any other guitar I?ve ever played.

Played through a '64 Deluxe Reverb, a '65 Princeton Reverb, and a '76 Vibrolux Reverb, the sound is ULTIMATELY AWESOME on each amp! The day my new VCM-2003 arrived, my 19-year old son was fooling around on my computer, with his back to me, as I plugged in the VCM-2003 and started playing "Ghost Riders in the Sky" with a touch of reverb and delay/echo. After I'd run through the first verse, he turned around, and looking straight at the guitar said, "It?s beautiful looking, and the way it sounds, sell every other guitar in your collection, just keep that one!" He told me the VCM-2003 is the coolest sounding electric guitar he's ever heard.

The sound is just as flexible and usable as on my best Jazzmaster, from cowboy twang, to "The Ventures in Space" overdrive, to wet-splashy drenched-out surf. I detected next-to-no hum compared against the Fenders I've played, so I suspect they've got the pickups reverse wound with respect to each other, to achieve a humbucking effect when using the middle (both pickups on) setting. Because the pickups are height-adjustable you can compensate their relative proximity to the strings to achieve your ultimate blend of tone when playing with both pickups on.

So far, I've found absolutely nothing about this guitar that I don't love. That's right, my list of dislikes is ZERO, ZIP, NADA.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10

I addressed these items above, so to recap: factory set-up was about 95% perfect, the only gripe being string-height, and I was able to lower the bridge about 1.5mm with no buzzing at all. Fit and finish as good or better than the best Fender Custom Shop offerings.

Based on my examination, and several sessions of aggressive playing, I can find ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to criticize. ZERO FLAWS!

Reliability/Durability : 10

Everything about this guitar gives a strong impression that Wilson Bros. Number ONE priority was comfort, playability, musicality, and durability that would make this series SECOND TO NONE. I would not hesitate to take this guitar to our most important gig of the year without a back-up guitar; it?s that good! I?m certain that in 40 years this guitar will still look, feel and play wonderfully!

Customer Support : 10

This is a new, family-run operation, owned by some of the nicest guys in the world of Rock Music, The Ventures. James Fox is their National Wholesale Rep, and he's a super-nice guy also. This isn't a gigantic faceless corporate entity like Fender or Gibson.

When you phone, your call gets answered by one of the principals, not by an automated greeting system. They want to be a credible purveyor of high-quality professional guitars. Their attitude seems to be extremely positive toward maintaining good relations with their public, whether they're buying or not. Because of its newness and lack of structured formality, there is a slightly "seat of the pants" management style currently in sway.

Nowhere in any of the Internet-accessible information, nor in the glossy 4-page brochure I was given by James Fox, does there appear one word about a warranty. Come-on when I did my pre-purchase checking out of my VCM-2003, I was so impressed by the obvious quality, a warranty became a complete non-issue

Overall Rating : 10

I've been playing guitar since the late 1960's. I own and play various original vintage and reissue Fender Jazzmasters, Mosrites, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Univox, Danelectro and Vox guitars.

These VCM's aren't exactly sitting on the shelf gathering dust! The ONLY question I had was "How soon can I buy one?"

If it were stolen or lost, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near me for the rest of the day. I'd be busily inventing new four-letter words and being totally miserable. In a few days I've formed a bond with this guitar like no other I've EVER played! I?d buy another one in a heartbeat, at full MSRP if necessary!

I also own a VM-65 and VM-10, both Korean-made models. The VM-65 is a budget-priced version of the VCM series, priced at $699. MSRP and the VM-10 is the Wilson Bros. rendition of the 1962 Stratocaster, with a $299. MSRP. I?ve submitted reviews of both - Big Surprise: The quality is evident even in their least expensive model!

My final word: "The VCM-2003 stands alone in a class of its own!? There is simply no comparison between the VCM-2003 and anything else I've ever played! If you've been searching for the ultimate player's guitar, with the ultimate sound and most ultimately usable range of tones, THIS IS IT! My search is over."

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