Ventura V-1440

Maple Top and sides. 20 frets on a rosewood neck. Cheapo plastic inlays that shrink and may need to be replaced. But, I believe the headstock has real mother of pearl inlay. Super solid construction and binding. 30 year old guitar that is built like a tank. Pretty good acoustic resonance. Has original tuners which have a logo like Aria guitars of that era. For example, headstock logo on Herb Ellis Aria. Probably made by Matsumoko factory. 5 piece neck with no volute.
I especially like that, reminds me of pre 70's Gibsons. They did the right thing there. The neck is the most comfortable neck I've ever played. Just thin enough yet, just wide enough. Thin frets, which I'm rediscovering after all these years. Feels great!

I'm using this guitar with a Polytone mini brut II. The neck pickup sounds nice and full, a little dark. The middle position is OK, but the bridge pickup is thin and distorted. I don't really think the qualtiy is all that great, but I've found that when I put the switch in middle postion and roll off the high end I get a pretty good sound for single note lines. As far as chord melody's I would use the neck pup exclusively.

The finish is flawless. Mine has a nice birdseye type of look that has withstood the test of time. I really don't know of many Gibson's that look this good after 30 some years. And I own about 50 guitars. Including a 1966 Gibson 335, 2 60's 330's, es175 etc... The saddle and bridge is kinda cheap but could easliy be switched for an abr1. It has plastic tailpieces, but Gibson put them on their mid to late 60's 335's too.

I've pretty much stated that. Couldn't be better. Strong and solid.
Looks pretty, but no worries, mate.

good luck

I've been playing 35 years. I'm a published guitar instuction book author, gig on a regular basis. I own mostly vintage equipment and use blackface Fender's for my blues gigs and the Polytone for jazz. I bought my FIRST Ventura Barney about 6 months back and fell in love. Since then I bought a project one to screw with and beef up.Tonight I just bought another one. A third! These guitars are WAY under valued. They are buit to last, the pickups aren't strong, but maybe turnup the amp. Great for jazz. This guitar has inspired me to write a bunch of new instrumentals. And to think I used to make fun of thes in High School. Beats Korea, Mexico for alot less. I think the Japanese "lawsuits" are the up and coming collectors guitars. But, forget about that... it's just a damn good guitar.