Product: Ventura V-200
Price Paid: US $350 used
Submitted
10/21/2004
at
07:48pm
by
Ted Niteda
Features
:
10
Mines a V200S that I bought on Ebay a couple of months ago.Its a solid top big jumbo Gibson J200 copy made in the 70s.A very ornate guitar to say the least.Crown inlays up the neck,flowers on the pickguard, ornate bridge with abalone inlays.Well built and solid.
Dont know much about Ventura,but I have a Suzuki J200 copy and apart from the name on the headstock,I cant tell these two apart.Body and neck is bound front and back,smooth tuners,and a lovely cherryburst finish.
Sound
:
9
Ok,so it doesent sound as good as my Gibson,but its darn close and the richness of the sound pleases me greatly.Its not got electrics,but I mike it up when needed with a laurence soundhole pickup....its clear as a bell
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This was made to impress,solid and quality workmanship here.I was told that Gibson closed them down with lawsuits,but that could be folklore.The finish is great,action is low and the previous owner looked after this one well,no bridge lift either.The label says "fine fretted instruments" I believe it....its fine
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Its over 30 years old now so it has lasted well.Everythings still solid on her.I wouldnt think twice about using it on a gig without a backup
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Been playing for 35 years,got an original J200,and a couple of old yamaha Jumbos that I love,a suzuki j200 copy,and now this one.I originally bought it for my son as someday he will own the Gibson,but Im keeping it for a while..I like it...he can stay with his beloved hofner for a while longer...Ill give it to him when I find another one like this,saw a blonde one on ebay,but it went for over $500,so Ill keep looking
Product: Ventura V-200
Price Paid: US $300 used
Submitted
06/13/2004
at
03:01am
by
Ricky
Features
:
10
This is a 70s made Gibson J200 copy and waht a great copy!!
The Ventura Company took apart well known martins and Gibsons and copy them using quality materials...so much so that they were slapped with multiple lawsuits and eventually were forced to close down...mine is a V200...label says "fine fretted instruments" designed in the USA made in Japan....Yes, they were designed in the USA(by gibson) and copied in Japan by Ventura...I love it!! Its a big Jumbo sunburst with a great sound.Its also know as the Ornate Ventura because of all the inlay
Sound
:
10
Its got a big full sound and is clear as a bell......notes and chimelike and ring out,and its a great tight dound when strumming
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The action is great and just right for me...not too low.The guitar is solid and I love those big inlays up the neck.Tuners are smooth and dont lose tune
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Ive eventually got this from a friend whos been gigging with it for about 20 years.....got him on a bet and hes very sorry to part with it...hes been using it without backup for years and mikes it up for bigger gigs
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
Ive been playing for 25 years...I own an original J200,a martin,an a couple of other jap guitars(aria and kawai) I really love this Ventura and they are gaining in value all the time....grab one if you can find one and if I cant get there first.Im looking for another.
