Ventura V-235-S

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I OWN THE V35 AND IT WAS BOUGHT NEW BY UNCLE IN 1972AND GAVE IT TO ME FOR CHRISTMAS IN 1975. THIS GUITAR IS STILL ALL ORIGINAL STOCK OTHER THAN REPLACED FRETTS. HE HAS TOLD ME THE SAME STORY'S I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT AND HOW THAT MARTIN AND GIBSON DECIDED TO SHUT THEM DOWN. ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS I OWN AND HAVE PLAYED A LOT OF GITARS AND THE VENTURA IS A DEFFINATE 10 IN MY BOOK. THE OLDER IT GETS THE BETTER IET SOUNDS AND EVERYONE WHO PLAYS IT SEEMS TO AGREE. I REALY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE QUALIFIED WITH THE TOP DOLLAR VINTAGE GUITARS AND EVERY TIME I THINK OF GETTING RID OF IT I THINK OF THE MILES WE HAVE TOGATHER, THE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS WHO HAVE PLAED IT ,BUT MOST OF ALL THE WAY IT SOUNDS.GOD BLESS

YES

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My ventura is a V-10 serial number 58895. I dont know much about the guitar but when I pick it, it sounds beautiful. Everyone is jealous of th e sound it gets. I believe it was made in the early 70's by a japanese family who got sued by Martin ang Gibson manufacturers. It is a 6 string guitar and looks great for its age. Amazingly it stays in tue so well. I put Martin strings on it and it sounds like one now.

I like to pick the guitar so it suits me very well. The sound is very bright and pretty. It sounds great next to a Seagull and yamaha which my family owns. They harmonize very well together. The sound reminds me of a Seagull(handmade ones)

I bought this guitar used at a pawn shop and bought it for 75 dollars. the guitar is in prefect shape and looks great with the finish.

Since it is already 30+- years and still looks great I think it will last me for many years. The finish still is very bright and there are no parts peeling off at all.

I havent dealt with the costumer support!

I have been playing for two months now but my mom has been playing for 20 years and we absolutely love it. I would definitely buy a ventura again hopefully i would be able to find one. I own Seagull, A yamaha, and a Alvarez and it holds its own very well. I recommend this guitar to anyone .

Well folks, nobody knows or can find out much about them because everyone associated with these guitars are either bankrupt, out of business or selling something else. That wasn't the choices when Ventura of Japan was put out of business back in the late 70's/early-mid 80's, nor is it what became of the Bruno import operation in upstate New York. Whether truth or fiction, the story goes something like this.... Ventura was a small Japanese guitar manufacturing operation to the south of Tokyo, Japan. The original factory which produced classical guitars was curiously purchased by a Japanese-American family sometime between 1965 and 1969. The new business owner was an American who married into a Japanese family after WWII, and happened to be a good ol' boy guitar picker out of the hills of Tennessee, whose relative (brother-in-law, or father-in-law or cousin) by marriage happened to build those unique sounding stringed instruments the Gesha-Girls played.
Somehow the two men got this remarkable if not almost brilliant idea to develop a line of guitars out of Japan that would compete in the entire American acoustical guitar market. Their ingenuity of this business venture is legened to have evolved out of a night of "sakie" drinking and bragging on each country's ability to produce fine musical instruments. Somehow in the pursuing events it was concluded that the Japanese Relative would disassemble the County Boy's american made instrument(s) and copy it (them) to produce a similar if not superior product(s). It is not quite certain if the guitar was actually a Martin or a Gibson, since the Country Boy had several models of each, which eventually evolved into the "Ventura" guitar line. No expenses were spared on the materials from which these copy-cat guitars were produced. By structure and design, they were equal to the original "blue-print" model, and their voices were the "proof is in the pudding" so to speak.
It is also somewhat uncetain how C. Bruno became involved in the marketing aspect of this undertaking, but once he had actually handled, played and HEARD one of the earlier versions of the product line, he was in it for the long haul, which unfortunately ended too early for anyone connected with this business. Once Gibson, Martin, EtAl (any other manufacturers who claimed copy infringement) hired their Band of Lawyers, they ultimately and successfully petitioned to have the factory cease importation of the entire guitar line into the US market until they no longer resembled their American counterparts. This was finalized sometime in 198?.

The V-23, not V-235 is (almost??) identical to the Gibson Hummingbird simply because it was a Hummingbird according to the Gibson firm during the infringement hearings. The only differences between the Ventura and it's American counterpart was the Headstock. In no way did it resemble a Martin, but it was argued to be similar to the Gibson. Remarkably, this model has sound qualities equal to the American counterparts. So much so, it became a real cost saver with overnight success!
Today, musicians who have been fortunate enough to stumble across this model have placed them in their collection of "keepers" despite the rediculously low costs associated with purchases. Or as has been previously explained, they were an inexpensive purchase for novice players 30+ years ago. The "Ventura" name itself was so short lived in the market place, no one really had the opportunity to become familiar with the quality they actually possessed. I came across my first Ventura in 1998, which just happened to be a V-23 a friend's father had once owned. When he passed away, it was one of the few items she held onto of his. She told me the story behind the guitar as she had heard from her father who had worked in a music store after he retired from the military in 1971. The store happened to carry the Ventura line, and these guitars were

I flat pick and roll depending on the type of music I'm playing and the distinction of the idividual notes I want expressed, especially playing rhythm. This guitar sounds excellent. The sound is as rich and full as my Martin D-28 that's almost as old. The Martin has always been my personal favorite, but in reality it doesn't have anything on this V-23, and the beauty of this guitar truely remarkable. I think they are a real best kept secret, and for the price and as many gigs as I do I'm definately looking to buy a couple more!

This guitar is fricken icredible!

I've never thought of taking a guitar to a gig as a back up, but I always have more than three on hand just because I play in so many differnt tunnings. Also, I like to switch guitars for the actions especially blues riffs. This guitar olds its own, and is one of the oldest guitars I have in my stable!

Positively a guitar you could take to anyone, 'cause there isn't a manufacturor/factory! N/A

This guitar is destined to be a collectors item of it's own right. I just hope to pick up a couple more if I can find'em before everyone gets smart about their true qualities, and prices start getting jacked-up!!!

I have a Ventura V-17 12 string that I know absolutly nothing about. The inside says "Designed In The USA" but I have read that it was made in Japan. The neck feels real good. It is not too wide or narrow. This guitar is very easy to play.

My V-17 has a really nice, deep, full sound. I mainly use this guitar for back-up playing and it really does it's job. My friend has a 12- string Martin and my Ventura sounds real close to it; eventhough I notice a little more brightness in the Martin. I had a Bridge Doctor installed on my guitar and it really improved on the sustain. It sounds broader.

This guitar is considerably heavier than my Ovation. I haven't really noticed any flaws, but I had to have my frets worked on because I had a buzz on the 3rd and 5th frets on the first two strings. I may also need to adjust the neck. Otherwise the action is nice and the wood quality looks good, but I don't know what kind of wood this guitar was made of. Any info would greatly be appreciated.

I got this guitar for my b-day in the early 80's and it is still doing very well. There are no cracks or other flaws in the finish. This guitar is very reliable. I can count on it when I need it.

I cannot find anything as far as customer support.

I've been play for about 12 years now. I own an Ovation Standard Balladeer and a Charvel Model 6. I have play many other guitars including Martins, Taylors, Takamine, to name a few. My Ventura isn't of the highest quality, but it can sure hold it's own with the more expensive brands. I plan to get new machine heads and get a Fishman electronic pickup installed. That ought to hold me until I can afford an Adamas or a Breedlove 12 string.

Ok...I happened to get my hands on a Ventura guitar and Ive began researching it. First off...My guitar is not a v235s its a v23s im not sure what the difference is? It has a awesome sound ..i really couldnt believe it when i heard it. Its a sunburst looking guitar with some sort of pearl looking double squares on the frets. It has a black pick guard with some kind of rose artwork on the guard. the bridge is sort of raised with a pearl looking wing thing on either side of it. Has an incredible sound. I started asking around and searching the net for any information on Ventura guitars to mostly no avail . Ive learned they were designed in the U.S. and built in Japan. They were imported by C. Bruno co..somewheres in new york circa 1970. Ventura was closed down by some larger more reputable guitar companies apparently for making good quality guitars which they felt were getting to close to what they were doing. Ive read that Martin got involved because Ventura was sending them out of business. Ive also heard that Gibson was involved also. Only thing I can gather is that Ventura did make some copies that are apparently dead on to different brands popular guitars. I don't know if there is anyway to track down any ventura guitar to exact date and serial number. Hell I havent even found another owner of a V23s like mine. What i do know is Ventura was imported by C. Bruno ..which is now owned by Kaman Music which has Takamini, Ovation,Gretsch and others. Ive contacted kaman music to see if it is even possible to find any kind of historical records on these guitars. Ive read mixed reviews on this brand.....Ive noticed most people who say they are crap...are usually into spending 10,000 bucks on an old bigson or martin and say that japanese imports are crap.( although they have never played a Ventura). then there are those who have owned , played and heard the sound that comes out of these guitars...and they all say the same thing.....they hold up well and are cool to look at and sound amazing. I find it hard pressed that these guitars are not worth much more considering the sound and everything else. Anyhow..most of us who own them are still wondering the real scoop behind them and on our particular models. I have a felling it will always remain a big mystery. If anybody else out there owns a V23s please let me know if ya have any information about them.

I've had mine about 2 yrs. and like most of you find it has a big voice. Ventura (made in Japan late 60s and 70, counterfeited Martin's, Gibson's and Fender's until those companies sued them and stopped their production and importation. C. Bruno was only an importer. They were of like quality of those quality guitars they copied at a much lower price and were really getting into their business. As far as I've been able to determine the Ventura Co. is defunct. That's not to say that they didn't continue on in another name and without patent and copyright infringements.

Big voice!

Nice low action.

Tough and easy to maintain and play.

Don't think this is available today.

on a scale of 1 to 10 it gets a 9!

I dont really know a lot about my guitar...It was a birthday present for me in 1975...when I was 14 years old. It fits the description that was given earlier in this forum perfectly....There are no electonics or pickups in this guitar...it's just a big ole flat-top guitar with a beautiful red finish. I've thought about selling it many times, but it's got a lot of sentimental value attached to it...Mine still has the plastic tuning pegs. The dove on the pick-guard has been almost worn off from 25+ years of playing.

This is one of the LOUDEST guitars I have ever played! I used to play in a church praise band - my usual axe was my Ovation, with all the built-in electronics & pickups. But ANYtime we did a gig outside, with no external amplification, I always brought my Ventura. A HUGE sound. I can always get my 6th string to buzz on the 3rd fret....and most Gibson Hummingbirds I have played buzz at the same place! Great harmonics... I do a lot of Chet Atkins picking, and this guitar REALLY lends itself to finger-picking. But hit the strings with a pick, and you can hear it clear across town. I worked in radio for many years, and different country artists would stop by the station. I would keep my Ventura and my Ovation in the studio when artists would drop by....and most of them would pick up the Ventura to play on-air! "It feels like a guitar SHOULD feel...."

Action is incredible. The bridge came looose 20 years ago, and my local music store repaired it by putting in 2 small screws at the base of the bridge. It did NOT damage the guitar at all... One of my tuning pegs is loose...but I can tighten it by hand or with a pair of pliers very easily.

It's a great guitar for live acoustic playing. I wouldn't take it on the road...mostly because of the high sentimental value I place on THIS guitar...and things thend to get broken when instruments leave thir home! My guitar is kinda like mashed potatoes & roast beef. It's a "comfort" instrument that always makes me feel warm & cozy. Plus is plays GREAT. There IS some minor cracking in the finish, due to my own abuse of the instrument. I would take it camping for weeks at a time, and very rarely kept it in its case. It would be lying in the mud next to me when I woke up in the morning! :0 If I had not been so abusive towards this instrument, it would still be in perfect shape.

Never used it, no idea

I've been playing for 28 years. I own my Ventura, an Ovation acoustic slim-body, a Gibson 5-string banjo, a Hohner harmonica, a Washburn acoustic bass (that's old & beaten-up..I bought it used), a couple of electronic keyboards, and a Kawai baby grand. Like I said...this guitar is my personal favorite. It's big & clumsy and I have had it since I was a kid....but I LOVE it! I like the way it sounds, I like the way it plays....and we've been thru a LOT together! (Listen to John Denver's "This Old Guitar" - that explains how I feel about this instrument) Sure, it's not a Guild or a Martin or a Taylor or anything. But it's SUCH a part of me...I could never part with it! I hope my daughter, when she's old enough, will learn how to play and I can pass this guitar to her.

This is a steel-string acoustic folk guitar designed in the US and built in Japan. These guitars were imported by C. Bruno and Co. I'm not sure what year it was made, but I bought it new in 1978. It's your basic Gibson Hummingbird copy, AKA the Ventura Dove. The top is solid spruce; I'm not sure of the back and side woods. Fretboard appears to be rosewood, but don't quote me on that, 20 frets. It's got a really beautiful transparent red sunburst finish, with a dove sitting on a branch in a rosebush detailed on the pick guard. Kind of a girlie guitar, but hey, I'm a girl, it's really pretty, and I like its looks. Adjustable bridges for every string. Nice mother-of-pearl inlay of the "Ventura" logo above the tuning pegs on the top front. The inlays on the fretboard itself and the outside saddle of the bridges are not quite as pearlescent, but still look cool, and are nicely done, smooth. The original tuners were almost OK, nicely molded but plastic knobs. Had them replaced with Schallers when I cracked one, the only work I've ever had done on it.

I'm primarily a folk guitarist. I bought this ax after a long hunt for the perfect guitar within my budget, which was really small at the time. (Actually, I'd wanted a Hummingbird, but couldn't afford one.) It's got a nice sound -- crisp definition of the notes, nice and bright, good range from really quiet to loud for a totally acoustic instrument. And it's gotten (really) sweet over the years. I feel like I got lucky with this guitar. It's got a nice feel and a great sound. I almost have to TRY to buzz a string.

It's slightly heavier than the Hummingbirds I've played, but not by much.

A surprisingly well-made guitar all, things considered. It was set up perfectly at the factory, frets so smooth at the edges you couldn't snag anything on them. Nice action, too, just the right distance from strings to fretboard from top to bottom. The only thing that the manufacturer skimped on was the plastic material for the tuning pegs, which I mentioned above. Another nice touch -- those adjustable bridges. They've never needed an adjustment from the factory set, ever -- the intonation is as close to perfect as I've ever seen on a guitar. I'm starting to wonder if I own one of those fluke guitars that's supposed to be 'so-so', but they screwed up and made it really good accidentally.

I gigged with this from guitar the day I bought it, and it's been a solid winner. Without another instrument as backup, in fact. I've never had to worry about having a backup ax with this one -- kinda like the old Timex ads (takes a licking, keeps on ticking). And it's so pretty people comment on it. It's a great icebreaker for conversations. The finish looks as good now as it did the first day, so I'm starting to think it might last.

Never dealt with the company. I have no idea if C. Bruno is still in business. In any event, they didn't make it -- they imported it. I've been told that Ventura made pretty good quality Japanese copies of American designs, and my guitar certainly seems to be pretty good quality. The only thing I've ever had done to it was to replace the original tuners with Schallers at a local luthier, a good thing, I think. Tunes like a charm, and stays that way.

I've been playing for 31 years now. I've shed all my other guitars, because this is a keeper. Not sure of its monetary value, but I'd be hard-pressed to find another guitar that feels this 'right' if something happened to it, because I'm pretty sure they just don't make these any more. I love the sound, the finish, the feel...and hate nothing about it. I played over a hundred guitars before I bought this one, Hummingbirds, Yamahas, Guilds, Gibsons and lots of other higher-end guitars I just could not afford at the time. But when I picked this one up in the music store the first time, it was....love.