LADY MOVED INTO HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET AFTER A MONTH OR SO HAD A GARGAGE SALE . I BOUGHT A FEW THINGS AND NOTICE A GUITAR CASE BEHIND SOME STUFF IN A CORNER. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND SHE SAID TO COME BACK AFTER THE SALE. I DID SHE GAVE ME THE CASE AND SAID MY HUSBAND PLAYED AROUND WITH THIS AND WAS RE DOING IT WHEN HE PASSED AWAY I THINK ALL THE PARTS ARE IN THE CASE. WHAT DO I HAVE? ITS A VENTURA NO MARKINGS OTHER THAN A CHROME PLATE SAYS STEEL ADJUSTABLE NECK MADE IN JAPAN 1031582 ROSE WOOD WITH PEARL INLAYS LARGE SQUARE THAT GET NARROWER BUT LONGER AS THEY GO DOWN THE NECK ,TOGGLE SWITCH BOTTOM LEFT HAND SIDE FOUR CONTROLL KNOBS ALL CHROME A CHROME WAWA BAR THAT THE STRINGS ARE RAN THOUGH IT HAS A WALNUT WOOD INLAY IN THE CENTER THE BACK STRAP KNOB SCREWS THROUGH THE CENTER IT APPEARS THE GUITAR WAS A RED COLOR. BUT THE MAN HAD STRIP IT TO BARE WOOD. I HAVE STAIN IT NATURAL AND ONLY HAVE TO PUT ON POLY SHIELD AND PUT BACK TOGETHER BUT IT IS LOOKING GREAT. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE CANT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT VENTURA IF ANY ONE CAN HELP I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HEAR FROM YOU. STUMPED IN WEST TX

My mother purchased a used Ventura Bruno V-11 in the summer of 1972. I don`t imagine she spent too much on it, since it was at a garage sale, and also the fact that she was in the midst of a divorce, which also meant we were flat broke at the time. The guitar itself is in great shape, despite the fact that I never learned to play. It had sat around for years until my sister took up guitar and played for awhile, then purchased a newer instrument. My mom gave us the instrument about 8 years ago, and just recently my 14 year old son has taken up the guitar and is now playing it. I`ve had several experienced pick it up, play it, and remark on how great it sounds. I too, am curious to know what it is worth. Regardless of the amount, it`s not leaving this house!

Hello, I have a Ventura guitar, my Grandfather gave it to me about 12 years ago. And lately I have been trying to find any information about, year make, how much its worth and such, but I haven`t had any luck. I found this place and was hoping maybe someone knew something about it.
Its a six string classical nylon string guitar. It has a sticker on the inside that says "Ventura" "Fine Fretted Instruments" "Model No. V-1584. So anyways, does anyone know how much its worth? And what year it was made? Thanks.

I have a Ventura V-23 B. I bought is new in the early 1970`s. It is in excellent condition. I was told when I bought it that it was built to the same spec.’s as the Gibson Dove. It does look the same. There is a Dove on the guard and mother-of-pearl inlays on the neck. The guitar is a dream to play and sounds great. If you have any information of comments about this instrument, please post it.

I have a Ventura M# V-1584. This was purchased new in 1971 for $100. It has made in Korea on the head. Don`t know what its worth now. Probably about the same.

Can anyone tell me about Ventura ES-335 copies? I`ve seen two, one of which I bought. One had Ventura on the headstock the other, otherwise identical, had nothing. They`re very well made: transparent red finish shows off flame maple veneer top and back; gold hardware, gold covered humbuckers, white binding on body, wbw bound neck, pearl block neck markers, 4-ply pickguard. The neck is fatter than a sixties style Gibson, bolted on with a small neck plate that says "Japan." Acoustically the guitar is very resonant and punchy even on the low strings. Nothing visible on the inside but it has a real center block. Anyone?

I just had a Mod. V24 Bruno given to me. It`s a 12 string. I`m going to repair the deck around the bridge. Inside was an inscription of a persons name and covered up with a sticker. year 1970. It has a dove on the very weather checked pickguard. I don`t think it`s worth much. I`ve been playing for 38 years and have seen similar quality. I`d put it about $100.00 in good shape. This one looks like it`s been pulled through the key hole.

i just purchased a v-12 6 sting on ebay. after shipping costs the total was 106 bucks. i plan to buy one of the barney kessel copies once i come across the money.

these guitars were mostly knock offs of gibsons and were made in japan. i have owned other guitars by electra also and basically these japanese copies allow you to get a guitar almost as good, as good, or BETTER than the gibsons at a FRACTION of the price.

as far as values, just go into musical instruments on ebay and type in ventura and do a search. the basic ones go for anywhere from 50-200 bucks. ill tell you the hundo i spent on this v-12 is about the best deal i ever got on a guitar.....other than the gibson 12 string from 1969 my buddy GAVE me. these guitars sound GREAT and play GREAT.

the ones copied after the dove usually go for quite a bit more.....ususally over 300. so just look at the sticker inside, see what model it is and watch for one on ebay. thats the best way to get an idea of what its worth. if you take it to a guitar dealer they will just tell you its not worth anything because its not martin or gibson or whatever.

check gruhnguitars.com for information on guitars. there are lots of books and such that you can buy and maybe you will find the info your looking for.

good luck!

I found a ventura guitar aswell that needed some fixing and i was wondering if it was worth it? By ur replies it seems so, but i`m wondering if it is for this specific model ( v 1583 )

thanks

Is it a 6 string?

funny story............... ventura V-10

one day i was walking home from the studios with my 2 friends at night.............

we were walking down the block and while they were talking i saw something weird on the side of a house........

we got closer and it was 2 guitars left there for trash.......

one of the guitars was ok...it had an aligator skin case with it...........

but the other guitar.........was outside the case and getting all wet.......with the fretboard tied to the neck with a handkerchief......weird.....so i took it home and blowed dried it........the next day i repaired it....with the strongest of all glues......special stuff....anyway....

i took them both home and decided to keep the ventura.....

cant find any info on the internet about it.......

but let me say that nothing comes close to this guitar.........

1 more thing............the ventura that i have...has a custom made bridge on the bottom to adjust the action on the strings...................WOW......

any info would be great thanx

I recently posted some info on another web about rating guitars I ran across through a friend who knows I play many of the models and collect as well. Here`s the shorter version of a story I got from a girlfriend`s Dad who introduced me to the different models in Fairbanks, Alaska 1998. He worked in a music store when he retired from the military in 1971 (where? I dunno). According to him the Ventura production was limited to classical guitars only in the early -mid 60`s. A Japanese / American family took over the company and production in the late 60`s. The American (WWII Vet from Tennessee)in the family was raised on the best and had a serious collection of Martins, Gibsons, etc accousticals for sure/ electrics? Idunno. Anyhow, the Japanese side of the family was well known(?) for producing the four/five stringed instruments the Geisha`s performed with, and somehow they decided to copy the real deals. What transpired was a not so really big mass production of a very inexpensive guitar introduced to the US market in the 70`s by the C. Bruno Co of upstate NY. I have no idea how Bruno fit into the picture, but the supply and demand developed through their company efforts grew so rapidly from players who were amazed at the quality for pennies on the dollar compared to the Americal models that had been basically counterfeited. The Ventura company literally took American ingenuity apart, matched materials (the best available at the time)and mass produced Guild Bluegrass Specials, Gibson Hummingbirds, and a series of Martin EtAL Dreadnaughts. The Guild Company was the only company that had a Headstock similar to the Ventura, but the rest of the guitar depending on the model was an exact replica down to the bracing and internal structure, as were the Gibson and Martin replicas. Wood quality and depth was copied through good ol` Japanese innovation and a series of really good guitars hit the US market for a fraction of the cost for it`s American counterpart! It didn`t take long for Martin, Gibson, Guild EtAl to retalliate in production infringements, and put Ventura out of business the same way Ferrari put McBurney out of business for duplicating their high dollar autos. Only unlike McBurney`s Ferraris, Ventura made a quality sounding musical instrument that duplicated or better yet matched the highest quality of American craftmanship. If you are fortunate enough to snatch up one of this sleeping beauties, good for you. It won`t be long before everyone realizes the priceless value of a well seasoned guitar similar to a well seasoned wine... I would spend betweem $50 and $450 for any model I came across and give it all the more love and attention I give my Martins that I was lucky enough to hang onto for 25-30yrs. The Venturas I bought and sold over the past 5 years to get what I was looking for have every bit the depth in bass, tone quality and brightness as has the Martins I own.. they are truely a gift when you are lucky enough to come across one in good shape for pennies on the dollar. Good luck and happy Ventura hunting !

I have a "Bruno" Ventura Classic gut string that I bought from C&S Music in Fort Worth,Texas in 1965-66. It has a nice classic tone but that is all I know about it.

I bought a Ventura Bruno V-11 about a year ago...I was wondering if anyone had any good information on Ventura and if i actually got a good deal for only paying $100 for it. It sounds great, and so far it looks like all other Ventura owners say the same thing.

I have an old Ventura bass,but I can not find a serial number on it. What I need are wiring diagrams so I can fix`er up. ANY help will be greatly appreciated