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#Post#: 466--------------------------------------------------
Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: abstamaria Date: February 2, 2012, 3:35 am
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Here, I am approaching playing the Ventures in the same way most
Shadows enthusiasts play Shadows covers. That means playing a
piece in the same style and with the same sound as the original
recorded version. I realize Ventures fans (and the Ventures
themselves) don’t subscribe to this approach, so I am setting
this out for those who enjoy this sort of endeavor.
As the “sound “ of the Ventures varies tremendously from piece
to piece and it is difficult to categorize Ventures styles and
sounds even by era (as it is with the Shadows), I will focus
here on the original 1960 version of “Walk Don’t Run,” which set
off the Ventures on their path to stardom (and immortality!).
Here are my guesses, probably wrong, on what gear to use, so
please correct me as necessary.
Lead Guitar: Bob Bogle used a 1959 or early 1960 Jazzmaster, so
that would be ideal. For us, a Jazzmaster made to pre-1963
specification would be best. In 1963, the rosewood fingerboard
became much thinner. Prior to this Fender used a big slab of
rosewood for the fingerboard, referred to as a “slab board.”
The Ventures Jazzmaster had this slab board.” Fit with thick
(13-56?) gauge flat-wound strings. Three-color sunburst ideal
(the equivalent of Hank Marvin’s trademark “Fiesta Red”).
Rhythm Guitar: I am assuming Don Wilson used his first
Stratocaster, probably a 1959 model with a maple neck. See the
cover of the Walk Don’t Run album. This was most likely fitted
also with thick (13-56?) gauge flat-wound strings.
I would assume that a 1956-onward Strat would be correct, as the
pre-1956 Stratocasters had ash rather than alder bodies. Fender
changed over to a rosewood fretboard in 1960, so those models
would not be spot on. All-maple-necked guitars are supposed to
have a brighter tone. I note that Don changed to a
rosewood-fretboad Strat by the time of the Colorful Ventures
album, which shows him with such a guitar.
Bass Guitar. I assume a Precision bass, also fitted with flat
wounds, but I am guessing here.
Amplifiers: According to the book “Walk Don’t Run,” for the
March 22, 1960 recording, the “amps consisted of two Fenders,
(Vibrolux and Bassman), and a Gibson model GA-40.” I assume Bob
used the Vibrolux and Don the Gibson amp. I know too little
about the Vibrolux and GA-40 amps to recommend current
equivalents.
For my own purposes, I use either a Fender Twin Amp or a ’65
Twin Reverb, both tube (valve) reissues by Fender. Would those
have the same valves and circuitry as a Vibrolux? To my ears,
the sound is very close.
The current Bassman amp is a guitar, not a bass, amp and
different in both design and sound from the original. The new
Fender TV Bassman bass amp might be close, but this is a hybrid
amp, so an all-tube bass amp might be a better alternative.
Perhaps those more knowledgeable than me can set me up straight
on this.
So there. Comments and corrections will be appreciated.
Best,
Andy
#Post#: 467--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: wstagner Date: February 2, 2012, 8:27 am
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I'd be willing to bet that in the studio and even live (you can
see old pix) Bob/Don played Jazzmasters.
That sound is unmistakeable.
#Post#: 472--------------------------------------------------
Stratocaster
By: abstamaria Date: February 2, 2012, 8:31 pm
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Most accounts, including from Don himself, has him using a
Stratocaster from 1959 to 1962, when he shifted to a Jazzmaster.
From that point on until the Mosrite years, both he and Bob
Bogle began to use Jazzmasters. Accordingly, Don would have
used a Stratocaster for the priginal "Walk Don't Run." That was
probably the '59 model with the all-maple neck, shown in
photographs of the era.
I wonder which pick-up Don used?
There is good discussion on Don's Stratocaster in
Undergroundfire2, which has been a very useful resource to me.
I wish data there were easier to access.
#Post#: 473--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: wstagner Date: February 2, 2012, 8:59 pm
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I agree about the access, Andy.
That's why Tom & I started this 4 um....help keep things
organized/accessible.
Do you have a copy of Del's Ventures book? It contains a
treasure trove of info like this.
HTML http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Dont-Run-Ventures-Del-Halterman/dp/0557040515
HTML http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Dont-Run-Ventures-Del-Halterman/dp/0557040515
#Post#: 476--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: tabalt11 Date: February 3, 2012, 2:37 pm
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Fellas- Not that I can find it to post it but when I visited the
rock hall in Cleveland in '08 the year The Ventures were
inducted, their TRIBUTE DISPLAY
not only included both those guitars but the colored jackets
they wore at the time promoting the single. Countless times
before that when they
played just as a duo, you'd catch those same jackets. We're
now up to 80 members so I'll assume someone has a photo of the
ROCK HALL
items being displayed back then. In the meantime, I'll check
around here on the homefront!
#Post#: 479--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: wstagner Date: February 3, 2012, 3:10 pm
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If we're talkin' Cleveland, maybe JG has a pic or can TAKE 1?
#Post#: 480--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: tabalt11 Date: February 3, 2012, 3:43 pm
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I'll start workin' on it Walt. Jeff may have already left work
for the weekend!
#Post#: 485--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: tabalt11 Date: February 3, 2012, 4:39 pm
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Walt & Andy-
Good friend & member Jeff Green just acknowledged while on his
way out the door for the weekend that the guitars loaned to the
ROCK
HALL were not the ones used on the original WDR. He verified
Bob used a jazzmaster which he unfortunately had given to a
friend.
Don did in fact use a stratocaster on WDR but donated a beat up
jazzmaster for the exhibit. Maybe Jeff can clarify a bit more
down the road. Del's book does cover alot of the other details.
#Post#: 528--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: tabalt11 Date: February 6, 2012, 10:56 am
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Jeff weighed back in again today with further info found in
Del's book. The jazzmaster Bob used in WDR he
traded to Fender for a new jazzmaster at the time & it was that
Jazzmaster that indeed ended up with his
friend.
#Post#: 530--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gear for "Walk Don't Run."
By: wstagner Date: February 6, 2012, 11:36 am
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Del's book is a wealth of info. ;D
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