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       #Post#: 2030--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: DesertSurfer Date: June 8, 2013, 9:17 am
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       Gerry McGee Signature Telecaster made by Combat in Japan.
       In 2008 Gerry worked with Combat; a Tokyo based guitar / bass
       maker to produce his own Gerry McGee Signature Telecaster. It is
       probably marketed in Japan only as I have not seen them in the
       US.  I think there were only 50 made in 2008.  It popped up at
       eBay once in awhile, here is one on eBay for sales now (this one
       was made in 2010).  A little pricey.
  HTML http://www.ebay.com/itm/Combat-Gerry-McGee-Signature-/270816853535
       Here are some discussion on Underground fire 2 forum:
  HTML http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/undergroundfire2/message/23721
       Gerry with his Combat Signature Telecaster
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Ventures%20Gerry%20McGee%20Guitar/gerrymcgeecombat-1.jpg?t=1266666586[/img]
       I was lucky to get one. (The seller told me it was Gerry's
       personal guitar, probably true but not documented)  It looks and
       plays more like a Strat than a Telecaster.  The quality is high
       and easy to play.  Because I am not used to Lace Sensor pickups,
       I rarely played it.  It is a good collectible item.
       Why named a guitar / bass factory "Combat"?  "Combat" was one of
       the most popular TV series in Japan and other Asian countries,
       Sergeant Saunders was one of the biggest TV star there.  I
       watched that TV series every week when I was in high school
       years.  I was very sad when Vic Morrow who played Sergeant
       Saunders was killed by accident during outdoors filming.  :(
  HTML http://www.emersons.net/mt/archives/img/saunders.jpg
       Here is the specs:
       Body: Solid 1P Ash
       Neck,Finger Board Maple on Maple Finger Board.
       Scale: 24 3/4, 22 Fret
       Machine Head(peg) Gotoh Pgs
       Pickups: Fender "Lace Sensor" x3
       Controls: 1V.,2T.,5way
       Color: 2 tone sunburst (All lacquer paint)
       Weight: 3250g
       Case: Hard case
       Here are some photos of my Combat:
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Ventures%20Gerry%20McGee%20Guitar/combat.jpg?t=1266666657[/img]
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Ventures%20Gerry%20McGee%20Guitar/combat2.jpg?t=1266666698[/img]
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Ventures%20Gerry%20McGee%20Guitar/combat1.jpg?t=1266666676[/img]
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Ventures%20Gerry%20McGee%20Guitar/combat7.jpg?t=1266666725[/img]
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Ventures%20Gerry%20McGee%20Guitar/CombatGMTele6a-1.jpg?t=1267248994[/img]
       Here is factory info:
       Combat Guitars (Tokyo, Japan)
  HTML http://www.combat-guitars.com/english/top.html
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JKT_htwJgck
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zdChNsVkJs&feature=player_embedded
       Please ignore my poor playing, I recorded it long time ago. My
       band said the intro part was not played right.  Don't laugh,
       just listen to the tone of this guitar.  It plays and sounds
       pretty good to me.
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9e-fRshfOQI
       :)
       #Post#: 2033--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: wstagner Date: June 8, 2013, 6:10 pm
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       Very kewl info...i neva new all this. ;D
       #Post#: 2036--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: DesertSurfer Date: June 9, 2013, 8:03 am
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       A side story of "Combat"
  HTML http://www.emersons.net/mt/archives/img/saunders.jpg
       Sargent Sounders (played by Vic Morrow) in TV Series "Combat"
       was one of the biggest war heroes for many kids in the 60's.
       Even 50 years later, I can vividly remember what he looked like
       in that TV series .  Vic Morrow, unfortunately was killed during
       a outdoor filming tragedy in 80's.
       About 5 years ago, I went into a local music store for guitar
       hunting.  A young man greeted me and asked politely if I needed
       any help.  I looked at him and was shocked!  He looks exactly
       like Sargent Sounders, my TV war hero!!
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Naperville%20Music/DSCN0627.jpg?t=1265395853[/img]
       He was Mike R; the guitar manager of that store.  We became very
       good friends later on.  We chatted about our first meeting, I
       told him that I thought I saw the ghost of Vic Morrow.  Mike
       smiled and told me some old folk had asked him the same thing...
       Mike is the Singer / Bassist of a popular guitar band; Alaya
       Conscious in Chicago.  They were recently signed with Sony
       Records.  Congratulations, Vic!  No, Sorry, Mike.
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpMB3tjKUy0
       :)
       #Post#: 2037--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: wstagner Date: June 9, 2013, 9:17 am
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       The worst part of Vic Morrow's death was the movie he was
       working on was worthless and there was never an investigation of
       what happened....at least not a public one.
       I liked the guy!
       #Post#: 2038--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: DesertSurfer Date: June 9, 2013, 10:34 am
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       Before he became a big TV star, Vic Morrow played a small role
       in Glen Ford's "Blackboard Jungle" as a worthless school rascal.
       It is one of my favorite movies especially after my daughter
       became a JR High school teacher in Baltimore Urban area. (She
       teaches 7th & 8th grade)  One of my favorite stars; young Sidney
       Poitier was in that movies.  I am sure Poitier's later hit; "To
       Sir With Love" was strongly influenced by this movies.
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49yEZWFvMno
       Look closely at 2:40, you can see a glimpse of young Vic Morrow.
       He looked exactly like my friend Mike.
       :)
       #Post#: 2039--------------------------------------------------
       Ventures Bass
       By: DesertSurfer Date: June 9, 2013, 1:21 pm
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       Enough of those movies crap!  Let's move on to Ventures bass.
       :-[
       Everyone knows Nokie Edwards played Fender P-Bass when he joined
       The Ventures.  I did not know how to play bass until recently,
       so before I invest $1600? for a Fender American Vintage '57
       Precision Bass reissue, I got myself a cheap US parts P-Bass on
       Craigslist to try it out.
  HTML http://spoonercentral.com/2009/ventures.jpg
       Fender American Vintage '57 Precision Bass (Reissue)
  HTML http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/18/001/275/177/DV016_Jpg_Large_510073.063.063_2tsnbst_mpl.jpg
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Electric/Other%20bass/DSCN7983.jpg
       I am glad I did as I do not care for the wider and thick neck of
       P-Bass, $1600 was saved.  I have also tried a few MIA & MIM
       Fender Jazz Basses (Bob Bogle played them anyway) including the
       1996 Ventures Tribute Jazz Bass but just couldn't fall in love
       with them.
       Finally I found a "Joe Osborn Signature Jazz Bass" which I
       really like. The neck is even smaller and thinner than the
       Fender JB.  It was made by a Chicago based boutique bass shop
       called Lakland.  Joe is a popular studio musician who played
       bass on many well known albums including Johnny River's original
       "Secret Agent Man"
       The much thinner neck is perfect for me (my favorite Birdseye
       fret too), and the tone is true Fender Vintage tone  (Lindy
       Fralin Single Coil pickups).  It has the Look, the Tone and the
       Feel I want.
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Electric/Lakland%20Bass/Laklandbass1.jpg?t=1296511058[/img]
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Electric/Lakland%20Bass/Laklandbass3.jpg?t=1296511058[/img]
       This is short clip showing Joe Osborn working with Lakland Bass
       to design this signature bass
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xVES3orZU8o
       I asked my good friend; Mike to test it out for me.  Too bad he
       does not play surf.
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dSVPgPfgD4Q
       This was my playing bass of "Walk Don't Run", please don't laugh
       at me.  :-[
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TcBMKkSmmow
       Finally, here is my guilty pleasure:  Nothing to do with The
       Ventures, just a most beautiful bass I ever own.  A Don Grosh J4
       Bass. (Very rare, Don did not make too many of them, usually
       buyer needs to wait for 2-3 years)
       It has a beautiful 5 A Birdseye fretboard and play and sound
       great.  This bass is way too good for an amateur bass player
       like me.  So I have agreed to sell to Mike (the Alaya Conscious
       Bassist) whenever he wants it.
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Electric/Grosh/DSCN2374.jpg?t=1283992217[/img]
       [img]
  HTML http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/timelineguitars/Electric/Grosh/DSCN2377.jpg?t=1283992217[/img]
       Here is Mike playing it:
  HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=80Nmh_owpYg
       :)
       #Post#: 2040--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: wstagner Date: June 9, 2013, 1:25 pm
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       I like the smaller neck on the jbass.  It feels nice in me leff
       hand.
       #Post#: 2041--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: DesertSurfer Date: June 9, 2013, 1:44 pm
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       Lakland JB neck is even smaller and thinner than Fender JB.
       Perfect for me.
       :)
       #Post#: 2042--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: wstagner Date: June 9, 2013, 2:38 pm
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       Did I ever tryit? I cant memba.
       U will get back to play mor base after nexx Sunday.
       #Post#: 2043--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Desert Surfer's Ventures guitars
       By: DesertSurfer Date: June 9, 2013, 6:12 pm
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       I don't think so.  I brought it to the practice once a few years
       ago but no one seemed to notice it.
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