Vintage Ventura Guitar Serial Numbers

17.12.202017.12.2020

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Like the CE and EG models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 8 or SA for the Swamp Ash Special, then the sequential number for that particular model. The first 200 Swamp Ash Specials were given a CE serial number. Wondering if anyone has info on Ventura Serial.

Ibanez brand guitars are manufactured at a variety of factories in several countries under contract from the brand's owner, Hoshino Gakki Group. The catalogs scanned and linked below represent output from the year 1971 through the present. During the 1970's and most of the 1980's, Ibanez guitars were made almost exclusively in Japan, and the majority of electric models were made at the Fujigen Gakki manufacturing plant.

For a brief history of Ibanez guitars, see below the catalogs.

Yep, 70s vintage. The adjustable bridge is the same as the one on a 1970 V16 12-string I owned. The 'Ventura' font on the label appears to be correct, but does not include 'C. Bruno & Sons', the NY importer for these Japanese guitars. The headstock shape is not typical, and does not have 'Ventura' name on it - curious. I have a vintage bass guitar, with case. I am having a hard time identifing it. It had no serial number, only says JAPAN on the back plate. Pretty sure its from the 70’s. All black with four strings and only two knobs. Please email me with any helpful advice.

1972	1973
1974	1974	1975
1976	1976	1976 Ibanez Professional Limited Series Guitar Catalog
1976	1976
1976	1977 Ibanez Artist Series Guitar Catalog	1978 Ibanez Electric Guitars Catalog
1979	1980
1980 Ibanez Blazer Series Guitar Catalog	1981	1982
1982	1983
1983	1983	1984
1985	1987
1988	1990	1991
1992	1994
1996	1997	1999
2002	2003
2005

A Brief History of Ibanez Guitars

Note: This is a very quick history, and mostly from memory, so take it all with a grain of salt and try to verify what you can from other sources. However, every attempt has been made to provide only verifiable and true information, in an attempt to set the record straight and dispell some modern 'myths' about Ibanez model guitars.

'Lawsuit' Models, 1971 - 1976

As you will note in the earliest catalogs, Ibanez guitars were first 'copies' or 'reproductions' of guitar models originated by several American guitar manufacturers and manufacturers from other countries. They were not forgeries, as they were never sold with misleading logos or with the intent to deceive. Ibanez models replicated such styles as the Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, Rickkenbacker styles, and others. Due to their high quality, Ibanez guitars and those made under other brands, such as Greco and Aria, quickly earned a reputation around the world as quality instruments at a great value. There is a form of urban legend that circulates in the guitar community that has many variations, but usually involves either Gibson or Fender suing Ibanez, Aria, or some other Japanese manufacturer, with the intent to stop that company from manufacturing superior copies. The truth is less glamourous. Only one company ever sued another, and it was Norlin (the owner of the Gibson brand at the time) suing Hoshino (owner of the Ibanez brand) and the suit was focused only on the 'open book' headstock shape common to Gibson guitars and replicated on the Ibanez guitars. The suit was brought in 1977, but by then Ibanez had already changed the headstock shape on its copy models, so the suit was settled out of court. No other company was ever sued by any other company. However, this episode has given rise to the term 'lawsuit' guitar, which is used to describe any Japanese copy guitar made in the shape of an American manufacturer's model.

The Ibanez Golden Age, 1975 - 1981

Beginning about 1975, Hoshino began introducing original guitar and bass models to the market. At first, their original designs were subtle variations on the copy models. For example, the 'Custom Agent' (model 2405) was basically a Les Paul with a fancy scroll headstock, a fancy pick guard, and, yes, fancy inlays on the neck and body. The Professional model 2671 was a Les Paul with a 'vined' neck and a fancy headstock. But soon, the overall shapes of the guitars changed, and models known as the 'Weir' (after Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead), 'Artist' and 'Musician' were introduced. By 1978, Hoshino had ceased production of all of its copy models and was truly producing 100% original designs. These guitars are not just beautiful, but are some of the best crafted guitars of all time, by any manufacturer, and represent the pinacle of guitar-making skill and quality.

The Metal Years and Beyond

Note: For additional information and history on Ibanez guitars, please check Wikipedia. For a great overall resource for Ibanez guitar questions, check out the Ibanez Collectors World website. The ICW is a gathering of Ibanez collectors who relish in the challenge of not just collecting Ibanez guitars, but of identifying old models, dating guitars by serial numbers, and generally watching the vintage guitar marketplace to understand how interest in Ibanez guitars is evolving.

Sources

Original source file location:
http://www.ibanez.ru/info/index.php?catalog
Here's are links to more catalogs.
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/index.htm
http://www.ibanez-vintage-page.de/
Downloadable PDF's
http://tinyurl.com/36d54e
links to
http://musik-meinl.t3-kundenserver.de.. .. ..

DISCLAIMER: Hoshino owns the copyright to all of the catalogs scanned in here. This website has NO RELATIONSHIP with the Hoshino Gakki Group and makes no claims to ownership of the linked scans. These catalog scans are provided solely for personal academic/research purposes, so that collectors and others who own one or more of these fantastic guitars can properly identify the model and year of manufacture.

Got this Ventura guitar, belonged to my wife's deceased mother. I'm a lefty so that's why things are backwards, btw.Usually when I've seen pictures of these, the tag inside has a serial number on it. This one doesn't, nor does it have the Ventura logo on the headstock. Apple mobile device usb driver download windows 10 64 bit. The guitar sat in a fiberboard case in less than ideal conditions for years, and I unearthed it about 6 years ago, cleaned it up and it plays fine for the most part.

I have an old ventura vintage classical nylon string guitar with model stamp #460E on. In Reply to Vintage Guitars. I bought this Ventura in 1980 at H & H music in Houston and I was just wondering what it is worth. It has a classical body style, not the dreadnought. The action is low and has an adjustable truss rod. The serial number is 60505 and the model # is V-200B. Does anyone out there. Ventura V12 made in JAPAN in the 1960s or 1970s. Serial number 11705. In excellent condition showing minimal fret, fretboard, or body wear. A super high-quality guitar made with top-line woods and outstanding workmanship. 8-ply Abalone top and soundhole binding with two 3-ply circles around the soundhole trim.

Neck is a little bogus, but it does the job. More of a sentimental piece than anything else, I'm just curious if anyone knows exactly when this was made? It clearly was some time in the 70s as her mother probably got it when she was 14-15, which would have been 76-77, but no one knows for sure. Any help would be awesome! The tuners and adjustable bridge suggest early 70s or maybe even earlier. Even if the date of manufacture is what you folks surmise, the construction and parts used -screw adjustable bridge, tuners, model # and lack of serial number -are all indicative of late 60s/early 70s less expensive MIJ guitars. Essentially the same instrument was sold with numerous brand names and distributors.

My first acoustic was a Kapa (Veneman Music house brand MIJ, probably sourced from Arai or Matsumoku) with a similar build purchased circa. 69 or early 70.Maybe late 1968. Look at the edge of the sound hole. If the grain lines can be seen at the edge and go all the way from top to underneath, its solid. Most likely though you will see another layer at the edge or grain lines that are at a 90 degree angle as well. If you can't make out anything looking at the edge of the soundhole, you can look at the underside of the top with some sort of inspection mirror to see if the wood underneath looks like the top-same grain pattern.

Nice looking top but lamminate is likely. Click to expand.No they did not. In the 1970s, Ventura offered some fairly upscale instruments like mandolins with carved solid spruce tops which sold in the $600 range. Higher end guitars were also made with solid wood tops although I want to say they got rarer as the decade wore on. I have been looking off and on at a 1970s Ventura New Yorker which has a book matched spruce top and solid Honduran mahogany body.The V-10, however, was one of Ventura's 'Value Leader' Line and, in fact, the least expensive steel string they offered.

Bruno Ventura Guitars Serial Numbers

Vintage Ventura Guitar Serial Numbers Doreen

Ventura Bass Guitar

Vintage Ventura Guitar Serial Numbers Diagram

These as well the mid-level level instruments were all laminate. The V-10 was available in the late 1960s but the ADJ bridge as is on the OP'S guitar was not available until after 1970.