Hydra19
Joined: Feb 17, 2015
Posts: 22
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 08:37 AM
It's been mentioned Nokie played a Jazzmaster briefly before switching to Mosrites but it's even more common knowledge that he played a Telecaster. I've never seen a picture of Nokie Edwards with a Jazzmaster though, although the Ventures did own a few.
I've been listening to the Beach party album, those Mashed Potatoes songs. It doesn't sound like a Mosrite, sounds like a Fender with a whammy bar so I would assume Nokie was playing a Jazzmaster on that album, as it isn't Bob Bogle playing the leads. Can anybody back this up?
I really really love the tones on that album and am wondering what guitar it is? Sounds like roundwound strings, rather than the flatwounds Bob Bogle had on his Jazzmaster.
Could it be someone else playing the lead on this album? I heard sometimes if the Ventures were on tour they'd get someone else to play the instruments too so I'm really confused as to who is playing and what guitar it is on the Beach Party album. That one is up there with the best of them. Thanks!
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 09:09 AM
I read in the Ventures Bio, "Walk Don't Run, the Story of The Ventures," that early on, there was a lot of trading leads around on their recordings. They probably swapped guitars around in the studio as well. On pages 39 and 45 there are pix of Nokie playing a Jazzmaster. There are probably many others. He was often photographed playing a Strat. I believe it was the "Let's Go" album that pictured him with a Jazzmaster and Bob Bogle with a Fender Six String Bass.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 02:02 PM
I really like the guitar playing on the entire Mashed Potatoes and Gravy album. I've always thought it was Nokie on a Jazzmaster. But he did have a Strat too. It could also be studio musicians as well though.
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
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Nokie
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 550
So Cal
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 03:44 PM
They didn't keep records of such details as what guitar and type of strings were used. They didn't have the focus on tone that many folks have today. They were probably quite excited to discover the Slinky string sets that Ernie Ball put on the market in the early 60's. I know Chet Atkins was. Indeed, As y'all are noting, The Ventures hired from a pool of lead guitarists in those days. Billy Strange was among them during the Twist / Beach Party (aka Makes Potatoes) era.
— "Hello Girls!"
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Ron
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 73
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 05:41 PM
For many years I've wondered why Noke was on bass in the early albums and Bob was on guitar, and later to switch instruments. Thank you for posting this topic. It is beginning become clear now.
Ron
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Hydra19
Joined: Feb 17, 2015
Posts: 22
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 08:54 PM
but did Billy strange play lead? As I understand Bob and Don were on tour so Nokie and Mel should've been in the studio.
Nokie joined the Ventures and Bob Bogle was already the lead guitar player. As the 60's guitar playing progressed the Ventures realized they were becoming a bit outdated and were wondering what to do in the future. I heard there was some talk of them becoming a backing band but with Nokie on lead, they could match all the guitar wizards out there, in addition Bob liked playing the bass, said it came naturally to him too.
This is just a rumor I read somewhere, but whatever the reason is, Mosrites & Nokie sure gave them a refreshing sound for that era
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Nokie
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 550
So Cal
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Posted on Dec 19 2015 11:07 PM
Hydra19 wrote:
but did Billy strange play lead? As I understand Bob and Don were on tour so Nokie and Mel should've been in the studio.
Nokie joined the Ventures and Bob Bogle was already the lead guitar player. As the 60's guitar playing progressed the Ventures realized they were becoming a bit outdated and were wondering what to do in the future. I heard there was some talk of them becoming a backing band but with Nokie on lead, they could match all the guitar wizards out there, in addition Bob liked playing the bass, said it came naturally to him too.
This is just a rumor I read somewhere, but whatever the reason is, Mosrites & Nokie sure gave them a refreshing sound for that era
Yes, Billy would be called in to play lead. Nokie played many of the leads on the first album and on subsequent albums as well. Indeed, the Mosrite sound they adopted in late '63 kept The Ventures selling instrumental albums well into the British invasion. -Marty
— "Hello Girls!"
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Dec 20 2015 08:34 AM
Speaking of light gauge strings, I've mentioned that it was Rich Fifield who introduced me to light strings when we heard them play here in Atlanta in the Summer of '65. At that time apparently a number of savvy guitar players were moving all the strings down one position and adding a banjo string in the first position.
His comment to me was "they are frightening." Some time later I tried a light set of Mosrite strings and broke 3 (on my Strat) the first time we played out. Never tried them again.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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