RIP Bob Bogle THE VENTURES!

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 18 Jun 2009 11:09 am

Beacon Street Union and Ultimate Spinach.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 18 Jun 2009 3:20 pm

Moserites probably had (and still to this day) the tiniest and lowest profile frets of any electric guitar.

It was almost a 'fretless' guitar. I played a few, including their 12-string. The 12er was like almost playing another company's 6er.

They always seemed to be strung with the slinkiest strings of the day (which probably caused a lot of tuning problems).

Yeah - they were a bear to keep in tune, as I remember. But what ease of playing!

I think they had neck problems; getting bowed-out.

When they were in-tune, all was well with the world.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Jun 2009 7:35 pm

I remember Ultimate Spinach.
I was in the studio with Ian Bruce Douglas
and Jimmy Hodder from Steely Dan was drummer.

I think Skunk Baxter was around at that point too.

Boston memory lane here,
Baxter gave credit to Bob and Nokie
as influences for him also.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 18 Jun 2009 8:21 pm

David L.,

I keep forgetting you were once a Bostonian.

Every time I see your posts from Thailand, well...

I'm sure those were great and heady years in your past, and musical development. Who wouldn't wish for those rare opportunities?

While I'm responding anyway, I'm wondering what your thoughts are on why Bob (lead player on "Walk-Don't Run") was replaced by Nokie?
On the version of W-DR that we have all come to know, is that Bob or Nokie playing lead?

I guess the assumption is that Nokie was a more dextrous player?

I'm just wondering if it was a "slap" to Bob to have to relinquish lead guitar status (even back then, it was very cherished) and settle for, God-forbid, bass player? Most accounts seem to indicate that Bob was a team player, and that he put his 'pride' on hold for the betterment of the group.

Now, in the music world, that takes guts.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Jun 2009 8:30 pm

I suspect someone wrote him a pretty large check at the time.

Nokie was a great player and they got along.

See the movie "That Thing You Do." by Tom Hanks.
It pretty well describes the way things worked
in the pop world back then.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 18 Jun 2009 9:20 pm

The original WDR is Bob,WDR '64 is Nokie,who was a more accomplished player.What's odd to me is that the Ventures DIDN'T opt to go 5-piece,hire another bass player and have Bob and Nokie work up some orchestrated parts.Has the band ever commented on whether they considered doing that?

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 18 Jun 2009 11:04 pm

Thanks Dave for your input.

Gosh, David L., thanks too; I figured you'd have more to offer.

You usually do.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Jun 2009 12:02 am

Except for Fleetwood Mac there were no, or no notable,
three guitar army's at that time.

But Bob and Nokie together,
dual leads like a surf Alman Brothers....
Yep I can hear it in my head,
it would have been formidable for sure.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 19 Jun 2009 12:22 am

Formidable?

A B S O L U T E L Y! ! !

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 19 Jun 2009 3:25 am

Do you guys recall Chuck McDermott & Wheatstraw with Eddie Steeves on steel?
I have their 1976 album I picked up at the old record shop in Central Square Cambridge.
The Cabin Fever Band was really hot also.
Got some of Lloyd's 1st recordings there also.
I was working across the street from M.I.T. at the time.
Don

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 19 Jun 2009 5:24 am

Don,

Yes I do. John Macy was around at the same time, too, playing with John Lincoln Wright & The Sour Mash Boys.

I met Eddy Steves through John. Those two cats often played together at the same time at certain venues. Really something to behold; they worked out twin leads [ala The Allman Brothers with Dicky Betts & Duane Allman].

There was a steel guitar club at the time called "The Pembroke Pickin' Parlour". They had a newsletter that went out from time to time, and probably their biggest event was when they got Buddy Emmons to come up to MA and perform at some hockey arena. The back-up band was "Wheatstraw", with Chuck McDermott on vocals and a great guitarist, Rocky Stone.

For me, that was an awe-inspiring time. Just a great era.

Maybe John M. can chime in more about it.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 19 Jun 2009 7:53 am

David L. Donald wrote:Except for Fleetwood Mac there were no, or no notable,
three guitar army's at that time.

But Bob and Nokie together,
dual leads like a surf Alman Brothers....
Yep I can hear it in my head,
it would have been formidable for sure.

Dave-
You're right.The first three-electric 6 string R&R/surf band that attempted discrete lead parts(thatI can recall,anyway) of the era was The Astronauts,around 1963.Later on there was Buffalo Springfield,the Mac,The Doobies,Skynyrd,et cetera.

Certainly the Ventures were doing overdubs almost from the beginning,which is sort of like having additional lead players,and Nokie as a country player would have been familiar with the "twin-lead" things that country bands have been doing time out of mind.
Hindsight,ain't it great......

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Jun 2009 9:38 am

The only notable exception for that time
would be Les Paul alone....

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 19 Jun 2009 6:59 pm

Closing this. If there are other comments use the subject under Going Home