About Ventura Keyboards
In January 2009, Jason Stanfield, musician and keyboard sales manager, traveled to Winter NAMM in search of keyboard developers and met with the general manager and a product consultant from Tokai Organs. Tokai -- located in Sao Paulo, Brazil -- began building church organs in the late 1970s, and became a premier manufacturer of keyboard instruments in short time. In 2004, Tokai introduced the TX-5 combo organ, a tonewheel modeling organ. Later, the Tokai TX-5 Classic was released, which improved upon the original TX-5's design and sonic architecture.
A dialog began with Tokai regarding the creation of a more complete line of pro keyboard instruments, which would include synthesizers and stage pianos. It was quickly determined that the company aspired to a high ideal -- producing professional, performance-oriented instruments that held to the highest quality standards, offered practical benefits for players, and were affordably priced.
The first order of business was re-branding. Because the name "Tokai" is more associated with Tokai Guitars of Japan, the name Ventura was chosen as the new brand name. Depending on what language you're speaking, "ventura" translates as "fortune", "luck", "opportunity', and "happiness".
Ventura Keyboards is introduced to the world with a third iteration of the TX-5 organ, one that is lighter than its predecessor and includes the integral expression pedal input. Our next instrument, the Ventura Epoch --a neo-vintage electric piano and organ clone hybrid -- will bring the TX-5's amazing organ sound and flexibility, as well as premium electric piano, acoustic piano, string, brass, and other "meat and potato" sounds together into an affordable instrument designed to meet the needs of gigging keyboard players the world over.
Our guiding philosophy is a commitment to professional quality, practical features that working players need, a timeless look, and stunning sound, all in a line of affordable and lightweight keyboards.
Our vision is to build flexible instruments with loads of options, so that players can shape and mold the sound to their liking, not remain affixed to a narrow view of what we think an instrument should be. We achieve that by consulting pro players around the world -- the weekend warriors and the pros in the trenches.
Ventura isn’t about our ideas. It’s about your ideas.
About Speakeasy Vintage Music
Since opening its doors in 2000, Speakeasy Vintage Music has become the standard-bearer of keyboard and organ amplification products. Dedicated to the highest standards of engineering an craftsmanship, Speakeasy has rewritten the book on keyboard amplification and rotary speakers.
Located in the plains of Pennsylvania, Speakeasy was started by Steve Hayes, a lifelong musician and mechanical engineer who holds several patents. After leaving corporate America behind, Hayes began Speakeasy on the notion that someone needed to come along and do things right. Staffed by hand-picked and well-trained engineers, Speakeasy is expanding its product line to include products for singers and guitarists.
Site Design
This site was designed by Jason Stanfield, using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Dreamweaver on an Apple MacBook Pro, and is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox version 3.0 or greater.
