We derive averaged, one-dimensional velocity models for the crust beneath the Basin and Range in western Nevada by inverting &tgr;(p) composites extracted from slant stacks of refraction and wide-angle reflection data. A combination of high-cut filtering in the frequency domain with coherency filtering in the (p, &tgr;) domain has moved effective in smoothing severe static shifts due to lateral heterogeneities and suppressing artifacts due to spatial aliasing. We supplement the low-frequency information provided by the refraction records with higher-frequency arrivals picked from the normal incidence and wide-angle reflection sections. Generalized least squares inversion of data from eight shots for P and S wave velocity structure beneath two perpendicular profiles yields consistent estimates for total crystal thickness (P wave: 30--31 km; S wave: 30--32 km) and average crustal velocity (6.2 km/s; 3.4--3.5 km/s). Average Poisson's ratio beneath the N--S profile is 0.27--0.28. P wave velocities near the base of the crust (7.4¿0.3 km/s) are estimated by inverting precritical reflections from the Moho. Standard errors in depth for these models range from 1 to 3 km; extremal depth bounds, in general, are about twice as large. Uncertainties in velocity, estimated from resolving kernels, range from 0.1 to 0.3 km/s. Estimates of Poisson's ratio as a function of depth are characterized by large standard errors, reflecting the poor resolution of shear wave velocities. The combination of low average P and S wave velocities with a high average Poisson's ratio in the upper half of the crust, however, is consistent with the presence of fluid-filled cracks. These results highlight the need for three-component recording to better resolve shear wave velocity structure. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1990