My first build continued 10 years later (Ramones tribute)
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:47 am
Back when I was about 17, I loved the Ramones. And loved playing the guitar. I wanted a Mosrite really bad, but they are not very common in Sweden and I didn't have the money to import one. I'd always done alright working with my hands and thought I could try building one instead.
I had a big piece of Mahogany at home, and got it cut down and glued together. Surfing the web I found a nice front view picture and scaled it based on the width of the stuff I knew the dimentions of. I noticed the neck never got scaled right (compared to my other guitars). So I got a neck of eBay. One from a Mosrite Celebrity 3. And saw that the neck was as wide as on my scaled picure. So I Traced the outline and cut out the body. Milled out the pockets for neck, pickups and electronics. Cut out a pickguard and bought pickups. Mounted everything and measured for the bridge. Hmm... The bridge. Where the real problems started... Where do I find a bridge for such a thin neck? Back then, nowhere. eBay prices were out of my league (I was 17 and had already spent $350 on a neck for it). So i put it away and it has stayed there ever since.
Now it's 10 years later. I'm older, wiser (maybe not so much), and I want a Mosrite! Took it out expecting to redo everything because I was young and stupid when I started. But it's quite ok. The body is pretty rough, and painted with one layer of nitrocellulose that didn't come out right, so I started sanding it off. Neck is a beauty exept for the second fret that has gotten loose at one end. I think I can make it work. Might not be the best looking Mosrite Clone ever, but I'll give it a try.
Ok. Some pictures might be in order. Here it is, front and back from when I got it out of storage. I had it in pieces so I had to put it together first, and didn't use all the screws.
First order of business was to buy tuners, and when I did that I found the TR-cover.
It's so light-weight it's scary. Compared to my Les Pauls or any other guitar this weighs nothing. And the balance is amazing. I love it and want to play it.
Next order of business is getting a bridge for it. Luckily Hallmark seems to have bridges that work with Mosrites thin neck, even if their necks are wider. Hopefully those $100 wont be spent on something that won't work.
But if someone has a spare one, original or Hallmark, or something else that works. And can send it to me for less, please let me know.
Updates will come as I make them. Not too many now though, until I get the bridge. Let me know what you think.
I had a big piece of Mahogany at home, and got it cut down and glued together. Surfing the web I found a nice front view picture and scaled it based on the width of the stuff I knew the dimentions of. I noticed the neck never got scaled right (compared to my other guitars). So I got a neck of eBay. One from a Mosrite Celebrity 3. And saw that the neck was as wide as on my scaled picure. So I Traced the outline and cut out the body. Milled out the pockets for neck, pickups and electronics. Cut out a pickguard and bought pickups. Mounted everything and measured for the bridge. Hmm... The bridge. Where the real problems started... Where do I find a bridge for such a thin neck? Back then, nowhere. eBay prices were out of my league (I was 17 and had already spent $350 on a neck for it). So i put it away and it has stayed there ever since.
Now it's 10 years later. I'm older, wiser (maybe not so much), and I want a Mosrite! Took it out expecting to redo everything because I was young and stupid when I started. But it's quite ok. The body is pretty rough, and painted with one layer of nitrocellulose that didn't come out right, so I started sanding it off. Neck is a beauty exept for the second fret that has gotten loose at one end. I think I can make it work. Might not be the best looking Mosrite Clone ever, but I'll give it a try.
Ok. Some pictures might be in order. Here it is, front and back from when I got it out of storage. I had it in pieces so I had to put it together first, and didn't use all the screws.
First order of business was to buy tuners, and when I did that I found the TR-cover.
It's so light-weight it's scary. Compared to my Les Pauls or any other guitar this weighs nothing. And the balance is amazing. I love it and want to play it.
Next order of business is getting a bridge for it. Luckily Hallmark seems to have bridges that work with Mosrites thin neck, even if their necks are wider. Hopefully those $100 wont be spent on something that won't work.
But if someone has a spare one, original or Hallmark, or something else that works. And can send it to me for less, please let me know.
Updates will come as I make them. Not too many now though, until I get the bridge. Let me know what you think.
