1966 Ventures II (German Carved) Restoration

[BRRanger]

All you need is a pair of vise grips and crank on those turnbuckles!

[101Volts]

A photo for the thread:



The bridge may be replaced and a vibrato bar added, And a white finish.

Also, The dents have been fixed to some extent with the steaming method which is, Hold a damp cloth by the dent and then press a soldering iron that's on, On to the cloth. This puts steam into the wood and expands the wood.

- Austin

[101Volts]

I need a new bridge with the way I play; The acorn nuts for some saddles keep popping off while I play this guitar. Are Hallmark bridges a direct replacement at the same string distance and do they effect the tone much? I'm OK with the original non-roller type bridges and if the roller bridges that Mosrite made effect the tone too much I may not want to get one. I still think I may end up buying a trem arm from Hallmark though.

I may also end up getting another pickguard for this guitar once I refinish it. The pickguard I'm thinking of would extend to the side the Low E string is and cover my strumming area, Because I sometimes use a brass pick.

- Austin

[101Volts]

OK, I ordered a Chrome Roller Locking Bridge from Hallmark. Whee!

- Austin

[vibramutant1965]

I dont believe there are many of these with the truss rod nut at the body , must be an early one ......

[101Volts]

I dont believe there are many of these with the truss rod nut at the body , must be an early one ......

If photos I've seen indicate how earlier ones are, the 1965/1966 models have the rod adjustment at the body end. The one Ricky Wilson had is like this too, and it's a Ventures Mark V. Actually, the Gospel one that Kurt Cobain had was also like this and it was high up in the serial number range on the neck: above 1500. (above 1600?) Later models I'm aware of, 1967-1969, are generally with the adjustment at the headstock. I don't have a complete list of the models made though, there may still be a few with the rod at the body end even as late as 1969.

- Austin

[101Volts]

I haven't posted much about the guitar lately.

I did receive the Hallmark bridge a long time before posting this, and it works nicely; I like the locking bolts on the bottom too, they reduce a lot of rattling the saddles would otherwise do. The only issue is when I play - and I strum hard - the Low E sometimes pops out and I have to re set it. I don't expect this to be an issue with the bridge for every player, but for me it's more or less just something that happens.

- Austin

[dubtrub]

If you add a slice of thin cardboard shim at the back of the neck pocket, it will raise the rear of the neck and give a better angled break of the strings over the bridge. That will solve the issue of strings jumping out of the saddles.

[panther]

Danny, That neck angle seems to be a common issue. My home made resin bodied Mosrite copy had the same issue. Did they ever resolve it during production ?
Dan

[101Volts]

If you add a slice of thin cardboard shim at the back of the neck pocket, it will raise the rear of the neck and give a better angled break of the strings over the bridge. That will solve the issue of strings jumping out of the saddles.

Oh that's very helpful, thank you Danny!

- Austin