Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4,5 & a Reverb tank

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dubtrub
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Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4,5 & a Reverb tank

Postby dubtrub » Sun May 04, 2008 8:34 pm

Be sure to click on the links below to ckeck out my other Ellison Custom guitars and various projects.

Some of you have probably thought about building your own Mosrite clone but are afraid to under take such a project. As seen in the photographs it's not impossible for the 'do it yourselfer' but it does require a few tools, a good understanding of the process and a lot of will power.

For years I've always admired the Mosrite guitar, it's esthetics, it's sound, but I never could get use to those 'speed' frets and skinny necks. I've always played Stratocaster's and Jazzmaster's, but that Mosrite yearning was always in the background. I have built guitars 'off and on' over the years sometime from scratch but usually buying the unfinished parts and assembling, setting up and finishing them to my desired taste. The last guitars that I had scratch built was in the 1960's. So, I decided it was time to prove to my musician buddies that I could still build a guitar from scratch. The following photo's are depicting the many steps in scratch building a guitar.

Not having a Mosrite to use as a example, I searched the internet for every piece of information I could find concerning Mosrite. For several months I examined photographs of Mosrite guitars for sale on eBay in order to view every possible angle of the guitar. I decided that I did not want to completely clone a Mosrite, yet I did want to incorporate all it's features and extend them into my personal preference.

For this project, I started with all raw materials, drafted a set of diagrams and created each and ever piece from scratch minus the electronics and tuners. I have to admit that the construction of the vibrato and adjustable bridge was a huge PIA and I do not want to experience that 'fun' again. I have to hand it to Semie for being able to accomplish such a major task of designing and building guitars at such a young an inexperienced age as when he started building guitars.

To start with I'll show photo's of the finished product, then I'll list photo's of various steps of contruction to give you an overview of what it takes to build a guitar. In order to save space I'll link most of the photo's to my Photobucket album.

EDITED: Since building this blue burst guitar I have completed a few other projects. For quick access I have added them as links to the bottom of this post.

1. Image

2. Image

3. Image

For additional photo's of the construction of this guitar, click on these links:

4. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0184.jpg

5. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0183.jpg

6. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0167.jpg

7. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0166.jpg

8. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0164.jpg

9. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0165.jpg

10. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0174.jpg

11. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0173.jpg

12. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0181.jpg

13. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0177.jpg

14. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0191.jpg

15. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/ ... CN0192.jpg

For additional projects, click on the bold topics below.

Mosrite Clone: Project # 2 Candy Apple Red

Mosrite Clone: Project # 3 Sun Burst

Mosrite Bass Clone: Project # 4

Mosrite Clone Double Neck: Project #5

Reverb Tank: Project # 6

Duo Sonic: Project #7

Bassman clone: Project #8
Danny Ellison

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101Volts
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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Project # 1

Postby 101Volts » Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:50 am

Where did you get your pickups and do you have any photos of building the bridge?
1966 Ventures II (German Carved, B670.)
1970s "Not a Blues Bender" Bodies: 2.
1976 Brass Rail Deluxe #10.
2013 Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI.

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Project # 1

Postby dubtrub » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:47 am

The pickups are GFS P-90s. Sorry to say I did not take any additional photo's of the bridge or the vibrato construction. I will say it was a PIA to cut it all out of aluminum. It took as long to build the metal parts as it did to built the rest of the guitar. It is all assembled by drilling and tapping from the bottom side. I broke one drill bit and and one tap in the process. They both broke off in the material causing major grief. I would never consider doing that again.
Danny Ellison

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4 & Reverb tank

Postby Brian » Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:03 am

I'd assume that machining/ cutting the tail piece out of aluminum would be much harder than widdling one out of wood, then making a mold and casting it. Either way it looks great and was well worth the effort.

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4 & Reverb tank

Postby Maxbignus04 » Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:40 pm

Nice work!! Beautiful axes!

Jesse Ruggles

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4 & Reverb tank

Postby JimPage » Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:47 pm

Dang; I wish I hadn't seen that article that Danny did about building that candy-apple blue bass.

I've got way more basses than I need, but isn't that a beautiful thing!!!

I bet it sounds good, too.

Shut up, me.

--Jim
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• '99 Martin D-41
• '67 Mosrite Celebrity II
• '72 Mosrite Celebrity III
• '83 Tokai TST56
• '10 Hallmark Barris Krest
• '10 Hallmark 60 Custom
• '10 Hallmark Stradette
• '50s Tele Clone
• Basses: Ashbory, Hofner, 51RI Precision, 5-string, fretless

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4 & Reverb tank

Postby oigun » Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:15 pm

Nice Danny! Building a tremolo bridge is one of the tasks I have to accomplish in the near future I'm glad to see that it can be done. I understand thet it is a pita I've heard that it is possible to rout aluminium with an ordinairy router so maybe I try that I'll keep U posted!

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4,5 & a Reverb tank

Postby rog43win » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:16 pm

Danny, your blue-burst is amazing! Also, all the other guitars that you've posted here......I can't believe how beautiful these are.......you and some of the others who have made their own guitars and posted them on the forum are so skilled.
Thanks for all the posts, I've enjoyed them all.........

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4,5 & a Reverb tank

Postby customxke » Wed May 02, 2012 2:09 pm

Danny-
Your doubleneck has me looking at my own workbench in shame. That is gorgeous. Well done!

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Re: Mosrite 'Knock Off' Projects # 1,2,3,4,5 & a Reverb tank

Postby dubtrub » Wed May 02, 2012 2:39 pm

customxke wrote:Danny-
Your doubleneck has me looking at my own workbench in shame. That is gorgeous. Well done!

Thank you kindly! Sometimes I wish I would have kept it but I just didn't have a use for an extra neck. I have a full time job just trying to play one.
Danny Ellison


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