Re: Bluesbender serial numbers
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:51 pm
Details added to speculated NO 002 / NO 002x.
One more added to the unknown section.
No # Stamped (or Number Missing) Section - 4 Guitars:
Blank : Black. Owned by forum member TimR. Pic saved.
Blank: Burgundy. Pics and page saved. One pic of it was posted by "Mississippi Ave" on Facebook in 2017. Pic says "BlackBookGuitars" at the bottom, and I found a Sold page for it at that site. https://www.blackbookguitars.com/produc ... c143&_ss=r
Blank - Natural Mosrite / E. F. Elliott Partsrite. Pics and Mosrite Forum Page saved. Brass Rail Deluxe Body and Tailpiece, Mosrite Sooner Neck, Mosrite Humbuckers, Unusual Pickguard, Black "M" Pad on the back. Once owned by Adam (Dorkrockrecords, AKA Expat Guitars.) This is one of the last Blues Benders to ever be built, and it was finalized in 1978. (I can't say "Finished," can I?) Link: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1545&hilit=bluesbender&start=10
Blank : Red Burst, with Deluxe Electronics. Pics and page saved. Owned by Tim Brennan. Has a Bigsby, and 2 M knobs but not 4. This is either a rare Deluxe model, or it's modified, or it may even be the only one that was made with active electronics:
https://www.tymguitars.com.au/blogs/blo ... kpBMie_np0
Partial # Section - 2 Guitars:
NO 002, NO 002x, or NO 062: Black. Pics and pages saved. Found at HewittsGarageStudio, a small site. Photos were posted in 2009. Page is down. http://www.hewittsgaragestudio.com/gall ... ?g2_page=4 UPDATE: New page. A picture here makes it look like this one's NO 062. It also says the owner's name is Sean French. http://www.hewittsgaragestudio.com/Item ... nstruments
NO 03x/04x: White. Once owned by Adam (dorkrockrecords.)
Speculated # Section - 1 Guitar
Blank or NO x25: Red. Pics and page saved. Neck's stripped and neck pickup cavity routed so the bottom end could be closer to the bridge. The pics seem to show that there's no number, but I can vaguely make out a 25 in there, which may or may not be me imagining things. Available from Gonkulator on Reverb Late April 2018, sold later: https://reverb.com/item/11837350-mosrit ... er-project
Unknown # Section - 10 Guitars:
Moseley Instruments - 1 Guitar:
NO xxx: Has "Moseley by Semie Moseley" on Headstock, and is painted a bright Red. Has a Moseley Vibrato on it without the baseplate, and has a Black Widow type Pad on it, so it has to be a late model. It may be a partsrite, or maybe not. Pics and pages saved. Owned by, or formerly owned by Forum Member "stringbander." (that's "stringbander," not "stringbender.") Links: 1: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6002 2: viewtopic.php?p=61399#p61399
Mosrite - 9 Guitars:
NO xxx: Brown. Pic and page saved. Found at Black Book Guitars. https://www.blackbookguitars.com/collec ... esbender-1
NO xxx: Black. Showed up for sale in the United Kingdom in July 2020, from "Markeebee" at the "TheFretBoard.co.uk" Forum. I can see the "NO" in the photo, but beyond that, I see nothing definite; strings are in the way.
The first digit may be a 1, but I don't yet feel confident enough to put this in a partial # section. https://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/1 ... d-mosrites
NO xxx: Black. Played by John Reis in 2017. Pic and page saved. Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BQwF5hQhgXj ... =otisserie
NO xxx: Black. Used in the band Hole in 1990. Youtube video of Hole playing it in 1990: https://youtu.be/vKJCQHxwcms?t=528
NO xxx: Red body and neck. Pics and page saved. Sold from Red Pyramid, in Seattle. https://reverb.com/nz/item/6282103-mosr ... ck-vintage
NO xxx: Red Burst. Seen "in the UK magazine The Guitar Magazine, in the collection of Ross Godfrey, who plays with the band Morcheeba." - Sumlin. The issue is from April 2015, and there are two photos of it there. The guitar's also mentioned in the September 2018 issue of "Computer Music."
NO xxx, Unknown Finish with a Vibrato Tailpiece (probably not stock) on it. There's a pic that I couldn't download. Owned or formerly owned by Forum Member "Gibby347." viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5839&p=60251#p60251
NO xxx: Black Body, Black neck, and Black Headstock; very unusual. Has a "Black Widow Pad" on the back, so it's a late one. Pics and page saved. Was sold by Austin Vintage Guitars in Austin, Texas. https://reverb.com/item/2842098-early-1 ... -rare#full
NO xxx: Black. This should be a later one, somewhere after NO 0180; it has a pad on the back, and it does not have M Knobs. The listing doesn't say the number. https://www.vintageandrare.com/product/ ... lack-65471
Known # Section: 38 Guitars (Miscount of 39 revised, this update.)
NO 001: Unknown Finish. Mentioned at Let's Talk Guild (Forum,) in July 2019: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php ... st-1848337
NO 003: Unknown Finish.
NO 015: Black, appears to be unmodified. Pics and page saved. Showed up for sale from Guitar Wishes in 2019, and they made a video about it. https://guitarwishes.com/product/mosrite-blues-bender/ and the YT video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf88_jsz33k Later, showed up on Reverb on February 21, 2020 from "Weird/Unique Guitars." Reverb Ad: https://reverb.com/item/32577326-mosrit ... 1970-black
NO 016: Black with Sunburst Headstock. Pics and page saved. Showed up on Reverb in November 2019 in a case and in very good if not excellent condition. This is the only model currently listed with a Sunburst Headstock, and it may be the only one. Reverb Ad: https://reverb.com/item/29460726-1971-m ... -500-black YT Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iO_qqE77jA - Sales Ad for February 2, 2021: https://reverb.com/item/38647011-mosrit ... 70-s-black
NO 028: Black. Pic saved. Described as "Dark Burgundy," but it just appears to be the standard Black for these models.
Source: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyosh ... rlist.html
NO 031: Black. Pics saved. Owned by Tim Brennan (of Tym Guitars in Australia.) https://tymguitars.com.au/blogs/blog/14 ... O-ptJ6SsAo
NO 032: Refretted and modified. Type of knobs unknown. Seen on eBay in October 2010. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3676
NO 039: Unknown FInish.
NO 040: Refinished in some sort of Pink / Yellow. Pic saved. Belongs to Michael Flores.
NO 041: Unknown Finish.
NO 045: Formerly owned by forum member "moaimen." viewtopic.php?p=71553#p71553
NO 049: Black. Has heavy weather checking.
NO 068: Black. Missing original pups & knobs. Seller said it's a 1972 model. Update, April 14 2020: For sale from "Britt's Gear Depot" in Texas. The pickups have been replaced with Hallmark Humbuckers, a good replacement. Still doesn't have original knobs. Also has a worn "Lew's Music Center" sticker on the back of the headstock. Comes with a case, maybe the case is original? Reverb Link: https://reverb.com/item/33259555-mosrit ... k-burgundy Update, May 29 2020: Now owned by Forum member Steelaire17. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7990
NO 071: Black. Pic and page saved.
Source: http://home.insightbb.com/~marksma/wsb/ ... ip-35.html
NO 077: Refinished in a Metallic Pink (Originally Black.) Does not have M Knobs, they may have been replaced. Pics and page saved. Has TV Jones Pickups on it. Knobs aren't original. Body has binding on both sides, which is unusual, to say the least. I'm uncertain if the binding is original or not. Sold by "RETROVERB MUSIC, INC." Listed in early April, 2020. https://reverb.com/item/33130313-mosrit ... 4Q3AJFzg1k
NO 081: Black. Owned by Jim Diamond.
NO 083: Red.
NO 087: Red (not sure if it was refinished or not.) Had a neck repair that wasn't touched up. Seen on eBay in October 2010. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3663
NO 101: Brown. Owned by forum member chartbreaker who bought it (apparently) new in 75 - 76. Played hard, well enjoyed, and has a knife mark between pickups.
NO 110: Black. Pic saved. Number is according to Photobucket pictures, which I couldn't download. Has a pink-ish ring around the pickup selector, and is missing one original knob. Also has an odd looking logo on the headstock. Found on Facebook, posted by Rozhan Bin Asaad in Kota Kinabalu.
NO 113: Brown. The second owner, Cary Zaborowski (who owned it since 1972) has it. Found on Facebook under the "Mosrite Guitars" Group in December 2020. Pic saved.
NO 119: Brown. Pics and page saved. Seems to have been parted out on eBay. Sources:
https://reverb.com/item/2852359-brown-c ... del-guitar
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mosrite-1970-B ... SwuoxanXpS
NO 127: Brown. Pics and page saved. Showed up on Reverb on September 1st or 2nd 2019, from West Kentucky Music and Pawn (Location: Mayfield, KY.)
Source: https://reverb.com/item/26263169-mosrit ... 1970-brown
NO 133: Unknown Finish.
NO 135: Black. Pics saved. Seen for sale on eBay U.K. in May 2012. Once owned by Forum Member "ron," and I'm not sure if he still has it. viewtopic.php?p=54702#p54702
NO 140: White. Perhaps this was dorkrockrecords' guitar listed in the unknown exact numbers section?
NO 153 "Deluxe:" Black. Pic and page saved. Does not have M Knobs in the saved photo. "Made in 1969. It is black with a red tortoise shell pick guard. The scale is 1/8" shorter than the Gibson scale. After taking this picture, it has since been completely restored by my father, the master luthier Bill Gruggett, an original member of the Mosrite Guitars team. Original Mosrite parts were used from his personal stock, except for new high-quality PC-USA pickups, which I requested." Note: I think the "1/8 shorter than Gibson scale" note is wrong; it probably doesn't differ from the typical 1/4 shorter than Gibson scale.
Source: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyosh ... rlist.html
NO 160: Unknown Finish.
NO 162: Black. Does not have M Knobs. Pic saved from Ne.jp. Was owned by Sumlin, and is currently owned by Mark Burletson. Update, June 15 2020: Better photos found and downloaded from the Gretsch Talk Forum. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyosh ... rlist.html https://www.gretsch-talk.com/threads/ng ... dd.193415/
NO 170: Owned by forum member "moaimen." viewtopic.php?p=71553#p71553
NO 172: Sunburst.
NO 177: Black. Pics and page saved. Number's according to the seller. Appears to be stock. Finish has much checking, and a spot of paint's missing by the output jack. Seller is "RETROVERB MUSIC, INC." https://reverb.com/item/312458-mosrite- ... t-bXLAho0k
NO 180: Brown or Natural. Does not have M Knobs, and the Radio Shack-type knobs may be original. Pics and page saved.
Source: https://reverb.com/item/3369670-mosrite-bluesbender
NO 190: Cherry Burst. Pic Saved. Does not have M Knobs, and the Radio Shack-type knobs may be original. I can't tell if it has a pad on the back, or not. This instrument was on eBay in 2010. Pic found here: https://www.popscreen.com/prod/MTI5MTU3 ... N0190-eBay
NO 195: Unknown Finish. Has a pad on the back.
NO 196: Black. Signed by Nokie Edwards.
NO 202: Black. Pics saved. Has a Black Widow type pad on the back. Was for sale on eBay in April 2011.
NO 203: Unknown Finish.
This list is up to 55 individual guitars (or fewer, depending on ones in the unknown # section.)
38 with Numbers
2 with partial numbers,
1 with a speculated number,
4 with no numbers,
10 unknown (1 added, in this update.)
- Austin
One more added to the unknown section.
No # Stamped (or Number Missing) Section - 4 Guitars:
Blank : Black. Owned by forum member TimR. Pic saved.
Blank: Burgundy. Pics and page saved. One pic of it was posted by "Mississippi Ave" on Facebook in 2017. Pic says "BlackBookGuitars" at the bottom, and I found a Sold page for it at that site. https://www.blackbookguitars.com/produc ... c143&_ss=r
Blank - Natural Mosrite / E. F. Elliott Partsrite. Pics and Mosrite Forum Page saved. Brass Rail Deluxe Body and Tailpiece, Mosrite Sooner Neck, Mosrite Humbuckers, Unusual Pickguard, Black "M" Pad on the back. Once owned by Adam (Dorkrockrecords, AKA Expat Guitars.) This is one of the last Blues Benders to ever be built, and it was finalized in 1978. (I can't say "Finished," can I?) Link: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1545&hilit=bluesbender&start=10
Blank : Red Burst, with Deluxe Electronics. Pics and page saved. Owned by Tim Brennan. Has a Bigsby, and 2 M knobs but not 4. This is either a rare Deluxe model, or it's modified, or it may even be the only one that was made with active electronics:
https://www.tymguitars.com.au/blogs/blo ... kpBMie_np0
Partial # Section - 2 Guitars:
NO 002, NO 002x, or NO 062: Black. Pics and pages saved. Found at HewittsGarageStudio, a small site. Photos were posted in 2009. Page is down. http://www.hewittsgaragestudio.com/gall ... ?g2_page=4 UPDATE: New page. A picture here makes it look like this one's NO 062. It also says the owner's name is Sean French. http://www.hewittsgaragestudio.com/Item ... nstruments
NO 03x/04x: White. Once owned by Adam (dorkrockrecords.)
Speculated # Section - 1 Guitar
Blank or NO x25: Red. Pics and page saved. Neck's stripped and neck pickup cavity routed so the bottom end could be closer to the bridge. The pics seem to show that there's no number, but I can vaguely make out a 25 in there, which may or may not be me imagining things. Available from Gonkulator on Reverb Late April 2018, sold later: https://reverb.com/item/11837350-mosrit ... er-project
Unknown # Section - 10 Guitars:
Moseley Instruments - 1 Guitar:
NO xxx: Has "Moseley by Semie Moseley" on Headstock, and is painted a bright Red. Has a Moseley Vibrato on it without the baseplate, and has a Black Widow type Pad on it, so it has to be a late model. It may be a partsrite, or maybe not. Pics and pages saved. Owned by, or formerly owned by Forum Member "stringbander." (that's "stringbander," not "stringbender.") Links: 1: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6002 2: viewtopic.php?p=61399#p61399
Mosrite - 9 Guitars:
NO xxx: Brown. Pic and page saved. Found at Black Book Guitars. https://www.blackbookguitars.com/collec ... esbender-1
NO xxx: Black. Showed up for sale in the United Kingdom in July 2020, from "Markeebee" at the "TheFretBoard.co.uk" Forum. I can see the "NO" in the photo, but beyond that, I see nothing definite; strings are in the way.
The first digit may be a 1, but I don't yet feel confident enough to put this in a partial # section. https://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/1 ... d-mosrites
NO xxx: Black. Played by John Reis in 2017. Pic and page saved. Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BQwF5hQhgXj ... =otisserie
NO xxx: Black. Used in the band Hole in 1990. Youtube video of Hole playing it in 1990: https://youtu.be/vKJCQHxwcms?t=528
NO xxx: Red body and neck. Pics and page saved. Sold from Red Pyramid, in Seattle. https://reverb.com/nz/item/6282103-mosr ... ck-vintage
NO xxx: Red Burst. Seen "in the UK magazine The Guitar Magazine, in the collection of Ross Godfrey, who plays with the band Morcheeba." - Sumlin. The issue is from April 2015, and there are two photos of it there. The guitar's also mentioned in the September 2018 issue of "Computer Music."
NO xxx, Unknown Finish with a Vibrato Tailpiece (probably not stock) on it. There's a pic that I couldn't download. Owned or formerly owned by Forum Member "Gibby347." viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5839&p=60251#p60251
NO xxx: Black Body, Black neck, and Black Headstock; very unusual. Has a "Black Widow Pad" on the back, so it's a late one. Pics and page saved. Was sold by Austin Vintage Guitars in Austin, Texas. https://reverb.com/item/2842098-early-1 ... -rare#full
NO xxx: Black. This should be a later one, somewhere after NO 0180; it has a pad on the back, and it does not have M Knobs. The listing doesn't say the number. https://www.vintageandrare.com/product/ ... lack-65471
Known # Section: 38 Guitars (Miscount of 39 revised, this update.)
NO 001: Unknown Finish. Mentioned at Let's Talk Guild (Forum,) in July 2019: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php ... st-1848337
NO 003: Unknown Finish.
NO 015: Black, appears to be unmodified. Pics and page saved. Showed up for sale from Guitar Wishes in 2019, and they made a video about it. https://guitarwishes.com/product/mosrite-blues-bender/ and the YT video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf88_jsz33k Later, showed up on Reverb on February 21, 2020 from "Weird/Unique Guitars." Reverb Ad: https://reverb.com/item/32577326-mosrit ... 1970-black
NO 016: Black with Sunburst Headstock. Pics and page saved. Showed up on Reverb in November 2019 in a case and in very good if not excellent condition. This is the only model currently listed with a Sunburst Headstock, and it may be the only one. Reverb Ad: https://reverb.com/item/29460726-1971-m ... -500-black YT Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iO_qqE77jA - Sales Ad for February 2, 2021: https://reverb.com/item/38647011-mosrit ... 70-s-black
NO 028: Black. Pic saved. Described as "Dark Burgundy," but it just appears to be the standard Black for these models.
Source: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyosh ... rlist.html
NO 031: Black. Pics saved. Owned by Tim Brennan (of Tym Guitars in Australia.) https://tymguitars.com.au/blogs/blog/14 ... O-ptJ6SsAo
NO 032: Refretted and modified. Type of knobs unknown. Seen on eBay in October 2010. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3676
NO 039: Unknown FInish.
NO 040: Refinished in some sort of Pink / Yellow. Pic saved. Belongs to Michael Flores.
NO 041: Unknown Finish.
NO 045: Formerly owned by forum member "moaimen." viewtopic.php?p=71553#p71553
NO 049: Black. Has heavy weather checking.
NO 068: Black. Missing original pups & knobs. Seller said it's a 1972 model. Update, April 14 2020: For sale from "Britt's Gear Depot" in Texas. The pickups have been replaced with Hallmark Humbuckers, a good replacement. Still doesn't have original knobs. Also has a worn "Lew's Music Center" sticker on the back of the headstock. Comes with a case, maybe the case is original? Reverb Link: https://reverb.com/item/33259555-mosrit ... k-burgundy Update, May 29 2020: Now owned by Forum member Steelaire17. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7990
NO 071: Black. Pic and page saved.
Source: http://home.insightbb.com/~marksma/wsb/ ... ip-35.html
NO 077: Refinished in a Metallic Pink (Originally Black.) Does not have M Knobs, they may have been replaced. Pics and page saved. Has TV Jones Pickups on it. Knobs aren't original. Body has binding on both sides, which is unusual, to say the least. I'm uncertain if the binding is original or not. Sold by "RETROVERB MUSIC, INC." Listed in early April, 2020. https://reverb.com/item/33130313-mosrit ... 4Q3AJFzg1k
NO 081: Black. Owned by Jim Diamond.
NO 083: Red.
NO 087: Red (not sure if it was refinished or not.) Had a neck repair that wasn't touched up. Seen on eBay in October 2010. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3663
NO 101: Brown. Owned by forum member chartbreaker who bought it (apparently) new in 75 - 76. Played hard, well enjoyed, and has a knife mark between pickups.
NO 110: Black. Pic saved. Number is according to Photobucket pictures, which I couldn't download. Has a pink-ish ring around the pickup selector, and is missing one original knob. Also has an odd looking logo on the headstock. Found on Facebook, posted by Rozhan Bin Asaad in Kota Kinabalu.
NO 113: Brown. The second owner, Cary Zaborowski (who owned it since 1972) has it. Found on Facebook under the "Mosrite Guitars" Group in December 2020. Pic saved.
NO 119: Brown. Pics and page saved. Seems to have been parted out on eBay. Sources:
https://reverb.com/item/2852359-brown-c ... del-guitar
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mosrite-1970-B ... SwuoxanXpS
NO 127: Brown. Pics and page saved. Showed up on Reverb on September 1st or 2nd 2019, from West Kentucky Music and Pawn (Location: Mayfield, KY.)
Source: https://reverb.com/item/26263169-mosrit ... 1970-brown
NO 133: Unknown Finish.
NO 135: Black. Pics saved. Seen for sale on eBay U.K. in May 2012. Once owned by Forum Member "ron," and I'm not sure if he still has it. viewtopic.php?p=54702#p54702
NO 140: White. Perhaps this was dorkrockrecords' guitar listed in the unknown exact numbers section?
NO 153 "Deluxe:" Black. Pic and page saved. Does not have M Knobs in the saved photo. "Made in 1969. It is black with a red tortoise shell pick guard. The scale is 1/8" shorter than the Gibson scale. After taking this picture, it has since been completely restored by my father, the master luthier Bill Gruggett, an original member of the Mosrite Guitars team. Original Mosrite parts were used from his personal stock, except for new high-quality PC-USA pickups, which I requested." Note: I think the "1/8 shorter than Gibson scale" note is wrong; it probably doesn't differ from the typical 1/4 shorter than Gibson scale.
Source: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyosh ... rlist.html
NO 160: Unknown Finish.
NO 162: Black. Does not have M Knobs. Pic saved from Ne.jp. Was owned by Sumlin, and is currently owned by Mark Burletson. Update, June 15 2020: Better photos found and downloaded from the Gretsch Talk Forum. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mochizuki/kiyosh ... rlist.html https://www.gretsch-talk.com/threads/ng ... dd.193415/
NO 170: Owned by forum member "moaimen." viewtopic.php?p=71553#p71553
NO 172: Sunburst.
NO 177: Black. Pics and page saved. Number's according to the seller. Appears to be stock. Finish has much checking, and a spot of paint's missing by the output jack. Seller is "RETROVERB MUSIC, INC." https://reverb.com/item/312458-mosrite- ... t-bXLAho0k
NO 180: Brown or Natural. Does not have M Knobs, and the Radio Shack-type knobs may be original. Pics and page saved.
Source: https://reverb.com/item/3369670-mosrite-bluesbender
NO 190: Cherry Burst. Pic Saved. Does not have M Knobs, and the Radio Shack-type knobs may be original. I can't tell if it has a pad on the back, or not. This instrument was on eBay in 2010. Pic found here: https://www.popscreen.com/prod/MTI5MTU3 ... N0190-eBay
NO 195: Unknown Finish. Has a pad on the back.
NO 196: Black. Signed by Nokie Edwards.
NO 202: Black. Pics saved. Has a Black Widow type pad on the back. Was for sale on eBay in April 2011.
NO 203: Unknown Finish.
This list is up to 55 individual guitars (or fewer, depending on ones in the unknown # section.)
38 with Numbers
2 with partial numbers,
1 with a speculated number,
4 with no numbers,
10 unknown (1 added, in this update.)
- Austin