Original 1965 Mosrite Ventures: Restamping Ser # Font & Size

[tom-ocaster]

I recently had my '65 Ventures model refretted with Dunlop Accu-Fret #6340 wire. The repair tech unfortunately sanded-off the original ser # (2818)....only a remnant of the "2" is visible.

Who could authentically restamp the ser # with an original font & size?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Tom

~

1965 Mosrite Ventures Model Guitar (ser # 2818), VG+, original sunburst finish, Moseley tailpiece, truss-rod adjusts at heel, normal wear, 8-screw pickguard, 1965 body & neck dates, pickup covers have Mosrite of California (no circled "R"), M-knobs, recent refret with Dunlop Accu-Fret #6340 (closest modern fret to the original speed frets), (unfortunately, ser # sanded-off during refret), The Ventures logo, replaced tone pot (original in case pocket), original gator hardshell case.

Mosrite Notes:
Neck Date: NOV 8 1965 (stamped with black ink under finish, & also with stock # 0015)
Body Date: OCT 14 1965 (stamped with dark-blue ink, also twice with stock # 021, & some indecipherable hand-written initials..."B"..."Wed"...?)
Neck pickup at 12.0 K
Bridge pickup at 11.8 K
Tone Pot is frozen: 134 6534 (34th week of 1965)
500K
134 = Centralab
Part #: BA811 - 3901
Volume pot works good: 134 6534 (34th week of 1965)
500K
134 = Centralab
Part #: BA811 - 3901
Tone capacitor, brown/tan ceramic disk: CRL, .05 +/- 20%, 50V

~

Pics taken when I first acquired this guitar (before the unfortunate refret incident when the ser # was sanded-off....agggrrrhhh).



~



~

[stl80]

That doesn't seem good to me. Wouldn't a new stamp seem new, therefore suspect?
Jim

[tom-ocaster]

That doesn't seem good to me. Wouldn't a new stamp seem new, therefore suspect?
Jim

Hmmm...could be. However, I do have before & after pics of the same guitar showing the ser #, & verification from the repairman the ser # was sanded-off during a refret.

I have seen a few other Mosrites listed for sale with no ser # at all. I suspect that some of those guitars had a similar fate as mine, & the # was sanded-off during a refret/resurfacing/sanding.

Everything about this guitar indicates late 1965, including neck/body dates, pots & specs.

Thanks for your input.
tg

[Dickey]

OH MAN that woulda made me mad as a vinegared hornet! That tech woulda had some 'splainin' to do!

[panther]

I would think the tech should have warned you or even so should have known better than to remove the serial number.
I had a similar incident happen with a very old "New York City Fire Department" ring, with the original owners badge number on the face. It was 911, A very special number to me for a New York City Fireman's ring. Well it was too small so I had it resized. When I picked up the ring, the jeweler had literally buffed off the engraved Fire department symbols on the ring, but did leave the 911. I could have choked the butt.
How could someone be that stupid ?

Dan

[panther]

Post a photo of the serial number area as it is now.
I would suggest taking a copy of yopur serial number photo and place it under the pickguard for future reference.

Dan

[101Volts]

I guess some people just don't ask questions or maybe instead, they're too scared to say no or too scared (maybe shy) to suggest "Sir/Ma'am, I'd love to work on your (item) but are you OK with these original numbers being removed?" or they don't think about re-stamping them (in the guitar's case.)

- Austin

[LoveyX]

Understand its been some time since the original post, but a decent wood shop may have a set of alphanumeric stamps, I see no reason not to re-stamp the neck, it is after all the guitar's serial number regardless of the repair!

[101Volts]

Understand its been some time since the original post, but a decent wood shop may have a set of alphanumeric stamps, I see no reason not to re-stamp the neck, it is after all the guitar's serial number regardless of the repair!

Agreed. I do however think that if you're going to do it, do it with the same font and size.

- Austin

[panther]

How would you feel if you had the numbers restamped, and the person that did it was a unqualified as the luthier that didn't ask you if it's OK to remove the numbers, AND he CRACKED your fingerboarde and loosened two frets.
My Advice, LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE. One portion of a number is enough to authenticate it as an original Mosrite.
Dan