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Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 1:47 pm
by cmburns
I believe this is a Joe Mathis but it does not say Joe Mathis on the headstock. There are also number embossed into the 2 highest frets.

What do I have here? Model? Year?

Thanks for any input you can offer...

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Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 9:38 am
by panther
Just a guess, but appears a reproduction.

Spell check got the name wrong.
Did you know Joe Maphis is buried in the Johnny Cash family burial plot next to Maybelle Carter ?
Dan

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:25 pm
by Sarah93003
Just my two cent worth since I'm no expert on the solid body Mosrites.

The logo looks correct, the knobs, pickups, and tremolo look correct. Can you post more photos of some of the features? Also, if you flip over the control panel and look for a seven digit pot code that will help determine a date. The code will begin with either 134 or 137. Such as 1346523, for example.

I'm not sure if the early Joe Maphis guitars had the name on the headstock. Hopefully more folks will chime in but the more photos you can post the better everyone can help you.

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 5:20 am
by cmburns
Sorry on the spelling. I don't have any other photos right now. It's in nice shape. Does anyone know if this guitar was re-isseud in tone 70's?

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 6:58 am
by LoveyX
Welcome to the forum!
Your non Joe Maphis model looks to be in pretty good shape from the pics.
I think the mid to late 60's ones were screen printed Joe Maphis Model 1 on the headstock.
What makes me think yours may be from the early 70's is the switch tip looks non metallic black.
Which is fine, just that the 60's ones were turned metal.
But the giveaway is the tall hat knobs that were first used in the early 70's IIRC.
Still, a pretty awesome looking Joe guitar you got there!

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 4:52 pm
by cmburns
Thanks for the input! So its not a Joe Maphis? If not, then want model is it?

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 7:46 am
by cmburns
So there is more on this. There are serial numbers embossed into the end of the fretboard. see photo.

Looks like maybe a refret or sloppy fret work?

My friend sys tat he contacted Semie's about the guitar years ago, that she suspected it was a custom build with a spruce top, walnut neck and a rosewood fretboard?

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Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:14 am
by panther
Those serial numbers appear legit.

Dan

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 11:17 am
by LoveyX
Thanks for posting the pic of the SN, this is starting to make sense.
What you may have there is a Joe Maphis body with a Combo neck!
The first SN that appears to be partially obscured looks like it starts with H0 XXX.
That indicates a number that was commonly used on a Combo, same shape with a single F-hole.
And it would explain the missing Joe Maphis logo!

Re: Joe Mathis with no Joe Mathis graphic on headstock?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:38 am
by panther
cmburns wrote:So there is more on this. There are serial numbers embossed into the end of the fretboard. see photo.

Looks like maybe a refret or sloppy fret work?

My friend sys tat he contacted Semie's about the guitar years ago, that she suspected it was a custom build with a spruce top, walnut neck and a rosewood fretboard?

Image


Why such a color variation between the original photos and the close up of the serial number ?
Dan