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Finally!





Neck stamp serial number is 3157. A quick Google search tells me it's probably very early 66? I'm not sure. How can I properly date this thing?

A few minor issues I need to address:
Vibrato arm needs a new felt washer.
Roller saddles are pretty cruddy. Might need to replace one saddle. Whole guitar needs a mild clean up.
Tone pot very stiff.
Pickups are a little microphonic.

Regarding the pickups, I want to use this guitar. I want to play it. And I don't want to rewind or dip the stock pickups in molten wax. I'm not a "high gain" guy, but besides beautiful surfy tones, I like a little Ramones-like aggression too. I think I'll replace the original pickups and save them. Who's making great Mosrite pickups these days?

Ed Elliot, Curtis Novak, Dana Moseley - all possibilities for your pickups.

Congrats to you!
There should be a date stamp in the neck pocket and on the neck where they attach.
Or, another way would be to check the pot codes.
It looks like a 66 alright but there's a couple more ways to look at it.

Greg, congrats on your vintage Mosrite. beautiful. I have a vintage Mosrite in red also but it's a Mark V, 1966 model. The pickups are smooth top and a bit weak compared to pole piece Mosrite pickups, but they sound great. I have a Fillmore Mark 5 which is Japanese and the previous owner was kind enough to sell it with vintage Mosrite pickups he had installed. As far as replacing your pickups I can vouch for ed Elliot pickups. I have a set in a 1970 Mosrite avenger. Sound great. I have only tried two Mosrite Mark 1 vintage models so I forgot how they sound but from listening to Ventures music, especially the Christmas album these Elliots come close. The vintage pickups in my Filmore although vintage I don't think they sound as good as the Elliot pickups oddly enough.

From what you want you might check with Novak also. I hear he makes smooth tops and although weaker than polepiece models they sound great. Think "Rock Lobster" by B-52s. Or Chicchi from Strawberry Parfait, out of Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3alNMg9v9A

Thanks folks!

So it looks like it's a 1965. 34th week of 65 pots, Nov/Dec 65 neck and body.Cool!

If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy yours? How much was it? I am curious because I see vintage models listed from about $3,500 to 5,000 range. A friend who owns a guitar shop says he sees them listed for about $3,500 all the time and everyone says that is the going rate but no one is buying at that price. Usually priced that but they sell for less.

Here is mine. Was $2,100 pus $50 shipping

Another pic. came with original case. These go for $2,000 give or take a couple hundred so I could have waited and maybe got one for slightly less but I liked it so I bought it. No regrets.

MozRite wrote:If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy yours? How much was it? I am curious because I see vintage models listed from about $3,500 to 5,000 range. A friend who owns a guitar shop says he sees them listed for about $3,500 all the time and everyone says that is the going rate but no one is buying at that price. Usually priced that but they sell for less.

I got it in Austin, Tx. Austin Vintage Guitars. I live in far west Houston, so just a two hour drive. They had four Mosrites there. My red one, two sunbursts (one signed by Nokie), and a double neck 6/12. Mine was listed at $3600, I left with it for $2900. It needs some minor TLC, but I feel like I did well for an all original Ventures model. I think that's a reasonable price for what it is compared to the general market for these things.

Greg_L wrote:

MozRite wrote:If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy yours? How much was it? I am curious because I see vintage models listed from about $3,500 to 5,000 range. A friend who owns a guitar shop says he sees them listed for about $3,500 all the time and everyone says that is the going rate but no one is buying at that price. Usually priced that but they sell for less.

I got it in Austin, Tx. Austin Vintage Guitars. I live in far west Houston, so just a two hour drive. They had four Mosrites there. My red one, two sunbursts (one signed by Nokie), and a double neck 6/12. Mine was listed at $3600, I left with it for $2900. It needs some minor TLC, but I feel like I did well for an all original Ventures model. I think that's a reasonable price for what it is compared to the general market for these things.

You got it for a very good price. You actually scored well.

On eBay right now there is a new set of Ed Elliot pickups for $199 plus about $8 shipping

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ed-Elliott-Cus ... SwP6VcQMqD