Mark 1 Red Burst

[LoveyX]

Here's a Mark 1 I got recently. The pictures are from the seller. I have taken some pictures of it as well, but the files were too big to upload.
I ordered it on Reverb from a Canadian music store, Wentworth Music.
It is a wonderful instrument, looks, sounds and plays like a dream.

[LoveyX]

The seller said it was from 1970, and it probably is, but it needs new strings and before changing them I am thinking about pulling the pick guard and the neck to check for date stamps. The serial number is V0286, so it probably is from the early 70's but the reason I am skeptical is it has the low hat knobs instead of the taller ones he used in the 70's. It is an amazing guitar, I was just playing some blues on it and it almost plays itself. I am thinking about putting 10's on it but if I need to adjust the intonation it looks like I may have to pull the bridge PU if the acorn nuts need to be removed in order to adjust. Anyone have any experience with that?

[tom villaflor]

You might have room to adjust if you lower the pickup with the height adjustment screws...take the acorn nuts off...after adjusting intonation,..put acorn nuts back on.

not sure if that helps.Good luck with it.
Beautiful guitar. be nice to find out what the date stamps are.
tom villaflor

[sleeperNY]

I don't think you need to remove the nuts. There should be screwdriver slot on the other side. The nut keeps the screw from just screwing out. The screw has to remain stationary in order to move the string saddle back and forth.

Jim

[LoveyX]

Tom, Jim, thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep them in mind when I get around to changing the strings.
I have some D'Addario nickel wound 10's I want to try on it.
Hopefully I won't need to adjust the intonation, but if I do I think I am better prepared to do so.

[tom villaflor]

Actually Jims fix is true..leave the acorns on and just adjust rollers by the screw heads on the opposite ends .only the rollers move along the screws
tom

[101Volts]

Tom, Jim, thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep them in mind when I get around to changing the strings.
I have some D'Addario nickel wound 10's I want to try on it.
Hopefully I won't need to adjust the intonation, but if I do I think I am better prepared to do so.

If you have a Soldering Iron handy, it's a good idea to take your unwound strings and "tin" them; that is, solder the wraps near the ball ends. I always do that to new unwound strings; it extends their lifespan significantly, especially with the Mosrite's Vibrato Tailpiece.

- Austin

[Greg_L]

If you have a Soldering Iron handy, it's a good idea to take your unwound strings and "tin" them; that is, solder the wraps near the ball ends. I always do that to new unwound strings; it extends their lifespan significantly, especially with the Mosrite's Vibrato Tailpiece.

- Austin

Truth!!!!!

I believe this is a must-do for anyone with a Mosrite/Hallmark vibrato. If you wiggle your wang bar a lot, tin the ball end of new strings.

[LoveyX]

Thanks for all of your kind comments and suggestions, really appreciate it!
Over the the weekend I got to change the strings and while I had them off was able to remove the pickguard and the neck.
There were no other serial numbers or date stamps on the the neck or neck pocket besides the V0286 stamped between the two highest frets.
However the pot codes read 1377228. Does that mean the 28th week of 1972? I believe 137 denotes CentraLab.
So it is a pretty good indication it is from mid to late 1972. possibly early '73.
I took it to my daughter's on Father's day and my son in law who plays drums and I had a jam session with it, sounded pretty good!

[Sarah93003]

Thanks for all of your kind comments and suggestions, really appreciate it!
Over the the weekend I got to change the strings and while I had them off was able to remove the pickguard and the neck.
There were no other serial numbers or date stamps on the the neck or neck pocket besides the V0286 stamped between the two highest frets.
However the pot codes read 1377228. Does that mean the 28th week of 1972? I believe 137 denotes CentraLab.
So it is a pretty good indication it is from mid to late 1972. possibly early '73.
I took it to my daughter's on Father's day and my son in law who plays drums and I had a jam session with it, sounded pretty good!

I'd agree, 28th week of 1972.