Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

[Bigwave]

I'm trying to isolate approximately when some changes occurred on the Ventures MK I, MK II and MK V
I would appreciate your help if you have Ventures model that falls within the following ranges.

Ventures model (MKI) serial number range #3206 thru #3591
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list serial # and whether it
has smooth knobs or "M" style knobs. Also list whether it has 7 or 8 screws attaching the scratchplate/pickguard.

Ventures model (MKI) serial number range #3593 thru #4224
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list serial # and whether it
has a truss rod cover on the head stock or not.

Ventures model (MKI) serial number range #5316 thru #5365
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list serial # and whether it
has a Ventures logo on the head stock or not.



Ventures Model II (MK II) serial number range #B001 thru #B232
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list Whether it is a slab body or german carve,
also list whether it has smooth or "M" style knobs

Ventures Model II or V (MK II or V) serial number range #B688 thru #B707
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list Whether it is a MK II or a MK V. and whether it
has a truss rod cover on the head stock or not.

Ventures Model V (MK V) serial number range #B844 thru #B968
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list serial # and whether it
has a truss rod cover on the head stock or not.

Ventures model V (MK V) serial number range #B1481 thru #B1543
If you have a guitar with a serial # in this range, please list serial # and whether it
has a Ventures logo on the head stock or not.

If you happen to have any pot dates or neck dates that would be extremely useful as well!

I'll post the results here as soon as it's done.

Thanks for the help

[kalanpala]

My Mk1 serial number is #3731, it has no truss rod cover on the head stock.

[johnnyboy1234]

Ventures II-serial # B174 (no truss cover)
Mark V- B733-(no cover)

[Bigwave]

Hey Johnnyboy

On your Ventures MKII #174, did it have smooth knobs or the hat type "M" knobs?
I know it was sanded down from a previous post, any evidence it had the thin pickups of the slabbody or a stamped steel vibrato? Or did it have a moseley? Also the slabbodys had a retangular neckplate. If you have a standard mosrite neckplate, then it is the German carve. Thanks again for posting the info, and thanks to kalanpala as well!!

[johnnyboy1234]

When I bought it it had no electronics....a Moseley tremelo w/ patent #....Kluson tuners...and the body and neck...I am in the process of bringing it (somewhat) back to specs, like the one on Arties wall w/ the pickguard extending under the bridge pickup. (neck and body date match with Aug. 26th, 1965.)

[Bigwave]

Sounds like you had the German carve model, The square neckplate and small thin pickup routed holes would pretty distinctive and hard to miss. I'm sure some parts from the slabbodies may have found their way on to early German carve models as Semie used up the left over parts. I have found a picture of a MK II "transistion" guitar that has a stamp steel vibrato on a German carve body. The other parts look to be standard GC that you would expect to see on a German carve version. Thanks for the neck dates. According to Tyms guitar website, Slabbodies werte produced from approx. May 65 to July 65. Your date seems to confirm German carve, but who knows. Your guitar is likely one of the earliest German carve MK II's

Are you saying that your guitar has the Slabbody pickguard that totally surrounds the pickups?

[johnnyboy1234]

No it did not have a pickguard when I bought it ($120.00) I couldn't pass it up...the tailpiece alone is worth more than that....I am having a guard fabricated so the part that goes under the neck pickup goes the full length like it should be...and like early Ventures II model w/ german carve. I bought 2 M3 pickups for it (no pole pieces showing...and having it professionally painted red. It is a very early gc VII....why someone would sand it down? I don't know.

[Sixstringer]

I have a Ventures II, serial # B185. German carve and M type knobs. Sunburst.

[Bigwave]

Thanks for the update Johnny!!
Yeah the early MK II's had the slightly different pickguard due to the neck being attached slightly different in location as discussed on the forum earlier. I should have listed that as well as a change to the Mark II's to see if we can determine when Semie change it. B296 has the extended pickguard under the neck pickup and B349 does not. So it changed somewhere between those serial numbers. Anyone with a MK II in that range what to respond with what type they have?

Thanks for replying Sixstringer, so far all the German carves have "M" knobs. The Transistion Mk II with stamp steel tailpiece and German carve appears to have "M" knobs as well but the picture I have is not too clear so thats one is not confirmed.

[zarfnober]

Ventures II #B003, Red, slab body, spun knobs. July neck and body dates, truss at body.

Rocco