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

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

Postby Bigwave » Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:17 pm

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.

:D Thanks for the help :D
Bigwave Dave

1966 Ventures Mk I (My Fav!)
1968 Kustom K200
1977 Les Paul Std
1982 Explorer CMT E2
1982 Gibson V2
1987 Stratocaster
1966 Guyatone Sharp 5
1967 Teisco Vegas 40
1968 Greco Shrike
1968 Norma EG400
1969 Firstman Sharkfin
1969 Guyatone LG250T

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kalanpala
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby kalanpala » Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:51 am

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

johnnyboy1234
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby johnnyboy1234 » Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:43 am

Ventures II-serial # B174 (no truss cover)
Mark V- B733-(no cover)
1965 Mosrite Ventures II
1966 Mosrite Mark V
1984 Gibson Les Paul
1985 Fender Telecaster
1992 Gibson Les Paul

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Bigwave
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby Bigwave » Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:16 am

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!! :D
Bigwave Dave

1966 Ventures Mk I (My Fav!)
1968 Kustom K200
1977 Les Paul Std
1982 Explorer CMT E2
1982 Gibson V2
1987 Stratocaster
1966 Guyatone Sharp 5
1967 Teisco Vegas 40
1968 Greco Shrike
1968 Norma EG400
1969 Firstman Sharkfin
1969 Guyatone LG250T

johnnyboy1234
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby johnnyboy1234 » Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:36 am

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.)
1965 Mosrite Ventures II
1966 Mosrite Mark V
1984 Gibson Les Paul
1985 Fender Telecaster
1992 Gibson Les Paul

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Bigwave
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby Bigwave » Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:09 pm

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?
Bigwave Dave

1966 Ventures Mk I (My Fav!)
1968 Kustom K200
1977 Les Paul Std
1982 Explorer CMT E2
1982 Gibson V2
1987 Stratocaster
1966 Guyatone Sharp 5
1967 Teisco Vegas 40
1968 Greco Shrike
1968 Norma EG400
1969 Firstman Sharkfin
1969 Guyatone LG250T

johnnyboy1234
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby johnnyboy1234 » Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:31 pm

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.
1965 Mosrite Ventures II
1966 Mosrite Mark V
1984 Gibson Les Paul
1985 Fender Telecaster
1992 Gibson Les Paul

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Sixstringer
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby Sixstringer » Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:46 pm

I have a Ventures II, serial # B185. German carve and M type knobs. Sunburst.
1965 Mosrite Ventures II
1971 Mosrite Mark 1
A whole bunch of other stuff
http://www.myspace.com/guitarjunkiejeff

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Bigwave
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby Bigwave » Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:54 pm

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.
Bigwave Dave

1966 Ventures Mk I (My Fav!)
1968 Kustom K200
1977 Les Paul Std
1982 Explorer CMT E2
1982 Gibson V2
1987 Stratocaster
1966 Guyatone Sharp 5
1967 Teisco Vegas 40
1968 Greco Shrike
1968 Norma EG400
1969 Firstman Sharkfin
1969 Guyatone LG250T

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zarfnober
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Re: Survey of Mosrite serial numbers ***Please read***

Postby zarfnober » Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:41 pm

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

Rocco
www.rockometeramp.com Vinatge spec American and British style cabs, custom cabs, recovers, regrills and restorations.


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