Vintage R.C. Allen "Mosrite"

[elisha wiesner]

Ok, here's a weird one. It's an old R.C. Allen guitar where he copied the headstock and design from a 1958 Mosrite! R.C. owned a '58 Mosrite so it's not that much of a stretch that he would make this but to go and inlay Mosrite into the headstock???? Anyhow, as you can see, the body is typical of the guitars R.C. was building in the 60's. The pots have solder over the date codes so I cant make them out. I have no idea who made the pickup either. It's a set neck and is short scale. It plays and sounds great! I have included 2 photos of in next to my 1958 Mosrite, one full on shot and the other of the headstocks, so you can see what he was going for. It's a really cool guitar and while it's not a real Mosrite per se, R.C. was truly one of the early Southern California guitar building legends. I'm asking $2500.

[Bob Shade]

The pickup looks to be Mosrite from the Dobro period.

[elisha wiesner]

It's close but all of the Dobro/Mosrite pickups I've seen had a white piece in the center (or were solid white plastic) instead of black center like this one and they had rounded ends where on this one, they're squared. It very well could be a variant thought. That would make sense.

[Bob Shade]

There were two different metal frames Mosrite used. The plastic in the center could be any color depending. It was simply a piece of flat plastic cut to shape glued to the frame.

I have re wound these before, it is a very simple pickup. Some other guitars of the same era used these metal pickup frames too. R.C had a bunch of leftover Mosrite stuff so that is my guess. The polepiece screws look correct for the Mosrite variety.

Bob

[elisha wiesner]

Thanks Bob.

It makes sense. I have another R.C. Allen guitar from 1965 that has Mosrite pickups in it as well.

[Bob Shade]

Wonderful collection!

[elisha wiesner]

Thanks Bob!

I'm sure you have one but I'm also selling a very clean, unbranded, 60's Hallmark/Standel. If you're interested, let me know.

[StevieSTL]

--Elisha, I sent you a PM

[Bob Shade]

Do you have a photo of the Hallmark??

[paulzini]

Hello, I was a friend of Mr. Allen's. The pickup on this instrument is a DeArmond. Is it still for sale, and if so, is the price negotiable?