Mosrite Ventures Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966)
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Mosrite Ventures Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Bakersfield, California, serial # 5984, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator hard shell case.
This Mosrite Ventures Model is a somewhat rare and very hip 1960's bass guitar not seen all that often these days. Mosrite's Ventures line equipped the entire band so of course needed a bass to complete the set, and Semie Moseley duly designed one. This example dates to early 1966 and retains some earlier features which began to change as the year went on. The original Ventures models are by far the most collectible of Mosrite's production instruments and nice examples are often hard to find in the US due to the longstanding fascination with them overseas, especially in Japan.
The stylish liquid-art "reverse Fender" solidbody matches the guitar with a recessed German curve sculpted edge, finished in a vibrant 3-color sunburst. Standard '65-66 Ventures Model appointments include a Mosrite logo pickup and molded "M" capped "Flying Saucer" knobs, proprietary strap buttons and Safe-Ti-Slot Kluson bass tuners. The neck has a truss rod adjustment at the body end and is finished in sunburst to match the body, the black-faced headstock carrying a white "The Ventures" and "Mosrite of California" logos. Later in 1966 this practice would be discontinued and the necks finished in natural only with black logos, with the truss rod adjustment moved to the headstock.
The short 30" scale and slim, fast low action neck make this one of the most easily playable of 60's bass guitars. The single-coil pickup mounted up by the fingerboard is not as murky-sounding as an EB-0 style Gibson humbucker but provides a solid fundamental tone, with a lot of punch and a fairly aggressive edge. The early Ventures basses were only offered with this single PU; double pickup models appeared later in 1966. All Ventures Model Basses were built in much smaller numbers than the 6-string guitar.
This is a classic very stylish 4-string piece of '60's California cool, historically popular with surf and original LA garage bands. Although often typecast as "surf" instruments Mosrite basses were also used effectively for heavier sounds by bands including Iron Butterfly and the Stooges and are definitely a vintage bass with attitude. They are still perfect for these styles and more, Pendleton or paisley shirt optional!
Overall length is 45 in. (114.3 cm.), 14 5/8 in. (37.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This cool early Ventures Bass remains all original showing some typical finish checking and light wear with chips, scrapes and dings overall, a few of them neatly touched up. There is some scuffing and scratching to the face of the headstock; it looks like someone may have covered up the logos at some point (there was a time when the Ventures were not hip!). The edges of the headstock face are dotted with tiny dings; perhaps something was glued there. These cosmetic oddities are the most noticeable wear to the bass.
All hardware is original and complete including the original bridge cover, with some general minor wear and tarnish. The internal components remain original including the pickup and wiring rig with pots coded to the 5th week of 1966. The original very low frets are in excellent condition, with little wear; this bass appears to have mostly carried flatwound strings since the '60s. Currently it is fitted with a new set of LaBella flatwounds giving a true-vintage sound, especially as some ancient foam is still present under the bridge cover. This bass is very easy to play and set up this way sounds plus-perfect 1960s. It includes the original alligator grain red-lined OHSC, a bit worn but fully functional with a replaced handle. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This Mosrite Ventures Model is a somewhat rare and very hip 1960's bass guitar not seen all that often these days. Mosrite's Ventures line equipped the entire band so of course needed a bass to complete the set, and Semie Moseley duly designed one. This example dates to early 1966 and retains some earlier features which began to change as the year went on. The original Ventures models are by far the most collectible of Mosrite's production instruments and nice examples are often hard to find in the US due to the longstanding fascination with them overseas, especially in Japan.
The stylish liquid-art "reverse Fender" solidbody matches the guitar with a recessed German curve sculpted edge, finished in a vibrant 3-color sunburst. Standard '65-66 Ventures Model appointments include a Mosrite logo pickup and molded "M" capped "Flying Saucer" knobs, proprietary strap buttons and Safe-Ti-Slot Kluson bass tuners. The neck has a truss rod adjustment at the body end and is finished in sunburst to match the body, the black-faced headstock carrying a white "The Ventures" and "Mosrite of California" logos. Later in 1966 this practice would be discontinued and the necks finished in natural only with black logos, with the truss rod adjustment moved to the headstock.
The short 30" scale and slim, fast low action neck make this one of the most easily playable of 60's bass guitars. The single-coil pickup mounted up by the fingerboard is not as murky-sounding as an EB-0 style Gibson humbucker but provides a solid fundamental tone, with a lot of punch and a fairly aggressive edge. The early Ventures basses were only offered with this single PU; double pickup models appeared later in 1966. All Ventures Model Basses were built in much smaller numbers than the 6-string guitar.
This is a classic very stylish 4-string piece of '60's California cool, historically popular with surf and original LA garage bands. Although often typecast as "surf" instruments Mosrite basses were also used effectively for heavier sounds by bands including Iron Butterfly and the Stooges and are definitely a vintage bass with attitude. They are still perfect for these styles and more, Pendleton or paisley shirt optional!
Overall length is 45 in. (114.3 cm.), 14 5/8 in. (37.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This cool early Ventures Bass remains all original showing some typical finish checking and light wear with chips, scrapes and dings overall, a few of them neatly touched up. There is some scuffing and scratching to the face of the headstock; it looks like someone may have covered up the logos at some point (there was a time when the Ventures were not hip!). The edges of the headstock face are dotted with tiny dings; perhaps something was glued there. These cosmetic oddities are the most noticeable wear to the bass.
All hardware is original and complete including the original bridge cover, with some general minor wear and tarnish. The internal components remain original including the pickup and wiring rig with pots coded to the 5th week of 1966. The original very low frets are in excellent condition, with little wear; this bass appears to have mostly carried flatwound strings since the '60s. Currently it is fitted with a new set of LaBella flatwounds giving a true-vintage sound, especially as some ancient foam is still present under the bridge cover. This bass is very easy to play and set up this way sounds plus-perfect 1960s. It includes the original alligator grain red-lined OHSC, a bit worn but fully functional with a replaced handle. Overall Excellent - Condition.