Up for sale, a 1965 Mosrite Ventures Model in excellent condition, finished in Ink Blue and complete with the original hardshell case and Mosrite-branded strap. The most popular and enduring instrument produced by the Bakersfield, CA-based Mosrite company, the Ventures model was a joint venture between Mosrite founder Semie Moseley and the band The Ventures. While there have been a fair share of reissues and copies over the decades, nothing compares to the elegance and dynamic responsiveness of the original Mosrite Ventures Model.
The pickups are particularly hot, metering 11.6k ohms at the bridge and 11.8k at the neck, delivering detailed top end that is sparkling, present, and round. There's plenty of midrange emphasis, and the low end blooms and growls while retaining focus. The guitar weighs 8lbs 4oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.
The maple neck has a fast-feeling medium depth U-shaped profile carve with round, inviting shoulders, measuring .830" just beyond the volute at the 1st fret and .850" at the 12th. The bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard retains the original slender fretwire which has been lightly leveled and crowned with good meat remaining, playing cleanly in all registers up the 24 3/4” scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The truss rod adjustment is also located at the heel, one of the last Mosrites to sport the adjustment in this location before it migrated to the headstock end of the neck. The fretboard measures 1 1/2" in width at the zero fret just forward of the aluminum nut. On the headstock, the Mosrite and Ventures logos are present, and the original Kluson Deluxe double line tuners have a particularly smooth and reliable response. The serial number is stamped into the rosewood beyond the last fret, aligning with a late 1965 build date.
All of the electronics function as intended, and the stock pickup pair with Mosrite-embossed covers are wired to a harness with the original three-way Switchcraft pickup selector and a pair of replaced CTS pots which date to the 8th week of '93. It's possible that this Mosrite was factory serviced by Semie Moseley's United Sound Association company at the Booneville, Arkansas factory, as these component values/dates align with components used during that very brief and final USA-made iteration of the Mosrite brand. The three-ply white pickguard rounds out the plastics, and hardware includes the pair of original skirted "M" knobs and the Moseley vibrato unit which has bright chrome plating and a quick, effortless response, showing only a speckling of patina on the arm and string anchor.
The original gloss nitro lacquer Ink Blue finish exhibits a small area of oxidation where the forearm crosses the top, and a few small touched-up finish chips largely on the bass-side body edge. There is very light vertical lacquer checking on the body, and some small dings and scuffs associated with light, careful use.
The original faux alligator hardshell case is included, along with a white Mosrite-branded strap. The case retains clean brown leather ends and a trio of functional latches, with a replacement handle.