Mosrite Joe Maphis Bass w/OHSC 1967ish Sparkly Teal

One of a kind custom painted Mosrite Joe Maphis Mark X bass.  Built in Bakersfield around 1967, I believe.  One and only custom blue sparkle paint job by the one and only Bill Gruggett (see "Mosrite hooked up with..." paragraph in the Mosrite article in the images).  Man does it shine.  No serial number.  You can see a CDL# (California Driver's License) lightly etched in the pick guard below the neck pickup.  It would be cool to know who's California Driver's License number it was.  I bought this on eBay some years ago now from a guy that used to work for Bob Shade (Former Mosrite guy and general cool dude) at Hallmark guitars.  I emailed back and forth with Bob about this bass and he remembered it and confirmed it's legitimacy and uniqueness.  

Body:  The top is in amazing shape for something of it's age.  Barely a mark on it and no finish cracking at all.  The sparkle really sparkles.  The walnut back has some finish chipping and bubbling, but compared with most of these basses I've seen, it seems well above average.  Neck plate isn't original, but has done it's job well since I've had the bass.

Neck:  I don't know if it ever had the much desired duck foot tuners, but it does seem the tuners may have been changed at some point over the eons.  The picture of it in the bass article (see pictures, it is THE bass pictured on the far right.) has the same tuners it has now.  Take note, in my picture of the headstock, what looks like a black line from the truss rod cover to the E string peg is just fabric from a string end.  Neck is arrow straight, low action, amazing playability.  Frets are small, low, and great.  

I had Dave Radlin (check out Radlin guitars in Belle River, Ontario) change all the wiring and pots and had a three way switch installed as the original two way switch was pretty crapped out.  This thing is a dream to play, whether unplugged on the couch, or standing up, plugged in and plunking away.  It's simply a dream to behold, and just think, it could be yours, oh yes, it could be yours.