1965 Mosrite Ventures Model Vintage Electric Guitar, Candy Apple Red w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1965 Mosrite Ventures Model, finished in Candy Apple Red and complete with the original hardshell case. 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 11.4k ohms at the bridge and 10.6k at the neck; delivering detailed top end that is present, round, and clear without being brittle, and plenty of midrange warmth and punch to cut through any mix. The low end blooms and growls while retaining focus, and when in the middle position on the three-way pickup selector toggle, both pickups are wired in series for a very powerful tone. The guitar weighs 8lbs 1oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh 11-49 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.

The maple neck has a fast-feeling medium C-shaped profile carve with round, inviting shoulders, measuring .840" deep at the 1st fret and .880" at the 12th. The bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard has been refretted with flawless slender fretwire, offering more crown (and significantly more fret life) than the original Mosrite frets. There is a bit of light finger wear into the rosewood itself from frets 1-7, and this Mosrite plays 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 9/16" in width at the zero fret just forward of the aluminum nut. On the headstock, the Mosrite and Ventures logos are present, and the guitar has been fitted with TonePros Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines which have a particularly smooth and reliable response. The serial number, once stamped beyond the last fret in the rosewood, has been chipped out and is no longer legible.

All of the original electronics function as intended, and the stock pickup pair with Mosrite-embossed covers are wired to the stock harness with a three-way Switchcraft pickup selector and pair of CentraLab pots. The three-ply white pickguard rounds out the plastics, and hardware includes the pair of original smooth-top knobs and the Moseley vibrato unit which has positively gleaming chrome plating and a quick, effortless response.

The Candy Apple Red finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, aged to a rich copper color with extensive horizontal lacquer checking. Cosmetic wear includes some finish chipping on the inside edge of the treble-side cutaway and just below the knobs on the lower bout. There are also a handful of dings and scuffs along the bass-side body perimeter, and a scant few minor nicks and dings on the body as a whole. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is flawless.

The original faux alligator hardshell case is included. The case retains clean brown leather ends and a trio of functional latches, with a replacement leather handle.