Mosrite Ventures Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966), ser. #6620, original brown tolex hard shell case.

Mosrite Ventures Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Bakersfield, California, serial # 6620, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case. This Mosrite Ventures Model is a somewhat rare and very hip classic 1960's bass guitar. The Mosrite Ventures line designed to equip the entire band of course needed a bass to complete the set, and Semi Moseley duly designed one. It used the same stylish liquid-art solidbody with a recessed German curve sculpted edge as the guitar, in this case finished in a vibrant 3-color sunburst. This 1966 Ventures Model is an interesting bass with transitional features. This is an early example fitted with two Mosrite logo pickups; prior to early 1966 there was only one down by the fingerboard. The neck is finished in sunburst to match the body, the black-faced headstock carrying a white Ventures and "Mosrite of California" logo. Soon after this would be discontinued and the necks finished in natural only, with black logos. The special "M-Button" bass tuners were a brand new fitting, usually seen on these later natural headstocks. This bass also has the older style thick pickguard. The two pickups make this a much more versatile bass sonically than earlier models. These are wired to a 3-way switch and master tone and volume controls fitted with molded "M" capped chrome knobs. The adjustable bridge under a sloping cover and proprietary strap buttons were used on most basses. This one has no legible pot dates but the combination of features points to early/mid 1966. The original Ventures models are by far the most collectible of Mosrite's production instruments, and nice examples are hard to find in the US due to the continued fascination with them overseas. The Ventures Bass was built in much smaller numbers than its 6-string brother, and this double-pickup model with the earlier matching neck is a very rare variant. The short 30" scale, slim, fast neck and low action make this one of the most easily playable of 60's bass guitars. The twin single-coil pickups provide a solid fundamental tone from the neck pickup shading to a fairly aggressive edge when the back unit is selected. This is a classic very stylish piece of '60's California cool, historically popular with surf and original LA punk bands. Although often typecast as "surf' instruments Mosrite basses were also used for heavier sounds by Iron Butterfly and the Stooges! They are still perfect for these vintage 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 very cool early two-pickup Ventures Bass remains all original showing some fairly heavy finish checking with chips, scrapes and dings overall, some of them neatly touched up. There is a large spot of belt buckle wear to the back that is the only really heavy wear. All hardware is original and complete, with some minor wear and tarnish. The original very low frets are in excellent condition, this bass appears to have only ever carried flatwound strings since the '60s. Currently it is fitted with an early '70s set of Fender Nylon flats; the original package is in the case with even older green-silk Fender Flats neatly re-coiled in the envelopes! This gives a very funky 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. Very Good + Condition.