SurferJoe46
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 3
Hamilton, MT
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Posted on Mar 22 2016 02:37 PM
I thought it might be nice to post a few images of this 1962-ish Mosrite California III short scale bass guitar.
I've got this bass {pictured here in my back yard last summer} here in Montana. It was a case-widow, living under a bed in it's case for quite a few years.
Sales receipts are in it, although they cannot be considered 'case-candy', they increase the value of it a lot.
Personally I don't like to play it.
It feels very fragile as I'm used to solid body basses and this just feels puny and the short scale, although I have a acoustic Ibanez SS too, it just doesn't 'fit' me like it should.
Enjoy the pixs, and Cowabunga, dudes (and dudettes!).
— Meet me at the beach in Montana!
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eltwang
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 543
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted on Mar 22 2016 03:00 PM
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 913
New York City area
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Posted on Mar 22 2016 04:58 PM
SurferJoe,
This wasn't Semie's best offering. I've payed a few of his basses - solid and hollow - and they mostly seem to be of less build quality than their six string counterparts.
I've actually seen basses like yours - perfectly good - stripped of their components with the parts placed on internet auction sites.. there seems to be more $$$ in the parts than in the whole instrument with some of Mosrite's offerings.
But - Enjoy it - it looks cool.
J Mo'
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SurferJoe46
Joined: Aug 13, 2010
Posts: 3
Hamilton, MT
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Posted on Mar 23 2016 04:38 PM
Johnny
Yeah - it was toward the end of things I think. I had to run to Oildale a few times for parts for The Venture's spare/new parts, and that Oildale facility was getting kinda empty. This was just before the Japanese invasion that took Mosrite to Japan, where the QC may have been better/worse but there was no heart in it.
I know the knobs are worth their weight in gold, and that the chrome is still on it is another bunch of money. Most guys tossed the chrome parts in the trash - kinda like the way my Mad magazines and baseball cards went.
— Meet me at the beach in Montana!
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 913
New York City area
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Posted on Mar 23 2016 08:23 PM
SurferJoe,
It also looks to be a short scale model. Any intonation/tuning problems?
Semie was also cutting (more) corners around the time your bass may have been made - judging by the "tulip" tuners. He started using three neck screws with some cheapo grommets instead of the four neck screws and plate.
I had a Mark I made this way. It was quite unstable with the 3 neck screws and is one of the very few Mosrites that I ever sold off. Like Fender and Gibson, Mosrite did crank out some lemons.
But short scale Mosrite basses are kind of rare.. enjoy
J Mo'
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Toneschaser
Joined: Jun 14, 2012
Posts: 462
Ohio!
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Posted on Apr 04 2016 06:35 PM
Cool stuff! My wife has a short scale model 300 bass. Shaped like a Tele on acid.
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