Ranger or Mark-1???

[Spankin Allison]

Hi!
I would like to know what is the diffrence betwen a "Mark-1" and a "Ranger"?
Thanks
Frank

[juan_10]

The way I see it , the two are descriptions of different features of the guitars.
The mark 1 is the style of guitar .. the rounded ventures model with the vibramute ..
It was on the market for many years .. so it changed over the years , like in 65-66 to the moseley trem.
So you get mark 1's with a year on usually ... then there are the mark 1 reissues ... also different years
reperesented .

Then there is model range .. a concept to do with pricing structure ...
You've seen 'Made in USA' 'Made in California' and a host of other catchy labels on the headstocks ... Stratocasters get loads of these ,
there's epiphone and gibson ... it's a whole world of sales wizardry out there ...
The ranger is just a new model range reflecting a lower price point .. so presumeably made somewhere cheaper
with possibly other cost reducing measures going on too.
These 66 reissue rangers are still mark 1's in style but with the non-roller bridges to reflect the trend in the original Mark 1's
apparently the originals went through some cost cutting measures of their own around that time.

Best to ask artie at front porch .. jv


PS My favourite silly headstock label is the RockingBetter one on those Japanese Rickenbacker clones ..

[Spankin Allison]

Well lets try this...Is this a mark-1 or a ranger?


Thanks
Frank

[billywrecker]

quote]These 66 reissue rangers are still mark 1's in style but with the non-roller bridges to reflect the trend in the original Mark 1's
[/quote]

My Ranger came with a roller bridge.

[mosman]

If it's a Ranger it'll say so under the Mosrite logo on the headstock.
I recently had the opportunity to check out a Ranger and I noticed a few differences compared to my Excellent 65's. The body shape seemed slightly different—can't say exactly how but there was something not right;possibly a little bulkier and not as streamined as an Excellent and the vibrato arm had a sharp edge on the underside as opposed to the smoother finished Excellent arms. I hope to have a closer inspection soon and make a better comparison.

[dubtrub]

Mosman,

Your Excellent is produced by Kurokumo where as the Ranger is produced by Fillmore. Each have two different manufactures. Both are replicas of the Mosrite Mark 1 but there are various diferences in the manufacturing process, so it's only natural they will feel and look different.

The Ranger is a copy of the Mosrite Mark 1, which was the original Ventures model. If you view Fillmore's website you will see there are various difference of the so called Mark 1s. The vary in different woods, electronics and finishes. Also the ones I've examined have different neck thicknesses and widths. I think each batch that is manufactured has different outcomes. The current Rangers that I recently examined at Front Porch have the roller bridge, however earlier version have the non roller.

[101Volts]

While we're at it this conversation could someone please specify just what all of the differences are between Vibramute and Mosleey vibratos? The Vibramute seems to be more popular. Does it have more of a range, Vibrato wise? I think the Moseley one has rollers in the bridge so would a Vibramute with a Roller bridge be the best thing?

Austin

[dubtrub]

While we're at it this conversation could someone please specify just what all of the differences are between Vibramute and Mosleey vibratos? The Vibramute seems to be more popular. Does it have more of a range, Vibrato wise? I think the Moseley one has rollers in the bridge so would a Vibramute with a Roller bridge be the best thing?

Austin

There is no difference in the vibratos other than cosmetics. In the very beginning ('50s)Semie made the components of his vibratos by hand and there are varying difference in the geometric design, which all had flaws but were resolved by the time he started casting the parts ('60s) first from aluminum then to other composite metals and settling on chrome plated brass in '65.

[101Volts]

There is no difference in the vibratos other than cosmetics. In the very beginning ('50s)Semie made the components of his vibratos by hand and there are varying difference in the geometric design, which all had flaws but were resolved by the time he started casting the parts ('60s) first from aluminum then to other composite metals and settling on chrome plated brass in '65.

Thanks, I suppose a Moseley bridge would be better for the rollers then.

Austin

[dorkrockrecords]

There is no difference in the vibratos other than cosmetics. In the very beginning ('50s)Semie made the components of his vibratos by hand and there are varying difference in the geometric design, which all had flaws but were resolved by the time he started casting the parts ('60s) first from aluminum then to other composite metals and settling on chrome plated brass in '65.

Thanks, I suppose a Moseley bridge would be better for the rollers then.

Austin

I think you're missing the point, 101.