my buddy just got a Ventures model sidejack!

[jfine]

A friend of mine, who owns a music store that I used to teach at, just called me to ask about a Mosrite Ventures "Sidejack" that he just acquired. I haven't seen it yet, but he described it to me. It's a set neck, sidejack, Vibramute tailpiece, was originally sunburst, (still has the original finish on the neck and headstock), but the body's been refinished black--still has the binding showing, and the pickups have been replaced with Gibson humbuckers. (The things some people do to guitars!) Sounds like the knobs are original; he says they've got smooth rounded tops with two molded-in rings around the sides, no numbers, no "M" logo. Ventures Model on the headstock. I told him that it's likely to be a '63 or '64. The serial number is 0185, stamped into the end of the fingerboard just like it's supposed to be. I told him to log onto this site so he can post pics once he gets them, and get information from folks who are a whole lot more knowledgeable than I am.

[vibramutant1965]

keep hanging out with that guy.......

[Veenture]

Wow, original Mosrite sidejacks are the bees knees. I don't think they were produced in 1964 but with Mosrite, you just never know.

[MOSDAN]

This is indeed a rare find. If possible, I would beat feet down there to view it myself and take pictures. Who knows he may put a reasonable price on it considering the repaint and the pickup mods. Do I hear a cash drawer ringing for somebody with this opportunity???

[frankie]

this mosrite side jack model serial number is 0185. all the pots are
dated 1963. does this mean the guitar is a 1963 model?? any help is
greatly appreciated. thanks

[Strat-o-rama]

Great find! If it's a sidejack with binding and glue-in neck and '63 pot dates, then it is most likely an original. However, the paint job and HB pick-ups kill the true collector's value. It should be reasonably priced. If it were Me who got it for the right price, I would send it to Ed Elliot for restoration, especially for his historically accurate 'bursts and pick-ups. It would then become my favorite player!!!

[frankie]

how do i get a hold of this Ed Elliot guy? do u have a phone number and address for him? i appreciate it. thanks

[dorkrockrecords]

http://efelliottguitars.com/

[jfine]

I talked with Frankie yesterday. He contacted Ed Elliot and he's going to have Ed do a sunburst refin and install proper pickups. Should be killer when it's done! Thanks to Strat-O-rama and dorkrock for putting Frankie in touch with Ed.

[jfine]

I have now seen the guitar. It's been rode hard and put away wet. The neck still has the original sunburst, but it's heavily checked and actually flaking off on the heel. The body binding has been painted over--I'd assume it's there; I've never heard of a Sidejack without binding. There are some spots where the black paint has worn off the edge of the body, and there appears to be some sort of white undercoat underneath--the black looks like it came from a spray can. Real amateur job. No strings on it currently, so I can't vouch for the playability--there are grooves and divots in the fretboard, and it might need a refret too. The hardware seems to be intact except for the pickups, and I'm not sure about the jackplate--it's a metal football-shaped one. Didn't those early Sidejacks have laminated white/black/white plastic ones? The pickguard is thick single-layer white plastic with a beveled edge. Frank says he's contacted Ed Elliot about restoring the guitar, and Ed told him that there were less than 200 of those made. It does have the large Ventures logo, and the Mosrite of California logo is further down on the headstock than on later Mosrites--that's correct, anyway.