Vintage & Rare Guitar of the Week: Mosrite 350 Mono Bass from 1973

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I figured it was high time we looked at another bass, and so present the above-pictured for you. Although it's not a bass that you see every day I'm sure that most everyone reading this blog knows who it was made by just by looking at it even if they are unsure of the model designation. From 1973, it's a Mosrite 350 Mono Bass, and as I have limited time today I shall copy and paste from the listing on Vintage & Rare:

This exceptionally rare, custom-color 'semi-transparent Wine Red' "350 Mono" bass weighs 8.60 lbs. Solid alder body and two-piece medium-profile rock-maple neck with a nut width of 1 5/8 inches and a scale length of 30 1/4 inches. Single-bound rosewood fretboard with metal nut, zero fret and 20 original jumbo frets frets with clay dot position markers. Specially shaped headstock with "Mosrite of California, USA", "By Semie Moseley" and the Mosrite "M" logo decal in black. Black plastic bell-shaped truss rod cover with two screws. Individual Mosrite of California closed back tuners with crown shaped metal buttons. The serial number is stamped in blind into the twentieth fret of the guitar. Four-bolt neck plate. Two Mosrite 'Humbucking' pickups with black plastic covers with "Mosrite of California" embossed on the lower edge and outputs of 5.45k and 4.95k. Three-layer (white/black/white) plastic pickguard with eight screws. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way pickup selector switch, all on the pickguard. Mosrite metal 'hat type' knobs with "M" stamped on top, numbered from 1 to 5 (one with a "V" and the other with a "T". Jack socket on pickguard on treble horn. Mosrite bridge with four individually adjustable saddles and Mosrite aluminum and rosewood tailpiece secured by three screws. The 'Translucent Wine Red finish is bright and vivid and shows no fade. There is some very light finish checking on the back and a few small and fairly insignificant edge chips. Overall this super rare and all original, early seventies Mosrite Bass is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. Housed in its original three-latch black hardshell case with black leather ends and burgundy plush lining (9.00). We have never seen another Mosrite "Brut' Bass.

I think that probably says it all. I love those "Bart Simpson" tuners, by the way. Currently being offered for sale by Fretted Americana via Vintage & Rare priced at €2185 / $2800.

G L Wilson

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