(SOLD) Mosrite Celebrity III Bass Red 1968
Mosrite Celebrity III Bass, formerly red finish, made in USA 1968. What a cool little thing! Mosrite officially launched in 1956 and shortly afterwards became the most sought after boutique guitar in the world. Mastermind Semie Moseley was constantly pushing the envelope in terms of design; his guitars were a completely different instrument from the then-new Gibson and Fender offerings at the time and sold for around double the cost of a Strat in the 60s. This here is a cute little short scale bass. It's very short at 24.5" scale; several inches shorter than a Mustang. That gives it a really unique voice: heaps of thump in the attack and a very rounded, plump low end. There's not a lot of sustain, but that's kinda the point: it's perfect for surf and indie stuff where you want a percussive, warm tone. The neck is slim and very cooperative and the body is light and balanced; it's a really fun little riff monster and never makes you work too hard. The finish looks awesome: it used to be red it seems, but with five plus decades it's faded to an orange hue. There's some cute little birdseye knots in the top and back and plenty of checking lines; it's really got the mojo that you only get with a legit vintage instrument. These pop up approximately never in these parts, so if you're tickled, nab yourself a proper collectable sweetheart and riff yourself mental.
Model: Mosrite Celebrity III Bass
Made: USA, 1968 approx (serial Z0178)
Finish: transparent red over plain maple, heavily faded
Body: laminate maple, thinline, fully hollow
Weight: 3.170kg
Neck: 1-piece maple, rosewood board, 24.5" scale length, 1 5/8th nut width, C shape
Mods: neck pocket shimmed and cleaned up with new neck screws, minor refinish and tidy up on the bottom side of the headstock joint, tone pot replaced
Pickups: Mosrite humbucker style
Case: basic non-original gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: mild finish wear. Headstock has some minor scuffs on the end and some checking lines on the back and front near the truss cover. The neck has significant checking lines and a pair of lacquer only chips near the headstock joint, but it's clean and smooth in the hands. The back has a sticker mark, revealing a shade closer to the original finish, as well as widespread minor checking lines and dimples. The sides have a few dimples and scuffs in the elbow area around to the bottom edge past the switch; nothing nasty. The front has a couple of cracks in the lacquer coming off the end of the F holes and bridge cover, as well as widespread scuffs and dimples and some playwear above and below the strings. Worth noting the finish was red originally and has faded to a light orange. Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for life left. Set up with fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.