Mosrite Ventures, surf green, made in Japan around 2010. How cool, right? Mosrite rose to fame in the 1960s alongside the surf rock boom, becoming a household name thanks to an endorsement from surf giants The Ventures. They went on to become the most popular boutique guitar in the world for a while there, and continued to find favour with notable players from Robert Smith to Kurt Cobain in subsequent decades. The company has a complicated history, so ascertaining exactly what model you have and when and where it was made can be quite challenging. This one seems to be more recent example from the Kurokumo facility, although the pickups and bridge are non-original, and those are some of the best markers to ascertain a Ventures' exact origins. The body shape, guard, headstock logo and pickup routes point to this being a 1965 MkI reissue model; the Bart Simpson headstock and German carve sure make for a compelling aesthetic. The surf green finish is super fun too, it's a fun departure from black or sunburst and hits the classic curves just right. The pickups look very similar to a Gibson P-94, their HB-sized soapbar single coil, and they sound great. There's heaps of presense and snap on the top end, paired with an immediate attack and a thumpy midrange growl. This is a really fun guitar with heaps of attitude, and that green... delightful.

Model: Mosrite Ventures MkI 1965
Made: Japan, 2010s approx, Kurokumo (no serial, neck pocket reads 'EX OB-1')
Finish: surf green, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Weight: 3.660kg m
Neck: maple, one piece rosewood board, 25" scale length, 16" radius, C shape, 40mm nut, 50mm wide at 12th, 20mm deep at 1st fret, 22mmn deep at 12th fret
Mods: pickups replaced, bridge replaced
Pickups: P94 style soapbar single coil x2
Case: Mosrite hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some scuffs on the end and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has a dent and some surface scratches on the top horn, scuffs and checking lines around the neck plate, dimples in the middle of the body in the bottom corner and scuffs along the back edge and elbow area. The sides have a dent and some scuffs on the top horn, dimples in the elbow area, a dent and some scuffs near the rear strap pin, a dent and some dimples near the jack and some dimples on the bottom horn. The front has some checking lines near the jack and bridge, dimples in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: very good condition (8/10)

Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets have some normal wear including minor pitting, but they're fairly even with no major buzz issues, 5/10 for fret life left. The bridge spring is a little compressed and could do with being replaced. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.