Less than 2,000 total “Ventures” bass guitars were made during the band’s short four year endorsement deal with Mosrite.
These unique instruments were all hand built using components almost entirely designed and made in the company’s factory in Bakersfield, CA.
The original list price of the bass guitar was a then princely $310 (which probably had a lot to do with why so few were built).
Nonetheless they were coveted by many popular rock and country musicians including late, great John Entwistle of The Who.
Serial #5369 (stamped in the heel of the fretboard) is an original 1965 “The Ventures” bass guitar.
The neck and body are both clearly date-stamped, “Jul 14, 1965” and “Jul 19, 1965” respectively.
The matching pots are also date coded July of 1965.
The sunburst finish is original as, it appears, are the frets, fretboard, saddle, alloy nut, bridge, knobs, binding, pickguard, tuners and tuning keys.
The guitar comes with its original pickup however, as a result of a split in the plastic casing, the guitar currently wears a hand-wound one made by Ed Elliot a former company employee who assembles pickups to the original specs using NOS Mosrite parts.
(Google “Ed Elliot pickups”).
Also, ad the bridge cover was missing, a used unbranded vintage cover was added.
Mosrite #5369 is in very good overall condition with a nice aged, honestly earned patina.
Moreover, it plays and sounds great and is likely to continue to appreciate over time.
Why settle for ordinary when this distinctive piece of popular music history can be bought for about the same price (with tax) as a new American-made P-bass?
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