mosriteforum.com

I haven't looked into how to post photos on here yet, but I wanted to let you guys know I perfected the Hallmark Custom 60 and possibly other Mosrite clones, Jazzmaster/Jag type guitars using similar bridges like the C60.

First thing I did, was drill & tap the bridge height screws, machined brass washers, and installed a vertical setscrew. Then I had the tremolo block machined to lower the E and G string holes, so they have maximum downforce against the now locked down and stationary roller bridge. I also removed and reglued the string spacer (above the zero fret) with urethane glue.

The results were much more sustain, much more tone, and way more resonance, and a better setup as string height can be lowered if desired.

To finally have Mosrite tone (I rewired the guitar like a Ventures model) with Gibson sustain and resonance is a dream come true.

If anyone is interested in having this done on their Hallmark, I could figure up a price. It does no damage or non-reversible modifications to your guitar. The trem is the only thing that gets any permanent machining.

I'd like to think of what I did to this guitar is kinda what Carroll Shelby did to a Mustang

Posted this on SG101, but wanted to repeat this here as well: why would anyone try to get more sustain out of a Mosrite style guitar? The 'flat' sound is what defines those instruments and makes it stand out from most other brands. A Mosrite with lots of sustain is just another guitar, IMO, and not a trademark sound anymore.
Is the wiring scheme much different between a 60 Custom and a Mark I?
Also, why do you need more downforce on the strings? Are they popping off? The action on my Mosrites/Hallmarks is as low as can be and it is so much lower than on (my) other guitars (Fenders, Gibson, etc.).
Altering the trem system doesn't seem to be a wise decision, IMO, as it is a very delicate and balanced system.
Well, whatever makes you happy anyway. I am absolutely satisfied with my Hallmarks playability and tone straight out of the box.

"Perfected"?

Perfected as in, fixing the shortcomings inherent with the mechanics of the design. To each his own I guess.

A Mosrite with lots of sustain is just another guitar, IMO, and not a trademark sound anymore.

I do not feel that my GUN Mosrite has a lack of sustain at all (string set 10-52, like on all of my guitars), and I don't think that an original Mosrite MKI would lack too, but...

Conversely, there is guys to find much sustain on Stratocaster : I have 2 of them, and I don't !

A+!

Hello Nitromessiah,
Perhaps you could quote me a price on this. Do you have any pics of what you did?
Glenn