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I'm not asking to start flame wars or any kind of hostility or to make anyone feel bad, it's just something I've thought about and I'm curious as to opinions.

Some of you may be familiar with the '72 Mosrite bass I bought from dubtrub (viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4601). It is what I consider a full, homogenized sunburst from top to bottom (body, back of neck, headstock). Then I see timtwo's beautiful, newly bought similar bass except that the neck (I'm guessing as I haven't see the other side) and headstock are natural.

So my thoughts go to Semie's workshop and I'm wondering what's going thru his head as the instruments are being conceived, manufactured and assembled. Why do you think he made natural necks/headstocks and sunburst necks/headstocks? Have you ever seen a different color body with a sunburst neck?

I don't know, now, how I would have felt about buying timtwo's bass or any color scheme with a natural neck/headstock.

Do you think my bass was conceived as one entity from conception to execution and the others as grab and join? Have you ever read anything by Semie or anyone else about this topic?

Remember, I'm not putting the instruments down. Just thoughts that pop into my head and I'm curious as to how others think about it.

What other thoughts might you have?

From what I remember, the original '60s model sunburst guitars always came with sunburst necks. Custom colors like solid black, or candy red, etc. came with natural finish necks, sometimes with a matching color headstock.

The later guitars seem to have been a bit less standardized. It does seem to me that most of the later guitars marked with "by Semie Moseley" all had natural necks.

I'm sure that some of the more informed guys around here will be able to give you some more accurate info. Personally I prefer the look of the burst on the neck. It just looks so classy.

I prefer the burst on the neck. You're right--in the '70's, things got a bit less standardized. It seems like the neck wood had something to do with it--'70's Mosrites I've seen with maple necks seem to have natural finishes on the neck, although I'm sure there are some that don't. I had a '74 350 Stereo with a mahogany neck, in brown sunburst, and the neck was finished to match the body. The bass player I was playing with at the time had a natural-mahogany 350 bass with a mahogany neck.