Mosrite VIII that Could Be

[Black Headstock]

[Black Headstock]

[imghttp://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/Funwithcrayons/003.jpg?t=1295095079][/img]

[Black Headstock]

Problem: Mis-drilled Tailpiece Holes. How did this happen?

[101Volts]

Darn, That's severe. That's why one should make sure everything works right before finishing, Now the holes need to be plugged, the finish touched up and the holes re drilled.

Austin

[Sarah93003]

Bummer!

[Black Headstock]

I didn't mis-drill it. I acquired this VIII from Curtis Muldoon (Yes Partsrite) back in 2005 on EBay. He didn't cite the mis-alligned tailpiece drilling in the listing, and I was not sharpe enough (at that time) to pick up on the mis-allignment from the Ebay images. When I received it, I was most disappointed and confounded.

It happened at the Mosrite Factory? This is why ended up Partsrite?

Collected all original components over past 5 years, some from Andy Moseley, some from Artie Front Porch, etc.

Guys I need your advice and informed perspective on this; should the holes just be plugged preserving the rest of original finish or should a full refinish be done?

Decision Time.

Thanks,
Al

[MWaldorf]

There's a very good chance the finish on the body isn't from the factory. Fill the existing holes, get the alignment sorted out and finish it whatever color you like. It'll never be a factory guitar even if you use all factory original parts, so you might as well do it right.

For what it's worth, I built a VIII partsrite from the Muldoon cache as well and, while I had plenty of misadventures along the way, the finished result is a great guitar I'm very happy with. There's a long thread on here where I detailed the build.

Mel

[GattonFan]

+1 on Mel's comments, from another Parts-Rite builder. You're not going to devalue the guitar by giving it a refinish. Enjoy putting it all in playable condition.
Dennis

[101Volts]

I was under the impression it was a factory second body from the 80s, Not that you drilled the screw holes. There are quite a few Mosrite bodies and parts from the 80s that ended up rejected for quality issues, I'm not sure why there are so many.

Austin

[Black Headstock]

Hey guys the input and advice from various perspectives is of real benefit.

And yes Mel I did observe your VIII project as you worked through it; most useful.

I do believe from my years of owning and studying Mosrites that the finish on this VIII is factory original.

The Calif. Grape is reallly awesome; just kills me to strip it away.

I am feeling that the factory "drilling screw up" is just now part of the guitar's "screwed up" history. Maybe insert dowels/or some finishing alternative treatment, but not to hide, but to show, and place the new (vintage) tailpiece correctly, and that's the original look of this particular Mosrite VIII. (Scars and all showing).

Mel is right, it will never be factory, but it will be my contribution to the preservation of another Mosrite to the best extent possible? I just love the orginal Calif Grape on this thing.

The neck is also a correct VIII; but with various rough patches.

Time to get this one together.

Al.