Sunburst Slab Ventures 11....... Who's????

[coanda]

All mine!!
Cheers
Rick

[Veenture]

Thanks Rick, the last picture is the best one!

[maxkat]

Hey Rick,
congratulations from me, too. Envy is not my thing, but in this particular case...
Adam has called this guitar to have the serial number B124 and I would guess this is right – but you have it in your hands and can tell best. On Adam's great pics I think I can see the 1 next to the B. And there are all the other features that tell it is rather B124 than B024:
- the tremolo's top has the bent edges
- the neck's thinner and shorter heel corresponding with the body's shorter and thicker neck extension
- the thick fretboard
- the quarter round string guide
The stamped number (024) has nothing to do with the guitar's serial number (although I don't know what the stamped number means – perhaps something like the 24th neck that was made on Aug. 2 1965 at the Mosrite factory? But there are so many Mosrites that aren't stamped at all...).
By the way: the sunburst slab Ventures II Johnny has played in the Ramones' early years has been customized with a P-90 pu in the bridge position and a Gibson tailpiece through the original tremolo plate (like Johnny Ramone's blue Ventures II had at its end).
@ Bob Shade: Hey Bob, are you sure Johnny's rarely played sunburst Ventures II is the guitar that became the dark brown one in the middle of the 80ies? That's the first time I have heard that...
Cheers from Munich,
Max

[Bob Shade]

Yes, the sunburst did get a p90 put in the bridge position temporarily, then Johnny had it painted dark brown for whatever reason and the Fat Strat put in the bridge position. Then later it was re-painted gold by CJ as a gift to Johnny. I have had this guitar in my hands and played it when it was gold. I believe it had the thick fingerboard on this one.

Bob

[maxkat]

Hi Bob,
yes, I think the brown/gold had the thick fretboard – can you recall its serial number?
What makes me wonder is that John's sunburst Ventures II had some other customized features the brown Ventures II did not have besides this black P-90 (black plasic knobs instead of the original ones, a white switch tip instead of a black one (ok, that's a lame point), the original tremolo plate (why should it be thrown away?) – no reasonings at all, but here is one: Johnny's sunburst Ventures II had the thin fretboard (the best picture I know can be found in Chip Dayton's photo book).
I think the sunburst VII disappeared around 1977 (perhaps stolen with the blue one?) and the brown one appeared around 1984.
Cheers, Max

[stevestrings]

Hello everybody....first post newbie here....I thought it was about time I chipped in as I've played that guitar- and a lot of Rick's and Adam's amazing collections too.... and betwen them they have finally converted me to the wonderful world of Mosrites (...my somewhat odd collection is so far a bit Fender/PRS/Gibson/oddball/Japanese centric) .

Rick is right about the unique fretboard wear...Ive never seen anything like it...and it looks 'natural' and its corresponds EXACTLY with Johnny's strumming position... More important.... most people that dont know these Mark II's would probably write it off as a bit cheap looking, and think it couldnt POSSIBLY sound good...but Boy is that so NOT the case.... I plugged it into one of Rick's Crate Class A valve amps (very vintage Marshall-y) and wound it up (after checking his neighbours were out I hasten to add)...and JEEZ -WHAT A TONE! its absolutely awesome, and the neck plays like butter - not normally my cup of tea...but everything just works on this guitar... way way more than the sum of all its parts.... so in a nutshell...I want it - now please! Seriously though...does anyone know if those pickups are available anywhere??? they are amazing!

I shouldnt be saying this as I'll bet Adam will start tempting me with a few Mosrites that'll require selling a kidney or 3... ( if any of you have seen the Hamiltone he has by the way...its utterly amazing and I'm already considering donating my body to science to get it !)

Keep up the good work everybody

Steve

[maxkat]

Hey Rick and Steve,
here's what Johnny's strumming position does to a Mosrite neck after around 15,000 hours of downstroking...



(image credits go to the person who shot it)
Cheers, Max

[Veenture]

here's what Johnny's strumming position does to a Mosrite neck after around 15,000 hours of downstroking...http://hang10.de/pictures/john_fretwear.jpg

It would be interesting also to know how many guitar picks were worn out in the process

[oipunkguy]

well john went through several a show probably 5-10 as a rough guess. one of which i caught at a show in august 1995. the ramones did over 2000 shows so you do the math