Mosrite Mark II Deluxe

Japan
22 frets
basswood body maple neck rosewood fretboard
master volume master tone Gibson-style 3 way p/u selector
chrome covered mini humbucker in bridge, single coil in bridge, probably Dimarzios.
Black finish
Mosrite roller bridge, Gibson-style stop bar
Grover tuners

The features are great for punk rock. The only problem is the single coil is so-so tone wise, but the hum is irritating, especially when you play on a Marshall. Looking forward to replacing it with some kind of stacked single coil that will buck the hum.

Theses guitars are wonderful. Because of the bridge and stop bar, they sustain like crazy, but unfortunately the single coil doesn't pick it up very well. These guitars feel a bit like a fender, but is about as solid as a gibson. The neck is very narrow, which I love. Mosrite style frets are very very small, which makes going around the neck a breeze.

The action on these guitars are great as well. Super low action and no fret buzz. The best thing about them, is that they stay in tune better than any guitar I've ever played without a floyd rose. They simply don't go out of tune. The finish is your standard solid color black finish, not much different from a fender. the neck has a nice lacquer finish like a vintage fender, which is beautiful.

If Johnny Ramones could play over 2,000 shows with these things I suppose they will hold up. The bodies are a wee bit thinner than a standard fender, which is great, as it makes it lighter, but not so thin that it makes it feel whimpy and cheap. The body itself is a wee bit bigger than a strat. The only issue I can see is that the neck joint looks like it could be a bit thin (on the body side), so I wouldn't recommend using one of these things as a baseball bat.

I own quite a few guitars, and this one is my favorite. Being a huge Ramones fan, it's a dream guitar. If the bridge pickup was better than I would say it's perfect. Unfortunately, these guitars are overpriced, but I think it's only because it's not exactly easy to find one. If anyone has any questions about these kind of Mosrites, or Mosrites in general, feel free to e-mail me.

What year was it made?
2000 / 2001

Where was is made?
Japan

How many frets?
22

Which controls are given?
Volume, Tone, 3-Way Pickup Selection

Pickup configuration?
Mini-Humbucker (NECK)
Single-Coil (BRIDGE)
I MODIFIED THIS FROM A DUNCAN FS-1 TO A DUNCAN HOT RAILS

Make and model of pickups?
No-name Mini-HB (Bridge...looks like Duncan Firebird)
Duncan Fat Strat (FS1)

Active or Passive electronics?
Passive

Body and neck woods?
BODY: Basswood
NECK: One Piece Maple w/Rosewood Fingerboard

Finish
Solid color paint, several high quality clear coats apparent.

Body style
Typical Mosrite "upside down Strat" type body WITHOUT the trademark "german carve" that many Mosrite Ventures models had.

Bridge style
Tune-O-Matic style bridge with Stop-Tailpiece

Tuners
Grover style with "Made In Japan" markings

Neck/Scale
Neck is one-piece maple with rosewood fingerboard. 22-frets, very thin Mosrite type fret wire. Neck seems like a short scale, but nowhere NEAR a 3/4. Maybe 7/8?
22 3/4" scale.

Any included accessories?
Angled wrench for intonations included.

Suits my style perfectly, Ramones-style rock and roll. This is a fantastic rhythm guitar. I don't suggest it for alot of string bending bluesy leads.

I use it plugged directly into Marshall JCM 800, 100 watt, Model #2203 heads. Depending on the size of the venue I can use any where from 1 head to 3 heads simultaneously.

Before changing the bridge pickup, it was a bit "buzzy", but now I get nothing more than a reassuring "hum" when I have the guitar opened up to "10" and I'm not playing. Not an annoying 60-cycle hum...almost like a race car idling. It's not obnoxious, but you know all you have to do is open the throttle and WHAM!!!!

Very nice, full, fat, midrangey sound with the Marshall overdrive. When just noodling around at home, it has a nice full clean sound, and even has a nice lush sound before plugging it into an amp. It's a solid body electric, but still has a nice "unplugged" sound.

The guitar does not have a wide variety of sounds that I've attempted to achieve. I bought them (I now have 2 of them) to make a particluar sound, and they make it perfectly!!

The factory set up is atrocious. The stop tailpiece is at it's lowest relief point, and had to be cranked up quite a bit to get the buzz off the neck. Once the tail was brought up and the action and intonation corrected accordingly, no problem.

My 2nd one had an issue with the bottom of the bridge saddles rocking back and forth, but that turned out to be only an adjustment that needed to be made.

Guitar will defintely hold up onstage. Having two of them gives me the luxury of not having to abuse either one too excessively. The finish on the first one developed small hairline cracks at the back of the neck joint, which I've been told is a common fault with the Fillmore (Japanese company) built Mosrites.

I replaced the stock strap buttons with locks.

I do not have to use this without a backup, but I would not, ONLY because I always manage to break a string or knock it out of tune when I only bring ONE guitar. If the backup is there....I never need it. Typical.

There will be no customer support. This company, Fillmore, has been stopped by Ed Roman Guitars (Connecticut) from importing to the US thru the dealers they were working with. Apparently Ed Roman's has an exclusivity deal to sell wildly overpriced American hand-made Mosrite replicas, and only wants the American public to have access to HIS Mosrites (starting at $1,500). If I need anything doen to this guitar, I am on my own.

My style is totally Johnny Ramone, and this guitar suits that perfectly. I already owned a 1960's Ventures II, done up EXACTLY like Johnny's, but it is autographed by the whole group, and I don't want to use it on the road anymore.

IF this guitar (one of them) were lost/stolen, I have 2 others to fall back on. If I lost them all, I'd have to look for another to replace it. I do own other guitars (Mosrite Ventures, 2 Gibson Les Paul Juniors, a Telecaster, and a LP Special) but the Mark II/Ventures II's are my babies. Ever since I saw Johnny Ramone playing his at the Palladium in NYC on New Years Eve, 1979...I wanted THAT guitar. It took FOREVER (didn't get the orignal until 1996) but it has been well worth the quest.

If you are a Ramones fan, and like the "oddball vibe" of the Mark II, and happen to see one for under $750, SNAP IT UP. If you choose NOT to snap it up, EMAIL ME and I WILL TAKE IT. I love these guitars, and wouldn't mind scoring a couple in different colors. Right now, I only have white ones with black pickguards.

I couldn't be happier with this guitar!!!

To hear my 1st Mosrite Ventures II in action, visit my bands website at www.MP3.COM/Asylum66