Bass restoration

[dubtrub]

Original frets on a Mosrite are not crowned, they are flat and filed down almost to the the fret tang. Try not to compare them how a normal fret job should be. They were basically thin metal lines across the fret board. Semie called them 'speed frets'. Some people like them some don't. I don't.

[samanthacay]

For comparison sake, here's a couple photo's of how the wiring looks as untouched. Even though these are for a six string, they are wired the same on a bass. Your photo looks to be wired properly but it sure looks nasty. It would be my guess that the wiring is original but was dirtied up in the disassembly and reassembly process of refinishing.

Hey, thanks this is exactly what I was hoping for, pictures like these speak a million words.

Also I'm curious about that pickgaurd's fit at the switch control cavity. Has that hole been enlarged beyond the edge of the pickguard or is that pick not original to the guitar? Again for comparison sake, here is a photo of my '72 that I previously owned. Notice the amount of pickguard material in front of the switch following the curvature of the horn and cut away.

Not sure if I quite get what you're referring to here the control cavity has been deepened for some reason but it hasn't been made any larger otherwise and the controls clear what would have been the original depth. My guess is that someone had different electronics in there at one point thus the depth mod.

Also this bass looks the same as the one you showed as far as pickguard material and layout.

[dubtrub]

I'm referring to the front edge of the pickguard where it follows the German carve. The cavity looks to be exposed in that area and the pickguard does not appear to cover that hole.

[samanthacay]

Original frets on a Mosrite are not crowned, they are flat and filed down almost to the the fret tang. Try not to compare them how a normal fret job should be. They were basically thin metal lines across the fret board. Semie called them 'speed frets'. Some people like them some don't. I don't.

Huh, ok well that is interesting.
I guess I'll have to give this some second thought in this case.
Thanks for the heads up, that may just have saved me a lot of unnecessary work.

[samanthacay]

I'm referring to the front edge of the pickguard where it follows the German carve. The cavity looks to be exposed in that area and the pickguard does not appear to cover that hole.

Ah ok, I get what you're saying.
The photo of the bass with the pickguard on is with it just propped in place and not screwed in thus the abnormality.
It fits fine when screwed in place.

[LoveyX]

Third: What is the original finish, not as in color but as in type?

Not an expert on guitar finishes, but had read Semie used to use Nitrocellulose Lacquer in the 60s, not sure what he used in the early 70s.

[JimPage]

Hey--

My '72 Celebrity Mosrite, which has the exact same headstock logo as the bass under discussion, has a nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst finish.

Those speed frets are discussed on several treads on this forum, and some have great photos.

Good luck!!!

--Jim