Finally Snagged a 1960s MK I Ventures!

[GattonFan]

My deepest gratitude to Mel for both finding this on Craigslist, and then doing the legwork when the seller wouldn't deal with an "out- ot - area" buyer ... It came with a pair of humbuckers, which didn't align with the strings, lots of dings and dents, a malformed trem arm, and a laarge cigarette burn on the headstock. I've done some work since I got it ... no full-body refinish, but a small repair to reduce the burn on the headstock. The neck pocket stamp has #0012 Nov 12 1965: Vol pot #1346712 (Mar 1967); Tone pot #1346647 (Nov 1966); Ser # V5412 .... pix:
Headstock burn before:
Headstock after:
Neck pocket:
Pair of Mos:
Really enjoying it - plays very well. Thanks again, Mel!

Dennis

[Dennisthe Menace]

Congrats Dennis! Were the H'buckers Mosrite or aftermarket brand?

[GattonFan]

They were some after-market drop ins - real thin sounding by comparison ...

[101Volts]

That's some good work on the headstock. Congratulations on your new acquisition, May I inquire how much it was?

Austin

[Sarah93003]

Wow, nice work on the headstock. How did you do that? Congratulations on the guitar!

[Veenture]

Hey, nice to hear (and see) GattonFan! Congratulations!

[GattonFan]

Thanks all! On the headstock: wiped with naphtha, sanded, drop filled, then wetsanded (1000-2000); rubbing compund, polish, Scratch-X. Probably could have gotten it all out, but people kept insisting it adds to the "mojo" ... May eventually refin the body ... maybe not. Nowadays they pay good money to get this kind of look!

Dennis

[JohnnySonic]

Very nice score! Love that finish.

[MWaldorf]

Dennis,

Hey, you really got that cleaned up fast! I bet it sounds great with the Elliot pickups. I was impressed with the overall feel of the guitar. Very similar to my '66. Interested how the dates on the parts has such a spread. I wonder how a guitar body managed to sit around for a year and a half before getting assembled?

So, how does it sound through the Model 400?

Mel

[GattonFan]

Hey, Mel ... I used the pickups I got from Curtis Muldoon - ones that I had Eddy rework for me. I think Eddy must be on vacation - I ordered some p'ups from him back before Christmas, but the check hasn't been cashed yet. Anyway, I'll wait - when he ships those, I'll drop them in my PartsRite. Nice vintage sound, combining the MK I with the Model 400. Kick in that tremelo and reverb and start playing that I-III-IV-II-I-V progression, ad infinitum ...