The silhouette of the semi-hollow Maphis instruments was a double-cutaway style with a longer treble-side horn, a tradition on other Mosrite models such as the Ventures models and combos. Since the back and sides were made from contiguous pieces of walnut, binding was only found at the spruce/walnut juncture. The spruce cap, which had Mosrite’s fabled “German carve” contouring, was then affixed to the walnut portion. Blocks of walnut were glued together, then routed to achieve the body’s semi-solid status.

One of their other endorsees was rapid-fire picker Joe Maphis, whose own signature model appeared in Mosrite’s 1968 catalog, distinguished by a semi-hollow body with a “Selected Musical Grade Spruce” top with no f-holes, and walnut back and sides. Mosrite Ventures models were solidbody instruments, but the company also proffered electric guitars and basses with semi-acoustic and hollow bodies. The Ventures/Mosrite affiliation lasted for about a half-decade, but it happened during such a dynamic time in the band’s career that they’ve been saddled with the association ever since (the band played Fender and other instruments before and after its Mosrite endorsement). However, the earliest band/brand association many guitar aficionados remember involves the Ventures, the instrumental combo that preceded the Beatles and played guitars and basses made by Mosrite, in Bakersfield, California. True, some legendary electric guitar models and enduring sonic innovations had been introduced in the ’50s (primarily by Gibson and Fender), but the ’60s played host to the fabled “guitar boom.” Prompted by the Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” millions of teenagers bought millions of guitars and tried to emulate their new heroes.

The 1960s were arguably the most memorable decade in the history of American guitar manufacturing. Early Mosrite Joe Maphis Model, serial #M0004.

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