Mosrite 5 string electric Mandolin Olympic White 13-pin Sustainer Monster Axe Gumby rare 50's? 60's?

One of a kind chance here to own some weird mandolin history and grab a monster by the... Gumby shaped headstock?

Semi Moseley (famous for his “Ventures” guitars later used by the Ramones) built this solid body, through-neck electric mandolin with his own hands - in the late 1950's? Early 1960's? He only made a couple mandolins (look it up), and the ones we've seen were all hollow bodied. So this is really rare. We see the ink "Mosrite" stamp on the unique shaped headstock, odd shaped body and extra small dot inlays. Historic stuff.

It began life as a four string, but has been customized with an added low C string, a 13 pin output, Ghost saddle pickups driving that (there's even 5 strings of currently un-used piezo audio output available if you add the ‘ghost expansion board’) plus a '94 Fender Lace Sensor in the bridge position - and wow is it bright. But wait there's more - the icing on the cake is a real Sustainiac endless Sustainer in the neck position. These are things that should never be on a mandolin--but this one, like the Ramones, is kinda punk rock. The sustainer (made in USA by Alan Hoover) runs on a 9v battery and is engaged by pulling up on the "Gibson" volume knob. The "Fender" volume knob and little red switch are synth volume and "program down" button. I'll include a couple more "program up" switches to complete it.  

Temp pick guard / band aid of blue painter's tape, the black bakelite original is still there, along with the strange bakelite (?) piece on the headstock. Black 'n chrome Sperzel locking tuners.

It's longer than most mandolins at 30 inches and full of dings and divots of the years - I've tried to picture it fully. This healthy, stealthy bluegrass weapon weighs in at 5 pounds 1 ounce.

Check the video, it's this very instrument being strangled by me--the Sustainer can get intense, and is great for endless note solos, swells in soundtracks, ambiences, etc. It barely works on the high E, it was never meant to work on a mando, period, so the big action with the sustainer occurs on the C, G, D and maybe A strings. Muting other strings also helps it sing when sustaining.

I've had a ton of fun with it, but it's time to let it go forth to the next owner. It is a special little monster - it's been a brilliant player for me and has a ton of Mosrite mojo. Selling as-is but you can see by the video it is playing & sounding great. Action is low and fast and frets are shiny and fairly new.

Included is a heavier-duty Warwick Rockbag® soft case that fits it well.

Thanks for looking and please shoot lightening into my other monsters. Cross listed for sale locally and elsewhere. I’ll certainly entertain decent offers.

Link to video: