2000s Mosrite Test Driver Sixty Six, Ventures Model + Flying Samurai, Pearl White, Kurokumo

Up for sale, a 2000s Mosrite Test Driver Sixty Six in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. This extremely rare guitar was produced at the KuroKumo factory in Japan, best known for their partnership with Mosrite and high quality Mosrite reissues. Sparingly little information is available regarding this Test Driver Sixty Six model, a fascinating hybridization of two of the most iconic surf guitars of all time: Mosrite’s The Ventures Model and Yamaha’s Flying Samurai, pairing the pickups, electronics, hardware, and German carve of the former with the body and headstock shape of the latter. While this guitar is technically devoid of any Mosrite branding, it was produced during the partnership between KuroKumo and Mosrite, featuring a gloss Pearl White finish accented by a pearloid pickguard and gold hardware.

Japan’s long-standing love affair with surf rock is the very reason the electric guitar first became popular in the Land of the Rising Sun; in many ways, this Test Driver Sixty Six is as Japanese as an electric guitar can get. The pair of Mosrite single coil pickups are wound plenty hot (8k Neck, 8.75k Bridge), yielding plenty of power, percussive cut, and sparkling trebles, with a terrific overarching sweetness. Lightweight at just 7lbs 2oz, this Test Driver Sixty Six has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Slender C, measuring .810” 1st fret, .880” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood, mini dot inlays
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Headstock: Route 66-style logo, script text
-Nut: 1 9/16”, aluminum (gold-plated), zero fret
-Tuners: Kluson-style

Body Specs:

-Pickups: Single coil x2 (Neck: 8.0k ohms, Bridge: 8.75k
-Controls: Volume, Tone, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Roller bridge, sandcast Vibramute-style KuroKumo-branded vibrato, smooth knobs (gold-plated)
-Plastics: Three-ply white pearloid pickguard, white pickup covers

The gloss Pearl White finish is framed on top by multi-ply binding, and the clear coat exhibits subtle yellowing. Sparingly played, there are just a couple tiny dings at the bass-side lower bout perimeter. The gloss on the neck profile shows no wear.

A padded softshell case is included.