A 1968 Mozlite Californian—one of the few remaining in Japan—has arrived!

We have received a vintage Mozlite Californian D-100 that is believed to be from 1968.
Its arrival in Japan, as well as its current existence and availability on the market, may be extremely rare.
This electric resonator guitar was made possible when Mr. Semi Mosley (founder of the Moslite brand) acquired the trademark rights to “Dobro” in the 1960s.
As a result, the headstock features both the Moslite of California logo decal and the Dobro brand emblem.
Also, the Californian D-100 is apparently commonly known as the “MoBro.”
Based on the pot dates, I have determined this instrument to be from 1968.
・Pot dates: 1346815/Volume, 13468--/Tone (last two digits illegible)
・Capacitor: CRL Circle D, 0.05 microfarads
・Output jack: An older, screw-on style with “Switchcraft” stamped on it
・Pickup selector: There is a sticker on the side of the sealed case labeled “8607 CTE51 0.4VA MAX 20VDC.” (The pickup selector may have been replaced in the 1980s.)
・Machine heads (pegs): Kluson Double Line / Kluson Deluxe (back side: stamped “D-169400 PATENT NO”)
However, the guitar is in excellent condition, with a very high degree of originality, including the frets.

Pro Repair Work Details
The bridge pickup had developed a broken wire issue, so it was rewired.

Overall Condition
This instrument is now 58 years old.
As expected for its age, it shows signs of dirt, scratches, dents, and wear from playing; however, there are no obvious buckle marks or conspicuous damage.
Given the rich luster and beautiful condition of the finish, there are no signs of heavy use or rough handling, making it impossible not to view this as a truly captivating vintage guitar.
Additionally, while it has undergone professional repairs necessary for its preservation—such as the aforementioned pickup rewinding and fret leveling—I cannot help but feel that this is a rare instrument that allows you to experience its original character up close, including the strap buttons, once you purchase and own it.
As for the frets, they are naturally on the narrower and smaller side, so you may feel that refretting is necessary for normal playing.
However, given the nature of resonator Dobro guitars—which tend to be favored by bottleneck slide players using open tunings—you may not experience any issues even with the frets in their current condition.

Condition: B+: Some minor scratches, but no issues for normal use

Serial Number: DC 0249
Year of Manufacture: 1968
Country of Manufacture: USA
Case: Semi-hard case (TKL Zero-Gravity)
Accessories: None
Weight: 3.09 kg
Truss Rod: No issues; checked up to 60 degrees to the left and right with no problems
Remaining Fret Life: Defects present; replacement should be considered during the next repair
String Height (Low String Side): 2.5 mm at the 12th fret
String action (treble side): 2.0 mm at the 12th fret
Nut width: 41.3 mm
Neck thickness near the 1st fret: 22.3 mm
Neck thickness near the 12th fret: 21.8 mm
Scale: 628 mm (24.75")
RADIUS: 184 mm (7.25")
Strings at Setup: ERNIE BALL 2221 / .010-.046 set
Repairs and Maintenance Performed: Cleaning, string replacement, truss rod adjustment, octave adjustment, action adjustment

* As this is a used item, there may be scratches, dents, and other imperfections that are not clearly visible in the photos or not listed here. Please be aware of this in advance.

* Any listed measurements for the truss rod, remaining fret life, string height, etc., were taken by our staff during setup and are subject to change due to environmental factors such as climate and humidity.
These measurements are intended as a reference at the time of purchase; we cannot guarantee that the measurements will be identical when the item arrives at your location.

* This is a one-of-a-kind item that is listed simultaneously on multiple marketplaces, including our in-store display. We strive to promptly remove product listings once an item is sold, but updates may not always be in real time.
We sincerely apologize in the unlikely event that the item is sold out after you place your order, and we ask for your understanding.

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