mosrite mark 2 bought at ed roman

[stoogesramone]

hi, about 2 years ago i bought a mosrite mark 2 from ed roman

i have read that ed roman have the rights of mosrite; But what i really want to know is, if its a real mosrite guitar or a copy ......because i dont know but does anyone make mosrite guitars or just the old ones are the ones that count??????????????????

thanks
Alberto from lima Peru

[Bob Shade]

As much as Ed Romans operation would like you to believe they are gods gift to Mosrite, they are simply a Japanese Mosrite dealer and always have been. Ed Roman knew very little about Mosrite actually when he started carrying them. Knowing I am a Mosrite expert he wanted me to write a history page for his website at one time, which I declined.

In Japan, anyone can make a Mosrite guitar and brand it with the Mosrite logo and sell it legally. That is why there are 3 companies making and selling Mosrite guitars in Japan. Therefore, there are no real Mosrites anymore other than the vintage examples. There are no key people from the Mosrite days working at any of these Japanese operations.

Ed Roman sold the Fillmore Japanese Mosrite guitars, and used the word "REAL" on everything he would advertise. Simply stating it is real does not make it authentic.

For a short period, Fillmore employed Dana Moseley (Semie's daughter who wound pickups for the Arkansas Mosrite operation in the 90's) assembling Japanese made Fillmore guitars and branding them with "Made in the USA" and charging a premium. They were simply assembled in the US, not really crafted here. Dana was let go recently and was apparently looked at as unnecessary as she was really not a luthier or a skilled woodworker and barely worked for Mosrite when it was the Arkansas location. In other words, it was a failed attempt to use a Moseley name to try to add legitimacy to the Fillmore operation.

Simply stating a Japanese Mosrite guitar is real, well, that is really up to the consumer to decide not the dealer.

My advice is if you want a real Mosrite, buy a vintage example that was produced with Semie Moseley running the operation. You can get one for the price or lower than alot of the Japanese offerings. You will have a better investment, and it WILL be real and original. Anything else is simply boasting and horn tooting.

Another option if you simply want a great playing and sounding guitar is to buy a Hallmark. We have had the guys who were at Mosrite at the beginning working here, Joe Hall and Bill Gruggett, Andy Moseley, Don Stanley and Ed Sanner (who is still with us). Even "The Ventures" Bob Bogel was at Hallmark at the very beginning. We make great gear that has the vibe, sound, and playability and come with a alligator hardshell case included in the price, that rival any guitar period, and charge a working mans price. Our customers tell me constantly that our quality can't be beat, and we could charge alot more and get away with it, but I refuse to. We do have an official Ramone model too. Not just pictures of Johnny playing one to make you think it is official like Romans site has.

Well enough of my blabbing, I hope this helps,

Bob Shade/ Hallmark Guitars

[stoogesramone]

Thanks Bob for the info.