Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Univoxer
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Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby Univoxer » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:05 pm

Greetings to all and a belated Happy New Mosrite Year! :D

I'm 70 years old :o and since the early '70s my life has been intertwined with Mosrite and The Ventures. 8-) In the 1960s I was enjoying the music of The Ventures on vinyl and I fell in love with Mosrite guitars as used by The Ventures. :) In 1970 I was turned on to THE STOOGES by a friend and noticed that the bassist, Dave Alexander, was using a beautiful blue Mosrite The Ventures model. I was fortunate to see them in 1970 at a place called "UNGANO'S" here in NYC and I couldn't take my eyes off Dave's bass and the sound it produced.

Living in NYC I would see once in a while a Mosrite The Ventures model bass in various pawn shops but even then I couldn't afford them. Being sort of ignorant I passed on a beauty because it was hanging in the window of a pawn shop with the strings loosened and I thought it be a problem instrument. :x Later on I was on famed 48th Street, known as "guitar alley," and saw a Mosrite bass, single pickup, in the window with a price tag of $200. I figured it's now or never. The catch was that the bass had been painted a shocking pink and "dog" scrawled on the body. :o I bought it, brought it home and proceeded to the basement with a stripping liquid. Got the bass back to natural wood and painted it red.

I bought a copy of the LP "PLAY ELECTRIC BASS with the VENTURES" in the 4-LP series "PLAY GUITAR WITH THE VENTURES," the bass LP was Volume 4. Using the GUITAR PHONICS SYSTEM I taught myself how to play 'cause my desire was to learn mostly TOP 40 hits and songs with easy bass lines such as found on some reggae songs which had influenced me after having seen a '60s reggae concert with a variety of Jamaican artists. I bought an LP titled "THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC" and I just had to learn the bass to "I Shot The Sheriff" by The Wailers (Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley), and "Concrete Jungle" (also by The Wailers) with a very emotional guitar solo that almost makes me levitate! :roll:

I learned to play a few tunes but I never played with anyone. But I did drag my big Fender bass amp with 4 speaker cabinet to a friend's apartment to celebrate my 40th birthday in 1978. I played for my friends "Birthday," by The Beatles, and The Bee Gees' "Night Fever." I picked "Night Fever" 'cause I like the song but the bass lines were hard to discern so it was more of a challenge to learn them. :shock:

Next stop: my wife and I moved to L.A. in '78 but I don't remember what I did with the Mosrite, I must have sold it. I started acquiring basses again including another Mosrite model, the Joe Maphis one. I sold that one to a member of The Angry Samoans and acquired a J.K. Lado and, finally, a beauty, an ARIA PRO II Black 'n' Gold. :)

In 1981 I went to a lounge I thought was called The Westwood but I'm not sure, to see The Ventures. Finally, a fantasy come true. Prior to going I had drawn a bass drum head with The Ventures logo. I took photos of the concert and found my way backstage which took the members by surprise. I whipped out the sketch and they all autographed it. :D

I got a job working for a music publication and one day we got the mail belonging to another business in the building next to us. I was asked to take it to them and when the office door opened my jaw dropped 'cause it was The Ventures' drummer, Mel Taylor! I lost my speech and finally called him by the guitarist's name (Nokie Edwards)! :o I brought them the mail another day and, again, he opened the door and I called him by another member's name! :o :)

Finally, one day while shopping at Robinson's, the department store, I went to the cashier's line and lo and behold in front of me was Mel! We had a good laugh when I explained my shocking surprise when he opened the office door, etc. ;)

Last year, I saw that The Ventures were going to play in NYC and I had acquired a copy of the above bass LP and the photos I took of their 1981 gig and waited at the entrance to the venue as I wasn't really going to attend since Mel had died and The Ventures were no longer playing Mosrites. :x I was fortunate that I asked a woman going in if she was connected to the band and she told me that she was Nokie's wife. I asked her to have Bob Bogle autograph my LP and I gave her the photos to show them how they looked back in 1981. Unfortunately, she told me, Bob wasn't with them :( but she took the LP and photos and had Nokie and rhythm guitarist Don Wilson autograph the LP which I later sold on eBay. :x

Yesterday, still with the Mosrite blood in me and this time not really able to afford a Mosrite The Ventures Model bass :( , even on eBay, I found a UNIVOX HI-FLYER bass (natural) in excellent condition for $200+s&h. On the completed listings on eBay a similar model was sold and a previous owner had applied the appropriate decals to make it look like a The Ventures model and in another thread here I found the decal seller and I may buy the decals and give my bass that distinctive Mosrite The Ventures model look and I'm on my way again! :D I may not live to fully learn to play, but this time I'm serious since time is of the essence! :(

Long live Mosrite! Long live The Ventures! :D

Univoxer 8-)

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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby GattonFan » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:22 pm

Another great story - Welcome to the Forum. The common bond is not so much that we all own Mosrites, but we all appreciate the genius and craftsmanship of Semie Moseley exhibited in his guitar designs. Lots of great guys, help, and info here. Start with any thread - it's an educational adventure.

Dennis

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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby Univoxer » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:40 pm

Thanks for the warm welcome, Dennis, I'm glad to have found the Forum. I'll be looking in all the forums but particularly in the Clones Forum since that's what I'll be owning next week.

Univoxer

GattonFan wrote:Another great story - Welcome to the Forum. The common bond is not so much that we all own Mosrites, but we all appreciate the genius and craftsmanship of Semie Moseley exhibited in his guitar designs. Lots of great guys, help, and info here. Start with any thread - it's an educational adventure.

Dennis

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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby mosman » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:47 pm

What a great introduction. Welcome to the Forum!

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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby sleeperNY » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:11 pm

Welcome Univoxer. This is a great place for anything Mosrite or even close to it. You couldn't ask for a better bunch of people. For what it's worth my brother is a bass player and he started his learning on bass with the same record you did. Learn to play bass with the ventures.

Jim
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Korg AX3000G

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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby dubtrub » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:26 pm

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new bass.

This website is dedicated to anything and everything Mosrite which means Mosrite influence copied or real. The most important part about this forum is being a Mosrite enthusiasts. There's no requirement to own or play Mosrites. It's all about sharing, learning and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow enthusiast. Don't just hang out at the Mosrite clone section either. There is a wealth of information in the Parts & Project section, Members Music and Gigs section, especially with all the photos of Deke's Guitar Geek Fest depicting numerous vintage guitars many of which are not Mosrites. There a lot of Mosrite history in the Mosrite Vintage section. Although I have three Mosrites, I build my own Mosrite clones more to my liking. Click on the Mosrite logo on any of my posts just below my name and it will link you to my projects. So you see, even the administrator of this site doesn't necessarily play Mosrites, but I do love them for their beauty and history.
Danny Ellison

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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby Dennisthe Menace » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:49 pm

Welcome to the Family Univoxer, very incredible story ;) .
make the Mos' of it, choose the 'rite stuff.
.........Owner of 9 Mosrites...
.....proud owner and documented:
1963 "the Ventures" Model s/n #0038
http://www.thevintagerockproject.com/

paulybass52
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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby paulybass52 » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:33 pm

Univoxer wrote:Greetings to all and a belated Happy New Mosrite Year! :D

I'm 70 years old :o and since the early '70s my life has been intertwined with Mosrite and The Ventures. 8-) In the 1960s I was enjoying the music of The Ventures on vinyl and I fell in love with Mosrite guitars as used by The Ventures. :) In 1970 I was turned on to THE STOOGES by a friend and noticed that the bassist, Dave Alexander, was using a beautiful blue Mosrite The Ventures model. I was fortunate to see them in 1970 at a place called "UNGANO'S" here in NYC and I couldn't take my eyes off Dave's bass and the sound it produced.

Living in NYC I would see once in a while a Mosrite The Ventures model bass in various pawn shops but even then I couldn't afford them. Being sort of ignorant I passed on a beauty because it was hanging in the window of a pawn shop with the strings loosened and I thought it be a problem instrument. :x Later on I was on famed 48th Street, known as "guitar alley," and saw a Mosrite bass, single pickup, in the window with a price tag of $200. I figured it's now or never. The catch was that the bass had been painted a shocking pink and "dog" scrawled on the body. :o I bought it, brought it home and proceeded to the basement with a stripping liquid. Got the bass back to natural wood and painted it red.

I bought a copy of the LP "PLAY ELECTRIC BASS with the VENTURES" in the 4-LP series "PLAY GUITAR WITH THE VENTURES," the bass LP was Volume 4. Using the GUITAR PHONICS SYSTEM I taught myself how to play 'cause my desire was to learn mostly TOP 40 hits and songs with easy bass lines such as found on some reggae songs which had influenced me after having seen a '60s reggae concert with a variety of Jamaican artists. I bought an LP titled "THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC" and I just had to learn the bass to "I Shot The Sheriff" by The Wailers (Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley), and "Concrete Jungle" (also by The Wailers) with a very emotional guitar solo that almost makes me levitate! :roll:

I learned to play a few tunes but I never played with anyone. But I did drag my big Fender bass amp with 4 speaker cabinet to a friend's apartment to celebrate my 40th birthday in 1978. I played for my friends "Birthday," by The Beatles, and The Bee Gees' "Night Fever." I picked "Night Fever" 'cause I like the song but the bass lines were hard to discern so it was more of a challenge to learn them. :shock:

Next stop: my wife and I moved to L.A. in '78 but I don't remember what I did with the Mosrite, I must have sold it. I started acquiring basses again including another Mosrite model, the Joe Maphis one. I sold that one to a member of The Angry Samoans and acquired a J.K. Lado and, finally, a beauty, an ARIA PRO II Black 'n' Gold. :)

In 1981 I went to a lounge I thought was called The Westwood but I'm not sure, to see The Ventures. Finally, a fantasy come true. Prior to going I had drawn a bass drum head with The Ventures logo. I took photos of the concert and found my way backstage which took the members by surprise. I whipped out the sketch and they all autographed it. :D

I got a job working for a music publication and one day we gt the mail belonging to another business in the building next to us. I was asked to take it to them and when the office door opened my jaw dropped 'cause it was The Ventures' drummer, Mel Taylor! I lost my speech and finally called him by the guitarist's name (Nokie Edwards)! :o I brought them the mail another day and, again, he opened the door and I called him by another member's name! :o :)

Finally, one day while shopping at Robinson's, the department store, I went to the cashier's line and lo and behold in front of me was Mel! We had a good laugh when I explained my shocking surprise when he opened the office door, etc. ;)

Last year, I saw that The Ventures were going to play in NYC and I had acquired a copy of the above bass LP and the photos I took of their 1981 gig and waited at the entrance to the venue as I wasn't really going to attend since Mel had died and The Ventures were no longer playing Mosrites. :x I was fortunate that I asked a woman going in if she was connected to the band and she told me that she was Nokie's wife. I asked her to have Bob Bogle autograph my LP and I gave her the photos to show them how they looked back in 1981. Unfortunately, she told me, Bob wasn't with them :( but she took the LP and photos and had Nokie and rhythm guitarist Don Wilson autograph the LP which I later sold on eBay. :x

Yesterday, still with the Mosrite blood in me and this time not really able to afford a Mosrite The Ventures Model bass :( , even on eBay, I found a UNIVOX HI-FLYER bass (natural) in excellent condition for $200+s&h and I inquired of the guy selling Mosrite The Ventures decals and I'm on my way again! :D I may not live to fully learn to play, but this time I'm serious since time is of the essence! :(

Long live Mosrite! Long live The Ventures! :D

Univoxer 8-)

Hi Univoxer!! Welcome to the family...I must say I haven't been on the site lately,but after reading your post, I just had to respond.Firstly, as the Mosrite playing bassist of VR-4,I wanted to thank you for the kind words about the band.
And secondly( and most unbelievable ) was the fact that I happened to be at Ungano"s on the same darn night as you were....Remember me?? LOL!!!--It was a great night especially since Johnny Winter and Merrilee Rush (Angel of the Morning) was sitting on the same bench as I was..
That is really amazing. :o Cheers,Pauly

Univoxer
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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby Univoxer » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:18 pm

Hi Pauly! :D Great boogyly woogyly! I remember you. :lol: You were the guy that was hiding behind the pillar I wanted because when The Stooges walked in and stood along the wall before they went on, they exuded this "dangerous" image with their sullen look and you didn't want to approach them for fear of your life! My friend commented on how we'd better stay away from them and I looked for a place to "hide"! :shock:

Then when Ron struck that first chord, half of the audience ran for their life! :lol:

:D

That's what it felt like. I'm sure the guys would have like to have us approach them and talk to them. I wanted to go up to Dave and ask him to let me touch his Mosrite 8-) and, later, when I found out how he died I felt bad for someone like him to end up like that. :cry: I tried to find out what happened to his beautiful Mosrite and it's probably out there somewhere with its provenance lost. Unless the owner knows its history. Anyone here know:?:

Cheers all around.

Edward


[quote="paulybass52]
Hi Univoxer!! Welcome to the family...I must say I haven't been on the site lately,but after reading your post, I just had to respond.Firstly, as the Mosrite playing bassist of VR-4,I wanted to thank you for the kind words about the band.
And secondly( and most unbelievable ) was the fact that I happened to be at Ungano"s on the same darn night as you were....Remember me?? LOL!!!--It was a great night especially since Johnny Winter and Merrilee Rush (Angel of the Morning) was sitting on the same bench as I was..
That is really amazing. :o Cheers,Pauly[/quote]

Univoxer
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Re: Sharing a great life with Mosrite and The Ventures

Postby Univoxer » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:37 pm

Danny 'aka' dubtrub - I see that you are located in Bakersfield. I visited Bakersfield a couple of times during the 8 years I lived in the great San Fernando Valley.

Have you ever heard of Mayf Nutter, a country-rock artist? On their opening day celebration, The Bakersfield Country Music Museum inducted Mayf Nutter and Buck Owens as their first honorees. There's a lot more info at his website: http://www.angelfire.com/music4/mayfnutter/ and on google.

I ask because my wife and I became close friends with him and his wife Lindsay.

Edward the Univoxer


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