The 1950's style doubleneck a la Joe Maphis, Larry Collins..

[dubtrub]

I went to the Kern County Museum today and as luck would have it the museum is down for renovation and all the artifacts are stored in the basement. However, this turned out to be a good thing. I got in touch with an employee of the museum and told her I was there specifically to examine the Joe Maphis double neck guitar. Well, today it's raining and the weather is miserable meaning me and my wife were the only people there.

So, the employee called for the Assistant Director to come in and meet us. After talking with him for a few moments and discussing the guitar, he led us to the climate controlled basement and gave us a personal tour where everything was stored under white sheets. I got to examined Joe's guitar as well as a Gruggett, and a Moles. I asked him who was responsible for caring for the guitars, to which he replied that it used to be Gene Moles, but since he passed they didn't have any one. I told him of my background and he was very receptive and it looks like I may become a volunteer caretaker and repairer of all their musical equipment.

After spending an hour and a half with him, I inquired about their antique gun collection they used to have. He told me it too was in storage. Again they have no care taker to maintain the firearms. Well, being a hobby gunsmith and have restored many pre 1900 weapons for various collectors, plus having a large collection of my own, guess who the new volunteer armorer will be?

Back to the Joe Maphis double neck. Deke's assessment is absolutely correct.

BTW, the day wasn't so miserable after all.

[GattonFan]

Hey! Congratulations on the possibilities of the new position(s)! Sounds like that would be a worthwhile thing to do, and get to indulge the guitar craving, too.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Hey first of all that Collins Kids clip from "Star Route" is too much! I hadn't seen that before. That is the double-cutaway doubleneck that Semie built Larry probably around '62-'63.

To answer the other question, I am a Gemini and some hippie chick told me once I'd never be happy doing just one thing. So when it comes to guitars I tend to think that a good mechanic always has a lot of tools....I love Mosrites of course, but the Joe Maphis style instruments with the Carvin pickups don't work so well for surf and blues....and the Ventures style instruments don't work so well for rockabilly and country. I also have Fenders and Gibsons and Danelectros and lots of other things like that for when the job calls for them.

Deke

.....so....uhm.....you own more than one...?? ........

[MWaldorf]

I went to the Kern County Museum today and as luck would have it the museum is down for renovation and all the artifacts are stored in the basement. However, this turned out to be a good thing. I got in touch with an employee of the museum and told her I was there specifically to examine the Joe Maphis double neck guitar. Well, today it's raining and the weather is miserable meaning me and my wife were the only people there.

So, the employee called for the Assistant Director to come in and meet us. After talking with him for a few moments and discussing the guitar, he led us to the climate controlled basement and gave us a personal tour where everything was stored under white sheets. I got to examined Joe's guitar as well as a Gruggett, and a Moles. I asked him who was responsible for caring for the guitars, to which he replied that it used to be Gene Moles, but since he passed they didn't have any one. I told him of my background and he was very receptive and it looks like I may become a volunteer caretaker and repairer of all their musical equipment.

After spending an hour and a half with him, I inquired about their antique gun collection they used to have. He told me it too was in storage. Again they have no care taker to maintain the firearms. Well, being a hobby gunsmith and have restored many pre 1900 weapons for various collectors, plus having a large collection of my own, guess who the new volunteer armorer will be?

Back to the Joe Maphis double neck. Deke's assessment is absolutely correct.

BTW, the day wasn't so miserable after all.

Congratulations Danny! Good to know that those historic guitars will be in good care, and given that you'll also be minding the armory, I know you'll have the means for crowd control handy.

[Dennisthe Menace]

darn COMPUTER!
Well, I see my response to Deke, but I don't see the one that I posted to you Danny.
DITTO on Mel's Congrats to you, What time do you have to Clock In???... ....

[Deke Dickerson]

Hey Danny--

I'm glad you got down to the basement and made yourself available!!! I shudder to think about those instruments getting water damaged, or stolen....yikes. Glad you will be able to examine them up close and personal.

At some point I'd like to get pictures of all their instruments for that book I'm working on, so maybe you're the guy to talk to now!

That Gruggett is pretty hip too--the brown & white one! It actually says Mosrite on the scroll headstock because it WAS made in the Mosrite factory. That was the first Stradette-style guitar and Bill originally made it as a Mosrite. A real one of a kind thing!

Deke

[ElTwang]

Excellent news, Danny. Congrats! You're the Man as I've said before

[dubtrub]

Thanks guy's. I think it will be a fun opportunity.

At some point I'd like to get pictures of all their instruments for that book I'm working on, so maybe you're the guy to talk to now!

Deke,

I can definitely turn you on to the guy that has the 'key' to the basement. I didn't ask, but the museum is probably going to be under construction for a few months. I would think that would give you a better opportunity for a photo shoot because everything is accessible and not under glass on display.

The director ask me if I could share some of my information to be documented. I told them about you and your knowledge of the early Mosrite years. So, I think you too would have a 'foot in the door' and he would no doubt love to here from you. He obviously loves his work and is a very nice person to deal with. If you like, I can send you the name phone number and email address.

BTW, photo's are only allowed as long as your camera has low light option where you don't have to use a flash.

[64sunburst]

Ditto on the congrats Danny! What a perfect fit.

Byron

[dubtrub]

While reviewing the TNM guitar site I found this photo of the Joe Maphis double neck that is now housed at the Kern County Museum. It is the one on the left. Wish I could find a better photo.