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To add to the confusion
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:03 pm
by dubtrub
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:23 pm
by Dennisthe Menace
.....and probably the reason Semie was denied a patent was because there really wasn't anything
"different" about this guitar, other than just a different 'Silkscreening' on the Headstock......
Otherwise, this guitar was nothing more than a "collaboration" of the different cosmetic changes
that took place over the years of the Mark I (Ventures Model).
p.s. Now stop that!! I'm still working on the V-III !!!
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:35 pm
by dubtrub
Dennisthe Menace wrote:.....and probably the reason Semie was denied a patent was because there really wasn't anything
"different" about this guitar, other than just a different 'Silkscreening' on the Headstock......
Otherwise, this guitar was nothing more than a "collaboration" of the different cosmetic changes
that took place over the years of the Mark I (Ventures Model).
p.s. Now stop that!! I'm still working on the V-III !!!
................or, is this another Japanese 'knock off' copy? Is that just a BS story by the seller?
I have never heard of this model with the 'S' and 'Semie Moseley' headstock logo. But, like I said in my other post, Semie probably wouldn't recall all of his designs and changes he made to his existing models.
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:40 pm
by Dennisthe Menace
Danny, I can only hope that this guy is being honest with "According to Andy Moseley."
I have been trying to contact Andy with no success.....
Here is a rare bird indeed. According to Andy Moseley (Semie Moseley's brother), this Mosrite was built in 1984 by Semie for the sole purpose of being photographed for the patent application on a new line of instruments branded Semie Moseley Custom (much like the Gospel branded Mosrites Semie built from the '60s through the early '90s). Unfortunately the patent application was denied and the proposed Semie Moseley Custom brand and logo were abandoned.
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:34 pm
by dubtrub
I just noticed that the seller is 'dorkrockrecords'. I have seen him on the Mazzrite forum and elsewhere in the past. I think he is a 'stand up' guy and is not trying to pull a fast one. I'd have to take him at his word as I seem to recall he is also a collector of rare guitars. He'd proabably be a good member to recruit to this forum.
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:30 pm
by dubtrub
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:50 pm
by Dennisthe Menace
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:03 pm
by dorkrockrecords
Hey guys -
The Semie Moseley Custom is mine. I've had it in my collection for a couple years, but unfortunately my loss will be someone else's gain. I understand your skepticism, especially in light of a Japanese Mosrite copy just selling on eBay for $2000+ (and the seller not once using the words "Japan" or "Japanese" in the description), but I am on the level and simply passing along information that took me an awfully long time to track down.
I had the guitar with me during my few years abroad in Tokyo and brought it to Mr. Yusa at Fillmore Guitars since I didn't know where to begin. He told me that it was not Japanese, but didn't know what to make of the logo or the unique carve. I sent photos to Bob Shade and Deke Dickerson who in turn forwarded them to Andy Moseley, and Andy eventually got back to me with his memory of the guitar, the patent application and its theft from the factory. I asked if he wanted the guitar back and he filled me in on the unfortunate fact of how common theft was from the factory. I found it shocking, but considering how many times the company went bankrupt, employees were paid off in parts, and assets were auctioned off, one can understand how guitars tend to "fall off the truck." I've even heard tale of Semie taking guitars right off the assembly line and walking them down to the pawn shop to pay the electric bill. But I digress...
It also should be noted that despite our assumption of the Japanese as rabid Mosrite collectors, they are primarily Ventures fans, and a Mosrite without "The Ventures" (let alone "Mosrite of California") on the headstock is barely worth the wood its made of. I can't conceive of a luthier over there going through the trouble of counterfitting a high quality Mosrite and leaving off the most important part.
On a side note, the Nokie model that is currently for sale on eBay belongs to Bob Shade, who is also a stand up guy. eBay items tend to come in waves - dead for a while, then a few interesting pieces. I'm guessing with current gas prices, we're in for more things coming out of the woodwork (if any of you are interested in the After Fire Mosrite California Grape prototype for the V-III/V3/American model, PM me).
Cheers,
Adam
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:24 pm
by dubtrub
Adam,
Thanks for joining the forum and your explanation is much appreciated. It's easy for us to sit back and speculate when something out of the ordinary shows up especially on eBay. I think it's new information like this, that is so intriguing about the history of Mosrite.
If you read some of the other threads in the Mosrite clone forum, you'll see that several of us are experienced with the Hallmark products and would really enjoy having Bob Shade join us here. Dennis the Menace was successful in getting Andy Moseley join us on another (?) forum, but unfortunately at the time it wasn't closely monitored by a moderator and porn spammer's dominated the website. So, no sooner did he join than he left as many of us did. I think you will find a good bunch of Mosrite collectors, friends and enthusiasts on this forum. Hopefully this forum will become the premier 'hang out' for Mosrite fans.
Re: To add to the confusion
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:26 am
by dubtrub
