Question about who holds their value

[rballister]

Mosdan, from what I've read on this forum (exhaustively!) couldn't you could tell the difference by the lack of real speed frets? From the posts the Fillmore's have small frets--but they're not quite as small or filed down as Semie's. (incidentally, you have a great collection!)

[MOSDAN]

Rballister,
You are correct about the frets, however, I should be more specific about my comment. The Fillmores have the correct weight, body shape, string retainer shape, electronics, body width, paint colors unless a custom color is wanted, neck binding shape at the string retainer, tuners, and sound. If a person wants the correct fret size Dana will accomodate your needs when she assembles a guitar for you. Because of Dana's association with Fillmore, the correctness is about as close as you can get without having a Semie made Mosrite. Artie will agree with me on this one. I'm not knocking other clones as I have an Excellent that is a remarkable guitar and is one of my favorites. My friendship with Dana Moseley and her husband Jaimie has led to discussions about her father's guitars and manufacturing processes and specifications along with her involment with Fillmore. Dana is tops as she worked along side her Dad and grew up with him as his company went through it's many changes. Now she is continuing her fathers legacy with her association with Fillmore and she wants to see the Fillmore guitars as correct as they can be. I just love talking with her.

Thanks for the kind words about my collection--I feel blessed by the Gods to have come across these great instruments and while they are under my watch, while I am alive, I will assure they are babied but still played.

[rballister]

I've been trying to research the whole speed fret thing as much as possible. From my reading on the forum someone mentioned the closest fret wire that would get in the ball park of Semie's frets is actually mandolin fret wire. They would still have to be filed down. (its a bee in my bonnet because it took me 35 years to get a Mosrite and it doesn't have the speed frets! If Dana was around the corner--and I could justify blowing the bucks--I'd have her take a shot at my frets. I really wouldn't trust anyone not familiar with Mosrites to fool with it) I believe you have a Fillmore and an original--how do the frets compare?

[GattonFan]

I have 2 early 70s Firstman/Fillmores, a 65 Super Custom MK 1 (Black Cloud), a ParstRite (NOS Mosrite parts I used to build), new Fillmore MK1, Hallmark 60 C, and a '67 Mos MK I with speed frets. As pertains to playability, they are all excellent players, but none of them feel like the '67 with the speed frets - your fingers seem to "glide" on the neck - hard to describe, almost like playing fretless.
Dennis

[LOSTVENTURE]

Just to get back to the thread for a second:
How many of you purchase a guitar thinking how much you can get for it down the road?
Again, I'm looking at this from a player's point of view, not a collector.
Thanks,
Don

[Veenture]

How many of you purchase a guitar thinking how much you can get for it down the road?

It's sound, playability, quality and looks for me -I never see it as an investment, I just want to love and enjoy it

[GattonFan]

+1 on Paul's comments. I don't acquire with the idea of investing. Just want to enjoy it.
Dennis

[jtr654]

Never have bought a guitar that I didn't like how it played,looked or sounded.Luckly they just have been going up in price but not because they were ever just an investment.

[TimR]

It's an investment, dear, I can make money on it! -That's what I used to tell my wife. But now, about 200 guitars later, she doesn't buy it anymore. I quit worrying about it too. When ebay first started out, I had a good thing for a couple years, buying $500.00 guitars and watching them go for 2 sometimes 3 times that. Now everyone thinks it's worth more than it is. Back in the 60's, I probably sold a half million dollars worth of guitars for about $1000.00, so an investor I'm not.
I'd like to find another 6120 Gretsch somewhere along the line, but 'til then I'm happy with the Hallmark C60, and a couple of good acoustics.

[GTSP]

It is not what I really think about when buying a guitar either, nor would it be a deal breaker when chosing a guitar. It is nice though, to know that, if you absolutely had to, you could sell a guitar for what you paid or even more if need be. Some guitars you can't do that. Try selling an Epiphone SG for anything close to what you paid for it.

One thing it is good for, though, is if you found your "holy grail" of guitars & needed money, you could let go of one or two guitars for what you got into it & get that one. I think the Fillmores would fetch closer to the selling price than a Hallmark. I've seen modern Fillmores go for more than what a new one costs at Arties. Most likely b/c of the buyer being ignorant of the fact that they could buy one somewhere else than Ebay.

Again, not really what I think about when getting one, but I thought it would make a good thread on here....& I think I was right.