The "Real Thing"

[Deke Dickerson]

I think that the best way to look at it is that the MIJ Mosrites and Dana's new Mosrites are legitimate "Mosrite" guitars, after all, in a court of law...they own the name! The Fender comparison is appropriate, because modern manufacturing techniques have brought into question what exactly is a "legitimate" guitar anymore. The fact of the matter is that the Japanese (and Dana) make really nice guitars that are every bit as comparable as the original Mosrites.

On the other hand, I like that Japanese guy's broken English on his website (detailed somewhere here on the Forum), it was something like this: "1992--Semie Moseley die. No more "built in soul." That statement is true as well.

If there was ever a guy that put his whole soul into what his guitars were supposed to represent, it was Semie Moseley.

Deke

[JimPage]

Deke wrote:
>>"1992--Semie Moseley die. No more "built in soul."

Yes! Maybe you have put your finger on the crucial aspect of this discussion, Deke. That is a very important point to consider.

And here is another thing: I, for one, have a tremendous amount of respect for what some current builders-- Bob, and Ed, and Danny, for example-- are putting into their Mosrite-based guitars. That is THEIR soul embedded in those guitars and it is very cool.

Last week, I sent an email with photos to some colleagues at the college/medical association where I work showing what Danny had made, and our Marketing Director sent it to her dad (a former semi-pro guitar player) down in Alabama, and he sent it to his best musical buddy from high school-- back in the 1940s-- and she has told me that there is this whole discussion going on now about that double-necked guitar Danny built and how cool it is. It is the soul they are responding to as much as the craftsmanship.

--Jim

[GTSP]

"1992--Semie Moseley die. No more "built in soul." Deke

I'll buy that.

[jtr654]

Thanks Deke I think your responce has hit the point, that all other were trying to make.

[raygun85]

I've gone through a love/hate relationship with Mosrite over the years. I was a young kid the first time I saw a picture of one on a Ventures album cover and I asked my dad what it was. It was then that I began learning the Mosrite story and the affiliation with The Ventures. At first I was disappointed to find out The Ventures played this strange-looking guitar that was no longer available. As I got older I started doing research and wanted one really bad. After I found out that The Ventures hadn't endorsed them since the late 60s (and that they never really liked them all that much anyway) I became less interested, but I still loved the look and the sound on the albums I heard from the 60s.
Then I got to hear some first-hand accounts from relatives who worked at Mosrite in the 60s, about some of Semie's infamous business practices. Then as I got to know several members of The Ventures and their relatives I learned that they had not exactly been on good terms with Semie or the Mosrite name since the 60s. (Except maybe for Nokie Edwards.)

First and foremost, I'm a Ventures fan. So I'll always be a little biased to their side of things. But I know there are two sides to every story. Nowadays...I don't care who did what or who owns what trademark. I think Semie Moseley was a very smart and innovative guitar inventor who loved his guitars and his company so much that perhaps he let the business end of things get out of hand. I think he was well-meaning though things never seemed to turn out exactly as he planned. In the 60s I think Mosrite may have bit off more than they could chew, resulting in bad blood with The Ventures. As far as I'm concerned Fillmore's Mosrite is the legal reproduction of what Semie tried to do. I understand that Don Wilson has some issues with them as well. My true enthusiasm for Mosrite guitars probably rests with the years that The Ventures were officially endorsing them and everybody was still getting along. Besides The Ventures years, I feel the true essence of Mosrite died with Semie years ago. (I feel the same way about Fender. And though it would not hinder me from purchasing a Fender if the right guitar came along, I don't presently own any Fenders. I feel no loyalty to their brand either.)

I don't care who makes Mosrite anymore. My never-ending quest for the Holy Grail lies with reproducing the look and sound. I think Fillmore makes a very nice reproduction of the real thing...I'll probably never own one because to me its just not the real thing though. (Thats just me! If you want one, get one! I don't knock anybody for playing one anymore than for playing Fenders!)
I've had a few other clones and I've gotten rid of most of them. The P90 pickups never cut it or the Bigsby vibratos. I like The Ventures' new guitars because I'm a Ventures fan, but I still don't like the P90 pickups or the Jazzmaster vibratos. I also do not like the body style as the reverse-Strat double cutaway look was what I loved about Mosrite from the beginning. For now...I'd be more inclined to buy one of Ed Elliot's guitars, or a Hallmark. I think those guitars are being built with lots of passion and soul....
(And in the guitars that I'm helping my dad build, I hope not to take anything away from Ed or Bob Shade.)

I currently own a '65 Celebrity, Tele-style guitar with lots of mods, custom Strat my dad built for me, 2 Wilson Bros VM-110's, 2 Wilson Bros VM-65's, and a Wilson Bros VMB-75 bass.
I have owned and played '65 Ventures Model, Dillion DMG-75, Eastwood Sidejack, Fender Jazzmaster, Fender Telecaster.
And I have played a couple of Fillmore's Mosrites at the NAMM show.

[dubtrub]

I'd be more inclined to buy one of Ed Elliot's guitars, or a Hallmark. I think those guitars are being built with lots of passion and soul....
(And in the guitars that I'm helping my dad build, I hope not to take anything away from Ed or Bob Shade.)

I don't want to steal anyone's thunder, someone please correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that Bob Shade only works on guitars and does not build them from scratch. His custom hand built guitars are farmed out to actual guitar builders. Huge difference! The majority of the Hallmark guitars are made in Korea.

[brutus]

Sure it's nice to see "Mosrite" on the headstock, but have a little respect for the man originally responsible.

Are you saying Dana Mosley and Artie from Front Porch Music in Bakersfield Ca have no respect for Semie? I mean it's only his daughter and one of the top experts and collectors in world and a former employee as was Dana. Not mention the Japanese, the one country in the world were Semie gets the respect he deservers. The ultimate form of respect is recreating Semies design to "his" specs.

[GattonFan]

Yes - the Hallmarks are built in Korea, thus, "Built in Seoul" - Can't beat that for authenticity!

Dennis

[raygun85]

I thought they were made in the US?

[GTSP]

I thought they were made in the US?

I heard some of the custom ones were made here in the US, but the standard ones like the '60 Custom & the Swept wing are built in Korea.

The weird part is...they are built in North Korea. Turns out Kim Jong Il is a huge Ventures fan.