The "Real Thing"

[JimPage]

Hey--

I am usually the first to despise a cheap copy of a nice object. There are fake Rolexes out there and lookalikes, but I wear a real one. There are fake MontBlancs and lookalikes out there, too, but I use a real one.

As my favorite poet (the guy who did the Burma Shave signs) once wrote:
Cheap imitations would
Irk a saint.
You hope they are
What you know
They ain't.

But in the case of Hallmark guitars, they are wonderfully made instruments that happen to look like a Mosrite. Nothing to despise about 'em, in my opinion. I haven't played some of the other Mosrite-based instruments, so can't comment on them.

I do love the few vintage Mosrites I have played and wished I had kept the Mosrite bass I once had. I will keep searching for a vintage Mosrite I can afford because I love the neck and speed frets.

But the Hallmarks, wherever made, are nice guitars. I don't consider them a slavish copy, though, because Bob deliberately has modified the design to suit the modern guitar player. He kept what was good and changed what some considered bad.

I can dig it. I sure wouldn't consider the handmades I have seen on this forum cheap copies, either. Works of art, yes. Anyone would be lucky and proud to own one.

--Jim

[Veenture]

...(the guy who did the Burma Shave signs) once wrote:
Cheap imitations would
Irk a saint.
You hope they are
What you know
They ain't.

But in the case of Hallmark guitars, they are wonderfully made instruments that happen to look like a Mosrite. Nothing to despise about 'em, in my opinion.

Yep, but then Hallmark is not a "cheap imitation" of the "real" thing.....it's just inexpensive!

[MOSDAN]

A question for thought? All opinions welcome!!!! If Semie Moseley were alive today would he have his product or some of his product made in the orient just as the "American" car manufacturers, Fender Guitars, and most other "American" manufacturers are doing at this time?

My opinion is: Yes, he would and he would probably choose Fillmore as he did when he was alive.

[Dennisthe Menace]

A question for thought? All opinions welcome!!!! If Semie Moseley were alive today would he have his product or some of his product made in the orient just as the "American" car manufacturers, Fender Guitars, and most other "American" manufacturers are doing at this time?

My opinion is: Yes, he would and he would probably choose Fillmore as he did when he was alive.

Semie did....they were called "Firstman".....

[MOSDAN]

Dennis the Menace, how correct you are!!! Just couldn't remember the name of who he went with.

[Desert Surfer]

A question for thought? All opinions welcome!!!! If Semie Moseley were alive today would he have his product or some of his product made in the orient just as the "American" car manufacturers, Fender Guitars, and most other "American" manufacturers are doing at this time?

My opinion is: Yes, he would and he would probably choose Fillmore as he did when he was alive.

Semie did....they were called "Firstman".....

I am not aware of that Semie Moseley had ever authorized any Japanese companies to produce his Mosrites in Japan. The fact that Semie did not stop people coping his trade name did not mean he agree to it.

He was pretty "loose" or "sloppy" in that respect. Just like the way he put "Ventures" logo on the headstock after The Ventures stop endorsing Mosrites, even in the 80's. He felt that working with Nokie Edwards gave him the right. But we all know, Nokie does not own the "Ventures" name. Don Wilson and Bob Bogle do. (RIP, Bob)

I might be wrong. Any comments or correction are appreciated.

If Semie Moseley were alive today, I think he would still hand made his guitars in his little shop... That's in my dream.

[dorkrockrecords]

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1995

[Desert Surfer]

http://www.mosriteforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1995

Thanks Adam for the info. I did not know this was discussed before. Learn a few things everyday.

The comments on the eBay are extremely interesting...

[Desert Surfer]

It looks like Firstman had the legal licensing agreement on one particular model only. Don't know when the agreement expired. But I think Firstman produced all other models without agreement in later years.

Add one more point here: I have no problems with MIJ Mosrites. Fillmore (I have 1), Kurokumo (I have 2), Firstman (0), SwingScience (0), are all choices to me as a consumer / player. But those would never replace my 4 vintage Mosrites by Semie.

[raygun85]

I would like to point at that Nokie also left The Ventures in 1984 and only performed with them on rare occasions up until about 1998 when he was featured more and more as a "guest lead guitarist." And he seems to be considered a permanent member once again present day. However, while he was working with Semie Moseley again he was no longer a member of The Ventures at all. And I've heard over the years that the Mosrite name is a dirty word in the Wilson camp due to some financial disputes that led to the breakup with The Ventures.
I've never seen or heard any evidence that Nokie performed with The Ventures while he was playing Mosrites again. I do know that he performed with them regularly with those two guitars that he had custom made by Fillmore in the early 2000s, but there was no Mosrite branding on either one of those guitars either, and he was still being referred to as a "guest" at that time. As far as everyone else was concerned Gerry McGee was still The Ventures' lead guitarist during the time that Nokie was affiliated with Mosrite and/or Fillmore.