The "Real Thing"

[Desert Surfer]

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.

Yeah, Nokie has been in and out of Ventures a few times in the last 50 years.

He always uses his HitchHiker in natural at Ventures concerts ( even at the 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert)

The Fillmore guitar you referred is the "Nokie Fillmore 2000" which has been discontinued shortly after its launch. I believe only a few were made. Nokie does not have any Mosrites in his collection.

Currently, I think both Gerry and Nokie are still the "guest player" of the Ventures. Gerry usually plays the Summer Japan tour while Nokie plays the winter tour.

[thunderhead]

I've said it before and will say it again, Nokie will always be linked to a Pearl White Mosrite Ventures Guitar. He's played several Brands and styles of Guitars since his Mosrite Days but that is what most people will always identify him with. It's the reason I bought a Hallmark 60 Custom in Pearl White, along with a lot of other players also. I already owned three Mosrite Ventures in Burst but I couldn't resist that link to Nokie and the 1965 Live Ventures!!!!!

[raygun85]

Yeah, I've been considering pearl white for next guitar too. My last three guitars were all sunburst, which will always be my favorite. But I think its time for change...

[Elnjay]

The history and discussion aside, simply from a Bass Guitar (!) Player's perspective:

I just returned from a Family visit to the MidWest from SoCal, and found myself in Chicago, where I visited a Dealer there who had at least (3) Mosrite Ventures Basses in stock- the real thing of course, as well as a Joe Maphis, which heretofore, I had not known was chambered!

I played a couple of the Mosrites at the dealer's- very cool, private room, good amps, no hustle whatsoever.

Very cool.

...And my prized Fillmore Ranger Mark I Bass Guitar, here at home, is:
looks-wise, playability-wise, build-wise, and otherwise-
AS IF-
It were a NOS untouched MOSRITE Ventures Bass Guitar that time-traveled from the '60's to the present!

Fillmore does an amazing and wonderful job of paying tribute to the great Semie Mosely's Bass Guitar design through their Ranger.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!

[Desert Surfer]

The history and discussion aside, simply from a Bass Guitar (!) Player's perspective:

I just returned from a Family visit to the MidWest from SoCal, and found myself in Chicago, where I visited a Dealer there who had at least (3) Mosrite Ventures Basses in stock- the real thing of course, as well as a Joe Maphis, which heretofore, I had not known was chambered!

I played a couple of the Mosrites at the dealer's- very cool, private room, good amps, no hustle whatsoever.

Very cool.

...And my prized Fillmore Ranger Mark I Bass Guitar, here at home, is:
looks-wise, playability-wise, build-wise, and otherwise-
AS IF-
It were a NOS untouched MOSRITE Ventures Bass Guitar that time-traveled from the '60's to the present!

Fillmore does an amazing and wonderful job of paying tribute to the great Semie Mosely's Bass Guitar design through their Ranger.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!

Nice story. You probably visited the store: "Chicago Music Exchange"? Very nice store, but pricey. They always have a few vintage Mosrites in stock. Did they sell that double neck Mosrite yet? It has been there for a while....

They do have nice sound room and nice amps for you to test...

[Elnjay]

Yep, CME was the place!
Great store, amazing inventory, and absolutely no sales hustle at all!

I previously had seen there online, subsequently purchased and had shipped cross-country a NOS Ampeg B15R- like you mention, at a premium price, but same as with the Mosrites, if they are what you seek, the store has the goods.

Very cool to play the Joe Maphis Bass model too, that's certainly not an instrument that you can find at the local GC!
Didn't notice the double-neck- My eyes and hands were glued to the Bass department!

[Veenture]

...And my prized Fillmore Ranger Mark I Bass Guitar, here at home, is:
looks-wise, playability-wise, build-wise, and otherwise-
AS IF-
It were a NOS untouched MOSRITE Ventures Bass Guitar that time-traveled from the '60's to the present!

Now there's one helluva compliment for Fillmore . Always nice to hear someone is happy with their instrument of choice. Keep on enjoying it Elnjay

[Chemo]

Fillmore does an amazing and wonderful job of paying tribute to the great Semie Mosely's Bass Guitar design through their Ranger.

I'll add the Ranger guitar to that!

I wrote an article about Mosrites in a finnish punk zine that came out last week. I wrote that a Fillmore is legally a Mosrite, but it's really a matter of opinion what is real; I happened to use the Fender comparison too.

[Elnjay]

...And my prized Fillmore Ranger Mark I Bass Guitar, here at home, is:
looks-wise, playability-wise, build-wise, and otherwise-
AS IF-
It were a NOS untouched MOSRITE Ventures Bass Guitar that time-traveled from the '60's to the present!

Now there's one helluva compliment for Fillmore . Always nice to hear someone is happy with their instrument of choice. Keep on enjoying it Elnjay

WILL DO!

[Dennisthe Menace]

Thunderhead posted:

I've said it before and will say it again, Nokie will always be linked to a Pearl White Mosrite Ventures Guitar.

Weeeelllllll....I'm gonna stick my neck out saying that the P.W. is a very tight close 2nd.....To me, I can not get out of my head
Nokie's '63 S-Burst on the front cover of WDR '64 Vol II, accompanied by Don Wilson's '63 C.A.R. and Bob Bogle's Blue '63 Bass.....