Lost-Wax Castings

[dorkrockrecords]

I was just wondering if any of our resident Mosrite experts recalls Semie's Lost-Wax instruments of the late '70s / early '80s? These guitars take their name from the casting process that produced their hardware - most distinctively a fancy, gothic, "SM" labeled stop tailpiece. The earliest instance of this tailpiece seems to be on a guitar for Takeshi Terauchi from the New Mosrite period, but was also found on the RD series of the early '80s, the former Chinery Collection instrument, and Brian Lonbeck's doublecut doubleneck.

[Deke Dickerson]

Adam, I think I've already told you my horror story about the famous Mosrite Lost-Wax Casting guitar that wound up in the Chinery Collection--it's the first photo in your post--I'll share my story with the rest of the list:

It was about 1991, 1992, I had just moved to California, and I was BROKE....remember I had to borrow $300 to buy my first Mosrite doubleneck in Bakersfield around this same time....

Anyway, we were playing up in Ventura or Santa Barbara, I cant' remember which, and went into a music store up there. Hanging on the wall was THAT guitar. THE famous and best looking Lost-Wax casting guitar. I asked the guy if I could see it. He told me the story of how Semie had made this for a friend and all about the lost-wax casting process. The guitar was probably the most beautiful piece of workmanship I still have ever seen, but it was also THE heaviest guitar I have ever held. I'm guessing it was probably 25 or 30 pounds, and I'm not exaggerating.

Well, the price was $800. I thought about having to borrow the money, I thought about how heavy the guitar was, I thought about how it had humbucking pickups....and I just put it back on the wall. DOH!!!

That guitar was later sold to the Chinery Collection and I'm pretty sure it would be one of the most valuable Mosrites in existence today if it came up for sale again. You only get one chance sometimes, people, so don't blow it like I did! DOH!!

Deke