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The trouble with the Internet is also the great thing about it. It's absolutely full of information. Everywhere I look, everywhere you turn there's information. The trouble is there's so much misinformation out there that people without the correct knowledge or who really don't care write "facts" with little or no research into the subject matter they are writing about. The problem is that once it's written, it becomes FACT. This section is not an attempt to belittle or pass judgment on the people or organizations that wrote these "stories" or to pretend like I'm better or more knowledgeable than the people I am trying to correct. It is simply meant as a means to correct written mistakes or bring certain truths to light. The more of these "mistakes" that are published (in print or on the Internet) the harder it is to keep the truth alive. The sheer number of people exposed to the Internet means that once these stories/facts have been posted, it is almost impossible to reverse the damage. Because of the incredible lack of information on Mosrite, both written and posted it makes the damage bigger than stories written about say, Fender or Gibson, both of which have relatively well documented histories. I have spent years collecting, collating and saving Mosrite history through both the Internet (I know, part of the problem) and what little can be found in print media i.e. books and magazines etc. The other, and probably more important part of what I'm trying to do is get to speak to allot of people who knew Semie, worked with him, or both from the early days before Mosrite set up in Bakersfield to the very end in 1993. As well as talking to people like myself, of which there are very few, who try in an unMosrite guitar world to make these incredible guitars noticed. This is mainly through e-mail (see it can be good after all) So, lets start here ................ The facts, as close as I can estimate with the help of other Mosrite enthusiasts is that it's probably closer to 80% of all Ventures models are actually real i.e. sanctioned and authorized by the Ventures in a deal signed with Mosrite in 1963. The claims being made here are un researched and completely incorrect. By my research I would estimate that approx. 6200 - 6500 OFFICIAL Mosrite Ventures guitars were built by the Mosrite company under the direction (or in the case of approx. one hundred finished in late 1993/early 1994) of Semie Moseley IN the US. Mosrite made approx. 5300 official Ventures models between 1963 and 1968. This does not include the Ventures bass models (approx. 2200) , Ventures MK II and Mk V (approx. 1500) models which were officially Ventures models as well or early double neck and 12 string versions (approx. 700) , both of which had Ventures logos sanctioned by the band. In the mid 80's Mosrite again entered into a deal with the Ventures, primarily Nokie Edwards to make official Mosrite Ventures models to help an ailing Mosrite company get back on it's feet. Approx. 800 to 1000 of these guitars were manufactured between 1985 and 1994. The claim that Mosrite sent Ventures logos out to distributors is also highly unlikely (at least on an official level) as it would be VERY easy to tell if these were indeed fake Ventures models as Mosrite screen printed the logos on their headstocks and waterslide decals (or stickers) are quite obviously not going to match the Mosrite of California logo, even under lacquer. MYTH: Mosrites officially being made in Japan. Mosrite copies have been made in Japan since around late 1967 by the Firstman company who later became known as Japan Mosrite. These were Ex Teisco employees who left after Kawai bought Teisco out. Mosrite copies were also made by a company called Fillmore starting in 1976, who had dealings with Semie Moseley to import "real" Mosrites into Japan. This is the company now being called the "official" Mosrite guitar company. Some of the Mosrite copies made in Japan over the years have been excellent copies, in some cases as good as the real thing. The three companies mentioned above all make/made guitars that for all intents and purposes are as close to the real thing as you are going to get (without buying a real one of course) and they have made, and in some cases still make Mosrite copies with all the registered names like Moseley, Vibramute, Mosrite of California etc. These names and designs were all used without permission or agreement from Semie Moseley. It has been said over the years that in bad times Semie allowed Japanese companies to make "official" Mosrites for him. After a lot of interviews and research, I believe this to be simply untrue. Mosrites were and should be made under the direction of Semie Moseley. He is now gone and I believe this means we will never have real Mosrites again, ever. Fillmore, who make great Mosrite copies actually owns the registered Mosrite names, after the registrations lapsed in 2002 and were purchased by them. They took Dark Cloud (Black Cloud) to court from April to Dec 2002 and won the rights to use the Mosrite name exclusively. Since the design had been used for years without permission Fillmore are now considered to be the "official" Mosrite company. These are the Mosrites Ed Roman sells in the US. There are currently NO Mosrites made in the USA despite claims to the contrary. I'm not taking anything away from these Japanese companies as their
quality and workmanship is great, and their motives I believe were
..... mostly honorable. If you believe it's all in a name, then
maybe they are real Mosrites. I however believe that Built in Soul
was integral to Semie Moseley and the people he surrounded himself
with to craft his fine instruments. If anyone has questions/comments/answers they would like to submit about Mosrites I'd be interested in talking with you. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Just e-mail me. page 1 - page 2 |
