Mosrite V3

[Dennisthe Menace]

Strat-o-rama wrote:

One interesting "one off" variation on a Mark 1 is the guitar (go to the Photo Gallery at the Mosrite.us site) Semie (wearing a psychedelic jacket and sportin' a 'fro) is playing with the reddish pu covers and the raised pickguard like on the Maphis double necks from the 50's. Anyone know anything about this guitar and any others like it? I'm guessing it's something he made for himself, but just wondering if anyone knew about.

Strat-o-rama,
I also think it's the 'angle' of the guitar that makes the pickguard look as though it's raised. However, the p'guard is also just a 2 binding style. It's not the typical Mosrite 3 layer of W/B/W or B/W/B. It looks like an 'all white' single layer (like on the '63s), but with a thin layer on top.....
Now add that to the thick binding on the body, and from that angle, you've got that illusion thing going on......

[dubtrub]

I noticed that, Dockrock. It may just be the lighting or angles, but I often see variations in the German curves on the tops. I know a lot of this is done by hand, but sometimes I think I can see some "experimentation" with top carves. You guys are the experts with hands-on experience. Have you seen this, especially between the Mosrites from the 60's compared to the 80's into the 90's?

There is a difference between the German carve on my '64 with a more rounded top as it rolls in towards the center, as compared to a flatter top and land more of an angular carve on my '66. Also the upper horn on the '64 is a little chunkier.

I think when Semie was actually a 'hands on' part of a guitars construction, there was more hand crafting as in 'craftsman' compared to a semi trained employed doing a specific job on the assembly line. In 1964 the construction was on a much smaller scale. After the fold of the P Street factory, Semie again played a major roll with the 'hands on' construction of the guitar. A lot of the time it was only a one or two man operation.

[dorkrockrecords]

The guitar Semie is playing in the photo gallery is one of what is referred to as the RD model. I believe only 5 were produced - 3 with Moseley trems and 2 with the fancy brass "lost wax" tailpieces (as can be seen on the special Mosrite that used to be a part of the Chinery collection). The guitar itself is flame maple laminated with rosewood strips in a chevron pattern, the pickup covers are figured maple with no pickup rings, and the pickguard is bound rosewood. These were made around 1981/82 (some with pickguards, some without), and most, if not all, are in Japanese collections.

Adam

[handbrake]

Here are some good photos of what a production line example should look like:
http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1984_Mosr ... NC129S.htm

And here are the photos of my prototype posted in the earlier VIII thread:
viewtopic.php?p=740#p740

What I am referring to is photo's of an authentic one with all three pickup's slanted as the one on the eBay auction. Notice how all three are slanted exactly the same. Since there are so many of these showing up on eBay as parts, I'm hoping to see a photo of at least one finished guitar as the real deal.

Like this?

[MWaldorf]

Is that your guitar Handbrake? Interesting that the volume knob and toggles are flipped from their usual position for this model.

[handbrake]

Is that your guitar Handbrake? Interesting that the volume knob and toggles are flipped from their usual position for this model.

I can't offer any explanation for the orientation of controls. This is actually a recent impulse buy that hasn't arrived yet.

[dorkrockrecords]

The screw through the trem arm is also odd for this model.

[handbrake]

Here is a beautiful custom Mosrite guitar made in NC in 1984 after Semie’s factory burned down in ’83. This is the Mosrite VIII model with the carved top and no scratch plate. The serial number is 001*19. (I don’t know why there is a * in the number.) It is signed and dated on the back of the headstock by Semie Moseley.

[dorkrockrecords]

That serial number is very odd as well. The earliest American models had AF serial numbers, black Moseley trems and a more intricate German carve. The production guitars that followed had NC serial numbers, chrome Moseley trems and a simplified German carve that does not extend onto the inner horns.

[MWaldorf]

Handbrake,
I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on the guitar when it arrives. Perhaps the unique features are explained by the "Custom Made for ..." Semie wrote on the back of the headstock?
Mel