Cadillac Of Guitars?

[JimPage]

Hey--

On page 135 of "Walk- Don't Run: The Story of the Ventures," in one of many references to Mosrite guitars and their history, there is this sentence, which refers to the late-1965 era:

"As the choice of the Ventures, the instruments were considered by scores of players to be the the 'Cadillac of guitars!' "

I find that an interesting comment, and I seem to remember someone using that description back in those days, when Mosrites cost more than Gibsons and Fenders.

--Jim

[LOSTVENTURE]

Actually, the Fender Jaguar cost more that the Mosrite. The Strat and the Gibson SG Custom were also within a few bucks of $400. I remember the Cadillac quote and always thopught that it refered to the style rather tahn the price.
Don

[Sarah93003]

I don't know the time frame, but I would guess that a Gretsch White Falcon might have cost more back in the day. I would be an interesting comparison, though.

[Deke Dickerson]

It was fairly common to refer to top-of-the-line guitars of any brand as the "Cadillac of Guitars." I remember that's what all the old country guys called any super fancy guitar, like a Gretsch White Falcon or Gibson Super 400. It makes sense that in Semie's world of hillbilly and gospel musicians that he would of course refer to his own guitars as the "Cadillac of Guitars."

Deke

[Dennisthe Menace]

It was fairly common to refer to top-of-the-line guitars of any brand as the "Cadillac of Guitars." I remember that's what all the old country guys called any super fancy guitar, like a Gretsch White Falcon or Gibson Super 400. It makes sense that in Semie's world of hillbilly and gospel musicians that he would of course refer to his own guitars as the "Cadillac of Guitars."
Deke

And on the cover of Mosrite's (1966?) Catalog is a pic of 'the Ventures Model' with a
Rolls Royce in the background...just a few steps up from the Caddy...go figure .

[Haole Jim]

'Especially remember a Trini Lopez Standard (read; ES-335 with diamond soundholes and non-reverse Firebird headstock) in '68 was catalogue-priced $435 retail plus a few bucks for the blue finish and another 65 or so for the hardshell case.

'Remember passing up a perfect lightly-used Ventures model in sunburst in the case for $300 in early '68. Which was probably like $4000 today.

If the Mo was a Caddy, back then, it had parallels with the ES-355 and White Falcon, which were double the street price for a
Mk I.

[JimPage]

Haole Jim wrote:
>>Especially remember a Trini Lopez Standard (read; ES-335 with
>>diamond soundholes and non-reverse Firebird headstock) . . .

Wasn't the Trini Lopez the one with the pointy horns?

There were some of those L5- and 335-based Gibsons that were absolutely stunning. The Johnny Smith Gibson was just beautiful.

There was one, and I can't recall who it was named for, that was usually seen in a wine-color and had an oval soundhole. Howard Roberts? I can't remember but I know that I brought one home one time and when my wife found out the asking price, I had to take it back to Chuck Levins.

I tried to trade a guy a mint '69 Bug for one a little later on and he wouldn't do it.

--Jim

[Mr. Bill]

I don't remember the Trini Lopez having pointy cutaways.

The oval holed cutaway archtop was the later Howard Roberts guitar. It also had a midrange tone control.

[dorkrockrecords]

There were two Trini Lopez models - one based on the ES-335 and one based on the Barney Kessel model (the Barney Kessel has the sharp or "pointy" cutaways).

[connie_mack]

i just remembered that miller was called the "champagne of beers".


somehow i don't think miller ever lived up to that. i always thought they were more like the "beer of beers"......