Mosrites from Booneville, Arkansas

[bfmitchell]

Can anyone give me the history on Mosrites produced in Booneville, AR? Models, production numbers, serial #s, dates, etc. Thanks.

[stl80]

I'm interested too.
Jim

[bfmitchell]

89 views as of 8:38 pm CST 1/19/11 and NO ONE has any info??????? Where are the Mosrite history scholars?

[Dennisthe Menace]

Wish I could help, unfortunately I pretty much lost contact with Loretta and 'Uncle' after they moved from Jonas Ridge, N.C.
The only info I have from Booneville is a DVD I received from MiamiMike recorded after Semie's passing........

[LoveyX]

Hi Bruce,
I was not there when the Mosrite factory was in Booneville Arkansas, but I have read an interview with Semie from the early 90s that was written during that phase. There were discussions about opening the factory, how the instruments would be built, who the customers were (mostly Japanese if I remember correctly), and what the direction for the company would be for that particular time. As I recall, money in the way of loans was a major issue. By this time Semie was in more of a management capacity than a hands on luthier, but there was a good indication he was still very involved in the guitar making business. One thing I remember fairly clearly was concerning Semies goals in which he said he just wanted to build his guitars & play Gospel music. If anyone can remember where this interview is on the web (newspaper article- scanned in) please post the link, I'd like to read it again.

Since there appears to be less info of this era of the Mosrite saga than that concerning other people places and times, it is particularly interesting when any from it becomes available, as it represents the culmination of his career. So when a guitar that looked to be one of the Booneville instruments showed up on Craigslist I decided to ask the seller if he would be willing to share any info on it.

Here's what he was kind enough to email back about his ink blue '65 Ventures model RI: Guitar # V93082 – 65’Ventures model – Certificate signed by Jerry Standridge on July 15, 1993 – Made by United Sound Association – Booneville, AR – Owned by Semie’s wife, Loretta Mosley – This was the 82nd guitar made in 1993 per Tym Guitars in Australia.

If any of you have any info, preferably firsthand about the Booneville era of mosrite, please do post. Thanks in advance.

[Veenture]

"The Pictures in the slideshow were taken at The Mosrite Factory in Booneville, Arkansas in 1993"

There's some mention too in the Ventures Book: (story commences on page 308)

http://books.google.nl/books?id=8KsyZ0W ... &q&f=false

[Dennisthe Menace]

Thanks for posting that Paul . The Drummer is none other than our very own miamimike.

[JimPage]

Boy howdy; can that Nokie play or WHAT?!?!?!?

--Jim

[bfmitchell]

Great leads! I am going to follow up on the Booneville history. Will report to ya'll later.

[Haole Jim]

Yeah. Amazing.

Thank you for sharing and Nokie and Miami Mike for the music.