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These are some photos from the good old FB. The first one is Gene Moles ((I'm guessing) next is a custom of some sort. Any thoughts/clarifications?

Hey there--

My first posting on the Mosrite Forum in a long time! I've been out on the road, but I'm back.

I think both these photos came from Eugene Moles' Facebook page, right? I know Eugene told me that little guitar was one that Semie made him, sort of a kiddie/beginner guitar. Eugene is a heck of a player, he is a chip off the old block of his dad.

The only clarification I would offer on the "Mosrite Prototype 0002" thing is that from the people I've interviewed, the guitars I've seen, and the photographic evidence (and we've been down this road on the forum before), the body shape that became the Ventures model was introduced as the "Joe Maphis Model" around 1961 or 1962, and they made probably 20 or 30 of them (I've seen three in person and at least four more in photos). Then in very late '63 they started making the exact same guitar, but with "The Ventures Model" on the headstock.

So, the guitar that Gene Moles is shown playing in the halloween photo is not really a "prototype," it was just a "Joe Maphis Model" that Gene Moles had customized to his own specifications. The difference is, of course, is that the guitar Gene is holding is the one that Nokie Edwards tried out on a trip to Bakersfield, which ultimately led to the Ventures financing Mosrite and the Joe Maphis Model becoming the Ventures model. Quite a historic guitar! It can be viewed as a "prototype" but it was also a production model guitar, albeit a very low-production instrument.

Also in the bizarre harlequin clown photo: Merle Haggard on bass and Fuzzy Owen on steel guitar. Not sure who the other two guys are.

Deke

Thanks. Those pictures are fantastic!

Welcome back Deke! That's some kewl info about the #002 J.M. in which there are probably
some new members on board that were not aware of Nokie receiving #003 ....

And that's one wild 'student' guitar.....with a Vibramute , it doesn't get any better than that!

BTW Brutus, I kind of wander if Hartley Peavey had a copy of the 2nd PIC with the student guitar ......

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/g ... 00x349.jpg

It's great to see you back Deke!

Cool old pictures. Thanks.
Jim

Welcome back Deke! That's some kewl info about the #002 J.M. in which there are probably
some new members on board that were not aware of Nokie receiving #003 ....

And Don Rich had #001.

Jim

sleeperNY wrote:

Welcome back Deke! That's some kewl info about the #002 J.M. in which there are probably
some new members on board that were not aware of Nokie receiving #003 ....

And Don Rich had #001.

Jim

Shall we ever get to see a picture of Don and his Mosrite? OK, who has it? ...high time to show it to us

No telling where 001 is at. Don Rich has been gone sense 1974. I did see him playing what looked like a Mosrite with the 6 tuners all on top on HeeHaw. That would be from the first year when Buck Owens also played his Red White and Blue Mosrite flat top.

Jim

sleeperNY wrote:No telling where 001 is at. Don Rich has been gone sense 1974. I did see him playing what looked like a Mosrite with the 6 tuners all on top on HeeHaw. That would be from the first year when Buck Owens also played his Red White and Blue Mosrite flat top.

Jim

Yeah Jim, it must be hidin' somewheres on youtube, mebby somebody will get lucky findin' it.
A snapshot also could probably be hiding in an old Rich family (Moseley family?!) photoalbum, I guess.