mosriteforum.com

Ha! Got your attention! But no worries, this concerns I'd say about .0001% pecent of membership here because it is Mosrite BASS-related..

You do know what the Mosrite BASS is, right? It's that 4-stringer (thank gawd Semie never had to deal with 5'ers, fretless, let alone ERB's...Mosrite ERB's... NO, it isn't right.
I'm an old-school fretted-four player and I can do PLENTY with that...)

But I digress, for those still here, the rest I assume are off playing those wimply little, what 10-12 gauge strings? Hahahahaha! Oh, you're killing me....

THE SWEET SPOT-

If anyone is still here- Why did Semie put the single pup ('65 Mosrite Bass; I have a Ranger which trust me, impresses me more each time I play it)
in that spot?

Looks? Super-Cool, the angle & such, set up against the neck, but more-
As a bassist who plays the right way- with fingers & thumb- That's another thing---you guitarists. with your-picks! Whoa, it's killing me...

Note- for those Bassists who prefer a pick- sure, OK. I understand.

The positioning with the right hand is an important element of playing the bass and getting an appropriate tone and attack-
Putting the single pup where it is on the Mosrite single-pup bass is really nice- It allows you to play near the bridge or in the center- though it doesn't allow for playing over the pup, which alters tone and can add presence, not an issue

It is a great design element of this bass- The Fillmore Ranger; a great clone of the Ventures Model Bass guitar.

So interestingly to me at least is that element of Semie Moseley's Bass guitar- I don't know offhand of any other basses that have this placement- I recall some with an angle to the pick-up(s), but no others with the angle AND placement.

Just another Kudos to the Mosrite design, as if more were needed.

Good for you for holding up the Mosrite Bass torch here Elnjay!
BTW, being a 6 string player myself I do enjoy a bass so much that I have a Fender P Bass that I can play on now and then. My technique? ...very old fashioned I think. Depending on the tune I'll use either my thumb or a plectrum...can't do that fancy stuff with the fingers or doing that slap stuff, but then the tunes I play are not complicated either

Well, obviously I love the bass as well as the six string, since I have my custom built clone (see below, click on photo), a 72 Mosrite bass and a Squier Jazz bass. Although I don't play the bass as often, but when I do I finger pick and rarely if ever use a plectrum. I still keep the Mosrite handy sitting in the stand for when someone stops by. Always ready to jam at a moments notice.

WOw- that is a beautiful double pick-up Bass!

Well, the ratio of guitarists/bassists is sumthin' like 500/1 here at the forum, and the Ventures Model bass needs to be revered just like the guitars do!

BTW- please take my "comments" re: guitarists as what they are -Joke! Widdout you guys, well, it would be one long bass solo!
Who wants that??

I own- are you sitting down??

21 Bass Guitars, 3 more forthcoming; some of the best of the best.

Like all here, I have "digging Mosrites" ingrained, because I was an adolescent when the Ventures rocked the World! with their Mosrites, and the image of those German Carved, "M" headstocks with the "disco" 'Ventures Model'-that was the ****!

Reading here lead me to acquire a Fillmore Ranger Bass, and I must admit, I have seen a MINT Joe Maphis Bass that is killin' me-

The angled pup and it's placement is just one facet of the Ranger/Venture Model that blows me away!

When these basses first appeared, there were Fenders and Gibsons, that's about it. There were few, if any, custom high-ends, as there is a plethora of today!

But assuming the Ranger is an accurate rep of the Ventures Model Bass-

Stunning! Semie Mosely really came out with a unique design and sound.

Once in a great while, a dedicated bass Forum discusses Mosrite, usually to the tune of "Whoa! What was THAT I saw/heard?"

Most of the younger (read: under 50!) bassists aren't even aware of the brand, the legacy, let alone the tones!

As a Bassist, I'm tellin' ya- Those Ventures Models (and the current Fillmores) are something!

Very hard to obtain; and the vintage ones, $$.

Worth it.

I, too, am primarily a guitar player who dabbles in electric bass. I've always had basses around because I do a lot of 4-track home recording and, because of that, I've wound up playing bass in a lot of projects. Good, dedicated bassists are in short supply!

I've primarily owned/played Fender basses (P, J and Mustang), but have always wanted to get a Mosrite (Ventures-style) bass because I love their sound, look and the feel of that thin, fast neck. I can't justify shelling out the $$ for an original model, but I'd be curious to know how much you paid for your Fillmore Ranger bass, Elnjay. That might be a more reasonable option for me considering that bass isn't my primarily instrument. Did you get it from Artie at Front Porch Music?

FWIW, I have an awesome '69 P-Bass with a neck to die for, and a "frankenbass" Mustang with a '70's P-Bass pup that has some tone.
But enough about me!

This Forum got the juices flowing for a Mosrite Bass- the kewl factor is off the hook, and I had no idea how awesome they play & sound.

The Vintage Mosrite Venture Models that I saw were not to my liking as I'm a "NOS" type of guy-
The Fillmores intrigued me, and I found my way to Mr. Ed Roman, who had the bass(es) in stock-
Mine is SB; it was brought over for NAMM-
Artie had a better price, but no stock at the time, it would have taken about 2-3 months, reasonable, except that I couldn't wait.
My dealings with Ed Roman were fine, gave me a price; haggled; he whined, sent the bass out shipping included. It is awesome as I've said.

I don't know about quoting $$, but PM me and I'll tell you what I paid, and what Front Porch was quoting, or simply talk to Artie.

He being on the Board here; that's how I'd go- If I could have waited!

The Fillmore is not inexpensive, but it is unique, beautiful, and does real justice to Semie's
concept of a bass guitar.
I'm a proud owner for sure!

http://fillmorerangerbass.shutterfly.com/

IF this works; here are some relatively poor quality pictures of my Fillmore Ranger (ser.# RGB 003), the cool 'Mosrite of California' Gigbag (really nice!) and the awesome G&G "arrigator" case sold by a Forum member here!

SWeeeeet!

Lee Dorman looks like he found the sweet spot!

Iron Butterfly, huh? Who knew?

There was a broadcast featuring REM the other day- I'm pretty sure the guitarist was playing a green Mosrite...

I'm more of a jazz/R&B/Blues roots player myself and I enjoy playing the Rnager/Ventures bass for that type of music. It can nail it with a good, strong single (or double) pup solid bass tone.