Mosrite wikipedia page

[101Volts]

It occurred to me the Mosrite Wikipedia page is rather small. The page does not have a list of models made and the history page could use some work. Anyone want to volunteer their time improving the page? I added a section to the history page explaining about the Gospel name and cleared up a few parts that may confuse people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosrite#History

[Veenture]

good job 101

[Dennisthe Menace]

Though a genius at guitar design and construction, Moseley lacked many basic skills necessary to be a good businessman, and the company fell on hard times repeatedly in the late 1960s and 1970's, but continued to produce Mosrite guitars until 1993 in North Carolina and Arkansas.

What I would like to know is, does anyone know how accurate this is? True, he lacked basic skills in being a good businessman,
but I keep failing to hear what the 'Original Problem' was to make Mosrite go down the '1st time.' I have my own theories, and
I think they are pretty 'dead on' but never hear anyone mention this.....oh well.....back to the Topic.....

[Veenture]

I would imagine too that Semie must at times have had merciless pressure on him and his working staff to produce and deliver a whole bunch of guitars/amps in an almost impossible time frame.

[dubtrub]

Dennis,

The demise of the Mosrite factory was the loss of the Mosrite Distributing Company owned by the Ventures. Once that split occurred, Semie could not find anyone to properly distribute his guitars across the country. Distribution was a major cost factor that derailed the Mosrite company into bankruptcy. You can build all the guitars you want but without being able to get them out to the public to sell them, no revenue comes in. Semie had several distributors after the Mosrite Distributing Company, but each of those distributors approached Mosrite as their secondary role as they were already deeply involved in the primary roles with their own products they manufactured. Had the right company come along that was dedicated to distribution and sales of Mosrite products, Mosrite would have never folded. Semie just did not have the business knowledge, contacts or financing to promote his own products.

[gplayer]

What exactly was the reason for the Mosrite/ Ventures split? It seems to coincide with the Nokie Edwards/ Ventures split (cir1968). Is there a connection?

[Dennisthe Menace]

What exactly was the reason for the Mosrite/ Ventures split? It seems to coincide with the
Nokie Edwards/ Ventures split (cir1968). Is there a connection?

Thanks Gplayer.....
Now, THIS is what I was waiting to hear, something along the lines of Nokie leaving the group
(although we heard he wanted to get involved in horse racing), and the Mosrite/Ventures split,
both situations all happening about the same time.


Danny posted:

The demise of the Mosrite factory was the loss of the Mosrite Distributing Company owned by the Ventures.
Once that split occurred, Semie could not find anyone to properly distribute his guitars across the country.

I'm trying to find out what was 'involved' when that split occurred. Did it have to do with a couple of members that were so
determined to have an Amp on the market, in which they rushed, and causing their own line of Credit to go into Bankruptcy?
and with that.....Mosrite followed......????

[dubtrub]

I'm trying to find out what was 'involved' when that split occurred. Did it have to do with a couple of members that were so
determined to have an Amp on the market, in which they rushed, and causing their own line of Credit to go into Bankruptcy?
and with that.....Mosrite followed......????

The way I understand it, Mosrite Distrusting Company felt that Semie was changing too much money for his guitars when Fender, being a much bigger company with a broader popularity, could be had for much less. Additionally Semie was taking on other projects such as the Dobro and wasn't producing Ventures models fast enough and in sufficient quantities to fill orders required by Mosrite distributing. Since there was already bad blood between the Ventures owned Mosrite Distributing Company, mainly a riff between Don Wilson and Semie, (reminder, Bob Bogle had already left the Ventures Mosrite enterprise a year or so earlier and was not part of the Mosrite Distributing Company and Mosrite Guitars breakup.) it was mutually agreed to dissolve the business relationship. Also remember that Semie had allowed the Mosrite Distributing Company to use the Mosrite name on that failed amp that was built by the Award amplifier company which added to hard feelings. As with any business venture there are usually multiple reasons for a dissolvement.

[dubtrub]

Well, as usual there is always two sides to every story. I was reading Loretta's website on the history of Mosrite and there the demise of the company was as follows. I'd say the real story is a combination of the two.

(8) The "Mosrite, The Ventures Award Amplifier"

Later in 1968, the Ventures had contracted a company to build an amplifier for them to market. After they approved the amplifier, they took it to Semie with the request that he let them put the Mosrite label on the amps which they sold. He agreed to let them use his name for a royalty of $5,000.00. The company who built the Mosrite labeled amplifier did not actually build one single amplifier correctly, after the prototype amplifier was built. There was a faulty part in each one of the amplifiers. However, the Ventures had already sold every one of their dealers 1 to 25 amps.
Semie was now faced with taking over management of the distribution company and satisfying the dealers who had happily and profitably been purchasing Mosrite guitars and accessories for most of the ‘60’s. Semie arranged to sell to the dealers with a 10% discount to compensate for their losses on the amplifiers. The dealers readily agreed to this arrangement. Even though they accepted this offer, they did not pay anything at all for the guitars after they had received them. They simply recovered all their losses they attained at the beginning. Previously they had been very prompt with the 30 day arrangement of payment.

(9) The fall of Mosrite

In the meantime, Semie had obtained a $300,000.00 line of credit with a factory company named Talcot. It was located on Wilshire blvd., Los Angeles. As a result of not receiving any payments from the Ventures, nor from the hundreds of dealers, Talcot also did not get their line of credit paid back. Thus, Mosrite was auctioned off on Valentine's day of 1969. It was a complete auction, including materials, inventory, equipment, office supplies, automobiles and personal items.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Well, as usual there is always two sides to every story. I was reading Loretta's website on the history of Mosrite and there the demise of the company was as follows. I'd say the real story is a combination of the two.

(8) The "Mosrite, The Ventures Award Amplifier"

Later in 1968, the Ventures had contracted a company to build an amplifier for them to market. After they approved the amplifier, they took it to Semie with the request that he let them put the Mosrite label on the amps which they sold. He agreed to let them use his name for a royalty of $5,000.00. The company who built the Mosrite labeled amplifier did not actually build one single amplifier correctly, after the prototype amplifier was built. There was a faulty part in each one of the amplifiers. However, the Ventures had already sold every one of their dealers 1 to 25 amps.
Semie was now faced with taking over management of the distribution company and satisfying the dealers who had happily and profitably been purchasing Mosrite guitars and accessories for most of the ‘60’s. Semie arranged to sell to the dealers with a 10% discount to compensate for their losses on the amplifiers. The dealers readily agreed to this arrangement. Even though they accepted this offer, they did not pay anything at all for the guitars after they had received them. They simply recovered all their losses they attained at the beginning. Previously they had been very prompt with the 30 day arrangement of payment.

(9) The fall of Mosrite

In the meantime, Semie had obtained a $300,000.00 line of credit with a factory company named Talcot. It was located on Wilshire blvd., Los Angeles. As a result of not receiving any payments from the Ventures, nor from the hundreds of dealers, Talcot also did not get their line of credit paid back. Thus, Mosrite was auctioned off on Valentine's day of 1969. It was a complete auction, including materials, inventory, equipment, office supplies, automobiles and personal items.

Danny,
That's pretty close to what 'the Man' told us when we were in J.R. back in '88....