my introduction.....

[LoveyX]

rog43win,
Just getting back to your thread now. Yes, I played in several bands in the Southern Tier, folk, rock, dance and new wave thru out the 70s & 80s, then got into church music in the 90s and have served as a Worship leader in some of the local church. Got interested in Mosrite recently finding out Semie was a Christian from reading on the web. But this is your intro, how was your experience playing Gospel (I love it!) any Mosrites catching your eye today?

[rog43win]

Lovey, which church did you lead worship at? I played guitar with The Believers, mostly made up of members of Union Center Christian Church....I think I started with them in 1973, and we performed in church concerts throughout the northeast, and even went to Ohio ...we recorded a record in 1978, and released vinyls and even some 8-track tapes.....we disbanded in around 1982 or so......it was a great experience, but it was for a season. I was growing more in the praise and worship area, and the rest of the band was content to stay as a "testimony" and song group. It got stale for me, as the testimonies seemed to be the same at each concert, and I was hungry for a more spontaneous experience. I wound up leading worship at Pierce Creek Gospel Chapel in Binghamton for a while.......when we left there, we were busy with home groups, and I always was involved in the worship time....
In the 1990's, I began writing gospel music, and some of my songs reached England and South Africa.........I never had them published or recorded.......
Through some bad experiences, we drifted out of the organized church scene, and in the past several years, I've gotten interested again in The Ventures, and playing along with their records, like I did as a young guy in the 60's......hope that wasn't too much information, but gives you an idea of my background...........would love to hear more about your background, too.....I have a brother who lives in Henrietta, NY.......by the way.....I think I remember you saying you live there now...................Roger

[sleeperNY]

Roger. for the life of me I can't remember the name of the rock band I was in. It only lasted about a year. There was no work to be had in the Owego area at that time. A band called the Braggers had all the playing jobs at the time. The band I am in now also does some Gospel music. We have played at several church's in and around the Cortland Arie.
I don't believe I know any of the names you mentioned, but you have me beat by 7 years.

Jim

[rog43win]

Hi Jim........some of the bands that were popular in the triple cities area when I played rock with The Knightcaps were Pierre and the Citations, Charlie Starr, Crystal Ship, the Cousins, just to name a few....
We played alot at the Tradewinds in Endicott.........and after that, myself, and 2 other guys had a regular Friday night gig at Arturo's, on rte 17c going towards Owego.......
We played at the B&W Hideaway in Union Center........
Another group I was in was the Intruders.......probably none of these sound familiar to you, but like you said, you were younger than me............still are....lol......
My rock bands were from about 1963 til 1973......then gospel til about 1982........then no bands...just led worship in church, etc......and played for my own entertainment...like I do now...........my son is an excellent metal lead player though......he can play along with Metallica and AC/DC and others.........he keeps right up with the lead.....he's fantastic, I must say! ..........now he lives in Wilmington, NC....

[LoveyX]

rog43win wrote:
Lovey, which church did you lead worship at?

Roger, very kind of you to ask. I got involved in church music in the mid 90s at Calvary Chapel of Greece NY, & played on the worship team there. Was the Worship Leader at New Hope Christian Fellowship, assistant WL at Anchor Christian Church, Chili Center NY, led at Crosswalk Church of Christ in Webster, and most recently at Calvary Chapel of Rochester filling in occasionally for the other worship leaders. Sorry if it is TMI but I have been around the block once or twice with Church Music. Nowadays I may run through some songs at home as often as I can, haven't gotten out as much lately due to some recent family health issues, but Lord willing may be doing more in the future. Might even get GASsed up enough to buy a Mosrite guitar! LOL!
Anyway, God bless you and thanks again for asking.
PS I remember most of the bands you mentioned earlier, but a little ahead of my time- I'm 52.
So the bands I played in all had funny names (LOL) but the local bands I liked as a kid include DIO, Beggars Opera, Brotherhood, and Ralph.

[rog43win]

Lovey, thanks for your info.....yes, you have been around the church block, haven't you, lol?
When I met my wife, I was introduced into the more intimate worship of God, (rather than just singing hymns) when I started going to her church....I went to a Kent Henry seminar....at the time we began to get the Maranatha Worship Tapes.....Kent was one of our favorite worship leaders.....
I've either led worship, or been on the worship team all the while we were involved with churches.......we both still miss worship, but don't miss the dead religion part of the services.
It's a shame that you just can't seem to have the corporate worship without the rest......
Anyway, I have always loved the Ventures right from "Walk-Don't Run" in 1960, til now....
I used to buy their albums and learn first the rhythm , then the lead parts.....I stopped buying them after I had 31 of them....my bands were Venture copy bands, with the same instrumentation.......I had a Fender Jaguar then, but then got a Mosrite Ventures model....I have since traded them both in (very poor move on my part) and would love to get another Mosrite , but with all the trouble they have had over recent yrs, it seems impossible to find a real one made in the USA, and if you can who can afford it? So I've been looking at the Hallmarks, and they look just great! And the custom '60 is only $999.........affordable!
I'm still investigating all my options, but will probably go that way.....take care, Roger

[sleeperNY]

Roger, I have a 60 Custom if you want to try one out before buying one. They are great guitars.

Jim

[rog43win]

Jim......thanks for that offer.......I might just take you up on it.....I'm waiting on a couple things before I finally decide, but when you consider the cost of a new one, plus the way they look and play according to everyone that has bought one.....it seems the only smart way for me to go....I respect the opinion of all the guitar experts in this forum, and no one seems to have a bad thing to say about them....thanks again............Roger

[eltuce]

my name is Roger Winters, and I live in Johnson City, NY....I'm 66 yrs old and semi-retired.
I have played guitar for about 50 yrs, and am a huge fan of the Ventures. My first new guitar that I bought was a Fender Jaguar...I've traded in half a dozen guitars over the yrs, and one of them was a Ventures model Mosrite....I foolishly traded it in for another guitar that I don't have anymore, either. I've always loved the Mosrite look and performance, and wish to own another one in the near future.
I'm confused about where to find a new USA-made Mosrite......I thought that Ed Roman was the only USA authorized Mosrite dealer, but have recently heard that he no longer carries them.
I would appreciate any information as to where I might locate a dealer for real Mosrites.
I know there are lots of copies, and I may end up buying one of those.....
I love the Ventures era in the 60's when they played Mosrites, especially Nokie Edwards.

I was just checking out Ed's site and was wondering if any of you have a clue what's going on there. Looks like it's down to him and one other person and they are also selling skis now. Anyway, the headstocks there say Mosrite Original now instead of Classics. They also have a MKII done JR style but it's just called a MKII and the site still says Made in USA which I find hard to believe at this point. Some prices have come down a little as well.

[rog43win]

The funny thing is, I'm not really that interested in buying Mosrites anymore......there is so much mystery and cloak and dagger activity regarding Mosrites, I have absolutely no clue about them anymore......(and I used to own one).
First, Ed Roman claims to be the only authorized dealer in North and South America, then I've heard that he no longer even carries them, let alone manufacture them....
Then, recently, since I've been here at the forum (less than 3 weeks), I've learned that Artie at Frontporch Music "can get Mosrites"......I've written to him but no response......seems like the only sure bet these days is that unless you get a really old one (and no guarantees) ....you are most likely getting a copy, no matter what name is on the headstock.....
Also in the past 3 weeks or so, I've discovered that a company called Hallmark is making great copies of Mosrites.....after many hours of investigating and reading for myself, the Hallmark custom 60 is now the guitar of choice for me.....I never even heard of Hallmark until 3 or 4 weeks ago...thanks to a random posting by el tuce that caught my eye on Facebook.......anyway, each person must satisfy their own tastes in guitars.....I guess I just don't understand why there has to be such confusion over a guitar....it actually is a deterrent for me considering Mosrites anymore, especially when a beautiful Hallmark is available......

Roger