The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: drbassman on January 21, 2009, 06:12:59 AM
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OK, I've had my Mosrite Celebrity bass for several months now. I took it totally apart to clean and repair some age induced issues (broken pup wire, ill-fitting neck joint, nick down to the wood, truss rod issues, etc). I've spent a lot of time with this bass and have come to several conclusions.
1. They are very unique in their styling, not trying to copy any of the other guitar makers of the time.
2. The construction was very good, but not as good as Fender or Gibson.
3. The pickups on this bass are as unremarkable as Dave and Scott said they were.
4. I've spent hours on it and it just sounds like crap and doesn't even play all that well.
5. It's toast, I'm parting it out to buy some power tools!
End of my Mosrite saga. I'll stick to Gibsons and Guilds. They really knew how to build hollow body instruments.
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Sad ending to the story :sad:
I always liked the way they looked and felt but as it's been said many times , many ways, the pickups need more juice to make it right.
Rick
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Both pups measure out at 8.3 k, which you would think would be enough, but there's more to it. I suspect the construction and materials also contribute to their lackluster performance. Oh well, I'm going to make some folks very happy when they see the nice collection of parts that will be available on eBay. And my shop will be happy too!
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You're going to send it off to the Knackerman...............Just like the family minivan.
A most disturbing tendancy ;)
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5. It's toast, I'm parting it out to buy some power tools!
Fine, but please realize that you don't have to justify buying more power tools. And you certainly don't need to wait until you actually need them to buy them. ;D
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Sorry to hear that about the Mosrite!
I thought the curriculum of Advanced Power Tool 501 (Graduate level) includes planning each project so that it justifies buying another tool before you can start the project. A properly sequenced set of projects can lead to a nicely equipped shop.
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You're going to send it off to the Knackerman...............Just like the family minivan.
A most disturbing tendancy ;)
Oh yeah, I'm getting less sentimental in my old age!!!! And the van is resting happily at a local non-profit country museum where the grounds folks now use it as a rolling tool shed! Pretty cool ,no?
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Fine, but please realize that you don't have to justify buying more power tools. And you certainly don't need to wait until you actually need them to buy them. ;D
My problem has been financial support for my tool needs, not requirements for them! Every time I rehab or buy a bass, I have trouble letting it go. SO, I gotta sell something once in awhile to expand my capabilities. It's all good!
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Sorry to hear that about the Mosrite!
I thought the curriculum of Advanced Power Tool 501 (Graduate level) includes planning each project so that it justifies buying another tool before you can start the project. A properly sequenced set of projects can lead to a nicely equipped shop.
I used this "man law" you refer to Al for years. But the wife has caught on and I need to generate more of my own "shop funding" as she has been spending my disposable funds on things like new kitchens, hardwood floors, blah, blah blah!!!
At least the house is a lot nicer now and we're both loving it. But it sure hurts my shop expansion potential.
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I used this "man law" you refer to Al for years. But the wife has caught on and I need to generate more of my own "shop funding" as she has been spending my disposable funds on things like new kitchens, hardwood floors, blah, blah blah!!!
At least the house is a lot nicer now and we're both loving it. But it sure hurts my shop expansion potential.
if all else fails: ... fall on her bosum gently displaying a profound weakness of your knees and start bawling with real tears and with many sobs elaborate on how good she is for you.
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if all else fails: ... fall on her bosum gently displaying a profound weakness of your knees and start bawling with real tears and with many sobs elaborate on how good she is for you.
Every time I do that with my wife I end up getting all distracted. Of course, that's OK too.
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Fine, but please realize that you don't have to justify buying more power tools.
I have to justify ANYTHING to my wife and myself with a home mortgage & college payments at the same time.
Bass Nazi sez
"No More Basses for You!"
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Finally you all see the benifits of being both the man and woman of the house,
all my arguements about money are won be me! I get what I want ;D
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Finally you all see the benifits of being both the man and woman of the house,
all my arguements about money are won be me! I get what I want ;D
I get what I want too and it isn't always money or power tools! I hear ya Al!
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Did I forget to mention college tuition for my son? That's even more than home improvements! I'm so glad I only had 2 kids! In another year, I'm gonna have so much disposable income, I'm probably gonna have a bit of a problem containing myself. But I'll manage anyway!
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I also meant to mention that the Vox bass I built out of an old Vox Tornado body sounds ten times better than the Mosrite did. The Vox-clone pup made by Phantom guitars is a great pup and I'd use one again (in fact I'm planning on it).
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I guess you're not interested in this one then......... :mrgreen:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1002265431.html (http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1002265431.html)
I keed, I keed!! ;D
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Is that another 24" scale frankenbass or is it the same one Bill almost got stuck with a few months ago?
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I also meant to mention that the Vox bass I built out of an old Vox Tornado body sounds ten times better than the Mosrite did. The Vox-clone pup made by Phantom guitars is a great pup and I'd use one again (in fact I'm planning on it).
It's interesting that you brought the name Vox into the picture. The only guy I knew who really got a nice sound out of his Mosrite bass (about 40 years ago) was using a Vox amp. I can't recall the model name. Everyone called it a Super Beatle, but it wasn't. It was a bit less power than than the 240 watt Beatle, it was a tube head and it had a 15" and a 10" speaker in the cab. The Mosrite lacked balls through anything else he tried, but that amp did it up real well. Another story with a sad ending :sad:.
He kept blowing the 10" speaker so he got rid of the amp. He couldn't find anything else that sounded good with the Mosrite , so he dumped it too :o
Rick
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I guess you're not interested in this one then......... :mrgreen:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1002265431.html (http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1002265431.html)
I keed, I keed!! ;D
Damn, that's another of those stupid frankenbasses Semie made with a 24" scale neck. I don't get it. Could there actually have been a market for them? I can't imagine anyone would actually want one. Talk about farting in a bathtub!!!! Besides the one I got and returned to Andy Mosley (with PayPal's help), I've bet I've seen 3 or 4 of these for sale in various places. What the hell was he smoking back then? I think I know! 8)
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It's interesting that you brought the name Vox into the picture. The only guy I knew who really got a nice sound out of his Mosrite bass (about 40 years ago) was using a Vox amp. I can't recall the model name. Everyone called it a Super Beatle, but it wasn't. It was a bit less power than than the 240 watt Beatle, it was a tube head and it had a 15" and a 10" speaker in the cab. The Mosrite lacked balls through anything else he tried, but that amp did it up real well. Another story with a sad ending :sad:.
He kept blowing the 10" speaker so he got rid of the amp. He couldn't find anything else that sounded good with the Mosrite , so he dumped it too :o
Rick
I love the look of both the hollow and solid Mosrite basses. I give Semie credit, he didn't copy anyone else, his designs were original and attractive. The electronics leave a lot to be desired though. I actually thought about keeping it and putting TV Jones ThunderTrons in it, but I got such a good deal on it, I figured I could get all of my minimal investment back by parting it out. Besides, the Celebrity basses weren't the top of the line, so breaking it up wasn't a major sin, just a minor one. I know lots of Mosrite folks who will be very happy withe parts I'm providing. Best wishes to all of them. Now, back to my power tool shopping list................. ;)