Am I crazy? *Mosrite pics added*

[drbassman]

Ever since I saw a 68 Mosrite Celebrity bass in a local shop several years ago I've wanted one.  I like the styling and short scale.  It's a neat collector too since they went out of business and were made in the USA. 

Anyone have any experience with/knowledge of them?  I wasn't able to play the one I saw, it was for display only, not for sale.  You know my weakness for anything hollow.........

[Chris P.]

I love Mosrites. A friend of mine in Holland bought one fairly cheap in the US of A.

But what about this special model? Pics please?

[drbassman]

They look like this and I have seen them in a red or trans orange as well as the burst.



They are funky but they "speak" to me for some odd reason!  Just like Fender Coronados.  I had one once and should have kept that goofy thing too!

[Chris P.]

I love Coronados, but to be honest I like the normal  'reversed body' Mosrites better.

[drbassman]

Yeah, they made a hollow body reversed model too but they are pretty rare.  I'd take one of those too!

[Chris P.]

Yeah, why not have both...

I love this Gibson advertisement quote. You see a couple of nice SGs, LPs and 335s and they state:

'Why have one? Rock 'n roll just isn;t about monogamy.'

Or something like that;)

[drbassman]

Yeah, why not have both...

I love this Gibson advertisement quote. You see a couple of nice SGs, LPs and 335s and they state:

'Why have one? Rock 'n roll just isn;t about monogamy.'

Or something like that;)

Oh brother!

[Barklessdog]

anniversary model

[Chris P.]

Like that! And that could be a possible pickguard shape for my EB0 Jr.

[Dave W]

I've played one, as well as other Mosrites (basses and guitars). They're cool but there's nothing distinctive about the tone. They had tiny frets, and I don't care for that.

Also note the tiny fret markers, although that's no big deal to me since I only ever look at side dots..

[drbassman]

Interesting Dave.  Did you play a Celebrity or the solid body?  I'm also interested in them as a collectible USA made bass.

[rahock]

I've played one of the solid bodies. It's been a few years, but I liked the "feel" alot. Pickups were a bit weak, no kind of punch to speak of. Tone and punch were pretty much the responsibility of the amplifier when using a Mosrite. Their guitars were the same story. Always a great feel, but the testicles had to reside in the amplifier if you wanted to get any kind of sound. That takes away about a half of what you look for  from the whole equation and that's why Mosrites did not sell too well .

Rick

[Dave W]

I've played both.

Mosrites didn't have a distinctive sound like Fender, Gibson, Rick or Gretsch. But I don't think that's why they failed. For several years they had The Ventures as endorsers and that could have made the brand a long term success. But they were expensive in their day, and Semie Moseley had no clue how to operate a business. He went broke and restarted many times.

[drbassman]

It's too bad they weren't stronger or more distinctive.  I've heard some of the stories about Semie before.  Well, maybe I'll just hold off a bit and think about it.  I'd definitely want to play it out as well as collect it!

[Barklessdog]

Three for sale here

http://www.gbase.com/Powered/GearList.aspx?Dealer=25985dc3-7cff-487f-9943-e6cd45af1534&GS=Y&PageIndex=1&PageSize=25&SF0=7&SD0=0&DealerId=25985dc3-7cff-487f-9943-e6cd45af1534&TF=1&TI0=20&Grp=7&SearchBar=False