Mosrite Wars - Japan

[mosriteer]

Inquiring minds may want to check out this 6+ minute upload on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_mcyva13y8

(If the link does not show up, search youtube for "mosrite wars").
The document shown towards the end of this 6:29 min video is very interesting.
-Kanad

[mosriteer]

Correction: that video was about 10 mins long. Was fooled by the time code on the upper left side. I hope somebody can translate this and post a summary, although one can pretty much guess what is going on.
-Kanad

[Veenture]

I remember this interesting video. Like Dennis (the Menace) said: "I Sure Wish I Knew How to Speak Japanese....."

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4643

[Shizenda]

With the help of my wife (who is Japanese), I can give you a summary of this video.
This is a NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) news item. It's a very Japan - centric piece, whereby they are focusing on Japanese Mosrites only. Interestingly, for this forum at least, it involves a Kyoto based Mosrite producing company called Swing Science, who I have to admit, I haven't heard of before.
It starts by showing an old guy who tells how, as a university student in the 60's, he fell in love with the Ventures sound and wanted a Mosrite guitar. At that time he couldn't afford one, so some years later he bought one thinking it was a genuine Mosrite. It wasn't till some time later that he discovered that it was in fact a Fillmore Mosrite, which blew him away because he had never heard of the Japanese Mosrite copies. He wasn't happy.
We then meet the CEO of Swing Science who makes and sells Mosrites. This company are only 5 years old (at the time of the video). This man makes the claim that Semie Moseley gave the rights to Mosrite to Loretta (his 4th wife) and that Swing Science have a contract with Loretta to produce the guitars in Kyoto. This man claims that Fillmore are selling and making Mosrites without permission, and considers them immoral.
We then go to the Fillmore shop in Mitaka, Tokyo and meet the CEO of Fillmore who claim that Dana is the true inheritor of Mosrite, and that she is the person who grew up making the guitars and understands the true Spirit of Mosrite. Apparently there is conflict between Dana and Loretta, and Fillmore question the Loretta connection to Swing Science, claiming it isn't legit.
At the end we learn that Swing Science are attempting to sue Fillmore, but, because this kind of legal proceeding is quite rare in Japan that it will take a long time to resolve.
The Fillmore guy kind of lays the blame somewhat at the feet of Semie's family.
And that's basically it. Hope it's helpful.

[dubtrub]

Shizenda, thank you very much for the translation.

[mrmomo]

Very interesting. Sounds like a "stay tuned...for the next exciting episode..."

[Veenture]

Thank you Scott, nice to known now what was said in the video

[outeredge]

it seems like the mosrite legacy has always been plagued with legal troubles. From the falling out with the Ventures and subsequent bankruptcy to the ongoing dispute between loretta, fllmore, dana, and the now dead ed roman. It's all very confusing. I remember the first time I found out of the new "American-made" mosrites out of Vegas. ed was claiming he had purchased the trademarks, NOS parts, patents (if they were even current??).When I saw the price I was so brokenhearted but felt that an american-made specialty guitar would probably be worth such a high price. then after I found out Ed was just doing final assembly, and that they were practically the same Japanese-made guitars I remember from the 90's I just felt sick. Because I realized that I can't justify spending three or four-thousand bucks on an instrument put together outside the USA. fender's american vintage series don't even cost that much. Back then they wereselling for like a thousand or fifteen depending on the model. I remember you could get a '62 american aintage Jazzmaster for 1,500 dollars. (I think they're $1,700 now??? but still made in California)
that was just the beginning down a long road of illumination for me. I know they are all just trying to make a living, so no offense to fillmore, dana, loretta, or even ed roman, but for me the mosrite name has come to mean garbage to me. even guys who like their fillmore's, kurukomo's, firstmans, and whatever else, still refer to them as "fillmores", "kurokomo's" etc.. For me, a real "Mosrite" is a guitar that was built by Semie while he was alive and kicking. if I was to shell out a lot of money for any reproduction, I think I would rather have one of Ed Elliot's. Ed actually hand build's his guitars, the parts are not made overseas and shipped over for final assembly.

[Veenture]

... if I was to shell out a lot of money for any reproduction, I think I would rather have one of Ed Elliot's. Ed actually hand build's his guitars, the parts are not made overseas and shipped over for final assembly.

I'd love to own an Ed Elliott guitar myself but don't have the will to spend 5 grand (give or take a few hundred) on it. Last year I snagged a used "Kurokumo Super Excellent" Mosrite guitar (made in 2007), incl. OHSC by G&G on eebay for $ 1,275.00. It has all the vibe (and sound) of a Ventures Model Mosrite made by Semie Mosley in the sixties and I daresay manufactured under much tighter tolerances than in the sixties. But my aim was for the vibe and not aiming to own a piece of American history.
My 2 cts.

[edit] Don't get me wrong, I am a 'Fender man' from the beginning (late fifties) and currently own a Fender American Vintage '62 Precision Bass, a 1957 American Vintage Stratocaster and a Fender American Vintage 1962 Jazzmaster is on the way. My son now owns my original USA vintage 1972 Fender Stratocaster. I love the Mosrite, thanks to the Ventures.

[Nokie]

I say get 'em all! I've very much enjoyed playing original Mosrites as well as the grey market Kurokumos. And I don't recall hearing any complaints from our Fillmore and Hallmark owners.
-Marty