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.
