Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Johnny Ramone-backed brand Mosrite Guitars is back – with the Mark II model leading the way
Mosrite Guitars is officially back in business. Lap steel specialists Sho-Bud have acquired the storied guitar brand and are kicking off this new chapter with a revival of one of Mosrite’s most recognisable models: the Mark II.
Founded in 1956 in Bakersfield, California, Mosrite was the brainchild of luthier Semie Moseley, whose futuristic designs and ultra-slim necks set the brand apart early on. Those guitars went on to win over a diverse cast of players – Johnny Ramone famously wielded a Ventures model almost exclusively, Kurt Cobain recorded much of Nevermind using a Mosrite Gospel Mark IV, and Jimi Hendrix even owned a Joe Maphis 12/6 doubleneck.
After Semie Moseley and his business partner passed away in the early ’90s, the company was left in the hands of Semie’s daughter, Dana Moseley. Mosrite continued to operate on a smaller scale in the years that followed, with the brand’s website eventually going offline in 2020. Now, under Sho-Bud’s stewardship, Mosrite is stepping back into the spotlight.
READ MORE: A Brief History of Mosrite Guitars
The reborn Mosrite Mark II sticks closely to the original recipe. It sports a 24 ⅝” scale length and a solid basswood or alder body, paired with a one-piece rock maple bolt-on neck and a rosewood fingerboard with 22 narrow vintage frets and a zero fret.
Credit: Mosrite
Pickup duties are handled by a Seymour Duncan single-coil in the bridge and a chrome-covered Seymour Duncan mini humbucker in the neck, wired to a simple control layout of one volume, one tone and a three-way toggle switch.
Hardware comes courtesy of a Tone Pros Tune-O-Matic bridge and tailpiece, along with Grover tuners, rounding things out with a healthy dose of vintage chic. Both right- and left-handed versions are available, and players can choose between White, Blue, Red, Gold and Black finishes. Each guitar also ships with a hard shell case and carries a price tag of $2,750.
“The Mosrite Mark II reissue represents more than the return of an iconic instrument,” says Sho-Bud General Counsel Fred Waid. “It is a continuation of a legacy shaped by an extraordinary luthier and innovator, Semie Moseley. Sho-Bud is committed to honoring Semie’s vision, with precision and consistency.”
“This is a personal project for us,” adds Sho-Bud co-CEO Dawn Jackson. “Semie Moseley wasn’t just a legendary builder. Sho-Bud and Mosrite had a close connection through our father, David Jackson, who collaborated on projects with Semie. They had a solid respect for one another and fostered a friendship between Nashville and Bakersfield, sharing one main passion: chasing tone. This fusion is a way of reconnecting those roots and carrying them forward with respect and intention.”
Learn more at Sho-Bud.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
