Luthier/designer Semie Moseley (1935-1992) was born in Durant, Oklahoma. The family moved to Bakersfield, California when Moseley was 9 years old, and Semie left school in the seventh grade to travel with an evangelistic group playing guitar.
Moseley, 18, was hired by Paul Barth to work at Rickenbacker in 1953. While at Rickenbacker, Moseley worked with Roger Rossmeisl. Rossmeisl´s "German carve" technique was later featured on Moseley´s guitar models as well. Moseley was later fired from Rickenbacker in 1955 for building his own guitar at their facilities. In the later years, Moseley always credited Barth and Rossmeisl (and the Rickenbacker company) for his beginning knowledge in guitar building.
With the help of Reverend Ray Boatright, who cosigned for guitar building tools at Sears, Moseley began building his original designs. The Mosrite trademark is named after Moseley and Boatright ("-rite"). After leaving Rickenbacker, Moseley built custom instruments for various people around southern California, most notably Joe Maphis (of "Town Hall Party" fame). Moseley freelanced some work with Paul Barth´s "Barth" guitars, as well as some neck work for Paul Bigsby.
After traveling for several months with another gospel group, Moseley returned to Bakersfield and again set up shop. Moseley built around 20 guitars for Bob Crooks (Standel). When Crooks asked for a Fender-styled guitar model, Moseley flipped a Stratocaster over, traced the rough outline, and built the forerunner to the Ventures model!
After Nokie Edwards (Ventures) borrowed a guitar for a recording session, Stan Wagner (Ventures Manager) called Moseley to propose a business collaboration. Mosrite would produce the instruments, and use the Venture´s organization as the main distributor. The heyday of the Mosrite company was the years between 1963 and 1969. When the demand set in, the company went from producing 35 guitars a month to 50 and later 300. The Mosrite facility had 105 employees at one point, and offered several different models in addition to the Ventures model (such as the semi-hollowbody Celebrity series, the Combo, and the Joe Maphis series).
In 1963, investors sold the Dobro trademark to Moseley, who built the first 100 or 150 out of parts left over from the Dobro plant in Gardenia. Later Bakersfield Dobros can be identified by the serial number imprinted on the end of the fingerboard. The Mosrite company did not build the amplifiers which bear the Mosrite trademark; another facility built the Mosrite amplifiers and fuzz pedals, and paid for the rights to use the Mosrite name.
The amplifier line proved to be the undoing of Mosrite. While some of the larger amplifiers are fine, one entry level model featured a poor design and a high failure rate. While covering for returns, the Ventures organization used up their line of credit at their bank, and the bank shut down the organization. In doing so, the Mosrite distribution was shut down as well. Moseley tried a deal with Vox (Thomas Organ) but the company was shut down in 1969. Moseley returned to the Gospel music circuit, and transferred the Dobro name to OMI in a series of negotiations.
Instruments previously produced in Bakersfield, CA during the 1960s; earlier models built in Los Angeles, CA during the mid to late 1950s. Distribution in the 1990s was handled by Unified Sound Association, Inc. Production of Mosrite guitars ceased in 1994. There were other factory sites around the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s: other notable locations include Carson City, NV; Jonas Ridge, NC; and Booneville, AR (previous home of Baldwin-operated Gretsch production during the 1970s).

MOSRITE Electric Guitars Models

MOSRITE V-I BASS (V I STANDARD BASS) Image

MOSRITE V-I BASS (V I STANDARD BASS)

- offset double cutaway solid body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with double dot inlay, adjustable bridge/stop tailpiece, chrome bridge cover, 2-per-side tuners, Natural finish headstock, white pickguard, chrome ha...

MOSRITE MOSRITE 1988 GUITAR (M-88) Image

MOSRITE MOSRITE 1988 GUITAR (M-88)

- offset double cutaway basswood body, no German carve body ridge, 3-piece laminated maple neck, zero fret, 22-fret laminated curly maple/rosewood fingerboard, "Mosrite 1988" logo on headstock, vibrato or fixed bridge, 3-per-side...

MOSRITE VENTURES MODEL (1959-1962) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES MODEL (1959-1962)

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, set-in maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard (sand casted) Vibramute vibrato bridge, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black single coil pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-position switch, ava...

MOSRITE VENTURES MODEL BASS (1963-1965) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES MODEL BASS (1963-1965)

- bound offset double cutaway hardwood body, set-in maple neck, 20-fret bound fingerboard, adjustable bridge, chrome hardware, 2-per-side tuners, white pickguard, 2 black pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-position switch, side-mounted jack,...

MOSRITE JOE MAPHIS (MODEL MARK I, # 501) Image

MOSRITE JOE MAPHIS (MODEL MARK I, # 501)

- slightly offset double semi-hollow body, 1.5 in. body depth, bound spruce top, walnut back, hard rock maple neck, 24.5 in. scale, 22-fret celluloid bound rosewood fingerboard, laminated black (or white) shell pickguard, deluxe adjustable...

MOSRITE COMBO 1 BASS (MARK X, 301) Image

MOSRITE COMBO 1 BASS (MARK X, 301)

- hollow body, spruce top, maple back/sides, double body binding, hard rock maple neck, one bound f-hole, 30.25" scale, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, 2-per-side Kluson deluxe chrome tuners, adjustable bridge, chrome bridge cover,...

MOSRITE GOSPEL (MARK I, MODEL 600) Image

MOSRITE GOSPEL (MARK I, MODEL 600)

- bound arched top, arched back, 2.75 in. body width, semi-hollowbody, select maple top, maple back/sides, maple neck, 2 bound f-holes, 24.5 in. scale, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, "Mosrite of California/Gospel Guitar" head...

MOSRITE COMBO I (MARK I, MODEL 300) Image

MOSRITE COMBO I (MARK I, MODEL 300)

- hollow body, 1.5 in. body depth, spruce top, maple back/sides, double body binding, hard rock maple neck, one bound f-hole, zero fret, 24.5 in. scale, 22-fret bound Indian rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, roller bridge/Mosrite vibrato...

MOSRITE MOSRITE 1988 BASS (M-88 BASS) Image

MOSRITE MOSRITE 1988 BASS (M-88 BASS)

- offset double cutaway basswood body, no German carve body ridge, 3-piece laminated maple neck, zero fret, 20-fret laminated curly maple/rosewood fingerboard, "Mosrite 1988" logo on headstock, vibrato or fixed bridge, 2-per-side...

MOSRITE MARK I Image

MOSRITE MARK I

- offset double cutaway solid body, bolt-on maple neck, 24.5 in. scale, 22-fret bound Indian rosewood fingerboard, roller bridge/vibrato bridge, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black single coil pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-position...

MOSRITE V-I STANDARD Image

MOSRITE V-I STANDARD

- offset double cutaway solid body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, roller bridge/vibrato bridge, 3-per-side tuners, natural finish headstock, white pickguard, chrome hardware, 2 black single coil pick...

MOSRITE CELEBRITY I (MARK I, CE I, # 202) Image

MOSRITE CELEBRITY I (MARK I, CE I, # 202)

- arched top and back, 2.75 in. body depth, semi-hollow double cutaway body, spruce top, maple back/sides, double body binding, 2 bound f-holes, maple neck, 24.5 in. scale, zero fret, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, roller bridge/vibrat...

MOSRITE 300 Image

MOSRITE 300

- single cutaway solid body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with double dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, one exposed pole piece humbucker pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1973-75.

MOSRITE VENTURES EARLY 1960S REISSUE (BOLT-ON) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES EARLY 1960S REISSUE (BOLT-ON)

- offset double cutaway basswood or alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, vibrato bridge or tailpiece, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black Alnico single coil pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-...

MOSRITE 350 STEREO Image

MOSRITE 350 STEREO

- similar to the 300, except features white pickguard, 2 exposed pole piece humbucker pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, pickup selector toggle switch, on/off switch, 2 side-mounted jacks, available in Natural Wood finish, mfg. 1973-75.

MOSRITE V-II Image

MOSRITE V-II

- offset double cutaway solid body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, roller bridge/vibrato bridge, 2-per-side tuners, natural finish headstock, white pickguard, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black humbucker pick...

MOSRITE GOSPEL BASS (MARK X, 601) Image

MOSRITE GOSPEL BASS (MARK X, 601)

- bound arched top, arched back, 2.75 in. body width, semi-hollow body, select maple top, maple back/sides, maple neck, 2 bound f-holes, 30.25" scale, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, "Mosrite of California/Gospel Guitar"...

MOSRITE VENTURES BASS (MODEL MARK X, # 103) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES BASS (MODEL MARK X, # 103)

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 30.25" scale, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, "Mosrite of California/The Ventures" headstock logo, fixed bridge, chrome hardware, white pickguard,...

MOSRITE V-II BASS Image

MOSRITE V-II BASS

- similar to the V-I Bass, except features 2 black humbucker pickups with exposed pole pieces, 2 pickup bypass switches, available in Red or Sunburst finish, mfg. 1973-75.

MOSRITE VENTURES VINTAGE BASS (SET-NECK) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES VINTAGE BASS (SET-NECK)

- bound offset double cutaway alder body, glued-in maple neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, fixed bridge, 2-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black Alnico single coil pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-position switc...

MOSRITE BRASS RAIL STANDARD Image

MOSRITE BRASS RAIL STANDARD

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, maple neck, 22 brass frets mounted into a brass rail running the length of the rosewood fingerboard, 3-per-side tuners, brass hardware, 2 pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-way toggle selector, available...

MOSRITE Celebrity I (1972-1973) Image

MOSRITE Celebrity I (1972-1973)

- similar to the Celebrity 1 (Model # 202), except features raised black pickguard, volume/tone controls mounted on a rounded "half-moon" plastic controls plate (with 3-way toggle and 1/4 in. jack, available in Red or Sunburst fin...

MOSRITE MARK V Image

MOSRITE MARK V

- similar to the Mark I, except features a smaller body, 1.125 in. body depth, roller bridge/vibrato tailpiece, 3-per-side tuners with white buttons, mfg. 1967-69.

MOSRITE JOE MAPHIS BASS (MODEL MARK X, 502) Image

MOSRITE JOE MAPHIS BASS (MODEL MARK X, 502)

- semi-hollowbody, bound spruce top, 1.5 in. body depth, walnut back, maple neck, 30.25" scale, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, fixed bridge, laminated black (or white) shell pickguard, chrome bridge cover, 2-per-side tuners, chrome hard...

MOSRITE MARK X BASS Image

MOSRITE MARK X BASS

- offset double cutaway solid body, bolt-on maple neck, 30.25 in. scale, 20-fret bound Indian rosewood fingerboard, adjustable bridge, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-position switch, available in...

MOSRITE RAMONES MODEL Image

MOSRITE RAMONES MODEL

- offset double cutaway basswood or alder body, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with double dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, natural wood headstock with Mosrite/Ramones logo, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, black pickguard, chrome...

MOSRITE NOKIE EDWARDS MODEL Image

MOSRITE NOKIE EDWARDS MODEL

- bound offset double cutaway alder body, glued-in maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, (original-style sand cast) Vibramute vibrato bridge, "Nokie" logo, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, white pickguard, 2 black Alnico sing...

MOSRITE VENTURES 1988 BASS (V-88 BASS) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES 1988 BASS (V-88 BASS)

- offset double cutaway basswood body, 3-piece laminated maple neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, "Mosrite/The Ventures Model/1988" logo on headstock, 2-per-side tuners, fixed tailpiece, chrome hardware, 2 black pickups, vo...

MOSRITE VENTURES (MODEL MARK I, # 102) Image

MOSRITE VENTURES (MODEL MARK I, # 102)

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24.5 in. scale, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, deluxe bridge/vibrato tailpiece, "Mosrite of California/The Ventures Model" headstock logo, chrome hardware, white pick...

MOSRITE CELEBRITY (MARK I, CE II, # 211) Image

MOSRITE CELEBRITY (MARK I, CE II, # 211)

- bound arched top, 1 13/16" body width, semi-hollow body, spruce top, maple back/sides, maple neck, 2 bound f-holes, 24.5 in. scale, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard, roller bridge, vibrato tailpiece, 3-per-side deluxe chrome tuners...

MOSRITE Joe Maphis JM 65 (1966-1967) Image

MOSRITE Joe Maphis JM 65 (1966-1967)

- similar to the Joe Maphis, except has 2 necks in a mandolin/6-string configuration, 2-per-side tuners (mandolin neck), 3-per-side tuners (6-string neck), available in Black or Sunburst finish, mfg. 1966-67.