I'm still a little stunned to hear that the original Mosrite Semie made for Joe is "in parts".
One of his daughters apparently has the short neck ensconched in it's own case for 'viewing'.
Does Anybody know anything about how this came to pass...?
Joe Maphis' original Mosrite in PARTS?
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Jul 20, 2008 7:39 p.m. The Norm:
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Jul 20, 2008 8:23 p.m. Bear:
I had not heard this but if it's true, it is an absolute travesty. That entire guitar should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame or the Smithsonian.
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Jul 20, 2008 8:23 p.m. Tim:
I thought that Joe's famous doubleneck was donated to a hall of fame somewhere. Semie continued to modify it as the years went on so that it didn't look like it did during the Town Hall Party days. This is the same guitar.
The picture won't post for some reason but just click here: Joe and Merls
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Jul 20, 2008 8:29 p.m. Tim:
This website says the following: "The original double neck Mosrite is now in The Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville."
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Jul 20, 2008 8:58 p.m. The Norm:
So it does say...
I feel summat better. Will do some more research...
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Jul 20, 2008 9:15 p.m. Deed Eddy:
I will check for you, but I have a feeling that this is the guitar in the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
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Jul 20, 2008 9:23 p.m. Tim:
The last I heard, Grady's Bigsby doubleneck was owned by that Gruhn guy. Joe's guitar is certainly in the hall of fame in Nashville. Like I said before, it doesn't look like it used to. I have a picture of it on my other computer that I'll have to dig up.
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Jul 20, 2008 9:26 p.m. The Norm:
Apparently the person owning the short neck says the original guitar "was rebuilt several times" but is in the HOF
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Jul 20, 2008 9:28 p.m. Tim:
Yeah, that would confirm the fact that Semie reworked it a bunch. One of the things that Joe wanted was for him to make it lighter. Apparently, it was a back breaker!
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Jul 20, 2008 9:37 p.m. Proteus:
I suspect Norm's first post in this thread follows on my comment in the CAAS coverage thread that the original is "in parts."
My language derived from the text linked here, crossed with the evidence of the short neck-in-case Elaine had at CAAS. (At the linked page, scroll down to the last paragraph by Elaine Frizzell discussing her album.)
Quoting: "The double-neck guitar pictured on the album cover is not Joe’s original. That guitar made cira.1954-55, is no longer in existence except the body. The original was stripped and lightened in weight in 1963. Semie re-created the original, down to the exact spec’s for me, with Joe’s blessing. It was presented to me in March of 1985."
A world of information is missing afer "the stripping and lightening in weight in 1963." It may be that the guitar was then put back together in different form, and/or with different parts. I have no information as to where those parts now are (whether assembled into a whole or separately).
When I was writing the original post, looking for background information on Elaine and the guitar, I found the linked information. I put two ("no longer in existence except the body" and "stripped and lightened in weight") and two (the short neck in its case) together and got five ("in parts").
I now see that phrase doesn't tell the whole story, and I apologize.
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Jul 20, 2008 9:43 p.m. The Shetland:
good old Joe Maphis...one of the greats...it's amazing what he could do with a pick...i think the kids call it "shredding" now...
I have a hallmark deke model which is basically a single necked version of Maphis' double...it's heavy as a son of a bitch (pardon me Deed!) I can't imagine how heavy that must have been!
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Jul 20, 2008 10:02 p.m. Deed Eddy:
see pics of two Joe Maphis guitars
Note Elaine Garton, and her guitar, in some of these photos
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Jul 20, 2008 10:25 p.m. Tim:
Yes, that is Joe's guitar in the Hall of Fame. It is the reworked original that was made in the 50's. Its in the same state as on the Joe & Merle album cover.
Hey Shetland, I have a Hallmark DD guitar, too, and you're right; they are some heavy!!! But I really like it and would have to be in bad shape to get rid of it.
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Jul 20, 2008 10:42 p.m. The Norm:
That all makes sense. Particularly the idea that the whole guitar was actually an entirely different instrument. Joe probably didn't really care about the old one if Semie did a good job on the new one. A lot of guitarists aren't all that sentimental about their instruments. Although he could have sold it for a good chunk or put the old one in a museum.
>shrug< my question is pretty much answered... thanks...
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Jul 20, 2008 11:13 p.m. CnW:
Joe said on a live recording I have from about '75 that he was happy with his "new " guitar ("only been playin' it a couple of years"). Then he tells the audience that he'd played the original up until he got the new one and that he's proud to say that "the old original" is in the Country Music Hall of Fame (already then).
There are two Merle/Joe albums. One was recorded in '63 and the other in the late '70's. Definitely the new Mosrite on the latter album cover.
The original guitar had the pickups changed, probably when Semie did the big reworking job. At that time the old Carvin AP-6's were replaced by the pickups Mosely was now winding himself. I would imagine that, as much playing time as that guitar was seeing, that it was in need of refretting every now and again. It was probably better for Joe to just have Semie make him a new neck or two, while he was at it. Were those bolt-on necks or set?
The very first version of that guitar had two 6-on-a-side headstocks. Photographic evidence would seem to indicate that they only lasted a short while.
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Jul 20, 2008 11:18 p.m. Deed Eddy:
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Jul 20, 2008 11:25 p.m. CnW:
That's some funky gingerbread there
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Jul 20, 2008 11:36 p.m. Proteus:
Thanks, Deed & Tim & CnW, for filling in the story.
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Jul 21, 2008 3:04 a.m. Drew Morrison:
In 2004 when I was visiting the States I went specifically to Bakersfield's Kern County Museum to see their Moseley/Maphis guitar. It was in a case with some other Joe and Rose Lee memorabilia. According to the Museum blurb it was one of two that was made by Semie circa 1970.
It looked a great guitar.
Yours
Drew
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Jul 21, 2008 2:40 p.m. audiodrome:
I went to the Hall Of Fame in 1994 and I do remember seeing that guitar. That place is FULL of beautiful guitars! I must go there again sometime soon.
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Jul 21, 2008 2:59 p.m. The Norm:
Over on the Chetboard they're trying to pin the weight down.
20 pounds seems to be the consencious.
And Semie apparently used bolt on necks like Fender does. Probably a smart move on his part.
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Jul 21, 2008 8:02 p.m. Deed Eddy:
So, it would appear that the guitar in Nashville would be the "original Joe Maphis" guitar body, but with new "Moseley" necks. Whatch'all think?
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Jul 21, 2008 8:14 p.m. The Norm:
There's one in a museum in CA, too. The person said it was one of two made by Semie in the seventies. It would play out properly that way... the original in the Nashville HOF and the second one in southern CA since he worked so much back there. Using bolt on necks would have made servicing and modifying much easier on Semie. I have seen pix of what his first necks looked like...six in-line tuners then came the 'MosRite Special' that used the short neck being carried around CAAS in a box. That guitar, re-necked is probably in the HOF while Joe played the lighter in weght second version which is probably in southern CA.
Sounds logical anyway...
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Jul 21, 2008 9:36 p.m. Deed Eddy:
I love a good detective story.
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Jul 22, 2008 3:14 a.m. Drew Morrison:
Yes Norm I believe that particular guitar is the one I have already mentioned in the Kern County Museum, Bakersfield. I also believe that guitar can be seen on one of the links that Deed has posted.
Yours
Drew
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