Mossman Guitars - A Very Important Guitar Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Welcome folks, to a video about a Mossman, Tennessee Flat Top. This is now the sweetest sounding dreadnaught guitar I own, or have ever owned. I invite you to watch all the way to the end, as we discuss the brilliance of Stuart Mossman, the legacy he has left behind and the impact he had on others’ lives. This video is about more than a guitar, it’s about a life. He set the standard for all luthiers going forward and as far as I’m concerned, they are forever in his debt. Please watch and not just listen to the video, as I have added many pictures and text information throughout the whole video.
Dana, please don’t ever introduce me to your wife. She will surely hunt me down and take me out after she sees this 😊.
I want to thank Scott Baxendale for the help with this one. The information I was able to glean from him about this particular guitar was invaluable. Scott also recently posted a documentary about Stuart, his relationships and his business. This is the best documentary that I’ve ever seen. It’s about a man that is gone, but will never be forgotten. The pinned comment from Scott Baxendale has the wrong link to the documentary, but he corrected it if you will just expand our conversation. It is also listed below as “Stuart Mossman, A Modern Stradavari”
#mossmanguitars #stuartmossman #scottbaxendale
Stuart Mossman, A Modern Stradavari
• Stuart Mossman, A Mode...
Scott Baxendale’s Website - Bio
baxendaleguita...
@scottbaxendale323
The Texas Bucket List- Mossman Guitars in Sulphur Springs
• The Texas Bucket List-...
Please feel free to reach out to me anytime: asmallstone1977@gmail.com
Here is a link to our movie about Mossman Guitars. th-cam.com/video/S996alDHERY/w-d-xo.html
Yes. There’s some very personal moments to the story too line to tell. This was the jist. I was so happy to see you very recent post! Not much ch of that around.
Sorry for misspells!
Scott, the link here is to Jeremy Shepperd. Would you mind editing and correcting it, please? Thanks!
@@randysrhythm I’m not sure how that happened? Here is the link to the Mossman movie. th-cam.com/video/sFSvHmjcmEM/w-d-xo.html
@@scottbaxendale323 Thanks, brother man 👍🏻
Thank you for this. Stuart Mossman is so important to guitar history. He played a unique part. I have a Golden Era 76-3368. This was passed to me 20 years ago by a friend on Kauai. I lived there and my friend had a tiling business. He was a specialized European tiler. He did not play and he tiled Stuart’s house mid 70s. Part of his payment was for he guitar Since he didn’t play he wanted me to have it. There’s much more personal story but I’ll leave it there. I have that guitar today. It’s a canon. You have done a wonderful and important tribute. It is an unbelievable instrument. Beautiful, well built and the best I own out of 14 guitars !
Hi Paul, thanks for such a wonderful story, brother man. I was really hoping that owners of these guitars would come by and comment/tell their stories. You made my day, sir. They are such special guitars and very significant in setting standards for the boutique builders that followed 👍🏻
You got that sound across very well !! Excellent indeed 🙂
Thank you very much, Cristian 👍🏻
Proud owner of two Mossman guitars- a 76 golden era that I got a year ago after a lot of searching and a 76 flint hills that I bought in Arizona a long time ago. There is something about these guitars, love them
Hi Jack, great lineup you have there. I talked to Scott Baxendale about these guitars and from everything I’ve researched, you and I own some great Mossman guitars. There were a lot of improvements made on these guitars after the fire in early 75. I’m with you, I’m a very proud owner, brother man 👍🏻
Randy, thanks for this video - important message, well done@@randysrhythm
Thanks for great video !
I am original owner of great plains custom. 73-535 pre fire. Such a beautiful sounding guitar.
Hi Ronald, you are most welcome. I fully appreciate what you have in your hands! It’s hard to put into words how great these instruments both sound and play. Hope to hear more from you, brother man 👍🏻
Killer Video Brother. That Guitar was destined for you. Great tribute ❤️ Only played a few Mossman’s years back in the mid 70’s. Spectacular Guitar. Sounds like a fine 1940s D-18. Old Mossman’s are scarce. I have only run across a few in 45 years. In mid/later 1960s C.F.Martin and Gibson had truly dropped the ball on quality. Stuart and his crew showed that original Tried and true craftsmanship has always been the Recipe 🇺🇸
Hi brother man Dennis! I know there’s a lot of quality guitars out there, but you couldn’t be more right that it was destined for me. In fact, you own and have owned some of the finest ever made, so it means a lot coming from you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your constant support. Your insights are always spot on. I just couldn’t believe how well this one was maintained, structurally. The sound is sweeter than my ears have ever heard. I’m going to ask the Lord I’d I can bring it with me, when I go home, brother man 👍🏻
Incredible! Well done!
Appreciate that, sir 👍🏻
I had a 76 South Wind w Indian rosewood b & s and the vine/tree of life on the fret board. I got it in 94 and by 2013 it needed a neck reset
I got a divorce and badly needed cash so I sold it to Scott Baxendale who at the time had a shop in Athens Ga.
In 1976 or 77 the entire inventory of guitars were being stored in an unheated or cooled warehouse, as the company was being taken over by the Conn Musical Corp (if memory serves). Any way a hard freeze and some warm temps caused the lacquer tops to check significantly. Randy I bet your guitar was one of those, I know mine was.
Thanks for the video.
Hi Chris, I did talk to Scott about mine and he thought it was built after the fire in 75. The checking on mine is a bit different than I’m used to seeing, so you may be right about that. The South Wind was a beautiful guitar. I hate to hear about the divorce. Great to hear from you. What a legacy that Stuart left behind, brother man 👍🏻
You’re more than welcome and appreciate you as well.
I know I can't get the true experience of the sound on a video but what I heard sounds magnificent. When I watch you talk about this guitar I can see the excitement and love you have for it in your expressions and I can hear it in your voice. 😊 God bless you Randy 🙏
Hi Bruce, there are stories of people that just don’t deserve to die, and this is one of those stories. I really appreciate that you have the same passion, when it comes to a fine instrument. Thank you for the constant support, brother man 👍🏻
Wow that is a beautiful guitar!!!! Great story and info!!!! Thanks so much Randy!!!
Hi Ms J-Lyn, it’s a story that should never be forgotten. You are most welcome, ma’am 👍🏻
Thank you for this video. Stuart was an amazing man. His guitars also. I have had my Golden Era for 48 years. I will never sell it. It has been all over with me and shows its age a little, but still plays and sounds great! There aren't too many guitars that sound or play better.
Hi Mr Smith, a great testimony to a great luthier from someone who obviously knows guitars. The Golden Era is the cream of the crop, which is saying something considering the whole crop was something special. Thanks for sharing that, brother man 👍🏻
I have a Timber Creek and a Winter Wheat 12 string both from 1976.
I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I’ve had Timber Creek since new.
@@pmscalisi These are surely legendary guitars. I feel the exact same way that you do 👍🏻
Beautiful guitar my friend.
Garseeeus ameegus and poor favor, brother man 👍🏻
DANG !!!! So sweet sounding !
Thank you, brother man R 👍🏻
Just again very interesting and inspiring story…
Thank you very much, Daniel 👍🏻
I came here for you brother! Stayed for the American craftsmanship story. I like the sound of pretty much all these guitars you show. I don't believe I've heard of mossman guitars. That's cool if Scott initials that too.
Brother man Al, you are a kind and thoughtful friend. Thank you for the support! Mossman has quite a story to tell 👍🏻
So happy for you Randy. Especially after that whole Gibson purchase that didn't go so well.
That guitar sounds awesome. I would be very proud to have it too. It's a keeper my friend.
You couldn’t be more right, David! I really needed a home run here, and I certainly got one here. Thanks, brother man 👍🏻
Beautiful guitar!! Interesting history about Stuart Mossman.
Hi Ms Rose! Thank you so much. That story need never die. Feel free to share it. The guitar world today needs to know about Stuart Mossman 👍🏻
Wonderful video Randy. And beautiful playing. ❤
Hi Ms Brooke!! Great to see you here. Thank you so much. The documentary that I talked about is worth every second to watch, for a guitar player. You’ll be glued to it. This is a story that never need die, ma’am 👍🏻
Colonel , I want to thank you and Scott. I never heard of a Mossman guitar and you would think coming from Eastern Kentucky there would be at least one picker using it ,,, but then again it is Martin country !
We have a few builders around here now that are giving the Martins a run but they are like Stuart ,, small and most are one to two man shops. The 70`s brought out a lot of "Boutique" builders ,,,, Foot even Japan was building better guitars the Martin or Gibson.
I am sure thankful for Scott posting the documentary about Mossman ,,, if you love the guitar then you Must see what the was apart of !!
You are most welcome, Colonel Terry. I shudder to think what the guitar world would look like today, it folks like this hadn’t stepped out there. I appreciate you brother man 👍🏻
Your knowledge is truly impressive dear one... so calming listening to you... you always manage to keep our attention alive... this was super pleasant as always... guess you did right to get this guitar in ✌️🌹
Hi Ms Therese, thank you for that undeserved comment, ma’am. If I can hold someone’s attention as talented as you, then I’m smiling 😁
@@randysrhythm 🤗🌹
So informative Randy ,such an amazing story behind this . Super nice upload , Cool , never heard of this company 🎸🙌🙌🔥😎👍
Hi Steve, more folks should surely know this story! Thank you for the kind words, brother man 👍🏻
Thanks for sharing Randy
Thank you for checking it out. It’s a great story 👍🏻
@@randysrhythm welcome brother
Brother man, what a beautiful tribute.
I thought I knew most of the best brands, but you’ve opened me up to a whole new interest
Fantastic video! 😎🎸
Paulie like…Paulie want…
Brother man Paul! Thank you so much for the kind words. There’s a few on Reverb right now. They may require Scott’s hand to get them back up to speed, but a finer instrument I’ve never played, or heard 👍🏻
Cool and peaceful sound of guitar
Thank you
👍 Wonderful !🎵😀
Thank you 👍🏻
Amazing!
It really is, John. Thank you for watching the whole thing. More people need to know about this man and is legacy, brother man 👍🏻
@randysrhythm Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri I would run into a Mossman now and then. Always a respected guitar that I couldn't afford back then...and I was young and ignorant and thought that a guitar was a guitar. I knew of one about 2 hours away (a Tennessee Flattop) but I am afraid to look at it.I have several mahogany Martins and I bought two last year. Maybe if was a rosewood...
I need to be content with my state.
Thank you for what you do!
@@johnwashburn3793 I know, John, there are times when you just have to call it. If we just kept buying, we'd not only starve, but likely die alone 😂. If I never get another guitar in my life, I'm certainly now, content, brother man 👍
You are more than welcome, my friend. Getting to know the folks on this channel is the best part of this whole TH-cam thing.
20 years ago (about 2003-4 while living on Kauai, my friend, who was a European tile setter, had his business on Kauai. He had tiled Stuart’s house in mid seventies. Part of his payment was a Mossman Golden Era (76-3368) --my friend never played and asked if I’d be interested in the guitar as he enjoyed my playing. I knew of Stuart’s guitars and long story short acquired the guitar which I have today. There is more to the story but will leave it at this point. The guitar is hands down the best sounding and playing guitar --You’ve said that perfectly. I am fortunate and blessed to have this guitar and n possession. You’re review is much appreciated as the history of this man, his guitars and his story is so important. It was nice to see this as an actual recent Mossman review. Thank you again
@@PaulKoulbanis-nb3of Hi Paul, this was a fantastic story and exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to see in the comments. If at some point, I run across a Golden Era, you’ll certainly be hearing about it on this channel. Since you responded to an existing comment, if you don’t mind, I’d like to copy/paste your story into the description, if you don’t mind? I want others to see this. A wonderful story, brother man 👍🏻
Was that intro and outro from any particular song or just noodling around? It all sounds beautiful and it was awesome hearing a little history of that guitar and the hard-working folks that made it.
Hi Robert, that was just me noodling around. The next time we are together with our guitars, we need to take some of that and pair it with your very talented lyricist skills. Or, you can pick out what I did here and go ahead and do something with it. Thanks for the kind words, my friend 👍🏻
It sure was great to see you yesterday. My wife misses our son deeply and it was just like having him back home for an afternoon, brother man 👍🏻
I own an original Mossman, sn 71-077, and I have never heard or known a better guitar.
Hi Russ, it’s great to hear from another member of the club. I could not agree more with you, brother man 👍🏻. Thank you so much for sharing yours with us.
@@randysrhythm I know a LOT of other club members. I’m in Wichita, about thirty miles from Winfield. Many of my friends liked mine and had to have their own. I even know one guy that has a left-handed Golden Era.
@@rjwh67220 I see a Golden Era on Reverb right now. It’s all I can do to refrain from writing a check. What a guitar builder Stu was 👍🏻
My friend, Dale Tilley is playing Amazing Grace on TH-cam with a limited edition from Scott Baxendale. Very nice.
Hi Harry, I’ll check Dale out. Thanks very much for the info, brother man 👍🏻
Dale has two versions currently on TH-cam, one with the Baxendale and the other with his banjo. His is a very accomplished player. I personally have been around and played many Bobby Casey Mossman’s over the last 10 plus years. They are great guitars.
@@hsalaska Sorry for the delay, Harry. Bobby was quite talented, for sure. Appreciate you, brother man 👍
Mossman offered three bracing voices with his instruments. They were balanced (standard), overbalanced treble and overbalanced bass. I wonder if this particular guitar has one of of the optional voicing? It would be easy to tell by looking at the tone bars and lower sides of the x braces on the top.
That’s a beautiful sounding instrument!!
I have two Mossmans and wouldn’t trade them for anything. I’ve had one since new in 1976.
Hi Paul, I’ll take a look at that the next time I change the strings and let you know. You surely picked up some gems. I don’t think I’ve ever picked up a more balanced guitar in my life. The new owner, Mike, may also have the records of the serial numbers, so I may be able to find out there as well. Regardless, I have the best sounding guitar that I’ve ever played. Much appreciate your passion for these guitars, as that’s something we share. Hope to see more of you on the channel, brother man 👍🏻
nah don't worry about sweet on you tube, this guitar has sweet life oozing
Hi Leo, that was pretty funny, but rightly understood. Much appreciated, brother man 👍🏻
I came here due to Mr Bruce Harvey suggesting it.
Mr Bruce is a trusted ally. Appreciate you coming to visit.
Absolutely fantastic, magical sound, Randy!
Like a grabd piano.
Love the looks, but not the shovel headstock with awful 3rd and 4th tuner positions.
I highly suggest you install the open tuning machines to make the sound even more lively and rich. You'd remove 100-150 grams from the headstock and possibly improve dtring break angle over the nut.
If you're hesitant to customize this guitar in such fashion, there's an easy middle ground solution: swap heavy metal tuning buttons with wooden/plastic ones, it's literally a 10-20$ experiment.
You'll notice how the sound changed for the better. Then remember that replacing tuning machines would be even more impactful.
Hey brother man, great to hear from you. Yes sir, you’ve got some great insights there for sure. I think I’m going to keep this one all original, just because of its historical value. If it were any other guitar, I’d jump on what you’ve mentioned here. Alas, it means too much to me to alter the original work. However, everything you mentioned certainly has merit. Thanks so much for the kind words and support. It’s been a while, so hopefully everything is going well with you, brother man 👍🏻
@@randysrhythm Thank you for your kind words! All is good, thanks. :)
Try this out on some other guitar some day, you won't regret it.
@@randysrhythmMy Timber Creek’s Rotomatics started failing and I replaced the with Grover SX-510 tuners which are open gear direct replacements for Rotos. You do need to drill one screw hole per machine, though.
@@pmscalisi Appreciate the info. Someone went the extra mile on mine. Not only did they do a full neck reset, they went through everything else as well. If the tuners ever wear out, I’ll take your input and do the same 👍🏻
Nonsense...
I've never heard its equal .
Me neither, brother man 👍🏻
Hi, Randy This guitar has to much sustain, great for a instrumental ... but you can not sing with that much sustain, the guitar over powers the voice !
Hi Glen, it was originally designed to compete with the D-18 and primarily flat picking, I think. I do get your point though. It certainly will overpower vocals. If you ever hear me sing on this channel, this will be the guitar I use 😂. Appreciate the feedback, brother man 👍🏻