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Post by Ragtop on Jan 24, 2021 18:31:51 GMT -5
I had been looking for many years for a nice Mossman, but pretty much gave up. They are scarce, and most are beat up and played to hell by now. Then this one popped up this morning in Loveland, about 3 hours away from me. It's an '83 Flint Hills model. The owner lived in Winfield, KS, where these were made, and he knew Stuart Mossman personally. So it's a 37-year old one owner. I couldn't resist. Talked on the phone for a while with the owner; nice guy, and his price was very reasonable. Making arrangements now to pick it up. So I'll be a Mossman owner after all these years, can't wait! fortcollins.craigslist.org/msg/d/masonville-stuart-mossman-custom-guitar/7266760340.html
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Post by windmill on Jan 24, 2021 19:29:12 GMT -5
Looking forward to hearing about it and it,of course.
Congratulations
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Post by Lefty Rev on Jan 24, 2021 23:48:02 GMT -5
That sounds like a great story of a great acquisition. Congrats!
I've always wanted to go to the Winfield Festival in September, but it's never worked out (September is one of a pastor's busiest months). Maybe after I retire I'll finally get there.
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Post by Ragtop on Jan 25, 2021 5:20:22 GMT -5
The seller said that he used to go to the festival every year back when it was small and cheap, and you could camp for free. This guitar has been to the festival several times, he said. Also, I Wiki'd Stuart Mossman, pretty interesting guy. Died at the age of 56. The seller is my age, so he would have been 28 when this guitar was built. He said he used to stop by the Mossman shop every few days to check on it, so he got to watch it get built. He's selling now after all these years because his hands are wrecked due to arthritis, and he can hardly play. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Mossman
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Post by jefe46 on Jan 26, 2021 11:24:23 GMT -5
Often these were better than the concurrent Martin.
Congrats.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Jan 27, 2021 1:26:03 GMT -5
That was an interesting read - thanks for the link.
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Post by Ragtop on Jan 29, 2021 5:51:50 GMT -5
Went road-tripping yesterday down to the Front Range. Hit Costco, Applejack (the finest liquor store in all the land), and picked up the Mossman in Loveland. Only played for an hour or so when I got home, and then I put it back in the case with a humidifier, it's a bit dry and has some fret sprout. The strings are ancient.
I think I scored big. It's a really nice guitar. Neck angle is fine, very little fret wear, nice old Grover tuners, pickguard is solid, bridge is tight. Gorgeous top, no cracks or crazing. All original.
Needs a new saddle is all. Has about 6 bad strum marks above and below the soundhole from some heavy-handed fool. A bit of playwear on the bottom side of the soundhole. The gloss finish is a bit cloudy on the back and the neck, must be polyester. Short finish crack at the top of the back. I'd call it "VG."
The guy said that Stuart Mossman built this one himself. That would seem to be correct, as the label inside is signed with his full name, not initials, and there are no other initials as was the custom on Mossman guitars. Everyone who had a hand in the build would put his/her initials on the label, but not this one.
I felt bad for the seller. He's the original owner, the guitar was built for him personally, and he was pretty sad to see it go. But he can't play anymore. I told him I'd give it a good home and play the heck out of it.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Jan 29, 2021 11:53:28 GMT -5
Very sad day for the seller. Did you give him a bottle of wine or scotch along with payment? (kidding)
You could always offer that in the (far, far) future, when it's time for you to let it go, you could contact him to see if he has a family member or friend who wants to buy it (back) from you...
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Post by Ragtop on Jan 29, 2021 12:03:42 GMT -5
mikey, I gave him a 30-day, no-questions-asked return/exchange policy. All he has to do is call.
He said he had a guy from Fairplay (next valley over from me) who called the day after I did, and has called every day since begging the seller to let him have it. Offered a couple hundred more for it. That guy had been shopping for a good Mossman for 20 years. But the seller honored our deal, and I gave him his asking price, didn't dicker one bit.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 6, 2021 5:13:17 GMT -5
Got it back yesterday, from Rocky Mountain Guitars. New bone saddle, ebony bridge pins, Elixir strings, a fret dress, and the fretboard oiled. Should be good for another 38 years.
It plays nice. Hope to play for a couple hours today to break those new strings in.
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Post by hushnel on Feb 6, 2021 14:34:41 GMT -5
Guitars that have their own story, my favorite kind. Nice score.
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Post by langford on Feb 7, 2021 23:28:45 GMT -5
Tell us more when you're ready, RagTop. I'd like to hear more.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 8, 2021 14:09:47 GMT -5
Will do, langford. I just ordered some D'Addarios in medium for it. It doesn't care for the Elixir Lights.
I should have known. Mossmans were built for .13s.
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Post by jefe46 on Feb 12, 2021 21:05:54 GMT -5
How about Mossman's history, the fire, the storage in Reno.. the sabotage..
I have my own opinions about that.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 13, 2021 6:25:55 GMT -5
It's all very interesting, jefe, but I only know the little bit I've read on Wikipedia. The fire was certainly a major disaster, as Mossman's supply of Brazilian rosewood went up in flames.
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moose0130
Wholenote
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Posts: 155
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Post by moose0130 on Feb 19, 2021 15:31:35 GMT -5
sounds amazing
Can you post a photo or two? Would love to see it.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 22, 2021 6:44:39 GMT -5
moose, I've never figured out how to post photos here. Sorry.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 22, 2021 18:15:00 GMT -5
I put the D'Addario XL PBs Mediums on it today, and those made a big difference. Louder and richer, and it plays better. Yep, made for .13s.
While the strings were off, I poked around inside. It DOES have a truss rod, which surprised me; it hides behind that first brace above the soundhole. And the bridgeplate is rosewood and in excellent condition.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Feb 23, 2021 12:20:44 GMT -5
While the strings were off, I poked around inside. It DOES have a truss rod, which surprised me; it hides behind that first brace above the soundhole. Sounds like Larrivee's old design for their truss rod as well... which required a special "J" shaped truss rod tool to use to adjust it. I suspect Mossman's had a similar tool... www.larrivee.com/shop/truss-rod-wrench
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Post by Lefty Rev on Feb 23, 2021 12:23:09 GMT -5
And the bridgeplate is rosewood and in excellent condition. Martin did a lot of rosewood bridge plates for years - interesting that now they're considered undesirable in relation to tone... Also interesting that Larrivee has used rosewood for the bridge plates on their L body guitars for many years...doesn't hurt their tone any, to my ears!
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 23, 2021 16:26:34 GMT -5
Interesting, did not know that. And that truss rod tool is what it would take.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Feb 24, 2021 18:32:58 GMT -5
Interesting, did not know that. And that truss rod tool is what it would take. Yes - as long as it is the right size (mm) to fit the truss rod...
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Post by LTB on Mar 2, 2021 18:45:36 GMT -5
Also, I Wiki'd Stuart Mossman, pretty interesting guy. Died at the age of 56. That is a cool Read? So how do you like it so far? I put the D'Addario XL PBs Mediums on it today, and those made a big difference. Louder and richer, and it plays better. Yep, made for .13s Well, I may have made a mistake. I had Sweetwater change the D'Addario PB .012-.053's to Elixer Nano PB .012-.053's as they sounded very good on my mom's 79 Tak F-349. Probably should have waited as some guitars are very picky about strings
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Post by Ragtop on Mar 7, 2021 5:51:22 GMT -5
Well, sad news, I'm going to let the Mossman go. Its neck is on the slender side of medium, and my arthritic left hand cramps up after playing it for 10 minutes or so. And then the right one goes out in sympathy. I need a big chunky neck these days. Too bad, it's a sweet guitar. Great flatpicker, and it fingerpicks nicely too. I'm linking my Craigslist ad because you guys wanted some photos. Lots of them there. Not trying to sell it here, but if you're interested I'll give you a nice MT2 discount. rockies.craigslist.org/msg/d/buena-vista-mossman-flint-hills/7286438761.html
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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2021 10:27:41 GMT -5
You can certainly sell it here if you wish. 😊
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Post by Ragtop on Mar 7, 2021 11:18:52 GMT -5
Leftee, I've tried 2-3 times. All these rockers here, they don't care about acoustic guitars.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2021 14:14:27 GMT -5
If you want I’ll twist arms.
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Post by LTB on Mar 7, 2021 23:39:40 GMT -5
Leftee, I've tried 2-3 times. All these rockers here, they don't care about acoustic guitars. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I would put it on several sites
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Post by Ragtop on Mar 8, 2021 6:07:01 GMT -5
I will, eventually. I have good luck with the AGF and Reverb.
A local trade would be ideal, my Mossman for something nice with a chunky neck.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Mar 9, 2021 11:58:39 GMT -5
A local trade would be ideal, my Mossman for something nice with a chunky neck. What about the other guy who was interested (locally) when you bought it? Or has he already moved on to something else?
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