Mossman Guitars- Identification & Registry

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Photo Courtesy of Fanny’s House of Music

<aside> 💡 Mossman guitars are considered to be some of the better handcrafted instruments from the 70s and 80s. In direct competition with other high-end brands, Stuart Mossman's guitars could be rightfully compared to Michael Gurian who was also active around the time time period. In fact, it is our opinion that Gurians are to fingerpicking what Mossmans are to flatpicking. Mossman combined high-quality workmanship with great attention to detail to create some of the finest guitars of his era and helped to pioneer the small factory guitar.

Our guide and database is really the work of many individuals who have kindly sent in information and given us permission to amalgamate the results of their toil into as comprehensive a guide/database/registry as possible. We have of course added information from our own experience and research to further improve the existing knowledge on hand.

• A big shout out to Dennis Schut for his list of Mossmans.
• This guide/database/registry is by no means complete & we would appeal for your help if you should own a Mossman or have information to share!
• Please email: [email protected]
• It would be ideal if you had the model name and serial number.... and if you had any photos or stories to share!
• Come join our facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mossmanguitars

Appraisals

• If you would like an appraisal, I'd be happy to help. email: [email protected]
• I have historical data going back to 2000 and can provide a professional appraisal service for insurance etc.
• This is priced at USD$30. I ask for:
  • Front and back photos of the instrument (required). Additional photos can be uploaded in order to include detailed photos if necessary. Please limit file size to 25MB.
  • Serial and model number
  • Description of modifications, repairs and other issues not apparent from photos
  • Email address
  • Paypal payment is accepted.

Contents

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Updates

10/11/23- guitars added 5/11/23- Website reconstituted 30/7/21- Added more guitars to database, general information updated, contents added. 1/12/20- Added more guitars to database 20/9/19- Photos added, more guitars added into database. Special thanks to Willis Pracht and Dennis Schut who provided additional information and materials 31/8/19- Photos added, quotes refined, more guitars added to the database 2019- We're on facebook now! Do drop by and say Hi!

Preamble

Sam Ontjes, Jimmie Driftwood and Stuart Mossman. I believe this is taken at the festival Stu and Sam attended that (festival/show) was put on by Jimmie Driftwood. They Walnut Valley Festival was spawned during their return trip to Winfield. Photo courtesy of Willis Pracht.

Stuart Mossman and Mossman Guitars: a brief timeline....

• 1961-65: Starts building classical guitars. According to the now-defunct official Mossman Guitars website, he designs and builds close to 50 prototypes in Winfield, Kansas.
• 1966: Mossman shows his guitar to Doc Watson. Mossman uses Watson's feedback to improve his guitars (Kansas City Star, September 22, 1974)
• 1969: Mossman shows another guitar to Doc Watson at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Watson uses it on stage and reportedly tells Mossman it was the "second-best guitar he'd ever played." (Kansas City Star, September 22, 1974)
• 1970: S.L. Mossman Guitars is established at Strother's Field near Winfield. Solid wood construction is a big selling point for Mossman who lamented the use of laminates in acoustic guitars.
• 1974: Production numbers 8 to 10 per day. This is the maximum Mossman felt he could personally inspect.
• 1975: The employees at the shop increase to 25. Office staff number 5 with a production manager and the remainder craftspersons in the shop. Most are under the age of thirty, with the exception of Stuart Mossman, who is thirty-two.
• 1975: Fire in the finishing area destroys the entire stock of Brazilian Rosewood. The company is able to bounce back with the aid of a government-backed loan and production is increased to 150 instruments a month to meet a distribution deal with C.G. Conn Company. However, 1,200 guitars are damaged due to inappropriate storage in a Nevada warehouse. A disagreement over responsibility for the damage results in a lawsuit and cash flow problems for the company.
• September 1977: Kansas City Star reports Mossman seeks buyer for the company after forced to lay off 52 workers.
• 1979: The few remaining people produce a small number of instruments a month. The address on the catalogue now read 2101 East Ninth Street, Winfield Kansas 67156.
• 30 December 1983: Stuart Mossman writes to Frets to announce his retirement from lutherie due to a sensitivity to glues and lacquers. In the same letter, he makes special thanks to Dan Crary and John Denver for their support.