Mosrite was an American guitar manufacturing company, based in Bakersfield, California, from the late 1950s to the early 1990s.

Semie Moseley started playing guitar in an evangelical group in Bakersfield, California, at age 13.

One of the most recognizable features on most Mosrite guitars is the "German Carve" on the top that Moseley learned from Rossmeisl.

By 1956, with an investment from Ray Boatright, a local Los Angeles Foursquare Gospel minister, Semie and Andy started their company, Mosrite of California.

[2] When they began, their production was all custom, handmade guitars, built in garages, tin storage sheds, wherever the Moseleys could put equipment.

[2] In 1959, Andy moved to Nashville, Tennessee, for a year to popularize the Mosrite name and sold a few, including to Grand Ole Opry entertainers and road musicians.

[2] Moseley made guitars in Los Angeles until 1959, when he moved to Oildale, California, just north of Bakersfield.

[3] Mosrite of California went bankrupt in late 1968 after they contracted with the Thomas Organ Company to market their guitars.

After this, they tried to deal directly with stores, and they sold 280 guitars in 1969 before they came to the shop one day in February and found their doors pad-locked.

[2] Two years after his bankruptcy, Semie was able to get back the Mosrite name, and in 1970 he started making guitars again in Pumpkin Center near Bakersfield.