Try typing "hitchiker guitar" in the search bar above and you're sure to find some stuff in relation to said guitar and welcome aboard.

Wow, that is quite a bit of coin for a guitar! (About the price of a museum-quality vintage Ventures model Mosrite... drool.) Did you happen to ask around on the Mosrite Forum? I think I saw someone else there with the same problem a while back; that wasn't you, was it?

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Hey Rogdodge, there are a number of folks that have purchased Hitchhiker guitars from Nokie on the Underground Fire yahoo group. They can tell you their experiences. Join that group at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/undergroundfire2/

-Marty

"Hello Girls!"

Last edited: Feb 05, 2013 17:41:09

Rogdodge -
Allow me to relate a real life sobering experience. This one involved the late, great Bill Gruggett (RIP). In 2000, I went to Los Angeles on business. I brought along a valuable cache of Mosrite parts. This included an expensive (even then) VIBRATMUTE tremolo and bridge, a half round nut, stock "no-'R'" stamp pickups, and N.O.S. smooth knobs.
I drove to Bakersfield with the parts - and a case - and ordered a custom setneck 1963 Ventures model in white with black binding. I supplied all the parts, Bill was to do the body, neck and paint work. I was given a 4-6 month time-to-complete.
4-6 moths elapsed...no communication from Bill ... when 12 months elapsed, I got very concerned. Phone calls weren't returned. (That, incidentally, just pisses me off) I finally tracked down Bill's son and he got Bill on the phone.
A litany of health problems/reasons/excuses... you name it, followed. I didn't think any the less of Bill but I was thinking "If this guy passes on, I'm going to be standing in line as a creditor to his estate - 3000 miles away."
I had to keep pressing him for completion time. No harsh words spoken, but I had to know that Bill was focused on completing my guitar. Payment was half down- the remaining half on completion + shipping costs.
I finally got the guitar 16 months after ordering it. I'd never go through that again. No one was being dishonest, things happen, people get anxious when there is no communication and one gets the sense that time may not be on their side when completion is not imminent.

I still have the guitar. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I do all I've related again? Absolutely not.
J Mo'

Rog,
I'm a bit curious.. Nokie's web site looks like it hasn't been updated in months..no mention of he Hitchhiker on it. I also can't find any website for U.S. California made Hitchhiker guitars via google or yahoo. All I see is the ARIA website. Did you happen to ask Nokie where your guitar is being made and by whom? I'm thinking a company without a website today is like a car without an engine.
Nokie was very secretive 10-12 years ago when the first Hitchhikers were made by the Charvel custom shop. The guitar cost $2,000.0 at the time but, in speaking with Nokie at a charity event back then, cynical- careful-with-his-money me sensed a red flag when I couldn't get a straight answer from him as to who was building the guitar. So I declined to commit the funds. I only found out later it was Charvel. I got my model only years later from someone else who took the gamble.

So who is making these now in California? Big mystery?
J Mo'

Rog,
Thinking realistically, thinking the worst - take your pick:
Don't be surprised if your guitar doesn't materialize from California and Nokie or Judy tells you that ARIA guitars will be building it instead -possibly at additional cost(to you).
Hope I'm wrong.. keep us posted.
J Mo'

I want to let everyone know that HitchHiker is alive and well. I received mine in March from the company that handmakes them in Camarillo, CA so they are definitely USA made. I have been waiting for a while, mine was ordered before there was even talk of Nokie's new tremelo. I would include a pic if I new how...I am new to this forum...I also own a 1986 USA handmade Mosrite Ventures Model re-issue signed on the back of the headstock by Semie. That I just keep in a case for display. Nokie and Judy say that they should have a page up on their website sometime in April or May, and will also sell the HH at performances. Like I said I am very happy, and the case that comes with it fits it like a glove! If I can figure out how to attach a picture (may need some help) I will. I can answer any question if you'd like....

I too am new to this forum and only joined to add my 2 cents about Nokie after reading all the negative about him.
I don't know him well but was honored with the privilege of meeting and talking to him a few times. One of those times convinced me that the rest of the world would be a better place if everyone's moral integrity was even close to Nokie's.....period!
8 years ago my brother did exactly what some of you did,...he handed Nokie a handful of money for a Hitchiker and waited,...and waited, then waited some more. He no doubt view the wait differently than most, ... he saw it as an opportunity to develope a dialog with his guitar idol that once never dreamed he'd even meet let alone get in loved with! I have to believe most of you feel a little that way too or you'd have spent your money on someone else's guitar. Anyway, I think my brother was actually a little sorry when he finally got his guitar, ... not because he didn't love it, talk to it and probably slept with it, but because he cherished the dialog just as much.
I was with him the day he received his guitar and that is why I can say without reservation that Nokie is the most stud up guy I've ever met. After waiting the same approximate time as the rest of you, Nokie called my brother and informed that not only did he have his guitar but as luck would have it, he'd be playing near his home town and could band deliver it!
Nokie showed up on schedule and after the show I accompanied my brother into Nokie's motorhome!!! Nokie disappeared into the bedroom to retrieve "the HitchHiker. My brother and I sat in Nokie's chairs, petting Nokie's cat,Jake, and giggled like 2 teen girls meeting Elvis, while we waited for Nokie to return.
Life could never get any better than that right? ....wrong!
After my brother and I had driven back to our respective homes I got a call from my brother. He was now even more exited than when we were in the motorhome! He said,... bro! ... You'll never guess the serial number of this guitar!... NE 0001, Nokies very own personal guitar! The one he toured the world with for years, the one he played on countless instructional videos, etc. Nokie himself understood he was keeping my brother waiting too long and at probably great pain but without reservation, gave him his own personal guitar! Ater witnessing that, anyone is going to have a tough time convincing me that Nokie is anything less than a stand up guy.
My brother and I jokingly had an agreement that if he "goes first" I get his guitars, and if I go first he gets mine.
A few months ago I took possession of NE 001, along with a couple of his mosrites and I'll be forever grateful to Nokie for honoring my brother with his friendship while he was here.
RIP bro.

6stringfogger, I am sure there are a thousand ways you would have preferred to come into possession of NE 0001. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Thank you for sharing the story of your brother and his relationship with Nokie Edwards. It also explains why Nokie suddenly started touring with a different guitar.

Back when Nokie got sick, many members of sg101 expressed great concern and sincere wishes for his recovery.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Dec 15, 2014 13:42:18

JohnnyMosrite wrote:

It's just the nature of being human...
But I'd very much like to be wrong - someday.
J Mo'

It's illusions that make life liveable and sometimes fun. The electric guitar is as much about illusions as music, and that's why we care about its appearance. Does angling a neck pickup change anything but illusions, especially when we mostly use the bridge pickup?

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Dec 15, 2014 19:54:23