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Desert,
Re: the current 'Hitchhiker' model.
About 5-6 years ago I saw this axe up close and personal with Nokie Edwards and Steve Erickson at a charity event in New York. Being the curious type, I asked who made it.. I could not get an answer.. I know Bob Sickler, the designer of the axe, and asked him and I think he said it was (top) secret (??!!).. i.e. Nokie didn't want to divulge the maker.

The axe (yes I played Nokie's axe at the charity event.. nice of him, wasn't it?) plays nice and, at the time I could have ordered one for about 2 grand.. but the unknown manufacturer bit bothered me - so I didn't take the plunge.
If I could honestly be informed as to WHO MAKES IT.. I might still take the plunge. I just don't like UNKNOWNS. (It's suppose to be an American maker - so maybe Charvel, Jackson? - I think we can eliminate Fender, Gibson..etc.
I've also read a few stories on the web about finish/electronics problems with the 'Hitchiker' axe. For 2+grand.. I don't want problems - hence wanting to know who makes it. I've even heard rumors that Ed Roman was cranking them out. That's a BIG NEGATIVE. I wouldn't buy a pick from Ed Roman.

One the other hand... I also own a Nokie Edwards Mosrite model.. signed by Semie (and Nokie at the event)..circa 1988-1992. It's a white sparkle with maple fretboard, a different body cut from the regular Mosrites and having a sidejack ( I recall that Steve Erickson's number 0002 was a top jack). I found it in a Music store in Nashville,TN - gathering dust!! The dealer was happy to unload it to me for a whopping $1,000.00. This was spring 1992.. Semie passed away that late summer, I think, and the dealer actually called me back asking if I wanted to sell it. Hmmm.. NO! I still have the axe. It may go in the ground with me.

Desert..
I really don't think Nokie owns any guitar factories. If you ever find out who makes the Hitchhiker, I'd appreciate your letting me know. It might mean a sale to Nokie.
I know the pickups are special Seymour Duncans-- Nokie did divulge the pickup maker at this charity event I mentioned. I just can't understand what the big secret/mystery is on who put the guitar together.
Again, for 2 grand of my hard earned money, I think I have the right to know who makes my axe. I know who made my other guitar pieces. But maybe that's just quirky me.

JM

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Desert,
Did a little more digging. A representative of Rock Creek Guitars says AT ONE TIME they were licensed to build the HitchHiker. But apparently that fell through and Nokie is apparently now having them made overseas (i.e. China, Korea, Taiwan..elsewhere other than the US.. bastions of cheap and not always good labor). If that's the case, it kind of makes you wonder if the Wilson Bros Guitar overseas manufacturer is involved. (God, I hope not)
I hope your axe has a low serial number.. if so, it was probably made here in the U.S. several years back..
Do you like ambiguous??(i.e wondering where your guitar was made). I sure as hell don't.
So, perhaps I've opened some topic of discussion for you and Mr. Edwards at CAAS in July.
I'm still digging up info on this guitar and where it's made now and where it was ORIGINALLY MADE (i.e. the ones with the low serial numbers).

And if the info is out there in cyberland, I WILL FIND OUT...

Desert... I'm going to say this as best I can - with carefully chosen words, I hope.
I, like many readers here on SG101, have been influenced by Nokie.. no doubt about it - that's his celebrity. BUT...people are people.. and people have their faults.. (I, for example, have a nasty habit of speaking my mind). So, you might want to put his celebrity aside for the moment and view getting your axe from him as a business transaction (I sure as hell would) and did you get what you (think) you paid for from the person you did business with?
I love the guitars built by Semie Moseley(no surprise) .. but from what I've heard (from close associates) and read about him, I wouldn't have gone near him on a business deal... too much snake oil.. know what I mean?
The 'undisclosed sum' you paid for your Hitchhiker was probably not insignificant, I'm sure. So, you might want to press Nokie for details about it. Hazy, fuzzy or NO answers are a red flag.

I'd love to be wrong... but the manufacturing, marketing and pricing of this axe leaves a bit too much in doubt for me.

Stay tuned.. Be well..
JM

Desert & other interested parties.

From Rock Creek Guitars in Washington state, I got this reply:

" The Hitchhiker Guitar is now being produced by the Aria Guitar Co. in
Japan. Rock Creek Guitar Co. is currently designing a similar all American model as a tribute to the Moderate/ Edwards guitar.
Watch our website for further updates. "

That's quite a departure from the 2005 article I posted on this forum which stated Rock Creek Guitars was to make them.. that's 2 YEARS AGO. What happened?

Further food for thought..

Getting a guitar made in Japan nowadays is NOT cheap. Their labor costs are on par with ours in the US. Shipping and import duties add to the cost. Have you priced a Japanese made Gretsch lately?? Not cheap! There may be further export/import restrictions in the government pipes also with regard to the sale of tonewoods and instruments.. Not good.

For this and other reasons,
I would not count on the Hitchhiker being manufactured either here or abroad.
From what I know from friends, enemies, associates, and from looking under rocks, Nokie is now more or less an itinerant musician. Last I heard, he currently does not have an actual real estate type address. His address is where he parks his RV. Doing business that way is tough to impossible. If you look at Nokie's website, you'll see that the price of the Hitchhiker is not mentioned.. it USED to be! All this points to the distinct possibility that the delivery time of an actual Hitchhiker guitar, at present, is an INDEFINITE value. i.e. I don't think it's in actual production now. It was at one time... and I'll be getting the name of who made it 3-5 years ago --- sooner or later.
Maybe Nokie can clear some of this up at CAAS.. I'll keep a good thought.
BTW.. I'd love to be wrong.. Anyone know different?
--- JM

Badash..
How does one - if it ever comes to it - reclaim lost funds (as in a lawsuit) if the other party is bouncing around the country? Yeah, wireless internet is great, but I (and I think most of the world still) wants to deal with bricks and mortar - i.e. a REAL street address - when doing business.
This guitar has been in the 'buzz' for 5+ years. It's a great guitar.. I can attest to that having seen it 5 years ago. I am rather certain that the original maker (from 5 years ago) no longer makes them. Rock Creek Guitars of WA. was suppose to start cranking them out 2 years ago. (see article I posted for Desert earlier in this forum). And the response I got from them doesn't inspire confidence. That's a red flag to me.
But - Maybe there are others in SG101 that know someone who got one RECENTLY?
Nokie is still a big deal in Japan... someone there keeps bringing him back year after year. If Aria ever does make a Nokie model, figure it stays in Japan.. i.e. not for export to the US.

Badash..
Point taken.. but there is a significant difference between your discussion of Mr. McGinn and Mr. Edwards..
That being:
Mr McGinn is just selling himself, essentially - bookings, CDs, portable mercahndise..etc... piece of cake from any home, an RV, a cave..
But.. Mr. Edwards, going beyond the above, is also selling an (expensive) product that has to be manufactured - somewhere. This in addition to selling his services and portable merch as Nokie Edwards.
Mr. McGinn has (or had) a Rickenbacker 12 string model named after him. He gets a royalty, I trust, from Rickenbacker - a known guitar company. Mr. Edwards is having the HH built by ???... it was someone 5+ years ago, then it was Rock Creek Guitars two years ago, then Aria, and now==> ??
This Hitchhiker guitar has been in a state of flux for at least two years (maybe more) with regard to it's manufacture according to my fact digging. Would you fork over a 4 figure chunk of cash for a guitar that hasn't had a point of origin for at least 2 years??

Puzzling, isn't it??
Has anyone out there in SG101 land taken delivery of a Hitchhiker in the last year or so??..
JM