Neal Moser
Encyclopedia
Neal Moser is an Arizona
-based luthier
.
He began his career with guitar
s in 1964. He worked in the guitar industry beginning with Vox
in 1965, until he went into the Navy
in 1966. After finishing his tour in 1969 he worked at West Coast Organ and Amp as a guitar repairman. While there he worked on the instruments of many musicians including guitars belonging to Jimi Hendrix
, Stephen Stills
, David Crosby
, Roger McGuinn
(Byrds), Vanilla Fudge
. Later he worked for Barney Kessels Music World in Hollywood where Neal continued doing guitar repair.
He came to the attention of Bernardo Rico in 1974. At this time he modified his present electronic design to accommodate B.C. Rich
guitars. While working as an independent contractor with B.C. Rich Neal designed the B.C. Rich "RICH BICH" which became popular and is still being built. "I feel fortunate to have worked with Bernie Rico, Wayne Charvel
, and a host of other talented luthier
s and players". Shortly after leaving B.C. Rich he designed what is now known as the Virgin Guitar for Class Axe in New Jersey
, who had acquired B.C. Rich by this time.
After leaving B.C. Rich in 1985, Neal met Lee Garver and agreed to join forces with Lee. Lee Garver owns GMW Guitar Works. The GMW stands for Garver, Moser and Wizard. GMW is noted for guitars which are hand-made and painted. For over 10 years Neal, Lee and Dan created Moser Guitars which were shown at the NAMM Show
in Los Angeles
from 1986-1998. At that time Neal Moser retired.
He came out of retirement in 2002 to help start the Moser Custom Shop, owned by Earlleen Lloyd. Moser Custom Shop built guitars designed by Neal Moser, Rodney McGlothlin, Dan Fastuca, Ken Patin (formerly of Yavcon Guitars) and a number of other individual designers. Endorsees of MCS include Ol Drake
(Evile
) and many more.
In 2010 Neal Moser moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona. In 2011 he opened his own shop under the name Neal Moser Guitars. There he continues to build world class custom guitars and teach custom neck-through guitar building classes. He also does repair and refurbishing of vintage BC Rich guitars.
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
-based luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
.
He began his career with guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s in 1964. He worked in the guitar industry beginning with Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
in 1965, until he went into the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
in 1966. After finishing his tour in 1969 he worked at West Coast Organ and Amp as a guitar repairman. While there he worked on the instruments of many musicians including guitars belonging to Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
, David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
, Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
(Byrds), Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
. Later he worked for Barney Kessels Music World in Hollywood where Neal continued doing guitar repair.
He came to the attention of Bernardo Rico in 1974. At this time he modified his present electronic design to accommodate B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently, most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C....
guitars. While working as an independent contractor with B.C. Rich Neal designed the B.C. Rich "RICH BICH" which became popular and is still being built. "I feel fortunate to have worked with Bernie Rico, Wayne Charvel
Charvel
Charvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
, and a host of other talented luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
s and players". Shortly after leaving B.C. Rich he designed what is now known as the Virgin Guitar for Class Axe in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, who had acquired B.C. Rich by this time.
After leaving B.C. Rich in 1985, Neal met Lee Garver and agreed to join forces with Lee. Lee Garver owns GMW Guitar Works. The GMW stands for Garver, Moser and Wizard. GMW is noted for guitars which are hand-made and painted. For over 10 years Neal, Lee and Dan created Moser Guitars which were shown at the NAMM Show
NAMM Show
The NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from 1986-1998. At that time Neal Moser retired.
He came out of retirement in 2002 to help start the Moser Custom Shop, owned by Earlleen Lloyd. Moser Custom Shop built guitars designed by Neal Moser, Rodney McGlothlin, Dan Fastuca, Ken Patin (formerly of Yavcon Guitars) and a number of other individual designers. Endorsees of MCS include Ol Drake
Ol Drake
Ol Drake is the lead guitarist of English thrash metal group, Evile.-Biography:...
(Evile
Evile
Evile is a thrash metal band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Their debut album, Enter the Grave, was produced by Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark and was released worldwide in 2007 by Earache Records to critical acclaim by fans and critics...
) and many more.
In 2010 Neal Moser moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona. In 2011 he opened his own shop under the name Neal Moser Guitars. There he continues to build world class custom guitars and teach custom neck-through guitar building classes. He also does repair and refurbishing of vintage BC Rich guitars.