Today I am constructing a sturdy shipping crate that will be used to ship my Mosrite Joe Maphis Model 1 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This article is not much about woodworking but more about my first hand account with the guitar trade between Randy Bachman and Roy Herman in 1968.
Over years since the trade, Roy and I talked frequently about the trade and events before and after and in may ways how it affected the lives of many people, including Randy Bachman who received Roy's Gibson Les Paul, and went on to create an amazing music career and a stunning list of well know songs, using the Gibson Les Paul, that have formed a Rock and Roll music legend. Here is story of the unknown, Mosrite Guitar that was central in this trade.
I first me Roy, along with a few other friends when we all began attending high school together. My family had recently relocated to Nanaimo and I was a newcomer and working at making new friends. There was a group of us that chummed around together including Mike, Les, Roy and Kim. Just a group of high school guys nothing outstanding. Roy was the only one in the group with music talent and even played is some-time make up bands, which we all enjoyed attending to watch Roy and group entertain us.
Below: Roy Herman playing the Gibson Les Paul at a community get-together (circa 1967)
In the fall of 1968 a new Canadian rock band was being promoted on local radio stations on their inaugural Western Canada tour, which also included the city of Nanaimo. The band was being called Guess Who or The Guess Who and many wondered if this was a play on words from a radio station or the actual name of the band.
Below: Early Picture of the Guess Who (circa 1967 or early 1968)
Roy Herman suggested we attend this event in down town Nanaimo, to which I agreed. Roy picked me up in his mother's car, and as we drove into town he told me that another friend ours, Craig Abbott, and his local garage band “Lemon” was the backup band for the Guess Who. Roy went on to say that he had lent the use of his 1959 Gibson Les Paul to Craig for the evening.
When we arrived the band Lemon was already playing, and the Branch 10 Legion on Wallace Street was already getting qute packed with people. Roy and I shuffled in and found a place about 20 feet away from the band. A few songs later, Lemon gave up the stage to the Guess Who and their sets began. During the Guess Who’s first break, Craig came over to Roy to tell him that one of the Guess Who band members was interested in Roy’s Les Paul guitar. Roy followed Craig to meet up with that band member, who turned out to be Randy Bachman. After they had been gone a several minutes, I manoeuvred my way through the crowd and over to where there was a a number of people gathered around a what appeared to be a couple of guitars displayed on the floor. Shortly I watched Roy, who was semi kneeling pick up, and while still kneeling, begin playing one of them. I retreated back to my location and a few moments later Roy came back. He told me one of the band members wants my Les Paul but their vehicle broke down so he doesn’t have any money and wants to do an even trade me for another guitar, what do you think? I told Roy, “I have no idea, I don’t know enough about guitars and don’t really know what to tell you”.
Roy stood their for a few moments, then went back to the where the band members were located. Shortly Roy returned and the Guess Who restarted playing their next set, and the night and music proceeded on. On the ride home Roy told me that he didn’t know what to do with regard to the trade, but that he quite liked the Mosrite that was being offered. He told me that he had left Craig in charge of what to do about the trade.
The next day, Sunday, Roy was to go over to Doug Hastings home, where the band Lemon was in a practice session that day, when Roy arrived, there was the Mosrite in the case, laid out on the floor like a show piece.
In the following years, Roy played that Mosrite in a couple of garage bands he was a member of and the legend of the trade became something of local folklore. Roy and I remained good friends up until his sudden death Oct 9, 2023. Over the years we had many coffees and lunches the trade of guitars was almost always discussed or at least mentioned during these times.
One of the locals who also attended that Guess Who premier was Larry Kulai. Another long time guitar player and also a member of a number of local garage bands. Larry took special interest in both guitars, particularly the Les Paul and did a deep dive into tracing it’s history.
Because of Larry’s efforts, he was able to get Roy, together with Rand Bachman, in 2018, the 50th anniversary year of guitar trade. Roy and Randy met back stage at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo, BC. Roy brought the Mosrite to show Randy and pictures of the two of them were taken at this meeting.
Below: Roy Meeting with Randy Bachman backstage 2018
Below: Randy Bachman Looking Over the Roy's Mosrite Guitar
All of Roy’s friends and myself were both shocked and saddened by Roy’s unexpected passing due to stroke. I had briefly seen and talked with Roy only a few days before. Roy and I had been friends for 57 years.
Below: Colin Knecht (left), Craig Abbott & Larry Kulai
Roy's estate was assigned a government appointed administrator to settle assets and belongings where needed.
After many, many months, after contacting the appointed administrator, I was able to legally purchase the guitar from the estate, with the goal to have it preserved somewhere, where other people would be able to see it, and hear the true story of the trade. I gifted this guitar to the Rock and Roll History in 2025 where at this writing, it is awaiting it's display place at the museum.. A guitar traded by Randy Bachman of the Guess Who and Bachman, at the very beginning of Randy’s long and successful musical career.
The Mosrite Guitar is now a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and will become a part of their extensive collection, in memory of Roy Herman who kept and preserved this guitar all these years.
I want to thank two individuals who provided support and history to this process, Larry Kulai and Craig Abbott. I am grateful to everyone who helped me accomplish this final home for original Bachman Mosrite guitar.
Colin Knecht