CheapGuitarStores.com "replica Chinese basses"

[Clark Dark]

I get where you're coming from, but on the other hand, people need to know that lots of counterfeits are out there. And, they're not just high end Fenders and Gibsons, but even less common and less expensive basses may be fakes. I learned in this tread that any used bass I might might looking at could be fake.

my God, they even copied
Gene Simmons Punisher
for shame

 

[buldog5151bass]

Oh how I wished this thread was about pedals
and how many of us own cross bred ones born of one individuals imagination
then ripped and rebranded goes on daily
lots of smiley faces Darknuss out! /

If a pedal maker uses intellectual property without permission, it is just as bad.

There is no grey here - either the property is protected intellectual property or it isn't.

 

[Clark Dark]

And we've been having
intellectual conversation

 

[lowplaces]

I get where you're coming from, but on the other hand, people need to know that lots of counterfeits are out there. And, they're not just high end Fenders and Gibsons, but even less common and less expensive basses may be fakes. I learned in this tread that any used bass I might might looking at could be fake.

Yes but we don't need the links to discuss fakes. And as noted the op could be spam...first post and all.

You are right about having to be careful these days. There are a lot of fakes out there. Especially 6 string guitars, both electric and acoustic.

 

[bobdabilder]

Don't think buying counterfeit is illegal. And no its not the same as buying stolen

Maybe not, but it's the same as knowingly buying stolen gear, because that's what it is. Go back through the thread and replace every instance of "counterfeit" or "replica" with "stolen" and see if that makes you feel any different. Because that is in effect what these are, stolen.

 

[bholder]

Don't think buying counterfeit is illegal. And no its not the same as buying stolen

Yes it is, you're buying stolen property either way. The only difference is whether that property is physical or intellectual, but theft is theft.

 

[bholder]

Don't think buying counterfeit is illegal. And no its not the same as buying stolen

And if you're buying directly from one of these overseas ripoff counterfeiters, you are the "importer of record" so yeah, you would be breaking the law and committing a crime by US law. The person doing the importing is the one who takes the fall, in this case, it's the buyer not the sender. Now, I believe punishment is usually limited to loss of confiscated goods, but I don't really know, stiffer penalties might be possible (but probably reserved for commercial purchasers rather than individual buyers).

 

[Wisebass]

Yes it is,

this: what I post is not about "I don't care if it is a copie" it's about law!!!

It is like having a stolen car: buy it - the cops will take it, money's gone!
buy it and you know it's stolen- makes it a crime, you can go to jail for that!

counterfeits: it is illegal to produce them, to sell them and to have them!!!
you buy them and you don't know: the cops will take them! money will be gone!
you buy them and you know: makes it a crime!
you buy you know and you ship them (federal laws in the US!!! FBI is going after you!!!) that's a lot of fun!
you buy not for you but for some friends and you ship them, makes it an organized crime! even more fun !!!(25 years for a 200 bucks bass!!!)

that's about the law ! (and this is not my humble opinion it' s just a fact!!!)

just don't do it!

Or do it but don't tell you didn't know (won't protect you it 's the law!!!)

may the real bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[buldog5151bass]

this: what I post is not about "I don't care if it is a copie" it's about law!!!

It is like having a stolen car: buy it - the cops will take it, money's gone!
buy it and you know it's stolen- makes it a crime, you can go to jail for that!

counterfeits: it is illegal to produce them, to sell them and to have them!!!
you buy them and you don't know: the cops will take them! money will be gone!
you buy them and you know: makes it a crime!
you buy you know and you ship them (federal laws in the US!!! FBI is going after you!!!) that's a lot of fun!
you buy not for you but for some friends and you ship them, makes it an organized crime! even more fun !!!(25 years for a 200 bucks bass!!!)

that's about the law ! (and this is not my humble opinion it' s just a fact!!!)

just don't do it!

Or do it but don't tell you didn't know (won't protect you it 's the law!!!)

may the real bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

Either people care, or they don't ...

 

[bholder]

this: what I post is not about "I don't care if it is a copie" it's about law!!!

It is like having a stolen car: buy it - the cops will take it, money's gone!
buy it and you know it's stolen- makes it a crime, you can go to jail for that!

counterfeits: it is illegal to produce them, to sell them and to have them!!!
you buy them and you don't know: the cops will take them! money will be gone!
you buy them and you know: makes it a crime!
you buy you know and you ship them (federal laws in the US!!! FBI is going after you!!!) that's a lot of fun!
you buy not for you but for some friends and you ship them, makes it an organized crime! even more fun !!!(25 years for a 200 bucks bass!!!)

that's about the law ! (and this is not my humble opinion it' s just a fact!!!)

just don't do it!

Or do it but don't tell you didn't know (won't protect you it 's the law!!!)

may the real bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

I looked it up - apparently, it is legal to import one counterfeit item, on the conditions that it must be for personal use only (ok so far) and must be personally accompanied by said importer. Meaning it's legal if you go to China and pick one up yourself and bring it back home with you. I'm pretty sure round trip airfare to China and back is going to outweigh any cost "savings". Having the item shipped to you is always a violation, apparently.

According to [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] dated January 24, 2000, "Customs officers shall permit any person arriving in the United States to import one article, which must accompany the person, bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar, or restricted gray market trademark, provided that the article is for personal use and not for sale."​

Yes, You May Legally Import Counterfeit Merchandise into the United States
Importing Counterfeit Trademarks - Customs Seizures & Penalties; Part 1 - Great Lakes Customs Law

 

[Clark Dark]

Vintage ????
or
Vantage ????

is it counterfeit if it isn't from the 'G' or 'E' company?

 

[bholder]

Vintage ????
or
Vantage ????

is it counterfeit if it isn't from the 'G' company?

Show us the headstock. Or ask Gibson's lawyers. I'm not personally familiar with whether Gibson trademarked their shapes or not, but they're copied enough that I suspect either they didn't or they've chosen not to try to enforce. If the headstock says Gibson and it ain't, then it ain't.

 

[bobdabilder]

No it's not.

And if you're buying directly from one of these overseas ripoff counterfeiters, you are the "importer of record" so yeah, you would be breaking the law and committing a crime by US law. The person doing the importing is the one who takes the fall, in this case, it's the buyer not the sender. Now, I believe punishment is usually limited to loss of confiscated goods, but I don't really know, stiffer penalties might be possible (but probably reserved for commercial purchasers rather than individual buyers).

 

[bholder]

No it's not.

See the links I posted. The US Customs folks seem to think you're wrong. You want to take the risk of crossing them, go ahead, just don't tell us you weren't warned. I'm sure lots of folks get away with it. Some do get caught.

 

[Clark Dark]

Show us the headstock. Or ask Gibson's lawyers. I'm not personally familiar with whether Gibson trademarked their shapes or not, but they're copied enough that I suspect either they didn't or they've chosen not to try to enforce. If the headstock says Gibson and it ain't, then it ain't.

I'll allow a mulligan on this one. I was in the midst of making my statement when my son called and needed to be picked up from school and I didn't want him waiting in what's going to be another Wisconsin flash snowstorm. I was going to say was it 'G' or 'E'.
It's okay for Epiphone and Gibson to interchange shapes and designs even share headstocks only changing the name, so what makes it right? Copying the headstock, the name, both, either ???
And where does that leave Heritage?
The example of the 335 is a Vantage guitar and it's well reviewed and cherished by quite a number of guitarists.

 

[bobdabilder]

Reading the links is one thing injecting your opinion into it is another.

See the links I posted. The US Customs folks seem to think you're wrong. You want to take the risk of crossing them, go ahead, just don't tell us you weren't warned. I'm sure lots of folks get away with it. Some do get caught.

 

[bholder]

Reading the links is one thing injecting your opinion into it is another.

How am I injecting opinion? There's legal and there's illegal. It's not a matter of opinion. Seems quite clear cut to me. Now, morals and ethics, yeah, that's venturing into opinion, but the law is the law.

 

[bholder]

I'll allow a mulligan on this one. I was in the midst of making my statement when my son called and needed to be picked up from school and I didn't want him waiting in what's going to be another Wisconsin flash snowstorm. I was going to say was it 'G' or 'E'.
It's okay for Epiphone and Gibson to interchange shapes and designs even share headstocks only changing the name, so what makes it right? Copying the headstock, the name, both, either ???
And where does that leave Heritage?
The example of the 335 is a Vantage guitar and it's well reviewed and cherished by quite a number of guitarists.

What makes it right between Gibson and Epiphone is that it's the same company.

Whether Vantage is legally infringing or not, I cannot tell you, that depends on Gibson. If they had faked the logo, though (as this Chinese company does), then there would be no question.

 

[bobdabilder]

Right and it is not illegal to purchase counterfeit items.

How am I injecting opinion? There's legal and there's illegal. It's not a matter of opinion. Seems quite clear cut to me. Now, morals and ethics, yeah, that's venturing into opinion, but the law is the law.

 

[bholder]

Right and it is not illegal to purchase counterfeit items.

Correct, it's just illegal to import them into the US, unless you're personally accompanying it. That's what the links clearly say. That's the law. You're fine if you leave the bass in China though. Have them send it to you here and you're violating the law.