Fender Decals On Non-Fender Basses

[Muddslide]

I've considered having custom decals made from time to time. Personally, I like plain, blank headstocks just fine.

I wouldn't re-brand a bass as a Fender specifically, but I like the decals that are variations on the Fender logo like Fecker or Ferden.

I am thinking of doing something like that in the future--making the headstock look like it has a Fender logo, but any quick examination would reveal it was a variant or play on words and not trying to be passed off as te "real deal."

Just a means of making it more unique and personal.

 

[12stringbassist]

I quite like the idea (above) of 'parody name' decals. That's honest.

A Fender logo doesn't make a Squier bass into a Fender.
As good as some Squiers can be, if you think it does, you're an idiot.

Passing a bass off to a buyer that isn't what it is badged as is plain wrong.
Misrepresentation. Fraud.

I'll be using a Squier P tomorrow night (plus a Ric and possibly a uSA Fender Jazz).
MY Squier says 'Squier' on the headstock and I would bever dream of ever changing it.

 

[Zeb Norris]

So.....

I recently got involved in a zeppelin tribute. May take off, may not, we'll see in a month.

Bought a highway one jazz. Didn't like it. Returned it. Bought three actually, one was busted, sold the other two, returned the busted one. I know you care, that's why I'm tellin it.

The guitar guy we got for this zeppelin thing is Page insane, zoso on his amp, 2X neck sg, les paul, page costumes... got me thinking I may have to dress the part and get me a Jazz bass after all. Started searching for Fender decals on ebay. Didn't find any Jazz decals. I really wanted to buy a squier, knock off the squier logo, and put fender. Why? Well first, because I like squiers better than fenders, but second and more importantly - because I'D WANT PEOPLE TO THINK IT WAS A FENDER, and not give me crap about playing a squier. Especially in this particular situation. Would it have a been a wrong thing to. Yes. It's dishonest. BUT I WOULDN'T CARE. People do many much worse things. If I ever sold it would I say it was a Fender? Of course not. Unless the person buying it was really stupid and I could get like $300 more... just kidding. It's lame to try and pass is off as the real thing, but I'd label it as such just as easily as I'll wear a wig for this tribute.

Eventually wound up changing my mind about all this and reorded the highway one...

My point in this post is a little more clear to me. And I think most will agree. Do what you gotta do if you feel you gotta do it. Just quit the BS, quit trying to justify it, and never sell it as anything other than what it is. I think if everyone agreed to that the arguments here would be over.

I DO think looking the part for a tribute band is a legit reason to put a Fender decal on a non-Fender Bass.

Leaving it on while selling it is another story.

 

[arsie]

So.....

I recently got involved in a zeppelin tribute. May take off, may not, we'll see in a month.

...The guitar guy we got for this zeppelin thing is Page insane, zoso on his amp, 2X neck sg, les paul, page costumes... got me thinking I may have to dress the part and get me a Jazz bass after all. Started searching for Fender decals on ebay. Didn't find any Jazz decals. I really wanted to buy a squier, knock off the squier logo, and put fender

...It's lame to try and pass is off as the real thing, but I'd label it as such just as easily as I'll wear a wig for this tribute.

Eventually wound up changing my mind about all this and reorded the highway one...

I guess the general idea is that its OK to wear a wig and dress up like John Paul Jones for a tribute band, but its not OK to tell the girl you're John to get her into the back of the van.

Actually, take that wig off your bass.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I guess the general idea is that its OK to wear a wig and dress up like John Paul Jones for a tribute band, but its not OK to tell the girl you're John to get her into the back of the van.

There ya go.

 

[WoodyG3]

A Fender logo doesn't make a Squier bass into a Fender.
As good as some Squiers can be, if you think it does, you're an idiot.

Come on. Don't hold back. Let us know what you really think.

Maybe it's just because I've been thinking about it more, but I sure seem to be seeing more non-Fenders on ebay with Fender logos lately.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

I sure seem to be seeing more non-Fenders on ebay with Fender logos lately.

Right now it's a mild epidemic.

 

[HillBillyWannaB]

I have a Fender decal on my Mighty Mite Jazz bass. For me, it's mostly a tribute to the Jazz Bass itself. I tell everyone that it's a parts bass that I made and it's not an actual Fender. For me, I like the way the logo looks. I've drooled over Fenders since I was a kid and that headstock with that logo carries a feeling along with it. So I never considered NOT putting one on there.

That being said, I would NEVER try to pass it off as a Fender. Not that I would ever sell it (I'm hoping to give to my son or daughter one day). But IF I did, I would sell it for what it is.

Agree or disagree with my motives, but that's what it is for me. Here she is btw (My 2 mutts!).

 

[mongo2]

I have a Fender decal on my Mighty Mite Jazz bass. For me, it's mostly a tribute to the Jazz Bass itself. I tell everyone that it's a parts bass that I made and it's not an actual Fender. For me, I like the way the logo looks. I've drooled over Fenders since I was a kid and that headstock with that logo carries a feeling along with it. So I never considered NOT putting one on there.

That being said, I would NEVER try to pass it off as a Fender. Not that I would ever sell it (I'm hoping to give to my son or daughter one day). But IF I did, I would sell it for what it is.

Agree or disagree with my motives, but that's what it is for me. Here she is btw (My 2 mutts!).

Dimes to donuts, sometime during the life of that instrument, someone will think they're getting something it isn't.

 

[Muddslide]

I quite like the idea (above) of 'parody name' decals. That's honest.

I saw a pic on this forum of someone who put a "Fender Imprecision" decal on his. Thought that was a blast.

That's more along the lines of my intent.

I have a plan for exactly what I want it to say, but I don't want to say it, except I think the "brand name" will be "Fiender."

 

[michael_atw]

Right now it's a mild epidemic.

Craigslist is the worst.

 

[sgtpepper]

So, I own a Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass MIM and I'm about to replace the neck (as soon as it arrives) due to functional/aesthetic issues. My old (original) neck had this fret buzz (open A string, 1-4 frets E string and other ones that I don't remember bacause I defretted it recently) that wouldn't disappear and had some 'dead' sounding frets (5 -7) on D, G strings so I decided to replace it for a brand new handsome looking B&B 70's style Allparts JB neck. I purchased a new 70's style decal (matching the 70's style neck) that I'm planning to install on the new neck. The thing is that I don't think what I'm planning to do is 'wrong' or I'm trying to 'pass it a real deal' because it is, in fact, an ORIGINAL Fender Jazz Bass with ORIGINAL American Made Fender pickups and active electronics. I know the Allparts neck is not ORIGINAL Fender but it IS Fender Licensed. So if you want to see it in a very strict way. I will have a 50% Original Fender, 25% Licensed Fender, 25% Allparts manufacturing Bass equaling a 75% Fender Bass.

Do you agree with this? What do you think?

 

[mongo2]

So, I own a Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass MIM and I'm about to replace the neck (as soon as it arrives) due to functional/aesthetic issues. My old (original) neck had this fret buzz (open A string, 1-4 frets E string and other ones that I don't remember bacause I defretted it recently) that wouldn't disappear and had some 'dead' sounding frets (5 -7) on D, G strings so I decided to replace it for a brand new handsome looking B&B 70's style Allparts JB neck. I purchased a new 70's style decal (matching the 70's style neck) that I'm planning to install on the new neck. The thing is that I don't think what I'm planning to do is 'wrong' or I'm trying to 'pass it a real deal' because it is, in fact, an ORIGINAL Fender Jazz Bass with ORIGINAL American Made Fender pickups and active electronics. I know the Allparts neck is not ORIGINAL Fender but it IS Fender Licensed. So if you want to see it in a very strict way. I will have a 50% Original Fender, 25% Licensed Fender, 25% Allparts manufacturing Bass equaling a 75% Fender Bass.

Do you agree with this? What do you think?

Is the decal from Fender or a counterfeit?

 

[Batmensch]

Is the decal from Fender or a counterfeit?

This. If it's a genuine and authorized Fender decal, no, it's not a problem. If it's from a countefeiter, then you're financing an unethical if not downright illegal enterprise.

 

[scotch]

So, I own a Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass MIM and I'm about to replace the neck (as soon as it arrives) due to functional/aesthetic issues. My old (original) neck had this fret buzz (open A string, 1-4 frets E string and other ones that I don't remember bacause I defretted it recently) that wouldn't disappear and had some 'dead' sounding frets (5 -7) on D, G strings so I decided to replace it for a brand new handsome looking B&B 70's style Allparts JB neck. I purchased a new 70's style decal (matching the 70's style neck) that I'm planning to install on the new neck. The thing is that I don't think what I'm planning to do is 'wrong' or I'm trying to 'pass it a real deal' because it is, in fact, an ORIGINAL Fender Jazz Bass with ORIGINAL American Made Fender pickups and active electronics. I know the Allparts neck is not ORIGINAL Fender but it IS Fender Licensed. So if you want to see it in a very strict way. I will have a 50% Original Fender, 25% Licensed Fender, 25% Allparts manufacturing Bass equaling a 75% Fender Bass.

Do you agree with this? What do you think?

As mentioned above, you just missed one part of the equation- 0% Licensed Decal.

If you had wanted to keep your bass a real Fender, you just had to go to an authorized dealer, present your instrument for evaluation and let them work out with Fender whether a repair was in order -or- as Fender often does, a real Fender factory neck complete with factory decal.

 

[kayakbass]

For those that have done it, what was the reason?

That may be a better question for Fender! They will slap that logo on ANYTHING to make a buck. Last I knew Mr. Fender hasn't been with the company since 1965.

 

[THand]

As mentioned above, you just missed one part of the equation- 0% Licensed Decal.

If you had wanted to keep your bass a real Fender, you just had to go to an authorized dealer, present your instrument for evaluation and let them work out with Fender whether a repair was in order -or- as Fender often does, a real Fender factory neck complete with factory decal.

Ah, but can they fix the "dead frets" and "fret buzz" on his "defretted" neck?

 

[JAUQO III-X]

That may be a better question for Fender! They will slap that logo on ANYTHING to make a buck. Last I knew Mr. Fender hasn't been with the company since 1965.

What does your post have to do with none Fender employees and Fender endorsers?


The people who are doing this are not employees or endorsers.

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

I had a Fender decal put on my Bill Nash 1957 Fender Precision Bass. The reason - vanity I guess. I want the bass to look exactly like a 50 year old Fender, but without all the hassles that go along with a vintage axe. I have a 1965 Jazz Bass that I don't gig with any more because I worry too much about it growing legs and walking off. I'll take my Nash anywhere and not worry myself sick about it getting pinched. I've never represented it as an actual Fender, I just say its a great looking, great playing, great sounding bass.

 

[kayakbass]

What does your post have to do with none Fender employees and Fender endorsers?


The people who are doing this are not employees or endorsers.

My point is this, if the very company that owns the name Fender will put that logo on ANYTHING in an effort to sell it, why does it matter if anyone else does? Now that fender has deluted what a "fender" is so severely, what does it matter? What IS a Fender these days? Is a "real fender" built in the USA, mexico, china, japan, korea, indonesia, all of the above or NONE of the above...because the product we see now is so FAR removed from what it started as.