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Fender decals on not-really-Fender basses

#223
KTFunkAlive said:
Yup. Fender cares about selling new instruments. They don't give a crap what we do with the old ones.

Switching parts, re-labeling necks (even non-Fender ones) means absolutely nothing to Fender.
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You really think Fender doesn't mind cheap, imitation basses being sold as used Fenders? I don't know what they could do legally, or if it would be worth the time and money to pursue, but it certainly does mean something to the company and their reputation. Further, I'd say that they could be losing a small number of new sales of lower end Fender and certainly Squier models. If someone can buy a used "Fender" for a low price, they might pass up on a new MIM, MIC or Squier.

Fortunately, I suspect the total number of fake Fenders being sold is pretty small, but that doesn't mean that Fender shouldn't or wouldn't care.
 
#224
NorCal Dog said:
i've stripped off all the HD logos & whatnot off my scoot

DSC00350.jpg


but maybe one of youse guys can print me one up & i'll paste it on me SUMO

DSC00614.jpg


think it'll pass as the real deal ?
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No logos on my '72 Sportster and my Shovel other than a couple of parts stamped with the bar & shield, and they are both pretty much stock H-D. They are both black too, that way everything matches the frame! :cool:
 
#225
But motor vehicles are registered by a VIN and titled, not that those can't be fudged either, but at least one gets a legal description of what it is. If it does not have enough parts to be considered a Harley anymore by the registering state it is titled as a custom or made by the shop/fabricator.

Anyone who has restored cars knows it is hell to get a car titled as original if you don't have enough of the correct parts in there.

You want a copy of the Yamaha decal from my RBX for your softail?
 
#226
treekiller said:
No logos on my '72 Sportster and my Shovel other than a couple of parts stamped with the bar & shield, and they are both pretty much stock H-D. They are both black too, that way everything matches the frame! :cool:
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I'm not going to tell anyone I know what the answer is because I don't. But there is a lot to discuss when it comes to logos and "fake" things that imitate "real" things. Here are some random thoughts:

People sometimes get uptight over relicing because one is faking the wear and "experience" that one would get putting actual wear on a bass. But others say, well, a relic finish is just a finish like a paint job.

What we do is "show business". Is the the scenery in a play the "real" thing? A stage magician tells you he's doing real "magic" but is he really? Is your "stage personality" really you? (even though the audience often assumes it is)

On the other hand if someone tries to make an item appear to be one that is more valuable and then tries to convince a buyer that the fake is actually the expensive item and takes there money for it, isn't that "fraud"? So is a stage magician "fraud"? See how subtle it can get?

And of course the company making the instrument has a reputation. Cheap fake items passed off as real, is like counterfeit money. It cheapens the whole lot. And they have a certain expectation that their logos etc. will be readily recognized by the public so that selling fake instruments impacts their business.

But then lets turn that coin over. Time was when cymbal companies just made cymbals which were recognized by their sound. And then suddenly it became a fad for companies to silk screen huge company logos all over them. When did I somehow volunteer to be wearing a sandwich sign for these companies just because I bought their product? Are the companies abusing my good will as a customer?

And then you get the "monster cable" effect where companies try to copyright ridiculous things like DW drums sueing any drummaker using "round" drum lug or you know who suing any company that uses the word "monster" in any way shape or form. Sounds like company lawyers with nothing to keep their hands busy.

What I'm getting at is that there are LOTS of fine lines here and to sort out what is going on often takes some reason and fair thinking. Needless to say often neither occurs.
 
#229
We should just have a thread called, "Is it real, or is it fake". Then people can post pics of the bass in question and the TB community can play it like a game show.

We all know that there are people out there that have no problem selling you some impostor for profit. I don't think many would argue that that is the right thing to do. This thread would take that out of the equation. It gives people a thread to use as a resource for people that are not quite sure what they are looking at. Knowledge is power.
 
#232
OK, I haven't seen any further refinements to the earlier batch of arguments I'd summarized. So, I'm closing the thread. Thanks, everyone for your input, it's been enlightening.--EDIT: Apparently I don't have the clout to close the thread. But can we just put a "closed" decal on it and call it a day?
 
#238
scotch said:
GlennW, you never addressed my last question regarding intellectual property. Just curious if you saw it?
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Sorry about that.

In all honesty, if I had to pick between right or wrong I'd choose "wrong". That's just my opinion.

But when this fake decal for personal enjoyment/use is put into perspective, it's really no big deal. It might be tacky, juvenile, etc...but those are just opinions, as well cool, or a nice finishing touch, etc are differing opinions.

I don't know the specifics of the intellectual property laws.

I am pretty sure (from watching Judge Judy) that in order for there to be a case, there has to be damage of some sort.

Which prompts the question, "What's the damage to Fender if someone sticks a fake Fender decal on his bass?"
The answer is zero, unless Fender can prove damages.

So if there's no damage, there's no "real" crime. I know that statement isn't true because if you run a stop sign there's still a crime (or traffic violation) whether or not it resulted in an accident.

So I figure it this way...if it's Fender's intellectual property it's up to them to protect it. Maybe if they really went after the fake decal guys they could take them to court and the judge might make the fake decal guys remove the decals, but it doesn't matter because Fender has better things to do. If Fender doesn't care, why should we?

I also think running stop signs (even when no one's around) is a much more serious offense.
 

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