Well, I suppose you're right, then. But on the first point, the purpose is slightly less nefarious.
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Fender decals on not-really-Fender basses
- Thread starter Habilis
- Start date
Well, I suppose you're right, then. But on the first point, the purpose is slightly less nefarious.
Chevrolets are GM cars. Squiers are Fenders. Big deal. I think it'd be funny to put a Squier decal on a MIA Fender. Maybe that will balance out the universe.
I made a Fender waterslide decal and stuck it on my Fender parts bass. Mainly because I like how it looks, and I had something to copy. Creating your own design that looks pleasing is not that easy, although I probably would have tried that now.
It is not as easy as stick a Fender decal on Squier or parts bass and fool everybody it is a Fender I would think. Although you might find someone buying a bass for the first time and slip it past them. To make it 'right' would take more time and skill than it is worth.
Oh, for example the Fender licensed parts bass headstock is actually a bit different shape than a real MIA Fender.
It is not as easy as stick a Fender decal on Squier or parts bass and fool everybody it is a Fender I would think. Although you might find someone buying a bass for the first time and slip it past them. To make it 'right' would take more time and skill than it is worth.
Oh, for example the Fender licensed parts bass headstock is actually a bit different shape than a real MIA Fender.
I've got a Fender decal on one of my Corts...
We seem to be in grey areas.
I have a MIM P bass that the truss rod
stripped out on. I got a MityMite Jazz
bass neck and hand painted the head
stock,
You can only tell it up close,
That, technically makes me a male slut,
I made a parts Tele with a MityMite Strat
neck and a 1962 Fender Tele bridge pup,
People like us are not to be trusted,
Tabdog
First of all, "dork" is probably not the term I should have used. I am something of a dork myself--you should hear me expound on H.P. Lovecraft or the "nautical fiction" genre. Maybe "lazy jerks who can't even be bothered to look at the headstock of the bass they're selling or talking about."
All kudos to you for sanding the logos off. I thoroughly approve. I'm talking about an act which it is hard to consider as being done for any other reason than to deceive.
All kudos to you for sanding the logos off. I thoroughly approve. I'm talking about an act which it is hard to consider as being done for any other reason than to deceive.
Isn't this a like paying for plastic surgery to have your girlfriend made over to look like (insert name of latest hot chick here)?
I personally think that slapping a Fender decal on a different make of bass doesn't make it a better bass. It will not sound any better or feel any better. It may fool a couple of people or all the people at a show. If it doesn't sound too good it won't help Fender's reputation or the owner's. A pointless exercise.
If a bass is passed off as what it isn't that's not good when it comes to selling it.
I do have a cheap copy bass that someone 'kindly' stuck a Gibson decal on for me. It covers two holes where the old logo was attached. I don't play it on stage now. I can't reverse that little mod.. I would never dream of trying to sell it on as a Gibson under any circumstances. I didn't ask for it to be done and wish it had been left alone. I have a few Squiers and they will always be badged as Squiers.
If a bass is passed off as what it isn't that's not good when it comes to selling it.
I do have a cheap copy bass that someone 'kindly' stuck a Gibson decal on for me. It covers two holes where the old logo was attached. I don't play it on stage now. I can't reverse that little mod.. I would never dream of trying to sell it on as a Gibson under any circumstances. I didn't ask for it to be done and wish it had been left alone. I have a few Squiers and they will always be badged as Squiers.
I like that you think someone could only tell up close. To me, tabdog's P-bass is kind of a grey area. The parts Tele less so. Perlninja, why would you put a Fender decal on a Cort bass? I'm not condemning, I'm just curious.
I have no issue with it. I would never try to sell either of these as Fenders. One is a replica of a '74 Precision I had that was stolen, the other is a replica of my "dream bass"... a late '66 Shoreline Gold Jazz.
Don't like it, not one bit. You can rationalize it all you want, it's still trying to pass something off as something it isn't. that's the very definition of fraud. If it was a nice bass, say a Squier, that I really wanted, and it had a Fender decal, I would demand that the decal be replaced with a proper Squier logo. If the seller was unable or unwilling to do so, then I would have to pass it up.
I don't care if someone does it for style, any fender expert should be able to tell the difference, and quite frankly, with how many vintage specific part there are available, its not uncommon. There are actually more "authentic" '58 gibson guitars on the market today than there were built in 1958.
Now if you actually try to sell it as a legit fender, that would bother me, but i'd just choose not to buy that instrument.
Now if you actually try to sell it as a legit fender, that would bother me, but i'd just choose not to buy that instrument.
I had a Tele that I made with a parts body and a US Fender Neck back when you could buy US replacement parts (maybe you still can).
I told everybody it was a Tele but never emphasized the Fender part, it was obviously on the headstock. I wanted to fool people that my homemade Tele sounded amazingly good and everyone thought it was a '52 RI Fender.
I sold the neck, pickups, tuner, body, and hardware all seperately. A lot of people do this for fun rather than dishonesty. But if you see this type of crap for sale then gotta be careful. Personally it doesnt bother me and never has.
I told everybody it was a Tele but never emphasized the Fender part, it was obviously on the headstock. I wanted to fool people that my homemade Tele sounded amazingly good and everyone thought it was a '52 RI Fender.
I sold the neck, pickups, tuner, body, and hardware all seperately. A lot of people do this for fun rather than dishonesty. But if you see this type of crap for sale then gotta be careful. Personally it doesnt bother me and never has.
Do whatever makes you look better on stage. Tom Jones had his roll of socks, you can have your Fender logo.
I think I'm with C. Linton on this one. At best it's sad, at worst it's fraud. I haven't heard a convincing rationalization yet.
- Dec 21, 2007
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I understand, sort of, the folks who put on a Fender decal but say they'll be scrupulously honest about it when they sell the instrument.
I just have my doubts about the next folks to buy, and then sell, the instrument...
I do love all the alt-Fender decals. Finley - that was classic.
I just have my doubts about the next folks to buy, and then sell, the instrument...
I do love all the alt-Fender decals. Finley - that was classic.
