Hi, I am just starting to learn bass, and came across a craigslist ad for this guitar. At first glance I was thinking a garbage chinese repro but then was googling about this company called Premier/Sorkin from the 50s and 60s, with a brand called Marvel, that had some Bass Guitars made in Japan and some in the USA I think? There was like virtually zero information. Also I was thinking if this was a Chinese garbage brand there would be tons of information or lots of them being sold for cheap starter basses and I would see info like that. The fact I cannot seem to find any Marvel basses that match this logo is so weird i thought, and came across this site. The marvel Brand bass i saw online that was vintage has a different logo that was blocky and not script. Anyways here is a couple pics, any help is much appreciated, is this an interesting vintage score or just a hard pass. FYI tomorrow picking up a Ibanez TMB30, as my go to learning bass, but have been scouring craigslist to maybe find something to learn with there. Thanks for any guidance....oh the CL poster has zero info about this thing and says he bought it off Craigslist in 2011.
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Never heard of the brand but by the looks of it, it screams budget bass. Which isn`t to say its garbage. The Ibanez you are buying is a decent short scale bass and there is a bit of love out there for them.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Yeah, I wouldn't have high hopes for that cheap no-name Precision knock off.
Thanks for your replies everyone....Ibanez it is! I find the Registered mark next to the name kind of funny, because im assuming Marvel comics have every trademark and copyright registration locked up, and by putting that on the guitar like that could be illegal or at least a trade violation with where ever this guitar was produced!
^^Marvel may not be trademarked in the country of origin or the laws there are weak on this issue.
Yeah I was mainly thinking about importing into the USA, if you import something with a trademark violation to sell in the US im assuming there are laws about that, private transactions would not be an issue but if ou are bringing them in by the crate load through customs etc i am not sure. Its a silly observation, usually knock off cheap guitars like this would just be nameless i would think, and not promote a trademarked brand name, and if it was a trademarked brand name, youd think youd be able to google and find something somewhere about them...anyhoo...
Trademark is only for product lines that compete with the trademark owners brand or seek in some way to co-opt it. Think of how many brands use names common like Eagle or Eagles. The football team couldn't stop the band from using the name. Now if the name and logo are the same or very cloe that is different. But Marvel is an English word in common usage.
True, but Marvel was acquired for 4 billion dollars by Disney, and Disney ks international and has an infinite legal budget and loves to drag people into court for licensing and trademark litigation with the goal of someone waving the white flag and not wanting to spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to defend their likely very strong case, but as all things in court sometimes its a coin flip for what a judge or jury would rule.....you can take anybody to court for pretty much anything and who ever has the deepest pockets has the odds in their favor since they can make it a war of attrition. i was just noting that Marvel is a name you'd want to probably stay away from!
A. This Marvel bass looks good to me - especially the rosewood fingerboard. If it sounds good and plays good, and it's in your price range, too, then don't let the name on the headstock keep you from a good bass.
B. If there's any lawsuit risk associated with that bass, then I'd bet on the Fender-clone shape of the headstock; not the name Marvel on the headstock.
An electric bass made with the same headstock shape as a trademark-owning maker of electric basses known for its distinctive headstock shape... That could invite a cease-and-desist letter to its maker.
B. If there's any lawsuit risk associated with that bass, then I'd bet on the Fender-clone shape of the headstock; not the name Marvel on the headstock.
An electric bass made with the same headstock shape as a trademark-owning maker of electric basses known for its distinctive headstock shape... That could invite a cease-and-desist letter to its maker.
- Ibanez makes good basses. Maybe - with the nut glued into alignment - this Marvel bass is just as good. Find out for yourself and report back here.
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Unless the Marvel is $25 I'd pass. The Ibanez TMB30 is a very well-made instrument. I have a TMB100 and it's really nice. I'm actually thinking of changing it to passive like the TMB30. The Ibanez doesn't need to be a "starter" bass, it's a good bass for anyone.
