NBD - a counterfeit bummer.

[Isaac_James]

Fender didn't copyright their body shapes early on, and lost the right to do so, though I think they still have copyright on the headstock.

This is correct, and it's why you see so many Fender Shaped Objects with identical body shapes but headstock shapes that are close to the Fender trademarked style, but just different enough to avoid a lawsuit.

Warmoth has a deal with Fender where they sell officially licensed replacement necks and they are therefore allowed to utilize the headstock design of a P bass, Telecaster, etc.

 

[Pep]

no, not in the way that you're thinking, although I think it's still a fair warning. I found a six-string Bongo knockoff on Temu for $230. it has the general Bongo shape but without any of the contouring, which should be visible from 50 yards - unless you're not familiar with them (this becomes important later.) these things are all over Aliexpress for cheaper, but I didn't mind paying a little extra for the quick shipping time (it was in a stateside warehouse) and the buyer protection.

the main thing that attracted me was the photos, since there was no basic description. it looked to have an unfinished maple neck, 9V preamp, but most importantly: NO FRACKING LOGOS. but it still looked cool, and I wanted a practice sixer anyway while I wait for another bass I have on order. or one to lug around and travel with.

just got it today, and guess what? EBMM and Bongo logos both on the headstock. nowhere - and I mean NOWHERE - in the listing photos was this the case, including close-ups of the headstock. otherwise I would have given it a second thought. I don't want to support the businesses that market these kinds of things. people who can't tell the difference between a fake and real will see it, think "wow, that sounds like s___," and that just stains EBMM's reputation through no fault of their own.

I'm not sure if I'm upset enough to return it - plus the store selling it has been pulled from Temu, which sounds like a mess I DO NOT want to get into - but I'm mainly pissed because I didn't want a counterfeit instrument. I have no idea how to remove the logos so I think I'm just gonna sticker-bomb the headstock. this also means I can't share any kind of review/pictures here, which I was really looking forward to! I haven't had a NBD in a couple years now. although it did remind I never posted my last bass...

Is the headstock a natural finish? If so you can remove all of the headstock hardware, lightly sand the headstock to remove the decals, them get a spray can of clear polyurethane (satin spray very easy to work with), spray the headstock a few times using "0000" steel wool between coats, then reassemble. It's a very easy process.

While I agree with most of the guys here about counterfeit products, you’ll have difficulty returning it for refund. Ask me how I know. You’re better off removing the decals and replacing them with one that you create.
You’ve learned your lesson so don’t let the comments continue to bother you.
The guys here are passionate and the comments were all made with good intentions.

 

[Pep]

Remove the logos and decals, then add a new logo with a very tongue-in-cheek name, like some guys did with "Rickenfaker".

I agree!

 

[Pep]

EBMM is one of the most litigious bass makers out there, and they keep a tight lock on their body, headstock, logo, etc designs. It's why there are so few true 'MusicMan' clones out there, minus the ones they license themselves (SBMM or, in the past, 'OLP').

Buying a $230 Temu bass and expecting it to be 'legit' in any way is a fool's errand. You indeed get what you pay for.... or less! It's one thing to buy an item and not realize it was counterfeit.... it's another to buy it knowing it's a full on counterfeit and doing it anyway.

Maybe you didn't read the entire post by the OP or you didn't comprehend all of it.
He said the shape was like a Bongo but not exactly. He also said the headstock had no decals in the online photos.
Or perhaps you didn't read through all of the replies criticizing him for the purchase.
Guys make mistakes like this, usually only once and the fact he shared it with us tells everyone he's not happy about it. If he thought he was pulling off a deal he wouldn’t have shared it here only to be ridiculed.
Give the guy a break. What purpose does "piling on" serve?

 

[Apolicious]

Is the headstock a natural finish? If so you can remove all of the headstock hardware, lightly sand the headstock to remove the decals, them get a spray can of clear polyurethane (satin spray very easy to work with), spray the headstock a few times using "0000" steel wool between coats, then reassemble. It's a very easy process.

While I agree with most of the guys here about counterfeit products, you'll have difficulty returning it for refund. Ask me how I know. You're better off removing the decals and replacing them with one that you create.
You've learned your lesson so don't let the comments continue to bother you.
The guys here are passionate and the comments were all made with good intentions.

unfortunately it's not a natural finish. the logos are under a pretty thick layer of poly. I wish it was as simple as rubbing off a Squier logo (I've run into that before). there's no way I see to remove them without just stripping off the whole layer. if I ever go to sell it, however, that poopie's coming right off.
and thanks for the kind words.

 

[Apolicious]

Buying a $230 Temu bass and expecting it to be 'legit' in any way is a fool's errand. You indeed get what you pay for.... or less! It's one thing to buy an item and not realize it was counterfeit.... it's another to buy it knowing it's a full on counterfeit and doing it anyway.

of course I didn't expect it to be "legit" at all. I wouldn't have been surprised if the body was made of styrofoam and the neck was made of old cigarettes. part of me was hoping it'd come all messed up so I could practice fretwork on it. but, oddly enough, I ended up getting much more than what I paid for (including very solid fretwork). which is kind of the problem. if I knew it was a 1:1 copy I wouldn't have purchased it. it's the nicer than listed features themselves that caused it to become an issue. and there are few.

in my defense, I didn't know EBMM had trademarked (or patented or whatever, I'm not keeping track here) the body shape. what I saw was an inexpensive Bongo-shaped item that nobody would confuse for the real thing at 50 yards. I wanted something to run scales on while I sit unplugged on the couch, not anything "legit," as you put it.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Since everyone on this forum owns Chinese products, a substantial majority of which are the direct or indirect result of IP theft in whole or part, we all own "counterfeit" products, like it or not. Anybody still got a few Napster rips on an old CD someplace? Anybody DVR a baseball game without the express written permission of MLB? Anybody "borrowed" their cousin's Netflix password? I think I'll climb down off this high horse now.....

 

[Gunga Din]

I bought one of the the fake Fodera's as a project. I make it plain to anyone who asks that it's not the real thing. It was really a POS when it arrived. I put a lot of time an effort into making it a very playable instrument. It was intended to be a project and a learning platform for fret leveling, crowning and more advanced set up. It's my "fly bass" now since, if it's run over by the baggage wagon...I can strip the hardware and electronics and start over. BTW - my avatar is the real thing.

I remember reading about someone who bought an Ali E Fodera, and he said when it arrived, the pre-amp was a complete dud, unattached! Was that you?

 

[Gunga Din]

of course I didn't expect it to be "legit" at all. I wouldn't have been surprised if the body was made of styrofoam and the neck was made of old cigarettes. part of me was hoping it'd come all messed up so I could practice fretwork on it. but, oddly enough, I ended up getting much more than what I paid for (including very solid fretwork). which is kind of the problem. if I knew it was a 1:1 copy I wouldn't have purchased it. it's the nicer than listed features themselves that caused it to become an issue. and there are few.

in my defense, I didn't know EBMM had trademarked (or patented or whatever, I'm not keeping track here) the body shape. what I saw was an inexpensive Bongo-shaped item that nobody would confuse for the real thing at 50 yards. I wanted something to run scales on while I sit unplugged on the couch, not anything "legit," as you put it.

You don't have to apologise for purchasing a counterfeit or a facsimile.

 

[JazznFunk]

Since everyone on this forum owns Chinese products, a substantial majority of which are the direct or indirect result of IP theft in whole or part, we all own "counterfeit" products, like it or not. Anybody still got a few Napster rips on an old CD someplace? Anybody DVR a baseball game without the express written permission of MLB? Anybody "borrowed" their cousin's Netflix password? I think I'll climb down off this high horse now.....

That's a bit of an overreaching argument/justification. Not everything which borrows design cues from another trademarked/copyrighted product is a true counterfeit. A counterfeit product is something that is attempting to pass itself off as the real thing, no matter how badly it's produced. It is often exact in every way possible including dimensions, size, logo placement, and other minute details, or is close enough that it can cause 'confusion in the marketplace' and possesses the trademarked logos/brand marks. Fake Rolexes which use the full-on Rolex logo and designs, regardless of model or the movement inside, are the typical examples. Even if they have a quartz movement on the inside, if they LOOK like the real thing with the logos, etc... those are counterfeits. A Chinese-made watch from another brand that looks like a Submariner or other popular Rolex design but doesn't have the Rolex logo isn't a counterfeit, because it isn't trying to pass itself off as a true Rolex. They often have very small differences in case design, thickness, and other aesthetic aspects which do not subject themselves to copyright/trademark infringement - including a very clear different logo and brand name on the dial front, or even engraved on the side of the case or case back. I also reference legit companies like Japanese-made Seiko and Timex, who produce watches that from a distance look like Rolexes in terms of design cues.... but they aren't counterfeit. Same for other Swiss watch makers like Squale, Steinhart, etc who produce Submariner-like watches that aren't in violation of Rolex's full on intellectual property. If Rolex were concerned about Timex and Seiko, etc., they certainly would make it known.

In short, calling everything counterfeit that borrows a design cue from another product is incorrect - even per the letter of the (complicated) law.

"When is a Product Considered "Counterfeit?"
The term counterfeit is defined in Section 45 of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1127). Under Section 45, an item is considered counterfeit if it contains "a spurious mark which is identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from, a registered mark."

Sellers of counterfeit goods seek to pass off their goods as products of the registered trademark owner. A "fake Rolex" is a classic example. Beyond simply creating a likelihood of confusion in the marketplace (which is the standard for establishing a claim for trademark infringement), counterfeiting goes further by seeking to trick consumers into unknowingly purchasing inauthentic items.

A key element of the Lanham Act's definition of counterfeiting is its reference to "a registered mark." In order to pursue a claim for counterfeiting, a trademark owner must have registered the mark at issue with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). While owners of unregistered marks may still be able to enforce their exclusive rights through infringement litigation, the ability to pursue a counterfeiting claim provides access to additional legal remedies."

Finally - DVR'ing a sports broadcast is your legal right since the TV/cable provider you pay for your service through has cleared the rights for the broadcast to you as the individual account holder. Where you are in violation is if you rebroadcast that yourself and charge for other people to watch it without requesting consent and paying your own licensing/broadcast fee. That's a false equivalency, as is the 'borrowing' of a Netflix password, which is policed now by IP verification.

 

[jd56hawk]

no no no, TEMU is an absolutely awful company. do not buy anything from them- EVER

Nothing more needs to be said.
I'd rather buy a bass in a closed cardboard box from some guy standing near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel on my way back to NJ.

 

[LAST_C]

I build my own Rickenbacker clones, purely for my own use, which is perfectly legal under "fair use", akin to painting a copy of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and hanging it in your living room. Selling it, represented as genuine, would be illegal, of course. I build some obvious "tells" into my Ric clones, and make my own TRC's, which is actually pretty easy to do. Weirdly, since Rickenbacker Inc. will not sell you a replacement TRC for any price if it's lost or broken, the only source is either something like $150 on Ebay, or $3.00 on Aliexpress. I have no issue with a fake Ric TRC on a real Ric, kind of a victimless crime. A trademark is only as good as the companies willingness to enforce it, which is why Fender and Gibson lost theirs years ago, but Rickenbacker has always been pretty zealous about protecting theirs. It is, however, their job to do that, not mine.

To me, what you're doing is perfectly fine. You're not trying to deceive anyone, of sell counterfeits for profit. It's like building your own parts bass.

The difference with the OP is that he bought the bass on false pretenses that the headstock had no logos, which was a lie. I would either sand it off, or return it to the seller.

 

[JazznFunk]

Maybe you didn't read the entire post by the OP or you didn't comprehend all of it.
He said the shape was like a Bongo but not exactly. He also said the headstock had no decals in the online photos.
Or perhaps you didn't read through all of the replies criticizing him for the purchase.
Guys make mistakes like this, usually only once and the fact he shared it with us tells everyone he's not happy about it. If he thought he was pulling off a deal he wouldn't have shared it here only to be ridiculed.
Give the guy a break. What purpose does "piling on" serve?

I read the entire original post. Now that you have that bit of information, it should help you more fully and properly digest my original reply, which was honestly pretty tame and was intended mostly as a warning regarding EBMM's litigious nature, and against buying acknowledged low-tier counterfeit (or borderline counterfeit) items. There were 27 more replies before mine - several of which were much more harsh in nature. The bottom line is that a choice was made - which apparently was based mostly on whether or not the EBMM/Bongo logos would or would not be present on the bass. The OP claimed they 'didn't want to support businesses which would do that kind of thing' (producing borderline counterfeit products with the logo on them), but bought anyway. All that I (and others) are saying is that when you deal in those things, you often deal in low expectations, and mild disappointment.

 

[JazznFunk]

in my defense, I didn't know EBMM had trademarked (or patented or whatever, I'm not keeping track here) the body shape. what I saw was an inexpensive Bongo-shaped item that nobody would confuse for the real thing at 50 yards. I wanted something to run scales on while I sit unplugged on the couch, not anything "legit," as you put it.

The only thing I'm going to say is that there are EBMM staffers who sometimes frequent these boards. My original point - and I don't know why I keep having to defend myself for simply trying to elucidate this - is that EBMM's intellectual property protections, specifically for the Bongo, are barely 25 years old for that design. In general, they are protective of their designs and products. Seeing an acknowledged fake Bongo of some stripe (albeit without pictures) being openly discussed on a public forum MIGHT present some issues. The fact that you were also duped and got fake/counterfeit WITH LOGOS is even more problematic. Quite honestly, ALL of the replies are looking out for your best interest, as pointed as some may be.... or may be interpreted. Be well.

 

[chuck1073]

I remember reading about someone who bought an Ali E Fodera, and he said when it arrived, the pre-amp was a complete dud, unattached! Was that you?

No, that wasn't. Mine arrived with five knobs, three switches and a top mounted jack. After plugging it in and finding that most of those controls did absolutely nothing, I took the back plate off. It was PASSIVE! I took the crappy pickups out, threw the cheap pots and wiring in the trash and replaced it all with Aguilar pups and OPB-3 pre.