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Replica build, decals, and morality

Unlicensed Fender deal on front, proper Warmoth decal on back?

  • Perfectly acceptable.

    Votes: 107 44.2%

  • Fence-sitter.

    Votes: 34 14.0%

  • Morally reprehensible.

    Votes: 58 24.0%

  • Carrots.

    Votes: 43 17.8%
  • Total voters
    242
#43
The only thing I have a reservation about....FMIC is a giant company. They are doing just fine. In a way, that decal is like giving them free advertizing. In the same way, I don't wear clothes with anyone's company logo - they need to pay me for that, not have me pay them.

I guess it's a bit like playing a Fender with a Fender logo, but if your build turns out way better than a Fender, you're just doing them a favor out of your own pocket. And FMIC makes nice stuff, but they are also greedy, for profit, like to stomp out, and buy out the competition, and seemingly enjoy putting mom and pop music stores out of business with their steep sales quotas and thin profit margins.

I wouldn't cook a grass fed steak to perfection and put a McD logo on it.

Just my opinion and you can put the decal on without offending me. Just giving you my opinion, like you asked for.
 
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#44
Question: why?
I had a build with a Fender decal. Didn't bother removing it and replacing it with a custom decal.
Plectrum72 said:
I've already made up my mind that I'm doing this, but I'm curious (and a little bored), what is the TB community's take is on this?

I'm building a Warmoth shortscale (30") replica of an 80s MIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special. I'll be adding some wood to the headstock to get the correct Fender shape. My plan is to put the Warmoth water slide decal on the back of the headstock where a s/n would normally be and Fender JBS decal on the front of the headstock.

Thoughts?

By the time I'm done, it would probably have been cheaper to buy a Jazz Bass Special, but they don't come in 30" scale :)

*edited to correct spelling
Click to expand...
Bound to be several opinions.
The only one that counts is your own.
 
#46
Plectrum72 said:
The mentality of building something that doesn't exist or the mentality of building a replica?

I think it's the same reason people do most things. Because they have the desire and ability to do so. Kind of the same as your decision to post in this thread :D
Click to expand...
No, the mentality that says I'm gonna cobble together a Fender knock-off AND put a Fender (trademarked) decal on it. If you don't want contrary opinions, why ask the question?
 
#47
DavC said:
i have a couple of each ...

as folks say " i don't understand the mentality " of what ? the fact that my stuff is mine, to do with as i freakin want to !!!????!! or you don't quite understand that your opinion regarding 'My Stuff' doesn't matter at all ..?!!?
Click to expand...
You can pretend to be dense, but you know what we are talking about. I don't care what you do to your bass, but because you do it doesn't mean I think it's nearly as cool as you think it is. As to my opinion, I was ASKED.
 
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#49
I don't care what people do with their basses, but to me, it's pretty black and white; If it's not a Fender, it's not a Fender.

I can see in the OP's future... an audition for a band, he clicks with the group, and they praise his choice of playing a Fender bass.
OP, however, is unaware that the band members are all hardcore gear snobs, and among themselves, mock the other auditioning bass players for playing a Yamaha, Ibanez or, dare they speak it, Squier.

Weeks go by, working up tunes, and all are getting along like old friends, until that moment comes.... one of the gear snobs notices a Warmoth logo on the back of OP's bass neck. He's confronted and questioned about this, and with nothing else to say, has to admit his bass is not in fact a Fender. The band members are furious, and feeling deceived, lash out at OP. They accuse him of lying, being a fraud, and a dishonest person. Their vitriol knows no bounds, and they spread the word around the musical community. Sadly, OP will never work in that town again.

the-jerk-martin-thats-all-he-needs.jpg


Join us next time for...
"Are Legos like logos", or "Oh what tangled web we weave"
 
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#50
It's your bass to do with as you wish.
You want a Fender decal?

Go right ahead and put one on there -
as long as you do not ever attempt to represent it/sell it as such!

It implies the entire instrument is pure Fender.

If you go ahead then at that point the "morality" issue resolves itself.

Otherwise, be happy with the look, if that's what you want.
 
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Reactions: JaseyT
#52
It's this kind of stuff that keeps me from ever considering old fender basses when i see them for sale.

I know a guitar player who dropped over 20k on a near perfect "vintage" strat, only to find out it was fake. Yes he did his homework, even sent photos to a couple "experts" who said it was no question the real deal, but was not, it was a parts guitar someone very knowledgable of Fender products built specifically to scam with. It wound up sucking two people in, the guy i know and the first guy who bought it from the scammer.

It's like the guy on Gas Monkey said, there are now more 427 Corvettes regestered than Chevrolet ever produced.

It's your bass so do what you want, lord knows i do. I love bigazz gaudy bridges because i like them and it has zero effect on playability so who cares right?
 
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Reactions: 2manynotes
#55
I get some may not like my idea. I even respect most of the opposing arguments; however, I fail to understand the argument against it by way of fake Fender sales. First, a glance at the back of the headstock, neck, or neck pocket will reveal it to be a Warmoth, not a Fender. Second, Fender never made a 30" scale Jazz Bass Special.

I do get this is the internet though, so by default the assumption must be I intend to spend $850 (that's what I'm into it to date for all the parts, paint, etc.) so I can fraudulently misrepresent it on a sale to some misinformed player for $450-$700 (high and low going rates). :rolleyes:

Genuinely though, thank you all for helping me pass a slow Sunday. I appreciate that the thread never became overly confrontational or antagonistic. :)
 
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#58
Bass Viking said:
Yes, because the buyer is always totally at fault when a seller misrepresents an item. :rollno:

It's caveat emptor until it happens to you.
Click to expand...

Caveat Emptor doesn't eliminate legal ramifications if fraud was perpetrated. My point is, as the buyer, it is MY responsibility to ask the questions, verify the information, and make sure it is what the seller says it is. If I buy something that isn't what it was represented to me in the sale, I have legal recourse on my side...and all it will cost me is time, money, and effort.

I take it you've never purchased a used car?
 
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#60
1. If it isn't a Fender, why are you calling it one? Who are you trying to impress?
2. I've said it before - if we could go two weeks without a suspicious Fender thread, I'd get off my soap box. We can't go two $%&$$-in days.
3. A custom logo will make you proud, make you smile, and get more positive comments. I've never had anything but positive comments and conversations from my Bulldog Bass.
4. I've also pointed out (as have others) that unless you are going to be buried with it, one day it likely WILL be sold as a legit Fender.
 
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