To Clone and call it Your Own?

[Verne Bunsen]

Interpretation of parlance aside, I suspect we would all agree that deliberate mis-representation of one's work is to be condemned. That'd be true of making a guitar or writing a book or reporting a news story or anything else.

 

[rgand]

Verne is right about deliberate mis-representation.

My GMC was assembled in the US from parts made in Mexico, Canada, China and who-knows-where-else yet GMC claims it as manufactured in the US. They just don't make any bones about it.

Although I have completely scratch-built a mandolin (neck included), I still consider that I built my recent JM from Warmoth and other parts. When I get around to scratch-building a guitar one of these days, it won't be more, or less, my own build.

 

[aarontunes]

A licence fee was paid to Fender for every Strat, Jazz, Tele, etc product you've purchased from Warmoth.  I say that gives me pretty much every right to put any freakin' label I want on my guitar, including a Fender one.  Don't forget...it's not illegal to make, own or play any instrument that is a clone or imitation.  It's only illegal to sell them.

This is incorrect. Warmoth does not pay a licensing fee to Fender.

 

[musicispeace]

After spending, in some instances, months choosing parts, finalizing an aesthetic, and in my case having a competent and experienced person build and set up a parts caster I just personally have no interest in attributing anything to Fender by putting their logo on it since to me it is not a Fender. I am not going to slag anyone else who takes a different view on the matter but as a second time around player I was appalled at what the big names were putting into the market place and what they were charging people. For your project you should definitely do as you wish and, of course, be fully disclosing if you sell it to someone else. I love the whole personalization process of parts casters and to me part of that is keeping the F or G company's logo out of it. For me the parts casters we discuss here are intended to be beyond factory in both quality and personal taste.

 

[bobsessed]

Well, from my original question I certainly got some good responses, and, I think, an answer. I would never put anyone else's name on something I built (or assembled)....heck I can go buy a Fender. But I did put my name on the headstock of my first Warmoth.....and I probably won't do it again. This made for great reading though!

 

[Strat Avenger]

I put my own name on the headstock of my Warmoth custom Strat. It's no different from what Tom Anderson or John Suhr do. I didn't want it to say "Fender" on it, because it's not a Fender. Rather than a fake Fender Strat, I have a Strat with all the custom features I want that has my name on it.

 

[stratamania]

Tom Anderson and John Suhr, both have manufacturing faciliities and both are doing original designs albeit based on traditional S and T type shapes for example but those guitars really are in a different league.

You could not take a Suhr neck and put it on a Fender or an Anderson or vice versa, those things are not partscasters.

I dont think that is a fair comparison to someone putting a Warmoth together and putting a logo on it.

 

[Axkoa]

A licence fee was paid to Fender for every Strat, Jazz, Tele, etc product you've purchased from Warmoth.  I say that gives me pretty much every right to put any freakin' label I want on my guitar, including a Fender one.  Don't forget...it's not illegal to make, own or play any instrument that is a clone or imitation.  It's only illegal to sell them.

This is incorrect. Warmoth does not pay a licensing fee to Fender.

If you don't mind me asking. How exactly are Warmoth stuff "licensed" Fender?

 

[Cagey]

If you don't mind me asking. How exactly are Warmoth stuff "licensed" Fender?

My guess is Ken sent Guido and Luigi down the coast to have a little talk with them about how nice a business FMIC is and what a shame it would be if anything were to happen to it.

Wouldn't wanna hafta tune yous guys up, if you get my meaning...​

 

[Fat Pete]

As a Londoner meself (Gor blimey, apples and pears and no mistake guvnor), not sure I can let you get away with posting a pic of the Kray twins as 'Guido and Luigi'.

If you don't mind me asking. How exactly are Warmoth stuff "licensed" Fender?

My guess is Ken sent Guido and Luigi down the coast to have a little talk with them about how nice a business FMIC is and what a shame it would be if anything were to happen to it.

Wouldn't wanna hafta tune yous guys up, if you get my meaning...​

 

[Cagey]

I know who they are, but I didn't pick them out on purpose. It's just that their picture is the closest to having the stereotypical appearance I could find without making a career out of reviewing Google images  :laughing7:

 

[Tonar8352]

The way I look at the Fender label going on a head stock is it is paying homage to Leo Fender who as a non guitar player managed to design some of the most enduring classic instruments ever built. If I was going to be unethical I would build a guitar and sign the neck Tado Gomez and put his initials in the neck pocket with a date from the early 50's and sell it for lots of money. 

 

[Steve_Karl]

I don't wear branded t-shirts either

 

[stratamania]

We now await the first headstock with a Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss or Sloggi logo  :bananaguitar:

 

[Logrinn]

We now await the first headstock with a Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss or Sloggi logo  :bananaguitar:

:toothy12: :toothy12: :toothy12:

 

[Strat Avenger]

Tom Anderson and John Suhr, both have manufacturing faciliities and both are doing original designs albeit based on traditional S and T type shapes for example but those guitars really are in a different league.

You could not take a Suhr neck and put it on a Fender or an Anderson or vice versa, those things are not partscasters.

I dont think that is a fair comparison to someone putting a Warmoth together and putting a logo on it.

It's absolutely a fair comparison. Both Anderson and Suhr offer Fender Strat copies that look nearly identical to a Fender Strat minus the headstock shape. If's no different from what I've done with my Warmoth Strat. I built a Strat that looks like a Strat, but with all the custom and modern features I want. I then put my name on the headstock. 

 

[Cederick]

I have my name on headstock  :icon_biggrin:

 

[stratamania]

Tom Anderson and John Suhr, both have manufacturing faciliities and both are doing original designs albeit based on traditional S and T type shapes for example but those guitars really are in a different league.

You could not take a Suhr neck and put it on a Fender or an Anderson or vice versa, those things are not partscasters.

I dont think that is a fair comparison to someone putting a Warmoth together and putting a logo on it.

It's absolutely a fair comparison. Both Anderson and Suhr offer Fender Strat copies that look nearly identical to a Fender Strat minus the headstock shape. If's no different from what I've done with my Warmoth Strat. I built a Strat that looks like a Strat, but with all the custom and modern features I want. I then put my name on the headstock.

Both are not identical other than the headstock shape or "copies". Similar is not identical. Also they are not putting them together out of Warmoth parts and both have numerous innovations in their construction methods and levels of QC.

It is far from an absolutely fair comparison but if you are convinced that it is then we will have to agreee to disagree.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Tom Anderson and John Suhr, both have manufacturing faciliities and both are doing original designs albeit based on traditional S and T type shapes for example but those guitars really are in a different league.

You could not take a Suhr neck and put it on a Fender or an Anderson or vice versa, those things are not partscasters.

I dont think that is a fair comparison to someone putting a Warmoth together and putting a logo on it.

It's absolutely a fair comparison. Both Anderson and Suhr offer Fender Strat copies that look nearly identical to a Fender Strat minus the headstock shape. If's no different from what I've done with my Warmoth Strat. I built a Strat that looks like a Strat, but with all the custom and modern features I want. I then put my name on the headstock.

Both are not identical other than the headstock shape or "copies". Similar is not identical. Also they are not putting them together out of Warmoth parts and both have numerous innovations in their construction methods and levels of QC.

It is far from an absolutely fair comparison but if you are convinced that it is then we will have to agreee to disagree.

That's just ridiculous. You obviously haven't looked at their catalog. I don't care who's "parts" they are using to build them. Why would it have to be Warmoth parts??  My point stands strong. They make Strat copies just like hundreds of others. They are of a higher quality than the average manufacturer (as well as more expensive).

 

[Verne Bunsen]

No specifics, but from the Warmoth wholesale page:
http://www.warmoth.com/Ordering/Wholesale.aspx

"Warmoth started selling custom guitar and bass parts in 1980. We quickly became known as "the place" to go for top quality products and custom choices. Our business filled the needs of both individual players as well as some large, international guitar and bass retailers.

In the past, we've partnered with Valley Arts (Custom Pro Series), Pensa-Suhr, Sadowsky Guitars, Yamaha, and several boutique shops. In 1998, after 18 years of working with dealers, we discontinued our wholesale business...

Looking at our customer list today, we see a growing number of techs that are working for some of the Music Industry's biggest names. We also see that many luthiers and boutiques are ordering from us..."

:dontknow: