Wow...

[Hodgo]

Warmoth manufactures under a license agreement with Fender, so they are okay in advance.

For the necks, yes. Bodies I do not believe are licensed

 

[stratamania]

Then: Why now? If it makes sense now, it must have made sense 30 years ago, doesn't it?

Possibly as the case was brought against a Chinese Manufacturer selling the items via Aliexpress I believe. 30 years ago selling cheap knock offs via the internet was not a thing. I would surmise Fender took the view that now enough is enough.

 

[PFDarkside]

I’d also imagine in 2021 when they were selling faster than they could make them there wasn’t a concern. Now that they have to have sales and Harley Benton has upped the quality considerably they see sales that “should be” theirs.

 

[Heavy Rock]

It's the copyright grounds that make this slightly more powerful than the earlier trademark oriented cases.

Personally I'm ok with improved slightly different guitars, but this flood of exact strat copies doesn't make much sense imo.

If at the end of the day, Suhr for example, must drop their Classic model, they still have the Standard which looks so much better to me. And also the Modern.

What is probably going to happen if Fender goes all out enforcing, is that everybody that makes an exact copy will have to change the body enough or drop it. LTD Eclipse vs Les Paul style thing.

 

[PFDarkside]

Might need to stock up on Warmoth bodies.

 

[JamesSan]

I think this was in Germany. On a side note, Fenders lineup is filled with ugly colors, dumb models and outdated specs. Seriously. They should stick to a few solid lines and update their neck specs. Fender is stuck in the 50s.

 

[Rick]

What makes an S guitar ....
Not even the Düsseldorf Regional Court in Germany knows for sure, as the case was a default .... the whole thing is a big nothing.

 

[Heavy Rock]

To

I think this was in Germany. On a side note, Fenders lineup is filled with ugly colors, dumb models and outdated specs. Seriously. They should stick to a few solid lines and update their neck specs. Fender is stuck in the 50s.

To be honest, I agree with this. I always wanted to see Fender doing what they do with Charvel but with their traditional guitars. So, traditional looking but with modern specs. Kind of like the Ultra, but at a lower price point. And give them different colors etc.

I loved the new Tele FSR with the dual humbuckers. Maybe they're exploring this route, idk.

 

[Don O]

Now they have this decision, and if say Sadowsky wants to fight it, (they were located in Brooklyn (at least when I lived there) (don't mean to pick on Mr. S, I like his work and have been to his shop, just using it as an example) they have to go over to europe and hirer lawyers over there (an expensive pain in neck).

I read your post yesterday and I thought, I never heard of Sadowsky, but it sure seemed familiar. Hmmm.

Well, Wednesdays are band practice at my house. The bass player shows up with a brand new, Koa flame top 5 string. I go and look at the picture I took, and guess what, it’s a Sadowsky. Had never heard of them and now TWICE in one day I’m exposed to them!

 

[TBurst Std]

Sadowski makes really nice stuff. Jeff Becks bassist, Tal was endorsed by Sadowski.

 

[JamesSan]

I read your post yesterday and I thought, I never heard of Sadowsky, but it sure seemed familiar. Hmmm.

Well, Wednesdays are band practice at my house. The bass player shows up with a brand new, Koa flame top 5 string. I go and look at the picture I took, and guess what, it’s a Sadowsky. Had never heard of them and now TWICE in one day I’m exposed to them!

View attachment 68096

I’m not a bass player but that thing looks like it rips

 

[Don O]

I’m not a bass player but that thing looks like it rips

It sounded really good at practice.

 

[Strat Avenger]

On a side note, Fenders lineup is filled with ugly colors, dumb models and outdated specs. Seriously. They should stick to a few solid lines and update their neck specs. Fender is stuck in the 50s.

I agree 1000%. If I owned Fender, there would be some major changes (and the product would sell).
It's okay to offer a couple of vintage reissues, but the main product line should be brought into the 21st century while sticking with the Strat & Tele body and headstock shapes.

 

[jjwu]

I agree 1000%. If I owned Fender, there would be some major changes (and the product would sell).
It's okay to offer a couple of vintage reissues, but the main product line should be brought into the 21st century while sticking with the Strat & Tele body and headstock shapes.

That's what Charvel is for

 

[Strat Avenger]

That's what Charvel is for

No, because Charvel gets much further away from the classic styling. I want the classic styling with modern technology (and a contoured heel!).

 

[rauchman]

No, because Charvel gets much further away from the classic styling. I want the classic styling with modern technology (and a contoured heel!).

....and a CBS headstock, SS frets, compound radius fretboard, etc.

 

[Strat Avenger]

....and a CBS headstock, SS frets, compound radius fretboard, etc.

Something I found interesting is a friend's American Performer Strat has a CBS headstock, but 22 frets and crap tuners.
'Seemed like a strange mixture of specs. Also no contoured heel. I think all Fender Strats & Teles should have a contoured heel (unless it's a vintage reissue) regardless of price point or country of manufacture. I mean, it's 2026 for cryin'-out-loud!

 

[Waraxe]

Eu law does not and will never apply here.

Much like gibson cant do anything about tokai and all the other les paul copies outside of the US. They just can't import to the USA.

This is a huge nothing in the scheme of things.

If anyone, including those at fender thinks this will end up with more sales for fender is dreaming. The backlash will be swift and huge.

Why? Because fender only produces what they want to. Want better neck, bridges, tuners, pickups, etc? Well, you gotta buy elsewhere, or pay a small fortune for custom shop.

It doesnt matter to this guy in the least bit. I build my fender styles. Only warmoth makes money from me for strats or teles.

 

[rauchman]

Something I found interesting is a friend's American Performer Strat has a CBS headstock, but 22 frets and crap tuners.
'Seemed like a strange mixture of specs. Also no contoured heel. I think all Fender Strats & Teles should have a contoured heel (unless it's a vintage reissue) regardless of price point or country of manufacture. I mean, it's 2026 for cryin'-out-loud!

Fully agree. Why they haven't moved to a contoured heel, such as the Ultra / Elite, is strange to me. I get they are tied to "vintage", but not everyone wants "vintage", and not all their models are "vintage" focused.

I looked at the American Performer seriously as it's the only offering with the CBS headstock and 22 frets. Aesthetically, I greatly prefer the larger headstock. But yup, there are some specs on it that seem like the everyday choice vs something special. Would love to see this neck with at least a 12" radius, and of course, the contoured heel for the body.

 

[Heavy Rock]

I'm thinking of getting a Performer Strat too. I want one with the CBS headstock as well. I always liked the Sunburst strat Ritchie Blackmore had with Rainbow.

Now, having said my first post here, I really believe it's going to be very difficult for Fender to enforce that ruling. If they have the money and energy to spend on that, I'm preparing my pop corn.