Guess what was stuck in the door today??

hugo · March 14th, 2008, 07:44 PM

I had gone to Bellone's (London Ont. guitar shop) and had seen these guitars that had Frankenstein on the headstock. I asked about them cause they were very funky in design. Anyway, I guess it's a guy in the area that makes them. He used to work at Cami and quit to make guitars fulltime. He's made a few for Kim Mitchell. Anyway, they were on for 35% off. I had seen one I've talked about in another thread. But the one that caught my eye was an Esquire. It's got a Fender headstock, tele body, SD hotrail. In the front of the body there's a Marshall tin. Like they used to wear in the Old West. It's reliced to look like an old west guitar. Anyway, it was $1,000.00. I fell in love with the look and the sound. I couldn't come up with the cash though cause I had just bought a guitar awhile back and I do want to stay married.
Well, I was out today and I came home to find something stashed between the screen and the front door. It was the Esquire! Turns out my brother went all the way down there and bought it for me. Now do I have a cool brother or what!! This guitar is down right cool. Every guy wants to be a cowboy deep down inside and this is as cowboy as it gets without being overkill. I can't believe I own it!!! He left the receipt for me in case there's any problem with the guitar. Turns out it's kinda a consignment thing so he only pays tax on the profit that Bellone's makes. Total tax in $638.00!! Wow!! That's quite a drop for what I thought would be 1150.00.
When I get shown how to download pictures from my camera this weekend, I'll post some shots of it and many others I now own.
Oh...a little sidebar...The Fender rep that Bellone's deals with is trying to sue this guy because you'd never know it wasn't a Fender. Bummer...the little guy just can't survive against a big corporation.

thaus · March 14th, 2008, 08:16 PM

Nice score Hugo! And what a nice brother you have........I have seen these guitars but didn't play one. Looking forward to your pics..........you know the rule right? If you get a new guitar, it must be announced with pics!!

hugo · March 14th, 2008, 08:22 PM

Didn't know about that rule! So, I'll take care of that this weekend.

Take 'er easy Thaus.

TDPRI · March 14th, 2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugo

The Fender rep that Bellone's deals with is trying to sue this guy because you'd never know it wasn't a Fender. Bummer...the little guy just can't survive against a big corporation.

Yeah, what a bummer. You just can't steal other people's trademarked products for your own profit like you used to be able to. What's this world coming to?

hugo · March 14th, 2008, 09:45 PM

I agree, they definitely have a point. You'd never know it wasn't a Fender that's for sure. It's just too bad because his guitars are mostly other guitars other than a tele. Mind you I saw a Rickenbacher that looked like a Rickenbacker. He needs to maybe just change 'em up a little more. There were 3 or 4 others that looked like his own design. I really do agree that he shouldn't be copying Fender or any other guitar out there, it's just a pitty that he has to be sued at all because he has many designs that are his own. He'd probably be better off sticking to those. But that was an amusing post though!! LOL. Not too sarcastic at all are you?? lol. Where would we all be without sarcasm? Sure use your status on me so I can't say anything!! JK Really, I do agree, it's just that he's a little independant not someone who's going to ruin Fender in any way. Mind you this could take us into the discussion about music downloading too! Where do you stand on that big guy? ahahhahahahahaha.
I think it's robbery, myself. I mean it does stop people from buying Cd's. That's a big loss for musicians. That is why CD sales are way down.

Ricky D. · March 14th, 2008, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by hugo:
"The Fender rep that Bellone's deals with is trying to sue this guy because you'd never know it wasn't a Fender. Bummer...the little guy just can't survive against a big corporation"

That's right. The little guy can't steal copyrighted designs from the big corporation and sell them for profit. Fender has a right to defend their products from counterfeiters. Grown up rules apply. He made a grown man's choice, now he's paying a grown man's price. He had better work out a settlement while he can. If he doesn't, Fender can squash him like an annoying insect.

Hugo, sorry my friend, no sympathy for your little guy here. He's a petty thief. It's disappointing to see that kind of behavior defended.

Southern ILL · March 14th, 2008, 11:14 PM

Hugo-post pics. man..Sounds really cool.It might have a lic'd neck on it.If you have it apart look and see.If so-How can he be sued if he wasn't trying to pass it off as a Fender? Regardles-We have all seen the "traditional" Fender models...Something different is nice to see.

Cool Bro ya got there too.

hugo · March 14th, 2008, 11:23 PM

Ricky D., did you not read my followup post? The reason I'm upset about him being sued is cause he has his own designs that he should use instead of using an exact copy of a Fender. I agree that he shouldn't copy a Fender Tele. I think he's even using Fender parts. Reread it there buddy and chill out. I'm not condoning that. All I'm saying is it's a bummer to see him getting sued cause he's got so many great designs. The one I was given is the only one made like it. It's a one-off. Now he could have more tele copies out there, I don't know.
I plan on posting pics this weekend of all my guitars (hopefully) I just have to have someone show me because I'm old.
Ricky, you may want to look away when you see my post!
No comments on the downloading of musician's music????????

Ricky D. · March 15th, 2008, 10:19 AM

Hugo, sorry, don't know why I went off like that. You are right about your post. I'll wear a blindfold when you put up the pix.

-Rick

Ira7 · March 15th, 2008, 10:42 AM

Did he use the actual Fender logo? If so, that's a big bad.

But if he didn't--are you sure about the suing part then? That might have been exaggerated because it's good for business.

Is there anyone here who knows what you actually can or can't do when it comes to copying a design? Like, are these other companies making Tele style guitars paying Fender a license for that design, or has that patent expired long ago? The logo and name would come under copyright and trademark, but I would think that anything else would be patents, including design, which don't last forever.

Ricky D. · March 16th, 2008, 10:40 AM

My observation is that Fender has been protecting their headstock shapes, but not the body shapes. They could protect the body shapes if they chose to do so.

spicolli · March 16th, 2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky D.

My observation is that Fender has been protecting their headstock shapes, but not the body shapes. They could protect the body shapes if they chose to do so.

i dont think they can protect the tele body shape, they only have a trademark for the headstocks as far as i know.

boris bubbanov · March 16th, 2008, 02:37 PM

As long as it doesn't carry a Fender decal, I will sit tight.

My mom buys me a wallet for christmas, and it says New York this and Italian that, 150 year old revered company, all this rubbish. But deep inside, way hidden from the eyes of an 81 year old woman, is a Made in China tag. I spent almost as much returning the thing as I did on its US made replacement. Damm, that thing cost her $$$$.

All I ask is that Joe six pack sees no Fender decal on the headstock where one does not belong.

I keep trying to buy my brother a second bass, a G + L, but he likes his 82 P bass, and he's 'getting rid of stuff' to impress his girlfriend. Must be great to get a guitar from yer brother like that.

March 14th, 2008, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	Guess what was stuck in the door today?? I had gone to Bellone's (London Ont. guitar shop) and had seen these guitars that had Frankenstein on the headstock. I asked about them cause they were very funky in design. Anyway, I guess it's a guy in the area that makes them. He used to work at Cami and quit to make guitars fulltime. He's made a few for Kim Mitchell. Anyway, they were on for 35% off. I had seen one I've talked about in another thread. But the one that caught my eye was an Esquire. It's got a Fender headstock, tele body, SD hotrail. In the front of the body there's a Marshall tin. Like they used to wear in the Old West. It's reliced to look like an old west guitar. Anyway, it was $1,000.00. I fell in love with the look and the sound. I couldn't come up with the cash though cause I had just bought a guitar awhile back and I do want to stay married. Well, I was out today and I came home to find something stashed between the screen and the front door. It was the Esquire! Turns out my brother went all the way down there and bought it for me. Now do I have a cool brother or what!! This guitar is down right cool. Every guy wants to be a cowboy deep down inside and this is as cowboy as it gets without being overkill. I can't believe I own it!!! He left the receipt for me in case there's any problem with the guitar. Turns out it's kinda a consignment thing so he only pays tax on the profit that Bellone's makes. Total tax in $638.00!! Wow!! That's quite a drop for what I thought would be 1150.00. When I get shown how to download pictures from my camera this weekend, I'll post some shots of it and many others I now own. Oh...a little sidebar...The Fender rep that Bellone's deals with is trying to sue this guy because you'd never know it wasn't a Fender. Bummer...the little guy just can't survive against a big corporation.

March 16th, 2008, 02:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 8,538	As long as it doesn't carry a Fender decal, I will sit tight. My mom buys me a wallet for christmas, and it says New York this and Italian that, 150 year old revered company, all this rubbish. But deep inside, way hidden from the eyes of an 81 year old woman, is a Made in China tag. I spent almost as much returning the thing as I did on its US made replacement. Damm, that thing cost her $$$$. All I ask is that Joe six pack sees no Fender decal on the headstock where one does not belong. I keep trying to buy my brother a second bass, a G + L, but he likes his 82 P bass, and he's 'getting rid of stuff' to impress his girlfriend. Must be great to get a guitar from yer brother like that. __________________ Bubban0v

March 14th, 2008, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
thaus Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 479	Nice score Hugo! And what a nice brother you have........I have seen these guitars but didn't play one. Looking forward to your pics..........you know the rule right? If you get a new guitar, it must be announced with pics!!

March 14th, 2008, 08:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	Didn't know about that rule! So, I'll take care of that this weekend. Take 'er easy Thaus.

March 14th, 2008, 09:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	I agree, they definitely have a point. You'd never know it wasn't a Fender that's for sure. It's just too bad because his guitars are mostly other guitars other than a tele. Mind you I saw a Rickenbacher that looked like a Rickenbacker. He needs to maybe just change 'em up a little more. There were 3 or 4 others that looked like his own design. I really do agree that he shouldn't be copying Fender or any other guitar out there, it's just a pitty that he has to be sued at all because he has many designs that are his own. He'd probably be better off sticking to those. But that was an amusing post though!! LOL. Not too sarcastic at all are you?? lol. Where would we all be without sarcasm? Sure use your status on me so I can't say anything!! JK Really, I do agree, it's just that he's a little independant not someone who's going to ruin Fender in any way. Mind you this could take us into the discussion about music downloading too! Where do you stand on that big guy? ahahhahahahahaha. I think it's robbery, myself. I mean it does stop people from buying Cd's. That's a big loss for musicians. That is why CD sales are way down.

March 14th, 2008, 10:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ricky D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 57 Posts: 905	Originally Posted by hugo: "The Fender rep that Bellone's deals with is trying to sue this guy because you'd never know it wasn't a Fender. Bummer...the little guy just can't survive against a big corporation" That's right. The little guy can't steal copyrighted designs from the big corporation and sell them for profit. Fender has a right to defend their products from counterfeiters. Grown up rules apply. He made a grown man's choice, now he's paying a grown man's price. He had better work out a settlement while he can. If he doesn't, Fender can squash him like an annoying insect. Hugo, sorry my friend, no sympathy for your little guy here. He's a petty thief. It's disappointing to see that kind of behavior defended.

March 14th, 2008, 11:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Southern ILL Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Illinois Age: 38 Posts: 982	Hugo-post pics. man..Sounds really cool.It might have a lic'd neck on it.If you have it apart look and see.If so-How can he be sued if he wasn't trying to pass it off as a Fender? Regardles-We have all seen the "traditional" Fender models...Something different is nice to see. Cool Bro ya got there too.

March 14th, 2008, 11:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
hugo Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sarnia,Ontario Age: 49 Posts: 812	Ricky D., did you not read my followup post? The reason I'm upset about him being sued is cause he has his own designs that he should use instead of using an exact copy of a Fender. I agree that he shouldn't copy a Fender Tele. I think he's even using Fender parts. Reread it there buddy and chill out. I'm not condoning that. All I'm saying is it's a bummer to see him getting sued cause he's got so many great designs. The one I was given is the only one made like it. It's a one-off. Now he could have more tele copies out there, I don't know. I plan on posting pics this weekend of all my guitars (hopefully) I just have to have someone show me because I'm old. Ricky, you may want to look away when you see my post! No comments on the downloading of musician's music????????

March 15th, 2008, 10:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ricky D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 57 Posts: 905	Hugo, sorry, don't know why I went off like that. You are right about your post. I'll wear a blindfold when you put up the pix. -Rick

March 15th, 2008, 10:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ira7 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Coral Springs, FL Age: 51 Posts: 326	Did he use the actual Fender logo? If so, that's a big bad. But if he didn't--are you sure about the suing part then? That might have been exaggerated because it's good for business. Is there anyone here who knows what you actually can or can't do when it comes to copying a design? Like, are these other companies making Tele style guitars paying Fender a license for that design, or has that patent expired long ago? The logo and name would come under copyright and trademark, but I would think that anything else would be patents, including design, which don't last forever.

March 16th, 2008, 10:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ricky D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 57 Posts: 905	My observation is that Fender has been protecting their headstock shapes, but not the body shapes. They could protect the body shapes if they chose to do so.