Is it wrong to put a Fender logo on a partscaster?

[RiverDog]

I just bought a partscaster on Ebay. The body and neck are Fender licensed and made by Mighty Mite. The seller built the guitar and has put a Fender logo on the headstock. He says it can be removed and I'm wondering if I should have him do that before he ships it to me.

Any opinions? I appreciate all feedback.

EDIT: It's obvious it's not a Fender (to me) because the headstock is black (to match the body) and the logo is white. It doesn't say "telecaster" or anything. I guess I just feel kind of funny with it on there. I'll post pics when I get it.

[charlie chitlin]

The guy was honest, and that's cool.
As long as everybody is honest every time the guitar gets sold....
Well...that's the hitch.

[BroadMaster]

Originally Posted by copytekk

I just bought a partscaster on Ebay. The body and neck are Fender licensed and made by Mighty Mite. The seller built the guitar and has put a Fender logo on the headstock. He says it can be removed and I'm wondering if I should have him do that before he ships it to me.

Any opinions? I appreciate all feedback.

Well, Fender didn't make it. If you tell someone before they buy it and
don't misrepresent the FACT that it's a partscaster it is still NOT a Fender product. The real question is: What are you gonna replace it with? There are several ways to get your own logo. Waterslide decal of your own design or Commissioned by you and somebody else does the layout design and production. Most print shops have peel & stick on logos that are reasonable. Buy the right printer and paper and make your own design...maybe.
Congrats on the new partscaster.

[0le FUZZY]

...From the rules up at the top:

DECAL REQUESTS:
Don't post about buying or selling or finding trademarked items such as guitar decals. This is the one sure way to get lawyers to come after me and the TDPRI.

...Thank me later;

0le FUZZY

[e-merlin]

Just my personal opinion here, but I think it's totally wrong. Even if a person is being honest about the origins, that doesn't mean the next guy will be. I'm not going to get all up in arms about it though. I never have, and I never will. put a Fender decal on anything I build.

OTOH, there are plenty of guys out there building Shelby Cobra replicas that are correct, right down to the emblems. Guess it's a personal decision.

[PeterUK]

...but assuming you know what you've bought - a partscaster adourned with a Fender logo - then leave it on.

My thoughts are this. If you play live and someone sees you playing and thinks "That guy on guitar is great, I must get myself a Fender Telecaster" then you've done Mr. Fender a favour.

Others will chip in, I'm sure. You're going to get those who accuse you of deception, fraud, cheating, misrepresenting Fender products, etc., blah, blah.., other who think it's OK and others like me who don't give a hoot.

It's up to you. Once you've read through the threads, been emotionally beaten up and accused of all things under the sun, you decide! However, it is Christmas and the soap boxes may have been put away for the holidays!

Peter

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by e-merlin

Just my personal opinion here, but I think it's totally wrong. Even if a person is being honest about the origins, that doesn't mean the next guy will be. I'm not going to get all up in arms about it though. I never have, and I never will.

Ditto.

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

...From the rules up at the top:

DECAL REQUESTS:
Don't post about buying or selling or finding trademarked items such as guitar decals. This is the one sure way to get lawyers to come after me and the TDPRI.

...Thank me later;

0le FUZZY

Ooooh! I haven't spotted that before!

Peter

[ganzua]

If I had the chance I'd put my name in the decal with the same font than Fender logo.

I think if you build for selling it is just a scam but if you build for you it is ok to put whatever you want.

[jsntg]

There is a guy walking through the airport with an 'Andy Summer's' replica. Even says so on that relic case - Andy Summer's in big white letters. Wow, 'Excuse me sir, could I have your autograph?'...

It's not illegal or even immoral to brand myself or my stuff with what I want. It is both however if there is an intent to deceive or defraud.

Hugh

[furrfurrfurr]

is it wrong for people in China to make a Les Paul looking guitar out of plywood and put the word Gibson on it?

Is it wrong for people to sew Nike labels on non-Nike apparel?

Of course it's wrong and this is no different.

[RiverDog]

I appreciate the info. I was only posting about buying a guitar with a Fender logo. I don't beleve that falls under any of those rules but if I'm wrong please let me know. I'm new here and I certainly don't want to cause a big stir.

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

...From the rules up at the top:

DECAL REQUESTS:
Don't post about buying or selling or finding trademarked items such as guitar decals. This is the one sure way to get lawyers to come after me and the TDPRI.

...Thank me later;

0le FUZZY

[TDPRI]

First of all, this kind of discussion is fine. We've had many of them before.

Secondly, the rule quoted applies to discussion of BUYING and SELLING decals. And that is what it says, "Don't post about buying or selling or finding trademarked items." Discussing buying a guitar that someone else has already put a decal on does not fall under that prohibition at all.

Lastly, Fender does not license bodies. So, if the seller is telling you it's a licensed body he's wrong. However the bodies are not trademarked and don't need any licensing. And, Fender would tell you that licensed neck or not it is against trademark laws to put a Fender decal on the neck. But as a privately owned guitar you can do whatever you wish to it. It's yours. The guy selling it is the one that is violating the trademark... not you.

You get to decide for yourself what you prefer.

[0le FUZZY]

"buying or selling or finding trademarked items"


...Silly me!!!


...Now that that iss settled haff him leaf it on and then whence yew cell it yew kin tell a liddo white lie (like "thats the weigh I bought it")and git even more getus.


0le FUZZY

[e-merlin]

Regarding your situation, where it's already there and you know it's a partscaster, I wouldn't worry about taking it off until the time comes to sell it.

[newtwanger]

is it wrong for people in China to make a Les Paul looking guitar out of plywood and put the word Gibson on it?

Is it wrong for people to sew Nike labels on non-Nike apparel?

Of course it's wrong and this is no different.

Except that it's completely different.
If I make a plywood Gibson while I'm wearing my T-shirt that I printed Nike on I am breaking NO LAWS. (I'm simply a bit of a label-loving poser). If I try to sell it to you, then I am a criminal. If I was the seller, I'd remove the logo before the sale, lord knows it's only a click away for the buyer to replace the fake logo. And this way neither is breaking any laws.

[neocaster]

Welcome, copytekk. I'm of a mind that it's your guitar, your business. That being said, if you sell it like that, no matter how full and honest your disclosure, it will probably find its way back to market it as a special order or one-off Fender because some greedy individual realied he'll get more than he paid by lying.

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by newtwanger

Except that it's completely different.
If I make a plywood Gibson while I'm wearing my T-shirt that I printed Nike on I am breaking NO LAWS. (I'm simply a bit of a label-loving poser). If I try to sell it to you, then I am a criminal. If I was the seller, I'd remove the logo before the sale, lord knows it's only a click away for the buyer to replace the fake logo. And this way neither is breaking any laws.

The original topic was not about breaking laws...it asked if it was wrong and asked for opinions....there's a difference.

[furrfurrfurr]

Originally Posted by newtwanger

Except that it's completely different.
If I make a plywood Gibson while I'm wearing my T-shirt that I printed Nike on I am breaking NO LAWS. (I'm simply a bit of a label-loving poser). If I try to sell it to you, then I am a criminal. If I was the seller, I'd remove the logo before the sale, lord knows it's only a click away for the buyer to replace the fake logo. And this way neither is breaking any laws.

I meant that it's wrong philosophically. The problem is you never know where it's going to end. Eventually, the guitar COULD be sold to someone under the notion that it's real.

You're right, no laws are broken when it's yours. But ask someone who's been ripped off by a fake tele and see how they feel about about the "once-legal" partscaster that they paid way too much and are now stuck with.

I agree that the best solution would be for the seller to remove and let the buyer put another fake decal on it. As lame as that is.

[newtwanger]

The original topic was not about breaking laws...it asked if it was wrong and asked for opinions....there's a difference.

Sorry, you're right.

I was simply commenting that furrfurrs examples are not examples of "wrong" they are examples of criminal acts that should be dealt with under full force of law. Saying "this is no different" is what I was commenting on. No one is breaking any laws, they are simply doing something furrfurr wouldn't (and that's OK).

I am a fan of "doing what I want" as long as it doesn't pass into the land of illegalness. I wouldn't hesitate to make my "replica" or "tribute" guitar look more like the original with a correct headstock sticker, but it would never be sold with that logo in place.

[RiverDog]

Wow! I appreciate all the feedback. I wish I could post a pic of the guitar in question (don't know if it would help or not) but I'm blocked from Ebay at work. I'm going to email the seller when I get home and ask him how hard it would be to remove the decal or maybe replace it. I kind of like the idea of my name or something else there.

This forum is great!

[FrankB]

I don't feel it's appropriate, it's not a fender, pretty simple.
It would be cooler to see a logo as I have made one for myself and use it when I do a build. If the parts are stamped or branded with Fender logo's that's different.

[BillyC]

A lot of Fender guitars have never been on the inside of a Fender factory,

They have a Fender decal.It's your guitar,I'd leave it on.


Jmho