rstites
Well-known member
Just watched that earlier this morning. I'd heard about Fender going after people before, but had no idea they're going after body shape......which seems way too late. I ended up at an actual lawyer's discussion who was suggesting the whole thing is nonsense. Fender patented the body-shape in the 50's and that patent has long since expired. It's very weird. Also, apparently they have sent letters to PRS on this, which is especially weird as the body shapes aren't that similar.
Geo
Well-known member
Don't know what this is going to amount to but Beato is right about Fender quality.
Sick Michael
Well-known member
He's full of shit. Heres why:
"Fender have alienated everyone thats ever bought a Fender strat"
I dont feel alienated. Why would I? I like my strat. Thats it.
"People dont want to be seen with a Fender branded guitar."
Makes no difference to me whatsoever, and if I ever play anywhere, the 3 people that come to watch wont care either. If it alienates me from these music industry/influencer types, then all the better!
"Fender have destroyed the trust of their customers"
I bought my American Standard Strat in 1998, because I liked it. It was nothing got to do with whether I trusted the company. Yes, it had a reputation but after playing it, I liked it.
And...None of my guitar heros gave a shit either.
---------------
So far removed from the average dude in the street, and illogical.
"Fender have alienated everyone thats ever bought a Fender strat"
I dont feel alienated. Why would I? I like my strat. Thats it.
"People dont want to be seen with a Fender branded guitar."
Makes no difference to me whatsoever, and if I ever play anywhere, the 3 people that come to watch wont care either. If it alienates me from these music industry/influencer types, then all the better!
"Fender have destroyed the trust of their customers"
I bought my American Standard Strat in 1998, because I liked it. It was nothing got to do with whether I trusted the company. Yes, it had a reputation but after playing it, I liked it.
And...None of my guitar heros gave a shit either.
---------------
So far removed from the average dude in the street, and illogical.
BABMusic
Well-known member
The next step is, Fender making it illegal to own a Strat copy with the Strat headstock. "Turn in your illegal guitars", they will say.
Geo
Well-known member
They can try, I guess.
Sick Michael
Well-known member
And then he gives his big story about "oh I bought a Fender strat for $900 but I pulled the neck off it because it had a really terrible neck".
Im sorry, but why did you buy it in the first place? duh?!
Im sorry, but why did you buy it in the first place? duh?!
Sick Michael
Well-known member
" I have loads of Fender guitars, and fender amps...."
Good for you! F me...
Good for you! F me...
ilikehats
Active member
Mandatory Strat Buyback program. "All your illegal strats are belong to us now."
dooredge
Well-known member
Shreddy Mercury
Well-known member
splitendz
Active member
One thing he is wrong about. He says that the reason all these companies started copying the strat was because of poor Fender quality. The reason other guitar companies copied the strat was because it was a perfect body shape. Much more comfortable and accessible than a Les Paul (no disrespect). Charvel and many others were copying the strat body long before Fender quality dropped.
Speeddemon
Well-known member
You saw the Blues Lawyer Confessional video? Some videos also rightfully point out that after the patent expired, Fender did nothing against MM or G&L at the time, and even celebrated or marketed the fact that copies existed... In the German lawsuit they purposely left out the other people involved with the original design, since copyright cannot be tied to multiple creators apparently, and the design of the Strat shape changed quite a few times over the year, making the copyright claim even more wishy-washy.
They gambled and it's gonna bite them in their ass.
rstites
Well-known member
I thought the 70's Fender quality was supposed to be really poor, which would explain some of the copying.
However, the real issue is that the strat is a great base, but lots of us prefer humbuckers, functional trems, flatter neck radii, etc. The Fender strat is liking buying an old Ford, but then you really want to update it and hotrod it to get something better.
SgtThump
Real OG
Bingo!
ilikehats
Active member
Geo
Well-known member
The quality control in the 70's, 80's and 90's was worse than it is now.
V
VonBonfire
Well-known member
100% agreed Michael. Very far removed.....
Just like the stupid people who dumped all their Fulltone gear when GC wasn't paying their invoice and used BLM comments Mike posted as an excuse to skip out on the bill.
PurityS.L.G
Well-known member
Yeah but what does Rhett Shull think?
SgtThump
Real OG
Don’t let anyone forget history.
