This Was Fender's Plan All Along

[BlueParfait]

^Good to know. Makes you wonder why Fender hired Suhr to begin with (if this was so damn important to them).


OK. Finally had time to watch that video @hellzington posted in his OP

NOW I understand.

And it can't fall under a statute of limitations because this time it is about copywrite (art) and not trademark. The court case in Germany was just something they could stick in their folder and say, "See?" The private equity firm (Servco Pacific) probably doesn't even care about the money as much as flexing their muscle on the "S" strat body style. They are hoping the little guys (Suhr is a repeated example with their "Classic S") will sue Fender to force this back into the courts/public eye but this time under copywrite law I'm assuming. So there could be years and years of legal battles the little guys probably cannot afford.

The case in Germany was about companies in China making strait up copy rip-offs of the Stratocaster. That's what they have in their folder now to say, "See?"

So yeah, this sucks a lot more than I originally was thinking. It really has nothing to do with Europe, so I apologize for that part. Thanks @hellzington

John was also the guy behind the Fender Noiseless pickups IIRC. That project was at Jeff Beck's request

 

[godgrinder]

They probably just want everyone to pay them license fee like Musikraft/Allparts/Warmoth have been doing for years.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Apparently it is now in Germany.

Strats are iconic. If you want a “non Fender” Strat roll your own with licensed wood.

I don’t get the drama—building a business around copying others’ designs always seemed dirty to me anyway

Tbt I have never played an S style guitar I liked better then my '87 American Std Strat, and have an inclination to agree to a point.

The problem is Fender was for a very very long time kinda up their own ass the way Gibson is with certain things, and refused to offer different radius fretboards. Basically you were stuck with either 7.25" or 9.5", and if you wanted say a 12", or a compound radius they couldn't give af. If you're playing blues, rock, funk, country, jazz, surf, even some metal it's not a problem. But if you're playing thrash, death metal, shred, or jazz fusion type shit, then odds are you are wanting something a good bit flatter. That's why Jackson, Charvel, Ibenez, and later Tom Anderson, Suhr, etc... all found a market.

Personally I'm not one of those guys. While I'm not a fan of the vintage 7.25" I love the modern 9.5". It encourages me to attack the strings a little more I feel, and that is part of the sound of a Tele or Strat. Don't get me wrong I dig in pretty good on a 12" radius, but not a big fan of anything flatter than that either, and playing an S style body with a shredder neck and fretboard feels nothing like playing a Strat to me.

 

[nightlight]

Some good knowledge being shared in this thread, thanks. I clicked on one of those videos, and it was just a Fender-bashing fest.

 

[tallcoolone]

The problem is Fender was for a very very long time kinda up their own ass the way Gibson is with certain things, and refused to offer different radius fretboards. Basically you were stuck with either 7.25" or 9.5", and if you wanted say a 12", or a compound radius they couldn't give af.

Amen—I like big fat necks and in order to get a Strat with one I need to drop $3k+ for a CS model. I roll my own with a perfect profile Musikraft neck, extra light Warmoth body and whatever finish I want from MJT for under $2k with a nice case.

To be fair, Gibson is the same situation but unfortunately it;s not as easy with set neck guitars.