Fake Fender Stratocasters

kp247 · 2011-10-13T13:25:41+00:00

Just throwing something at you here. I've recently played some oke's Fender Strat when I was down in CT and it was a truly great guitar and I took it for a...

Fake Fender Stratocasters

kp247

nicovlogg wrote: On a technical level, I think it's OK to put a fender logo on a neck that's Fender spec from an official Fender replacement company.

I strongly disagree! Fender is Fender.

It's unethical, and what annoys me even more is there are reputable local luthiers/repairmen who blatantly put these Fender logos on non-fender guitars and then refinish them. I made a call last night and I believe the guitar that I played had a Mighty Mite body and a standard Warmoth neck and Fender hardware, with all the proper Fender USA logo's on it. I didn't see an actual "Custom Shop" logo on it, but the fact is this was presented as a Fender Stratocaster!

It's like a previous argument I had about the fake Chinese Gibson Les Pauls floating around the country. Everyone was up in arms about that but fake Fenders appears to be OK! ???

nicovlogg

kp247 wrote:
nicovlogg wrote: On a technical level, I think it's OK to put a fender logo on a neck that's Fender spec from an official Fender replacement company.
I strongly disagree! Fender is Fender.

It's unethical, and what annoys me even more is there are reputable local luthiers/repairmen who blatantly put these Fender logos on non-fender guitars and then refinish them. I made a call last night and I believe the guitar that I played had a Mighty Mite body and a standard Warmoth neck and Fender hardware, with all the proper Fender USA logo's on it. I didn't see an actual "Custom Shop" logo on it, but the fact is this was presented as a Fender Stratocaster!

It's like a previous argument I had about the fake Chinese Gibson Les Pauls floating around the country. Everyone was up in arms about that but fake Fenders appears to be OK! ???

There's a big difference between a neck and a body. If it's a Fender licensed neck, it's a Fender neck... I'm not saying give it a fake serial number or put a custom shop logo on, but....

kp247

selbydoodl wrote: If you were so impressed with the sound and playability of y our mate's guitar did all that dissapear whn you knew it wasnt the real thing?

It has NO value to me if it's a fake Fender! I don't want it for free!

However, I have kit Stratocaster guitars that in my opinion is much better (for me personally) than any Fender. They have no logo's on them and have been assembled from quality parts and necks have been customized for my hand size and pickups to match my personal taste.

So, I won't play a fake Fender neither do I have to play a crappy assembled kit guitar if I have the choice!

StephenG

kp247 wrote: It's unethical, and what annoys me even more is there are reputable local luthiers/repairmen who blatantly put these Fender logos on non-fender guitars and then refinish them. I made a call last night and I believe the guitar that I played had a Mighty Mite body and a standard Warmoth neck and Fender hardware, with all the proper Fender USA logo's on it. I didn't see an actual "Custom Shop" logo on it, but the fact is this was presented as a Fender Stratocaster!

if its as good as an original Fender but is NOT an original Fender, then they shoudl put Tokai on the headstock..!! ? ? ?

sorry Lance ! ? ?

kp247 - I am in full agreement. Chinese fake Gibsons, south african fake fenders.. all the same.

kp247

Vic wrote:
I think kp247's point is that he could have been fooled by it...?
No matter the quality or tone of the "fake"...... it should not have a Fender logo anywhere on it....it's fraud.

+100

kp247

MikeM wrote: I personally think there's nothing wrong with having a Fender logo on a non-factory guitar, but don't put a serial number on, leave some kind of signature/message on bottom of the neck, or inside the trem cavity, or under the tele pickguard that shows it's not an authentic Fender. I HATE the look of non-fender headstocks/decals.

Very revealing! I deduct from this that you endorse the idea that to mislead people into thinking that a guitar is a Fender when it isn't is OK!

kp247

Tokai SA wrote: IMO, if the guitar isn't made by Fender then it shouldn't have a Fender decal on the headstock, end of story.

+10000

MikeM

I'll leave you to read my post again ?

kp247

With all the decal technology available today one can easily create a personalized spaghetti logo with Photoshop that looks Fender'ish and stick it on the headstock.

There's NO need to put a fake Fender logo on any guitar!

MikeM

They still look crappy in my opinion, as the Fender logo was drawn by hand.

I'll make sure to send you a photo of my guitar once it has a lovely fake 50's Fender logo on ?

Also, by that logic, I sure as hell hope you don't have a Fender headstock on your guitar.

tonerider

kp247 wrote: With all the decal technology available today one can easily create a personalized spaghetti logo with Photoshop that looks Fender'ish and stick it on the headstock.

Like this?
Musikraft neck on Warmoth body!

vic

@ AndreM....that's the spirit ! Proud of your own name !

It would indeed seem as if the "name on the headstock" is an all important one if we are willing and adamant to put Fender logos on non-factory Fender guitars ?

kp247

AndreM wrote:
kp247 wrote: With all the decal technology available today one can easily create a personalized spaghetti logo with Photoshop that looks Fender'ish and stick it on the headstock.
Like this?
Musikraft neck on Warmoth body!

Exactly!
+1000

MikeM

Here are some more for those interested in alternatives ?

kp247

MikeM wrote:

You see!
That's what I'm talking about!
Looks great!

MikeM

I still think it's highly unethical to use a Fender style headstock on a fake guitar!!! >☹

DonovanB

MikeM wrote: I still think it's highly unethical to use a Fender style headstock on a fake guitar!!! >☹

What makes it unethical? You start by using the actual design anyway...

MikeM

It's the same as using the Fender logo on a headstock! It is "endorsing the idea that to mislead people into thinking that a guitar is a Fender when it isn't is OK!" "There's NO need to put a fake Fender headstock on any guitar!"

And yes, actually one shouldn't be using any Fender designs on non-Fender guitars! ?

kp247

MikeM wrote: I still think it's highly unethical to use a Fender style headstock on a fake guitar!!! >☹

Oh well, I can live with the headstock shape! Most replacement necks come with Strat or Tele headstocks anyway and there's little you can do about that! Just don't put Fender on it when it isn't!

MikeM

kp247 wrote:
MikeM wrote: I still think it's highly unethical to use a Fender style headstock on a fake guitar!!! >☹
Oh well, I can live with the headstock shape! Just don't put Fender on it when it isn't!

Who cares what you can live with? I can live with the Fender logo on a non-Fender guitar. Just don't put a serial or any other details that would blatently let it be misconstrued as an actual Fender.

To me the logo/typeface is part of the Stratocaster heritage. I don't like anything besides the Fender logo on a Fender headstock.