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

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.

kp247

MikeM wrote: Who cares what you can live with? I can live with the Fender logo on a non-Fender guitar.

OK!

StephenG

MikeM wrote: And yes, actually one shouldn't be using Fender designs on non-Fender guitars!

unless its a Fender logo on a Fender style headstock, on a non-fender guitar - then its ok ?

MikeM

I was being a pain in the ass Stephen. :-\

Bob-Dubery

I think it's not cool. A genuine Fender custom shop guitar would be expected to perform better as an investment than an equally good kitcaster.

And I think there are shades of this with Fenders because parts are so easily interchangeable. What would "Blackie" be worth without the Clapton connection? That guitar was not produced by the Fender factory, though all the bits were.

I've read several articles mentioning that Richard Thompson has a '59 Strat. Which he sort of does. It's on at least it's third neck (having had a '55 neck for quite a while) and the bridge has been replaced. What are you buying if you buy such a guitar?

Thompson's current strat was built by his roadie. All the parts are Fender but they don't come from a single guitar that left the factory. The body ('57 re-issue) has been resprayed. The neck (SRV) has been reprofiled and refretted. Non-standard wiring etc etc. I guess it's ok to have a Fender logo on that, but what is it really when you buy it?

If all this is disclosed I think it's OK. The buyer can make a (hopefully educated) guess about what the value of the guitar is.

Squonk

This topic just reminded me of an "Only fools and horses" episode where Trigger gets an award from the Council for having his broom for 20 years(He is a streetsweeper). In the Pub Delboy asks how this is possible. Trigger Answers ".. well I had the brush changed 10 times, the handle 15 times, but it's still the same broom.."

singemonkey

The headstock is part of the aesthetic that Leo Fender took from the Bigsby headstocks anyway (people knew it wasn't a Bigsby because it said, "Fender" on the headstock). It's very clear if it doesn't have a Fender logo on it that it isn't a Fender. Ruining the design that you're copying in the first place by using a headstock that looks like it's melted in the sun - that makes no sense to me.

Putting a makers mark on a guitar that inaccurately reflects who made it is extremely dubious - even if the instrument is of superb quality.

chris77

If you make yourself a nice homemade patty on the grill, buy some fresh hamburger buns and top it of with officialy licenced and branded Spur sauce from the supermarket, is it a Spur burger?

Chris-Mason

Linked to Attila's earlier comment I have gone the SA gear route
I currently own 5 SA Built Guitars 2 Nick Edges, 2 Mervyn Davis Smooth Talkers, I Pete Buckle electric and 1 JP Le Roux Soldano 2x12 amp (head and cab). I am currently considering purchasing the first ever Mervyn Davis Mandolin which would be custom built for me. The thing here is I would sell trade my USA gear but will not sell my SA Built gear. I am fortunate to own both USA and SA Gear. Regards fake fenders I recently acquired a prestige USA tele neck and obtained a mex body for it. The fact that everything except the body is USA does not entitle me to sell it as a USA Tele and I would have to declare it to an interested party if I ever wanted to sell it. Its called ethics.

Saddle and Nut

Tokai-SA

singemonkey wrote:

Putting a makers mark on a guitar that inaccurately reflects who made it is extremely dubious.

Unless the "maker" has given permission or contracted the "who made it" to put the "makers" decal on the headstock, then it's not dubious. ?

rich365

My opinion on this - build your kit guitars, but however good they are please don't put Fender insignia on the headstock. Make an effort and design your own!

rich365

Like this?
Musikraft neck on Warmoth body!

Nice, I remember this guitar! I've played it about 2 years ago in Cape Town. Stainless steel frets, 14 inch radius, quarter sawn one piece maple neck, candy apple body, Lace Holy Grail pickups? Right?

Wizard

The problem can happen unintentionally.

I have had some fun making a strat body and assembling another strat from parts.
In both cases I sourced necks (logo and all) as these are significantly harder to make.
As it turns out one doesn't have a logo, and the other says "Slammer Hammer".
In both cases the logo (or lack thereof) grossly undersells the guitars (IMHO).

Here's an interesting question.
If I were lucky enough to get a 2nd hand neck; which said "Fender / Made in America" ... would the expectation be for me to remove the Fender logo?

vic

Wizard wrote: The problem can happen unintentionally.

I have had some fun making a strat body and assembling another strat from parts.
In both cases I sourced necks (logo and all) as these are significantly harder to make.
As it turns out one doesn't have a logo, and the other says "Slammer Hammer".
In both cases the logo (or lack thereof) is grossly underselling the guitars (IMHO).Here's an interesting question.
If I were lucky enough to get a 2nd hand neck; which said "Fender / Made in America" ... would the expectation be for me to remove the Fender logo?

Many people are of the opinion that the name on the headstock is irrelevant.... which is not the case of course imho ? It's the name that sells (or does not) an instrument most of the time.
I guess it all depends on your agenda whether to keep the logo or to remove it. But clearly if you are going to use the neck to add to a homemade body you should remove the logo...if you're gonna use it as a replacement for a factory built Fender, then leave it on.