guitar mfg logos

[RIFF WRATH]

read a rather interesting thread on talkbass. some chap inquired as to where he could buy a fender logo to put on his squire headstock.....there was quite a heated discussion...thought I'd throw it out here
cheers
RIFF

[Sneaky]

I am not entirely opposed to adding a logo on a knock-off as long as you are only doing it for yourself, not trying to misrepresent it in order to sell to an unsuspecting customer.

I had a Nash tele with a F logo on it. That's the whole point of those things is to look like authentic vintage Fender guitars, without the logo what is the point? Would you build an AC Cobra kit car and not put a Cobra logo on it?

http://www.simonherbert.net/Images/070517ShelleyCobra.jpg

[violation]

What's the point of doing that? If the guitar plays well and sounds good I couldn't care less what logo is on the headstock.

"I bought a Squire and slapped on a Fender logo and now it's a Fender!" ... a logo won't change the quality of the guitar.

"Now people will think I'm playing a Fender!" ... big deal, I highly doubt anyone would care as long as your tone isn't killing their ears.

"Yay now I can sell it and make twice the cash!" ... now you're a douche!

[allthumbs56]

When I made a 12" baffle for my 68' Princeton I put the Fender logo back on it. I made an extension cab for my DSL401, and finished it with Marshall tolex and grillcloth and mounted a Marshall logo on it.

To me, in these cases, the logos are purely cosmetic and make the items look better. No one would believe that my extension cab was really a Marshall or that there was actually a rare Princeton that was made by Fender with a 12" speaker.

Now, if the logo is intended to deceive then that's another story - although I guess that there are lots of partscasters out there with misleading logos.

Maybe I don't know anything :smile:

[Hamm Guitars]

Some people are brand loyal. I know lots of players who only play Gibson or Fender - and they are paying full price for them (ie. they don't have an endorsment deal). Some of these people won't even consider a guitar by any other brand. So I can definately see these guys sleeping better at night with the logo on the headstock.

Talk about brand loyal - I saw a guy that had a giant Harley Davidson Logo tatooed on his back. If I ever see that guy again, I've got to ask him what that company ever did for him....

[Kenmac]

In my opinion it's a psychological thing. If it says Fender or Gibson it makes them feel more secure. For example, personally I love Tokai guitars and even though they're purposely modelled after Fender Strats and Teles and Gibson Les Pauls, among others, there's no way I'd put a Fender or Gibson logo on them. As a matter of fact you should hear the way Tokai owners talk about Gibson. :smile: I'm proud of my Tokais and so are a lot of other Tokai owners.

[zontar]

I'd be more likely to put a Fender logo on a Les Paul copy, or a Gibson logo on a Strat copy--because it's backwards--and it just might mess with people's minds.

Actually, since I do have a Les Paul copy--and there's no brand name on it anymore (It was on a sticker that came off)--maybe I should go looking for a Fender logo to put on it!

[MaxWedge]

I did something similar to my '73 'cuda. I changed the tail lights, grill, and corner markers to '70 parts. I also repainted the car to Dodge Plum Crazy inlieu of the Plymouth Inviolet. The Plum Crazy is just more vibrant. You should have heard the hoopla over this. Most coming from a guy who 'restored' his Mopar using Taiwan made replacement body parts. The car is registered with the original 1973 V.I.N. And if I do sell it ever, I will be up front about it's originality. Hey it's my car. I should be free to do with as I wish.:rockon:

[Milkman]

The only reason I would ever put a logo on an instrument that it didn't belong on is for whimsical effect.

Putting a Fender logo on a Les Paul copy would be funny and would generate amusing questions in my opinion.

I used a Marshall 4 X 12 cab for years. I had put a metal grill on it and so the Marshall logo was gone. I had some Martin audio logos laying around from a PA I had and put one of them on the cab.

To my knowledge it was the only Martin Audio guitar cab in existance. People used to ask me about it and I'd say things like, "oh this Martin blows any Marshal cab away. I mean, come on, can't you hear the difference?"

Actually, now that I think about it, I put one on a cab I sold to another forum member here. Of course I told him it was NOT a Martin Audio cab.

[ClintonHammond]

I go the opposite direction with a lot of things, removing logos and such when I can.

If I'm going to be a billboard, -I- choose who to be a billboard for.

[iaresee]

The only reason I would ever put a logo on an instrument that it didn't belong on is for whimsical effect.
Al Morier from the Barstool Prophets always had Marshall cab with a script, Marshall-like, logo on that said 'arsehole'. I've always wanted a copy of that badge....

[Milkman]

Al Morier from the Barstool Prophets always had Marshall cab with a script, Marshall-like, logo on that said 'arsehole'. I've always wanted a copy of that badge....

That's the spirit!

My keyboard player uses Roland boards. He's Polish. I often tape off the "leg" of the letter R in the Roland logos with electrical tape, making his boards "Poland XP80" and "Poland JX10P".

My bassist and I think this is quite funny.

[Robboman]

Al Morier from the Barstool Prophets always had Marshall cab with a script, Marshall-like, logo on that said 'arsehole'. I've always wanted a copy of that badge....

That's great! I saw a show years ago, guy had what appeared to be MATCHLESS amp with the same sort of backlit logo but it said TASTELESS.

I gots nothing against logos if you like them, though I wonder how many people are buying fake Fenders and never knowing the difference. When you look at the amazing quality some of the relic-ers are doing (GVGC, Nash) how hard would it be for someone to do that and sell them as vintage originals? I sure couldn't tell the difference.

[Sneaky]

Come to think of it, I used to have a '66 Meteor Montcalm or Montclaire or something and I put a Traynor amp logo on it. And my '62 Fender Deluxe amp had a Chevy Impala logo on it when I bought it.

[iaresee]

Maynard Keenan from Tool is (in)famous for swapping logo and stuff on his gear so people don't know exactly how he makes his sound. He'll black box his pedals by rehousing them, change cab logos, tape over displays on rack units, etc. It's pretty extreme (and frustrating if you're a Tool fan looking to ape his sound).

[zontar]

On a sort of related note, I have a friend with a "Joe Namath" hockey stick. He painted over the actual name (I forget who it was) and painted on "Joe Namath"--just to be different. I was planning to use Andres Segovia's signature off the Augustine strings I use on my classical and make one of my hockey sticks an Andres Segovia one, but I never did.

[Ripper]

Come to think of it, I used to have a '66 Meteor Montcalm or Montclaire or something and I put a Traynor amp logo on it. And my '62 Fender Deluxe amp had a Chevy Impala logo on it when I bought it.

A friend of mine did something along this lines. He has a nice old les paul copy from the 70s with a chrome Ford logo on the headstock. He gets lots of questions about it.

[Dick]

I'd imagine there would be some sites that can do that on the internet, not sure though.

[RIFF WRATH]

hey Milkman...I still have that Martin logo....might put it on my truck...just need the Aston part...I guess I'll have to visit the wreckers...

actually my "new" pine amp is now a "custom" in a walnut box....the "custom" logo is off of a "newport custom"

my elcheapo fender style bass is a "GK"? I just covered it up with a pair of dice logo so I didn't have to keep explaining....

with my budget there is no fear of getting ripped off...LOL...but 99% of the Canadians I come in contact are honest ...Ya Canada

cheers
RIFF

[Milkman]

hey Milkman...I still have that Martin logo....might put it on my truck...just need the Aston part...I guess I'll have to visit the wreckers...

actually my "new" pine amp is now a "custom" in a walnut box....the "custom" logo is off of a "newport custom"

my elcheapo fender style bass is a "GK"? I just covered it up with a pair of dice logo so I didn't have to keep explaining....

with my budget there is no fear of getting ripped off...LOL...but 99% of the Canadians I come in contact are honest ...Ya Canada

cheers
RIFF

Well, Rotsa Ruck finding an Aston Martin at any wrecker I've been to, LOL

You know, I'm not sure if Martin Audio is still around. I don't recall seeing any new systems from them in many a year now.

In the 80s they were cutting edge. A soundcraft 400B board and Martin mains were a part of most touring club bands rigs. That logo might be worth hanging on to, if only for nostalgia sake.

[zontar]

You know--the more I read this thread the more I'm tempted to either make my own decal--or make my own stencil and paint "Fender" on my Les Paul copy.
Or maybe something close but not quite "Fender".

And I doubt I'd ever sell it, I wouldn't get much for any of my guitars, but especially that one.

[Milkman]

You know--the more I read this thread the more I'm tempted to either make my own decal--or make my own stencil and paint "Fender" on my Les Paul copy.
Or maybe something close but not quite "Fender".

And I doubt I'd ever sell it, I wouldn't get much for any of my guitars, but especially that one.

Funny for sure.