Official Luthiers Forum!

This brief article on symbol vs. wordmark in identity design might be interesting to some people: http://www.identityworks.com/issues/issues3.htm

Something to think about when you're developing your identity package is whether or not it will hold up if one of the elements is deleted. The design of your headstock is as much part of your logo as the text or graphic on it and should be strong enough to be recognizable. Jeff's headstock above is extremely identifiable even without "Traugott" written across the top. Brock's headstock is another good example. I recognize it without reading "Poling."

My design uses a textless headstock too, but the shape is unique and obvious. The wordmark is inside on the label.

I'm still dithering on whether to start putting logos on most of my headstocks - my electrics usually have one, but I've built a number of guitars where my signature 'V' at twelfth is the only Logo I've got. The ones with headstock logos generally also have inlay all the way up and down the fretboard, and the instruments I build for myself are a little more sedate.

I'm not against it, per se, but I haven't settled on what works best for me.

An entirely logo-less guitar, though, will never happen.

Really? Like on say.... a Traugott?

I think plain headstocks are very classy if you make them part of the design.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I guess I should have read the whole thread before I responded.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

This guy says that he just doesn't like them and has asked other builders to leave it off and they said OK.
He also said it is not a deal breaker.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I suspect that this may be a matter of economics for him.

Lets face it, if our guitars are bringing top dollar while we are alive, then when we are dead or no longer producing them one can expect the value to go up. Perhaps he is thinking that he will have the ONLY SteveS guitar that was made without a logo? Perhaps it is just that he feels it looks more "hand made" without a logo? Who knows what drives people to think the way they do.

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Reguards,

Ken H

This comment applies mainly to simple Martin-esque HS with nothing on it but a plain veneer. The Traugott HS is far from what I am referring to. It has an interesting and elegant shape. That piece of sweet zoot alone makes the HS. As far as having an inlay on a basic shaped HS, I dont think it needs much. Just something on there gives it more of a finished look. This is just my personal opinion though.

I've been toying with a design with a "Heart" with spike similar to what is on the tail of some of the high end Alembic basses. It kind of makes an E, which is what my last name begins with. In that case I would probably not put any logo or other inlay on. And the design would make binding on the HS rather tricky

I had someone ask about putting his own name on the headstock.Maybe Nashville vanity ,who knows? I don`t have a problem with that ,as long as I can put my own brand inside the sound hole where it can be seen or the 12th fret as Grumps mentioned.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I can't think of a high-end classic guitar with a logo on it.

But if you know your guitars, you'll know who built it.

If you don't know - and you like the guitar - you'll find out.

I had Bob Taylor build my circa 1986 K20-CE with an inlay on the headstock which would have looked out of place with the Taylor logo, so upon my request he left it off...he wasn't too thrilled about it, but in the long run it worked out to his advantage as I always get asked who made it, which leads to further discussions about the virtues of that guitar...

This reminds me of a story that a famous wooden toy maker, I believe, by the name of Bill Smith told of why he doesn't brand his toys.

One day a small boy came into his store and when he learned what this guys name was, he said, your the b@st@rd that burned your name on my toy! He was very insulted that "his" toy had someone elses name on it! So he never did it again! When it's sold, it's theirs.

I repainted my Buick one time and was sick of all the little stupid emblems so I popped them off filled them in and repainted. I had so many compliments on how that car looked. It really cleaned it up! Most cars today, after the greasy CEO's/salesmen get a hold of them are so "branded" that it makes the cars cheap as crap looking.

I was actually considering putting the logo behind the headstock because I don't really care for the headstock logo either unless it's really tasteful and plain.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

No inlay on head OK with label or brand inside.
Write what you want to on the inside of the top.
No ID features at all. NO WAY.
That said,whatever features define YOUR style should always be present.
Reproductions should always be plainly identified as such and never infringe upon a protected design.
On the subject of headstock shape,
Fender ,for example regularly defends their designs with a slew of very aggressive lawyers.
Who wants to go broke defending a right to pirate someone Else's work?

There is no credit or accountability in anonymity.

Post as a guest to see if your words carry the same weight.

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How long is that in luthyears?

Brett,
respectfully,

Are you suggesting that every Martin, Gibson, Larson Bros., and Olson copy should be visibly labeled as such?

Do you think the issue of anonymity really applies when you are building an instrument specifically for one person? There are still alot of one to one discussions that happen in that process. It is usually very personal.

And about your words carrying weight as a guest, a guitar is not a discussion. Like LPMC said, if you like the guitar you will find out who made it.

I am not advocating leaving off markings on all guitars but if the person really wants that I don't see what the big deal is. If it is being built to be resold then that is a different story.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

I've never put "my" logo on the headstock of a guitar, even steel strings...........they virtually all have labels though and are signed, numbered and dated under the top.

I decided to not put a headstock inlay on my guitars, I like them plain, I've had a few folks ask me why I don't put one on there, then again a few have said they like them plain, and most don't seem care.

GG

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Gwaltney Guitars

In my opinion, leaving off all markings inside and out is not fair to the future owners of that instrument.Repair is inevitable.While you may be long gone by the time it needs any repair,a history or familiarity with your work is a legacy.Please remember that while we get to have such fun making guitars ect... ,we build for the players. Many guitars eventually change hands with little connection to previous owners.
One other aspect of the argument for ID is that you may have to prove the instrument is yours or the wood is "legal" when travelling.With no ID this can become difficult.
Insurance issues also can be far from favorably settled if your claim has no "history" to draw on.
For me it's not an ego thing ,but a respect for future players in need of facts , repairs or parts.
Just for the record ,I have sold guitars sans ID. In retrospect I regret it.

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How long is that in luthyears?

My dog puts a very nice label on trees and bushes where ever he goes. It's very important to him.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Wow... I don't think it would be possible for me to disagree with this statement any more strongly.

We are not cranking out Nike's here. IMO the builder/client relationship is much closer to art. My guitars will ***** ALWAYS ****** be mine, but others may happen to own them.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I'll do whatever my eager customer wants so long as the soundhole label stays. Some prefer with and some without. Difernt strokes fer difernt fokes I rekon.

I kind of like a small logo at the 12th too. Like blegeyt said if someone likse a guitar they're gonna find out who made it. I had an endorsement guitar with a blank peghead that got more inquiries after the "shows" than another one with logo.

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"We might not be big but we sure are slow"