Official Luthiers Forum!

I don't see the issue/problem.

We repaired 1,167 guitars in 2018 and didn't see a single one of the guitars that you are describing. We do and did see a few "lawsuit guitars" from the 80's and 90's but nothing labeled G*bson that was a fake. When I say "repaired" our minimum service level is a full set-up where we spend about an hour and go over every inch of the instrument while also cleaning it. We do spot most things when we work on anything. If you want strings replaced go elsewhere I won't even take the instrument in because of our minimum. My point, to be clear is that it's pretty hard to pull the sheep over our faces and we would know if we had a fake in our shop or not.

We did see a fake G*bson Mando abut five years ago that had had the head plate removed from a G*bson and then overlaid on a Chinese $100 Mando. It was obvious that it was a fake although someone did purchase it for $2,000.

I agree with Brian that this is not a problem but moreover a nasty attempt by G*bson to become relevant again using the courts and press instead of actually producing a quality instrument and regaining their market the old fashioned way, earning it.

Latest theory I've heard: During bankruptcy, Gibson laid off a bunch of factory workers. Many went to work for Dean. Now Gibson needs them back....

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Hopefully Dean pays better and has better benefits.

Dean is located in Florida... that has a certain appeal over Nashville.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I didn't even think Armadillo had any US operations until I just looked it up.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Now Gibson wants people to turn in counterfeits. We could have a little fun with this:

https://www.musicradar.com/news/gibson-is-encouraging-players-to-report-counterfeit-guitars

Oh, boy.... Click on the "exhaustive list" near the bottom of the article. They might mean business on this.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Oh and it looks like they re-filed for the Howard name and logo. That was abandoned as of 5 years ago.... Tis why my instrumenst are all Brian Howard guitars. But a certain other maker with the same last name may want to be on the lookout.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I just gave a causal glance to the list of trademarks. It appears that they have a trademark on the belly bridge?

Also they have a list of "word marks." This list includes things like:
Artisan
Aeolian
Viola

Can they just trade mark English words? I'm not a fan of the now overused "artisan" but am I supposed to turn in every hipster I see? What if I wanted to take up the viola? Do I have to pay royalties to talk about it?

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

They even have Bill Monroe and Wes Montgomery on the list.... I wonder if their families know about this?

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I wonder too about the fact that they're casting such a wide net with this stuff? I get wanting to clamp down on forgeries, but guys like Dean, while maybe using some similar aesthetic choices are really doing something completely different and offering a product that you couldn't get from a Gibson. And the guys that do build quality replica's or products in a similar vein, as far as I've seen are working at such a smaller scale that this stuff must be more damaging to Gibson's reputation than the number of guitars those guys sell.

As many have said, this is a colossal misstep and by doubling down it represents a giant missed opportunity.

Hmm no patents on the three piece x brace with cloth holding it together or the plastic screwed on bridge. Wonder why.

Also interesting that they got J-45. J-50 and J-200 and a few of the named guitars, but no L5 or ES175 or any of the others. I guess I'm still OK calling my double cuts 335's.

Perhaps the worm is turning?

https://guitar.com/news/gibson-loses-fl ... -eu-court/

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Interesting and too bad for Gibson huh.

I really dislike patent trolls.

Bryan, I just filed for trademarks on each letter of the alphabet. I expect licensing agreements to begin rolling in any day now. You've all been warned

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I was going to type a response but realized I couldn't afford it. Wait, rats! How much is this going to cost me?

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Appears out may be all about collecting royalties....

MusicRadar: Gibson shifts 'from confrontation to collaboration' in copycat row.
https://www.musicradar.com/news/gibson- ... opycat-row

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

It would be interesting to know what the backlash would have been if this was their first message instead of the earlier video.

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

You can absolutely count on the backlash having an effect on them. They are changing tactics because they've had the s**t slapped out of them for two weeks.

I seem to recall suggesting this (somewhere on the internet) as the best thing they could have done. If Gibson quietly contacted everyone they think is ripping them off - ask for a $1 for every instrument produced from say 2015 until now, and then from now forward. Makers could afford it, and the lawyers could all go eat dirty diapers instead. I would see that as a win-win for the stringed instrument industry as a whole.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

They gonna want way more than a dollar.... Ever try dealing with Gibson corporate?

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Of course they will, but about a dollar per unit is all they deserve.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

And then they need to send 90 cents of that dollar to Martin for every flattop, x-brace and dreadnought they make.

Martin does not think Gibson ripped them off. No need to start another fight.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince