fretmeister

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1403796269' post='2486531'] Exactly like putting a Status neck on a MM, the neck says Status as it's a Status neck. [/quote] Exactly. It's no longer a MM bass and it's not a Status bass. It's a bitsa. A very nice bitsa, but still a bitsa.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1403795892' post='2486519'] I'm sorry but you're wrong. I have the official 2014 Fender catalogue in front of me and you can buy a fully decal'd Fender Jazz or Precision neck straight from Fender. [url="http://www.fender.com/store/precision-bass-necks/"]http://www.fender.co...ion-bass-necks/[/url] [/quote] Please quote the original bit I quoted before you selectively quote me! I said that he couldn't buy a Warmoth, Allparts, Mighty Mite neck with a logo on it. And he can't! Of course Fender can sell you a neck with Fender on it!

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1403795163' post='2486501'] Sorry Fretmeister, I can't quote you on my phone. I don't think you are correct. If this is the case then how come I can buy an Allparts, Warmoth or Mighty Mite neck with a decal and no requirement to fit it to a Fender body? [/quote] You can't buy them with a decal. Fender won't even sell you a decal to use on a restoration job.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1403794875' post='2486495'] Can you just tell me where it states that has to be the case? [/quote] Allparts pay Fender a fee to be allowed to make necks with the Fender headstock shape. They are made to allow those us clumsy bass players to replace a damage neck on our beloved Fenders. Even then, if that bass is sold again the seller should say that the neck is a non-Fender replacement, even if it is authorised. However - if you, me, whoever buys an authorised Fender neck made by Allparts and sticks it on an authorised Allparts Fender body, and then adds a Fender decal and even adds genuine Fender pickups, tuning heads, 'plate etc etc, it is still not a Fender. It has not been made by Fender. Now that's fine if it is for your own use, but the moment you try to sell it as a Fender, then you breach the Trade Marks Act and the Copyright Patents & Designs Act. Fender don't even supply logos / decals to Allparts / Warmoth etc. They keep those for their own replacement necks.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1403794285' post='2486486'] If they are Allparts necks then they are Fender licensed and perfectly entitled to a Fender decal. [/quote] As long as it's bolted onto a genuine Fender body as an authorised replacement. Not otherwise.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1403782327' post='2486249'] I was talking about resale further down the line [/quote] If (If if if if if if if etc) the original sale was the sale of a counterfeit good, then all subsequent sales would be too. It doesn't turn into a legitimate item just because it's been bought and sold. The item itself would be illegal.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1403781857' post='2486235'] I do agree about creating fertile ground for fakes, but I was talking about a future argument not some past argument. I'm not sure that I could tell the difference between a limelight with the marker pen removed and a real fender. If he was to metal stamp "replica by limelight" into the back of the headstock, neck pocket and under the pickguard then I would have no problem with his work and neither would fender, I imagine [/quote] I just looked it up on Trading Standards Effectively it's an offence to use the Fender logo, even if there is a disclaimer. It seems that the penalties range from a small fine all the way up to prison depending on the severity. With forfeiture of all the kit too.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1403771087' post='2486034'] It talks about outline shape too. If this ruling existed only about body it wouldn't be hard to extend it to headstocks since bodies and necks are functionally integral [/quote] I remember reading all the PRS -v- Gibson stuff. Functionality didn't come into it. Gibson lost because their lawyer famously told the Court "Only an idiot would get confused at the point of sale" on account that the PRS Single Cut and the Gibson Les Paul are actually very different and have their own names on the headstocks and the different shapes. Point of Sale doesn't have to be from a shop - it can be any subsequent sale as well. But the Limelight ones use Fender's proper logo and headstock shape. I can't imagine that scribbling Limelight on the back in biro would be enough. I don't like it. It's too easy for the next owner to remove the Limelight bit and try and flog it as a proper Fender.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1403729993' post='2485796'] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] Interesting points. My view (as a customer) is that a Fender replica wouldn't be a Fender replica without the decal. Mark is not attempting to sell these basses as genuine Fenders even though they have decals on them. However... I'm no legal expert, but a trademark is a trademark and I believe FMIC would be well within their rights to challenge Limelight. I suppose it depends on whether Limelight become successful enough to come to the attention of Fender and then on how much Fender think that Limelight are damaging their business. But even FMIC don't have limitless resources and they don't go after [i]everyone [/i]who builds Fender replicas. Though they have successfully challenged one or two builders in the USA, I believe.[/font][/size] [/quote] It's not just the logo, the headstock shape is protected too. That's why Warmoth etc have to pay licence fees to Fender on the replacements that look the same. Copyright law says that the owner of the rights has to be proactive and try to stop infringement otherwise the protection could lapse. Fender don't have Microsoft money, but they can still afford to go after someone with £400 per hour city lawyers. If you are on the receiving end of that you might as well just hand over the deeds to your house.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1403696377' post='2485361'] I think the thing that makes me slightly uncomfortable is the fact that they have Fender decals on the headstock. Yes, they also have the maker's name written on the back in marker; and they won't have the genuine date stamps in various places - but would they have the same appeal if they lacked the iconic Fender logo? [/quote] Using a decal / trademark etc that the maker has no ownership of - even with a disclaimer - is an offence. Fender don't really care about hobbyists putting a logo on a bitsa assembled in a shed (although if such a bitsa is sold an offence occurs at that point) , but if someone starts making money using a Fender logo? They are going to go mental.

I like the sound of these. I don't mind the extended fingerboard as I'm used to it on my hyperbass, but I'd love a 5th string.

Played it extensively over the weekend and I love these strings. Such a lovely deep fundamental tone to them. If I didn't need a 5 string for my next gig I'd be playing my fretless with these on.

[quote name='merello' timestamp='1403370640' post='2482216'] Nearly crying there! A guy brought in a 1971 maple board precision for pawn. He wanted $1000 and they offered $500...then $600...so he walked! They shouted him back and gave him $750. It was in mint condition and had the official orange fur lined G and G hard case. Are you in tears yet too? Not yet? £441 for a 71 original P-bass in a dark red? Well wait. The guy bought it for his dad who had a P-bass 30 years before. They showed a picture. 'This bass is as close as you can get to dad's except dad's was black and had a RW board.' So he gave it to one of the workers who, within a week, had sprayed it black, got a replacement RW neck (from God knows where!) and implanted a number (8?) of silver dollars all over the body! 'Just like dad!' (Just noticed...it was a 2012 show!) http://www.history.com/shows/cajun-pawn-stars/videos/cajun-pawn-stars-knocked-up [/quote] Pawn is only a loan. It's only a great deal for the shop if the owner doesn't come back.

I use a Line6 Sonic Port, Works with the included Pod software and with Amplitude. Great practice tool.

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1403263195' post='2481249'] Anybody got a date? [/quote] Andertons are saying 3 to 4 weeks.

Absolute music saying £159!! That's not too shabby!

Going to be about $300 in the USA So no doubt we'll get shafted for £300

White Nylons here and fitted. Only had 20 mins with them so far, but sounding lovely.

I know what you mean - I was the opposite though: NO FENDER! then I found one I liked!! I was looking for a 5 string jazz deluxe an then I spotted the 'Berg. I used to have a 4 string years ago but I need 5 these days. So I took a punt and bought one. Didn't even need setting up, even when I went from 45 to 35 gauge strings. The humbucker has a coil split too, so full jazz and great 'ray sounds too. Have a day out to Bass Direct - they have a few in stock.

Easy. Sandberg TM4 (running for cover!)

I have one of those Sandbergs. It's brilliant! Just configure it how you like and order it.

Rice / cat litter etc won't help the sugars in the beer. They are sticky. Pure de-ionised and distilled H2O only water does NOT conduct electricity. Tap water only conducts because of the impurities in it So, if they are f***ed already, the best thing to do is to actually wash them with a shitload of warm water so the sugar residue melts. Use loads of water - ideally buy plain Ironing water from a super market as that has usually been distilled and filtered. Then let it air dry with rice for a week. bin any valves in the DHA stuff though.

i was tempted... but the damn thing weighs 80lb My current cab is 28lb and I use a little Genz head with it. And I bitch about that when I have to lift it!