Fender headstock copies

[djlynch]

I always wonder if companies like Nash guitars have to pay Fender to use the headstock shape. Or, can is that style open for any builder now?

 

[dangeroso]

Not sure about Nash or his parts suppliers, but my Charvel San Dimas has a sticker on the back of the headstock stating that the headstock shape is licensed by FMIC and used with permission.

 

[smolder]

Does Fender own any of that anymore? They are a completely different company that bought the brand from the former company. I didn't think any of the patents, copyrights, intellectual properties, facilities, or inventories came along in the deal.

 

[s2y]

Not sure about Nash or his parts suppliers, but my Charvel San Dimas has a sticker on the back of the headstock stating that the headstock shape is licensed by FMIC and used with permission.

Prior to Fender buying Charvel, the headstocks were a little different when they re-issed the San Dimas series.

 

[HP Hovercraft]

Not sure how Nash or other partscaster sellers get away with it. The companies that supply the necks pay a license fee.

Does Fender own any of that anymore? They are a completely different company that bought the brand from the former company. I didn't think any of the patents, copyrights, intellectual properties, facilities, or inventories came along in the deal.

They own the headstock shapes, yes.

 

[Black Squirrel]

There is a few different companies Allparts, Warmouth, ect That have licensed the shape from Fender when a Builder uses that company to supply them with the necks they buy licensed necks,

At least this is my understanding it may be incorrect.

 

[walterw]

a few smaller builders have said that it's all about that "ball" at the end of the headstock; if your guitar has that, fender is gonna sic the lawyers on you.

 

[K-Line]

In my letters of days past, it is everything below the tuner holes. Meaning, the 6 on a side tuner placement is not but the entire rest of the outline is. FMIC trademarked the 50s size headstock in 1997. CBS did the Tele, basses, big strat, etc in the 60's. Nash? You can find this out with some searching.

 

[Badside]

On Mighty Mite and Warmoth necks I have bought, it came with a warning that these only be used as a replacement part for a Fender or a Squier guitar. Which I found funny considering both companies sell everything to build a guitar from scratch. (Although ironically I reallhy am currently using them on Fender and Squier bodies).
Yes, they pay a licensing fee. USACG does not hence the tweaked headstocks.

Charvel and Jackson are owned by FMIC so they get to use the headstock design.

I guess, despite everything, the partscaster market is small enough that they're not that worried about people building complete guitars without a single Fender component.
And yet big enough that they've started offering necks and bodies themselves...

 

[cmatthes]

^ ^ ^ ^
Funny, because Warmoth, for their "Fender Style" headstocks, are not the same shape as Fender.

Also, FMIC owns Jackson and Charvel, but neither of their headstocks are exactly like Fender shapes either.