Perfect Jake E Lee Charvel must see!!!

[AK47]

Found this today looks really good but I dont know the details as I cant read Japanese here you go...

http://www.digimart.net/gk_detail.do?instrument_id=DS00313469

And another these are USA made getting details shortly all I can say is Nice...

http://www.digimart.net/gk_detail.do?instrument_id=DS00319027

[AK47]

Just a bump but a Japanese dealer said it is 100% USA mad they tried to get Charvel to make these but ended up having GMW finish the guitars because of the stupid artist similar policies.

They are real Fender 70's strats that were modified exactley like Jake's. I had my friend who speaks Japanese call and find out. I was not clear on if these are reissues of the 70s strats but for sure US made Fenders. Details are lost in translation.

The Japanese dealer did go on a rant of why he does not understand why Charvel is not intrested in processing his orders since they were going to order more than ten.

[Bengal65]

Nice, but I wonder how much they will go for? You can make your own and save mega bucks!

[Mr Metal]

In the first web page, it appears that they are asking for 294,000 Japanese Yen, which is approximately $2574...............Not sure if its worth it????

[LastInLine]

they tried to get Charvel to make these but ended up having GMW finish the guitars because of the stupid artist similar policies.

The Japanese dealer did go on a rant of why he does not understand why Charvel is not intrested in processing his orders since they were going to order more than ten.

What exactly is their policy regarding artists guitars? They obviously did the EVH guitars and the DeMartini guitars.
Let's say FMIC did decide to do a Jake run....would they market it as a Fender or a Charvel?

[Mr Metal]

What exactly is their policy regarding artists guitars? They obviously did the EVH guitars and the DeMartini guitars.
Let's say FMIC did decide to do a Jake run....would they market it as a Fender or a Charvel?

I think first and foremost the artist has to be on board......Both EVH and Demartinis were done with Eddie and Warren directly involved and receiving royalties. I would think if Jake was approached by FMIC and agreed to be involved they'd principally do it, but the business part (how much upfront investment, how many guitars sold, etc.) would be looked at too! A 10 pc lot may not be worth FMIC getting into legal discussions and endorsement/royalty arrangements with an artist.

[AK47]

This is the stupid part they do not do artist similar guitars anymore.

Lets say I become famous playing a Red tiger stripe Charvel strat with pickguard and two single coils, well if you want to order that exact guitar from the custom shop you cant anymore regardless if I was ever endorsed or not.

Jake E Lee does not own a patent on 70s style strat with Charvel logo, DCGL was going to do a run of these place the order then Mike Eldred cancelled it and said no more artist similar guitars. You cant get a Lynch Sub Camo anymore that is why I bought mine.

[neilli]

I seem to recall that Jake was approached by FMIC, but he kicked them back...

[~K~]

yep

I seem to recall that Jake was approached by FMIC, but he kicked them back...

[shreddermon]

This is the stupid part they do not do artist similar guitars anymore.

Lets say I become famous playing a Red tiger stripe Charvel strat with pickguard and two single coils, well if you want to order that exact guitar from the custom shop you cant anymore regardless if I was ever endorsed or not.

Jake E Lee does not own a patent on 70s style strat with Charvel logo, DCGL was going to do a run of these place the order then Mike Eldred cancelled it and said no more artist similar guitars. You cant get a Lynch Sub Camo anymore that is why I bought mine.

This is pretty simple. Even if the artist doesn't own a patent, copyright or whatever, they can still sue and claim J/C is making money from their "trademark" design. And, in the legal eagle and financial analysts' estimatation, the risk that they'll lose money in such a suit is way more than they'll make by actually producing the guitars. (Example: the aborted Frenchies.)

J/C used to be a small enough (and poor enough) target, that they could get away with it. Plus the lawyers under the old owners weren't as smart or risk-averse. With FMIC ownership, J/C is a much bigger target with deeper pockets. Not to mention the FMIC legal brigade, which seems to be much more heavily involved in product development/approval.

All unfortunate realities of today's legal environment. I don't like it either. But it is what it is.

[Mr Metal]

This is pretty simple. Even if the artist doesn't own a patent, copyright or whatever, they can still sue and claim J/C is making money from their "trademark" design. And, in the legal eagle and financial analysts' estimatation, the risk that they'll lose money in such a suit is way more than they'll make by actually producing the guitars. (Example: the aborted Frenchies.)

J/C used to be a small enough (and poor enough) target, that they could get away with it. Plus the lawyers under the old owners weren't as smart or risk-averse. With FMIC ownership, J/C is a much bigger target with deeper pockets. Not to mention the FMIC legal brigade, which seems to be much more heavily involved in product development/approval.

All unfortunate realities of today's legal environment. I don't like it either. But it is what it is.

+100 !!!!!

[AK47]

This is pretty simple. Even if the artist doesn't own a patent, copyright or whatever, they can still sue and claim J/C is making money from their "trademark" design. And, in the legal eagle and financial analysts' estimatation, the risk that they'll lose money in such a suit is way more than they'll make by actually producing the guitars. (Example: the aborted Frenchies.)

J/C used to be a small enough (and poor enough) target, that they could get away with it. Plus the lawyers under the old owners weren't as smart or risk-averse. With FMIC ownership, J/C is a much bigger target with deeper pockets. Not to mention the FMIC legal brigade, which seems to be much more heavily involved in product development/approval.

All unfortunate realities of today's legal environment. I don't like it either. But it is what it is.

Thats the thing they(artist) would never actually win in court its just the legal cost to fight that case would be tremendous. That is what I guess spooked FMIC.

I really feel if they(FMIC) are that scared of a lawsuit then just dont make guitars anymore, artist could sue for a whole lot of reasons but very few would actually win in court.

Look at the PRS vs. Gibson case where PRS won based on body likeness that was a huge case that set precedence for the guitar industry as a whole. That is one of the only actual cases that went to court regarding guitars everything else has been done by Cease and Desist letters (ie. ESP explorers) no actual cases going to court that I am aware of. All the other desicions were based on legal advice.

If you dont want to take any risk well it will severly cut into your profits and this is the case here.

[HiOctane]

This is pretty simple. Even if the artist doesn't own a patent, copyright or whatever, they can still sue and claim J/C is making money from their "trademark" design. And, in the legal eagle and financial analysts' estimatation, the risk that they'll lose money in such a suit is way more than they'll make by actually producing the guitars. (Example: the aborted Frenchies.)

J/C used to be a small enough (and poor enough) target, that they could get away with it. Plus the lawyers under the old owners weren't as smart or risk-averse. With FMIC ownership, J/C is a much bigger target with deeper pockets. Not to mention the FMIC legal brigade, which seems to be much more heavily involved in product development/approval.

All unfortunate realities of today's legal environment. I don't like it either. But it is what it is.

Can't argue with that. A really good summary and I'll bet it's dead on.

[sully]

I would think if Jake was approached by FMIC and agreed to be involved they'd principally do it, but the business part (how much upfront investment, how many guitars sold, etc.) would be looked at too! A 10 pc lot may not be worth FMIC getting into legal discussions and endorsement/royalty arrangements with an artist.

i haven't read the rest of the thread, but FMIC was in touch with jake e lee (thanks to the jcf admins) and was told no thanks. obviously, they got in touch with warren (thanks to the jcf admins and a former admin) and worked a deal.

sully

[AK47]

My question would be why even approach Jake E Lee in the first place unless you want him to do a endoresment deal. He would never even know about a limited run dealer small batch unless someone told him about it but then what could he do?

With the Sub Camo run they did not need to go get in touch with George Lynch did they?