IMAGE CONSCIOUS
This lawsuit will do no good for Gibson’s
image. Up till now, they have been on a
straight course to build goodwill – they
have introduced many instruments that are
back to what made them great and priced
them somewhat more reasonably. But
Gibson is mistaken to believe that guitar
players of all ages are not keenly aware of
the differences between brands, regardless
of the body shape. As a musician, I respect
the rights of intellectual property, but if
Gibson felt so strongly about this, they
should have litigated 40 years ago. I do not
understand what Gibson hopes to gain here.
MICHAEL JAMES, VIA EMAIL
During the 1980s, I often played a Dean
ML. It was well built and was a real deal
compared with the Gibsons at that time.
Gibson has for too long been cruising on
the reputation of the few-hundred guitars
it made in the late 1950s and 60s.
MICHAEL BAKER, VIA EMAIL
IT’S ABOUT TIME
Maybe if these ‘boutique’ companies
actually put in the work and came up
with some original designs of their own,
we wouldn’t see so many court cases!
How many Les Paul- and Strat-style guitars
are on the market these days? All they’re
doing is using existing designs, which is
essentially removing the hardest part of
releasing any new product – coming up
with an original product!
CHRIS TOFT, VIA FACEBOOK
I understand why others copy the iconic
Gibson shapes. I don’t really care for
off-brand shapes; I suppose those classic
designs are hardwired into me – but
that’s the reason that other companies
copy them! I’m surprised Gibson hasn’t
done this earlier.
BOBBY GRAY, VIA EMAIL
I agree with the lawsuit against Armadillo.
They are ripping off Gibson, and the fact
that Dean has gotten away with it for
FRETBUZZ
The Guitar.com inbox has been overflowing with readers weighing in on
Gibson’s ‘Play Authentic’ controversy, its legal dispute over the Flying V,
Explorer and ES-335 body shapes with Dean Guitars owner Armadillo
Industries, and its new ‘Authorized Partnership Programme’ to license
Gibson designs to smaller makers. With such a broad spectrum of views
on the saga, we felt it was only appropriate to let you have your say...
Join the conversation Email us at [email protected]were actual Gibson guitars. Gibson have
lost the plot here!
MARK TULLY, VIA EMAILThis is ridiculous! Hasn’t Gibson ever heard
the phrase ‘imitation is the sincerest form of
flattery’!? And aren’t they bringing this up a
bit late?
MARK WILSON, VIA EMAILI think it’s a pretty tough sell to trademark
something as generic as a guitar body shape.
I’ve always loved Gibson and Fender, but
those companies have to accept the classic
shapes they brought us will be aped forever
now. The way they stand out is to still be
the best.
SAM CUMMINGS, VIA FACEBOOKLEAVING IT LATE
I love everything about Gibson, but I have
my questions about why they waited so
long to do this. I’ve thought since I was a
teenager that Dean was walking a fine line
with those designs...
JIMMI ZEE, VIA EMAILHad Gibson filed this case 40 year ago,
the suit would have had merit. Had they
not themselves made the Epiphone S310,
which is a spot-on Stratocaster clone, the
suit would have had merit. They have
decided to become a ‘lifestyle brand’
and charge exorbitant prices based on
the goodwill of their name – and that
goodwill is faltering.
JOSH FREEMAN, VIA EMAILIF YOU BUILD IT...
If Gibson spent half as much time on
trying to deliver a quality product at a
reasonable price point as they have with
lawsuits, they wouldn’t have to worry
about the competition.
JESSE ANDERSON, VIA FACEBOOKI don’t care about lawsuits. I just want to
see Gibson get back to making great guitars,
and it looks like they are again!
SID WINEK, VIA FACEBOOKdecades does not justify anything, to my
mind. People need to come up with original
designs, or at least do a deal and pay Gibson
to use its designs, end of story.
HARLEY SAWATZKY, VIA EMAILI feel like if Gibson designed it and patented
it, then it’s their design, period! For Dean
and others to say it’s a common design is
ridiculous – it’s a common design for the
simple reason that they all copied it!
GARY B, VIA EMAILMISTAKEN IDENTITY
As a lifetime player and Gibson lover I am
appalled at their actions. It’s an insult to us
to say that we, as musicians, would look at,
say, a Dean next to a Gibson and choose the
Dean thinking it was a Gibson. Why are you
jeopardising this fantastic wave of goodwill?
You’ve generated an incredible turnaround
by improving the quality control, listening
to your customers and rethinking your
entire production lineage. And now you
do this?
MARK S, VIA EMAILFor 30 years, I’ve owned Gibsons and
I’ve owned similar guitars from Westfield,
Vintage, Washburn, Hamer, Ibanez and
more... and in all that time, I don’t think
anyone has ever thought that any of them10
CORRESPONDENCE