Headstock logos

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:13 am

Ash mentioned about Fender moving to that overlarge head so CBS had more real estate for their logo etc. That got me thinking about logos in general.

I love my '72 logo - it's bold and black and can be read from the south island - Fender!!! Right on!

My '90s guitars and basses have this sylised silver or gold logo which can be read from about 2 metres, if you wear very good glasses - pathetic!!

Apart from the very few Gibbys I've seen with natural wood headstocks, most appear to be bright white or pearl on black - an excellent way to show off the name, although I must admit, when I saw my first Gibby I couldn't work out quite what it was because of the stylised logo. But once I'd done that - I can see Gibson from anywhere in the hall - no mistake.

Why did Fender change their logo to make it so hard to see? Are they ashamed of their newer products or did they make that fatal mistake of listening to marketing gurus??

I loathe the new Fender logo on my current amp, and was going to swap it over with one of my '70s logo, but the way they've attached it to the metal grill makes it too much bother.

It'n it ain't broke - don't fix it, Fender!! Watch what Gibson have done - find something which works and stick with it!!

Steps off soapbox....

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:36 am

Sorry, Rog.

Gotta disagree. I like the spagetti logos better than those big ugly black ones.

Besides, as we've all been reminded of recently, Fender has a trademark on the shape of thier headstocks so you can see if it's a Fender or not from 30 or 40 meters away.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:43 am

> Fender has a trademark on the shape of thier headstocks so you can see if it's a Fender or not from 30 or 40 meters away.

LOL!
Apparently they forgot to tell everyone else in the world about that trademark, mate!!

porkpie · Post by **porkpie** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:03 am

im not a fan of the 70's logo either, the spagetti logo is much more classy and elegant looking.
in one of my fender books somwhere it says that fender made the headstock bigger in the late 60's to cure headstock warpage......not that ive ever seen a warped headstock on a vintage fender....
anyway...who cares what the headstock says on it, so long as it sounds wicked eh?

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:06 am

porkpie - where do you live - I wanna steal your AC30.....

Post by Bg » Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:54 am

They changed for the same reason that Kipper Ties and great big fat lapels went out of fashion - good taste.

Hey why haven't I got a logo on my bass headstock

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:18 am

Nobody's biting, bg...

Zakk Wylde · Post by **Zakk Wylde** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:27 am

Post by Bg » Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:53 am

Yoda wrote:Nobody's biting, bg...

Perhaps thats because Rog still thinks they are the height of fashion, and go well with his gumboots....

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:11 am

Mate, I don't possess wellies!

There's less bullshit to wade through in the provinces....

Post by Bg » Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:56 am

yeah, its mostly cow shit....

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:02 pm

LOL - but very sssslllooooowwww cow samick...

none of that rushing round like mad things down here!

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 5:28 pm

I don't have a fav logo, but the Tele headstock is my all time Fav.

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:05 pm

Yep, I prefer the look of the Tele headstock too, but it's harder to hang than a Strat. On some stands I actually have to bend the fingers or it will slip through. Kind of a nuisence in that respect.

Looks sorta funny on them original P-Basses though. I remember back in the day some folks thinking they were actually Telecaster basses. Too rich.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:34 pm

Well as I recall, Fender did make Telecaster basses - I used to play one... The first one I played was Kenny Rodger's. He was standing next to me at the time....