The overall aesthetics of Tao guitars don’t click with me, though I wouldn’t call them ugly as sin, there are much uglier guitars.But the individual elements of their guitars are outstanding. 

I’ll agree with you, and there may be a legal argument that it’s a functional decision and not really a brand identifier. I don’t know if that argument has ever gone to court, or if other companies have just settled…   Read more»

@russ I’d say the control cavity of the blue one has hints of Swiss Watch about it.

@RussYou just need to make it as neat as Tao Guitars dohttp://www.taoguitars.com/phaeton/
 

That’s pretty!
 

I don’t know what timescale they do it over, but I know PRS let their necks sit for a period after each stage of shaping so they can assess how they move and fix any issues.I just looked at your…   Read more»

I was looking at square rods, not sure if they would act more like the strips.But quite frankly, if a 2mm strip will do the job, I’ll go with that, sourcing them at a reasonable price seems to be a…   Read more»

Nice jig.Is there a reason you choose to shape the outline of the neck before routing for carbon and trussrod?

Caparison have trademarked the shape of their headstock, but not the tuner arrangement.
This stuff really is a minefield!

They have two trademarks (well lots, but two we care about), one is for the shape, the other is specifically for the 4+2 arrangement, quoting from it”THE MARK COMPRISES THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT STRING POSTS AND TUNING KEYS, THE…   Read more»

One thing I have learned today is that Ernie Ball trademarked the phrase”My guitar can kick you guitar’s ass”(The trademark is now dead, so you don’t need to worry about a cease and decist letter from their lawyers if you…   Read more»

Copyright is not something that could apply in this case.
It seems that the link times out, you can find the trademark by searching the USPTO website,

Serial Number 74044289
Registration Number 1632297

Excellent, thanks!

Thanks
Interesting, what’s your method for cutting the slots (seems a bit narrow for a router)?

Not copyright, trademark. And it’s the arrangement of the tuning pegs. I don’t know how specific the protection is, that’s probably down to a court to decide. I do know that in every ernie ball forum thread I’ve looked at…   Read more»

It’s a registered trademark and they enforce it. You might go under the radar if you were just building for yourself, but having read the response of Sterling Ball to a question about it on their forum, I’d stay away….   Read more»

It’s a mystery to me why so many musicians don’t understand copyright. It is not possible to copyright anything, it’s not a process, it’s a statutory right. Things that are subject to copyright are protected from the moment of their…   Read more»

The only thing I’ve received this Christmas was a card.. from a dog.. that I’ve never even met! (I sponsor him at the Dogs Trust).I know my brother got me something, but the only clue he’s given me so far…   Read more»

You can get Angelus Leather dyes on Amazon.If you’re not familiar with them don’t be fooled by the name, just watch some videos by Big D guitars on Youtube, that man is a master of hand applied stains, and Angelus…   Read more»