Show notes
Loudini: Gig “no no’s” that no one tells you about, Norm’s Rare Guitars Documentary, Cell phones at gigs, Why Audiophiles hate BOSE (are they right?),
More Fender Drama, is Fender a “fashion brand”? Gimmick guitars? (chenders and chibsons, “I Could Be Wrong”) and counter suing Thomman: Musikhaus Thomann has filed a lawsuit against Fender Musical Instruments Corporation at the Düsseldorf Regional Court, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing intellectual property dispute over the Stratocaster body shape.
The Catalyst: The lawsuit is a direct counter-measure to Fender’s aggressive campaign of cease-and-desist letters sent since May 2026, targeting manufacturers of "S-style" guitars.
Thomann’s Stance: Thomann, which sells its own budget brand Harley Benton, argues that the Stratocaster shape is functional ("form follows function") and largely public domain, threatening industry diversity and innovation.
Legal Strategy: By initiating the suit, Thomann seeks a negative declaratory judgment to clarify that producing S-style guitars does not infringe copyright, challenging a prior December 2025 default judgment that favored Fender.
Industry Impact: CEO Hans Thomann frames the action as a defense of smaller builders and retailers who lack the resources to fight Fender’s legal team, urging Fender to return to cooperative partnership.
The case is currently pending, with no hearing scheduled, and represents a rare instance of a major retailer suing a manufacturer it has carried since 1954.
Pittsburgh Kevin: Bonnie Tyler, Live AID, EVH and Peavey pt3
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