[bolivar]

Does anyone own a guitar from EKG?
I would like to get a complete guitar from him and would like feedback. The quality looks fantastic on his page.
I'm asking these questions here since other posts show that he's very busy but I am sending an email for a quote.
I basically want an RG321 with direct mount pickups. Would the difference be that noticeable?
I would assume he would use Honduran Mahogany vs. the Philippine used by Ibanez.
If I were to replace the stock pickups in the RG321 would it get 'close' without the (assumed) cost?
Well you get the point.
Thanks.

 

[fettouhi]

Eddie does fantastic work a number of people can vouch for that.

Regards

André

 

[Jackhammer]

I would just like to mention that you shouldn't be expecting the Ibanez headstock on it!

 

[revsharp777]

EKG Guitars are excellent. Eddie built my RG-style 8-string (minus the neck). They are excellent, well-crafted guitars.

 

[dp15655]

I would just like to mention that you shouldn't be expecting the Ibanez headstock on it!

Can anybody clarify this ? I know the headstock is a registered trademark, protected by copyright or whatever... but as long as it's a one-off custom thing, what's the big deal ? What if I were to build an Ibanez copy for myself ? Surely companies like Fender and Gibson don't lose a night's sleep over custom guitars that are 100% copied from their own designs - I can name at least 10 reputable and well-known builders around here in Europe who do this all the time...

 

[Koss]

Then I suggest you ask them to build it for you. Cause Eddie wont do the headstock.

It can get Eddie in alot of trouble from Ibanez if they were to find out and I doubt he wants that.

 

[bolivar]

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=14450

The link above will help with the legality issues involved.

I had privately assumed he could use the shape because of the guitars shown on his webpage.

 

[dp15655]

Then I suggest you ask them to build it for you. Cause Eddie wont do the headstock.

Whoa, touchy !

It can get Eddie in alot of trouble from Ibanez if they were to find out and I doubt he wants that.

Did you even bother to read my post well ? I KNOW there are legal issues, but I just wanted to know exactly how some builders can get away with it, to what extent people are actually harassed for copying a headstock design (I wasn't even talking about slapping one of those E*** logos on them), and what it would mean if you built one for yourself. Don't bother responding if you're not answering the question. Now, Bolivar's answer is something I can use.

 

[bpd111]

Eddie can and probably will speak for himself when he gets half a minute, but I doubt he *would* get in trouble for making a handful of Ibanez-copy headstocks, but he certainly could. I suspect his refusal to copy it is more out of respect for the law and the wishes of the Ibanez company than it is fear of actually getting caught.

 

[Koss]

Alright don't get all jumpy man. Im not touchy, im just saying that if you asked Eddie to make a 100% copy, then you'd be wasting your time. Eddie's job is to build guitars for his customers, but if he made exact copies and slapped "ibanez" on an ibanez headstock that he cut, then thats getting an ibanez guitar for potentially less then buying the actual thing. And from a business point, you can see why Ibanez or Fender or whoever wouldnt like this, and wouldnt tolerate it. I dont know how it is in Europe with the builders you are talknig about. Maybe they are well known around there, but are not on the radar for american companies like Fender.

If you can do it yourself though, and are not doing it for a large mass of others, then you're not that big of a threat to these companies and they probably wnot bother you. But if you say "its just a one off custom" and eddie says sure and does it, then everyone else will go after him to get their "one off custom" copies, and that's where it would snowball.

 

[bpd111]

if he made exact copies and slapped "ibanez" on an ibanez headstock that he cut, then thats getting an ibanez guitar for potentially less then buying the actual thing.

This isn't quite the case. You aren't likely to get a handmade guitar from Eddie for less than what Ibanez sells theirs for.

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34962&highlight=custom

 

[Koss]

Yeah i knew that, Im building a 7 now that is costing me mor then a new UV. My point is it might seem like a better idea to you to go to eddie and get a copy, for whatever reason, then to buy from ibanez. As it is now, its not a financially better idea, but if people went through with it anyway, then it would hurt ibanez sales.

 

[Jackhammer]

First of all , I'm pretty sure that he'll refuse making the Ibanez headstock. Why would he make a special case for anyone? The headstock shape is (how should I say...) copyrighted.

"As long as it's a one-off custom thing, what's the big deal?"

But EKG is practically a company. If he copies the headstock , thats an automatic violation.

"What if I were to build an Ibanez copy for myself ? Surely companies like Fender and Gibson don't lose a night's sleep over custom guitars that are 100% copied from their own designs - I can name at least 10 reputable and well-known builders around here in Europe who do this all the time..."

If you made your own guitar , than I believe that will be acceptable. But when a company emerges and starts using their designs (headstocks in particular) , thats where they draw the line.

I also advise checking out the link mentioned above : http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=14450

 

[bolivar]

Well this sure wasn’t a good way to start my first post. : )
Again I only assumed he could use the design from what I saw on his webpage. Companies such as Warmoth can use headstock shapes if a royalty is paid or some other agreement is reached.
From the sounds of things I might just pickup a RG321 and have a body built or simply keep it and replace the pickups, pots and wiring.
Anyway I'm still going to wait for Eddie to respond. Heck, his headstock shape that he would use might just be to my liking.
I do understand the legal issues involved and certainly didn't want to start any hoopla.
Until next post.