I've heard Fender's guitar headstock shape is patented (or copyrighted?) in the
US, whereas their guitar body shapes are not. That's why you (generally) don't
see any other guitar makers making guitars with the exact same headstock shape >in the US, but plenty with Strat & Tele bodies.

That is what I have also read, re: the headstock vs. the body shapes.

I suspect, but am not sure, that part of this has to do with them changing ownership over the years. Mr. Fender left at some point and actually
started another guitar company... I think he has since passed on?


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Re: Re: Fender guitar lawsuit
By: Dumas Walker to NIGHTFOX on Fri Jun 12 2026 01:09 pm

That is what I have also read, re: the headstock vs. the body shapes.

I suspect, but am not sure, that part of this has to do with them changing ownership over the years. Mr. Fender left at some point and actually started another guitar company... I think he has since passed on?

Yep; he passed away in 1991. He eventually went on to co-found G&L with Leo Fullerton. I think G&L made great guitars (I have one myself, which I bought in 2014). And unfortunately, G&L just recently went out of business several months ago (presumably due to low sales), and I saw that Fender acquired the rights to the G&L stuff. At G&L, Leo Fender continued his work (and innovation), where he made newer designs for guitar tremolos, pickups, etc., and I think they were strong products. They didn't seem to have the brand recognition like Fender & Gibson & others have though; their lack of marketing & advertising was probably a significant factor contributing to their closing. I don't remember where/how I heard about G&L; I read about them online somewhere and after doing some research, I decided to make a custom order for one of their US-made Comanche guitars in 2014.

I think one of the cool things about G&L was that you could get a guitar made to order with your preferred choices for options they had for things like guitar color, tuners (traditional or locking, etc.), pickguard color, etc., and they cost about the same as a regular US-made Fender (whereas a custom-made Fender would be from Fender Custom Shop and about double the price). G&L did raise their prices in their last few years though.

Several years ago, I bought a used G&L ASAT from reverb.com, and I later decided to sell that one.. I kinda wish I had kept it though, as it had all the options I would have chosen if I had custom-ordered it myself. Also it'll be difficult to buy one like that again now that G&L is gone.

Nightfox
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