Is anyone familiar with Ed Roman paint jobs? (Fabulous Fakes) I am interested in doing the "Crash 3" tribute paint job on an American Deluxe platform. Are these paint jobs done professionally? Is the original paint stripped and the new paint clear coated to spec when complete? I know that I could call Ed with these questions, I'm just curious if anyone has had such a thing done.

Thanks
Noodles

These designs are copyrighted. It's fine to get inspired by the paint job, but copying it is disrespectful to the artist who painted it (Crash) and to EC who owned the guitar. At one point you really have to ask yourself why you would want a copy of such a paint job when you could have an original design painted just for you.

Ed probably reads this board...just sayin'....

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Fair enough, I removed what could have been considered agressive towards good old Ed.

Doc

I do somewhat agree with what you have said, although my thoughts are kinda like this....Anyone familiar with "Crash 3" knows that there is only 1 of them in the world and it sold at auction for $321,000.00. Crash (John Matos)
also was commissioned by Fender to do 50 additional pieces, which all sold before they were even released.

I have seen only 2 of these for sale privately, and they sell for over $20,000.00 apiece.

I look at this as more of a tribute to the guitar as opposed to a copy. Anyone would know immediately that it was a reproduction in honor of Crash's work and not disrespectful in any way, but quite the opposite. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

When you look at 9 out of 10 boutique guitar builders, and many of the large manufacturers as well, you will find that 1/2 of their production is done on copied Fender Strat bodies, and the other 1/2 is done on copied Gibson Les Paul bodies. Do you think that this is disrespectful to Fender and Gibson?

AC Cobras are sold as kit cars for around $40,000.00 and they are very popular and appear at car shows regularly. Real ones sell for over a million dollars. They are not represented as real and do not infringe on any copyrights. They are a tribute to the original.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Noodles

FYI, Crash himself accepts commissions if you provide the body or guitar and it's far less than 20k.
Crash 3 is a special case as it is no longer played/owned so chances are EC couldn't care less about copies floating around., don't know about Crash. It is still a copyrighted design though. I had a very different view on that topic several years ago though.


These 9/10 'boutique' builders are cashing on the appeal of Fender/Gibson's guitar shapes, they simply make minor alterations to the neck shape to avoid legal complaints, Gibson's recent Hendrix 'tribute' comes to mind.
Their guitars may be fantastic, however they are just going the easy way by copying an existing design rather than coming up with their own.
They wouldn't exist in the first place without Fender/Gibson.

Doc

Thanks for the reply. Fender, Gibson, and just about everyone else has a complete line of Signature Series "tribute" models from everyone like Stevie Ray, to Hendrix, to Avril Levine. They take beautiful brand new guitars and beat them to crap calling them "Relics", They put stickers all over the body's to make them look just like Alvin Lee did it.

I do understand what you are saying. I have the utmost respect for John "Crash" Matos, and have spoken with him several times. I have Crash 3 tattooed on my arm, and I asked for his approval before doing it. I will attach some pics for you to see this.

Crash 3, in particular, has a very special significance to me. I wasn't really interested in just a graphic Strat, but Crash 3 itself. I have spoken with Crash about doing a piece for me personally. I would never do a piece with Ed without his permission.

My question was about the quality of his paint work. I would be playing this guitar regularly and wanted to know if it is done professionally.

As out there as Ed is... I'd bet that he checks out the copyright before doing anything.

Thanks
Noodles

I sincerely doubt it
Anyways if you have the green light from Crash then there's no big deal, I'll trust you on that and don't need the picture of the tattoo though that'd be interesting

As for Fender and their relic/tribute guitars, there's a market for it and its their designs, I've no problem with that.

I'll let others comment on Ed's paint quality, there are other quality alternatives that I'll be happy to share in a PM.

HAHA, all this talk of Ed Roman. Reminds me of the time I mentioned his name on the Gibson forums. It was like armageddon.
I think some of those guys may have seen how he gets Gibson necks for his guitars.

I really didn't want to use his name....I have sent him several less than nice emails...none of which have ever been responded to. I was only questioning the abilities of his painters. I don't think I could actually do anything with him. I do enjoy reading his rants though.

The next time my girlfriend tells me I'm getting a little too obsessed about my guitars, I'm going to show her your tattoo. It'll be case closed!

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

I gotta say this please forgive the inanity of the comment.

That neck dont look straight to me.

(JK)

Personaly i think a builder of mr Roman's stature would do a decent job. If he couldnt make a good job of it, he'd put you onto someone who could. Everyone has friends and people they pass work onto after all. Give the man a call and see what he says. Its not like your trying to contact hendrix, is it?

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No no and no

Doc

My curiosity was about the clear coat. When Crash did the guitars for EC...he did 5 of them for him...he also did a couple for John Mayer, and the 50 that he did for Fender with Todd Krauss, were all sent back to Fender to be clear coated and assembled.

Pretty Cool A
I love Crash Strats

You have definitely got me considering my own piece...Maybe "Crash 51"

Ninja

That neck was done on a Plek machine, or maybe it was a sewing machine, it was definitely a machine (a tattoo machine) It's easier to bend the strings with the built in flex neck configuration that we used.

Good to hear from you
Noodles