Our forum member Alainlafrance has two number 38 and 29 in His beautiful collection!
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... ight=crash

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

CV

Thanks for the link...those are beautiful...I love Crash Strats. They have #15 here in Ft lauderdale Guitar Center's Reserve Room. It is outstanding! It is also priced out of this (my) world. Maybe they would give me 10 years "same as cash". I'll wait for one of their secret weekend sales.

Thanks
Noodles

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I'd send this one to lomitus. Have him show it to his wife. That oughta put things into perspective.

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"Another day in paradise!"

First thing I thought of on reading this. Good that you picked it up.

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"Another day in paradise!"

The first time I saw Clapton with the Crash Strat I thought for sure Fender was going to do an artist series run . But I did not know it would be limited to 50 pieces and with a price tag well out of the reach of most of us. I will honestly say I would of bought one as a few other players I know. As far as having Ed Roman do the job I would believe he is more than capable from the work I have seen on his site. As for Ed himself I cant pass judgement on someone I dont know as he has people for him and against. Crash is from the Bronx and I do not believe he is going to lose sleep over someone copying one of his prints on an ax. As with most guys who have a street education myself included you think different from most people. I am sure Crash is happy he has become well known and makes a nice living and if he were to tell you every time he had to run from the cops for tagging a train or building that the city would not care how talented he was he would of been paying fines in the thousands and cleaning a lot of trains.lol So believe me he is not the type to squawk over this unless it was on the level of a huge proportion. Alain has to have the best guitar collection I have seen. Alain I have to tip my cap to you because you really pick such tasteful axes. It is not like some other collections where I see guys buy just because they can and go for whatever is worth a lot. I see your axes and you pick them with taste like an art collection .lol Besides the fact most of them are what I would pick and even though I dont care for relics you have a few to give some balance. Just a great collection.

[quote="straycat113"]The first time I saw Clapton with the Crash Strat I thought for sure Fender was going to do an artist series run .

When the issue of Guitar Player pictured previously arrived in my mailbox, I was on the phone to California, only to learn that it was a "one-off" not to be reproduced.

Crash's style of art having come forward as it has since then may have acquired a form of trademark/copyright standing not unlike a Warhol or Peter Max, hence the production of a work, in that style, for the same purpose, by another artist, might fall into the category of copyright infringement. Though I have not yet done so, a clue to this might be to inspect his website and search for the copyright/trademark logo and its application thereof.

Humble roots notwithstanding, he is now a corporate entity , and likely to move to protect his asset should he perceive the need to do so.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Crash's work could very well be copyrighted, and having him do a piece for me would be my holy grail. I love his stuff, I think they are the most personal, interesting, unique guitars. I have spoken with Crash many times about both the Tattoo as well as commissioning a piece for myself.

As far as the reproductions go....don't you think that they fall into the "tribute" or like artwork the "print" category? All kind of people have Starry Night hanging in their homes, but no one thinks it's Van Gogh. You can get the Mona Lisa in a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle.

Although I'm gonna try to save my money and one day have my own piece, there is no other way to honor Crash 3 without having it reproduced. I obviously have a special connection / attachment, to that particular piece. Sadly it is unobtanium.

Thanks
Noodles

Hi guys: I happen to be in a position to know beyond doubt how copyright functions in the case of artwork.

The copyright on any artwork always belongs to the artist unless a contract has specifically been signed to the contrary.

The single exception is with commissioned portraits, where copyright belongs to the person placing the commission (not the person in the picture), unless a contract specifies to the contrary. (Such commissioner's copyright waiver contracts are often part of the deal you sign with a professional wedding photographer, to give a down-to-earth example.)

Copyright continues to apply and belong to the artist's estate for a number of decades after his/her death. Different in different regions, but copyright generally expires between 50 and 75 years after death.

Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci died respectively around a century and five centuries ago. Their work is out of copyright - though a photographic reproduction of it is likely to be recent and so in copyright, which right will belong either to the photographer or the institution that commissioned the photograph.

HOWEVER. There is no copyright on a style of art. So you are perfectly permitted to paint a guitar in the style of Mr Crash's work. You are just not allowed to copy the specific paint job on an individual guitar.

I think that's clear...?

More info available at the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) and similar organisations around the world:

http://www.dacs.org.uk/

Cheers - C

[quote="Ceri"]Hi guys: I happen to be in a position to know beyond doubt how copyright functions in the case of artwork.

Roger that. We know from whence your sources. Comment on the laws varying from country to country because I am aware that these differ. I know for a fact that French trademark law differs from US, for example.

I would also suggest that copying a style, one should be careful not to imply that it was done by the artist.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Crash' Artwork reminds me of Cronk's artwork in Venice, California where Eric used to live. My personal fave is the painting of Jim Morrison on the side of the apartment building in Venice Beach. Since art is a subjective thing there's all kinds of ideas and opinions - but we all must get along. I like the Crash style Fender paint job, and since Eric does a lot of these things for charity it's very likely Crash donated the work for the guitar that sold for $321,000.oo

I'm a fan on these guitars but I also like Hot Rod guitars by Fender -Fender HSS guitars sell for about $800.oo to $1200.oo (USD). It's part of mixing California car culture with guitars. Lots of folks Hot Rod their cars and play guitar in the West Coast where Fender is. So it's only natural to two should meet in the middle. Nothing beats blue skies and sunshine, racing up the 91 freeway.

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Love my Telecaster, Stratocaster, and other guitars.

Hi Doc: I was describing copyright law as I know it in my country, but mine and yours are extremely similar on this stuff. I'm not sure if the period after death is identical (it may be), but for practical purposes the rest is.

(Not you, I'm sure) people often confuse copyright, trademarks and patents when discussing this stuff. They are completely different - though they all exist to enable folks to earn a living from the produce of their minds.


Indeed - that is called forgery! And that's something we know plenty about on the Forum!

Artwork and guitar headstocks: don't sign it with any name but your own...

Cheers - C

Come on guy's...you know that there's no way that Crash 3 or for that matter any of the Crash Strats could be reproduced at a level that someone could represent it as "Real". Even if it could, it would cost you as much as a real one.

I know that I can, and I'm very sure that you guy's can instantly see that the Roman is a reproduction, and in no way is trying to be presented as original, even by Ed....I'm not trying to stick up for him in any way....I just find it interesting that an abstract paint job, done by a graffiti artist from the Bronx (who I love by the way) had inspired such passion about copyright, and the comment about every high end boutique builder, building their very expensive guitars on exact copies of Fender & Gibson bodies is ok.

These Crash copies you can tell from a mile away....You often have to get right up on the FenderCopies and GibsonCopies before you see that they are actually very well done boutique builders.

Thanks
Noodles

[quote="jromanov"]Come on guy's...

None of the above is really an issue. We share information to expand our knowledge bases and, very often, to prevent matters from being taken for granted.

"Stuff" has come across these Forum pages with respect to the veracity or genuineness of gear which you could not believe. Thus, in the end, we all benefit.

Ceri and I bring to this issue our familiarity with people on the cutting edge of trademark and copyright law. I cannot share with you the details of some of the cases I am familiar with. However, I can tell you that, in a pinch, you could find yourself at drawn swords legally with some of the captains of industry on this planet.

Thus we simply suggest where the lines need be drawn so as not to step beyond

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"Another day in paradise!"

Doc

I do understand your very well intended motives. I would like to state clearly that John "Crash" Matos is a mini friend of mine, and I would never even consider doing anything ever that would affect him adversely in any way.

For goodness sake...I carved one of his pieces into my skin, which will be with me for the rest of my life. Is there any bigger way to show my respect for him and his work?

I spoke with "Crash" several times during this event to insure his approval, and he was gracious enough to autograph the photos as well. He is a great guy and I would never disrespect him or his work in any way.

I absolutely aspire to having my own Crash Strat, and he is well aware of this.

The vast knowledge brought to this forum by people like you is always refreshing. I just want to be crystal clear about my respect for "Crash" and the amazing Strats that he has produced.

Thanks again for the input
Noodles

Ceri is correct. And artist does not have to apply for a copyright in the US since 1989 when the US finally signed the Berne convention to protect artistic works. The thing with the Crash works are they are graffiti stylized art and very generic in the sense that one can reproduce the look with some variation and if it is not misrepresented you are not infringing on the copyright.
Now if you were to reproduce acopy and sell as original thats different.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson