Trademark Infringement

[Justsaymo]

For those of you who are unaware, the name Trainwreck is a registered trademark and has been for many years. That name cannot be used on amps built without legal consent, nor can that name be used to sell your own products. I suggest that anyone including the name Trainwreck as part of their own products name immediately rename their product. I wish the best to all the builders out there and hope you are all producing great sounding amps....just use your own names!

[Structo]

Who is using the name?
Haven't seen anybody here use it and as we know, Ken gave this group his blessing as far as hobbyists building Trainwreck clones.

Unlike a couple other commercial builders who shall remain nameless.

[da Geezer]

>>>I suggest that anyone including the name Trainweck as part of their own products name immediately rename their product.

No, I think calling it a "Trainweck" would probably be OK, even if would be a fairly stupid name.

Now Trainwreck is a different story, although I don't personally know of any commercial builders who call their amps "Trainwreck"...can you name some specific builders who are using the Trainwreck name for amps they are selling to the general public?

While I'm asking questions, who are you? Are you associated with the KF family, or just someone passin' by the site & thought you should set perceived injustice straight?

Geezer

[tele caster]

Twainweck has a nice wing to it, anyone mind if I use it?

[selloutrr]

well justsaymo joined today.

The only cloning company producing amps for resale using the "Trainwreck" name that I'm aware of is Trainwreck.

[Structo]

Is Elmer Fudd selling amplifiers now?

Twainweck anyone?

Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits.

[paulster]

Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits.

Awesome, Tom! Awesome!

[Justsaymo]

Yes, I'm family. For the record, I said nothing about clones. My post was strictly about the name. You would be surprised how many people help themselves to the name. I've seen it on numerous sites with amps for sale, you tube demos, and in person at guitar and amp shows. I see no need to name individual builders. And by the way, I realize a joke was made, however, deliberate attempts to make a trademark name similar enough to confuse the public also qualifies as trademark infringement. As I said, good luck to all the amp builders out there. Just don't use someone else's name.
By the way, let me tell you a story. Wish I could say it's the only one, but that is not the case. Shortly after Ken's death, I was at a show when I spotted an amp with a Trainwreck logo on it. The man who had purchased it had physical challenges and had spent money he really didn't have to get a genuine TW. He saw the expression on my face as I walked by and then noticed my name tag. He asked me if it was real. It was a real rats nest inside, nothing like Ken's work. The poor guy was almost in tears when he found out he'd been ripped off. I guessed who made it just by looking at it and he verified that was who he purchased it from. Yes, it's a name guys on this forum would recognize. No, I do not wish to name any individuals and make this personal. It is, however, illegal.

Must admit, a couple of you are pretty funny!

[M Fowler]

I am quite sure most everyone on this forum is in agreement with you that selling a clone under the Trainwreck logo is totally wrong.

Apparently you know some one that did rip off that guy you met at the amp show.

An interesting story I think is how Slash has been playing a Gibson Les Paul clone, three of them infact, and Gibson actually benefited because everyone wanted a Gibson like Slash. Now they sell his model.

If you are a family member now is the time to ramp up that Trainwreck business with the reissues. We know its not about making money but you have to make money to stay in business and feed the family! Just saying!

Mark

[Justsaymo]

If you are a family member now is the time ramp that Trainwreck business up with the reissues. We know its not about making money but you have to make money to stay in business and feed the family! Just saying!

Mark

Thanks for understanding the name thing. Trainwrecks were not reissued with a money motive. Believe me, a lot of lucrative offers were turned down because they would not have followed Ken's strong ideals.

[M Fowler]

Could I get some build information regarding the brands of components used by Ken such when the Stancors were used, Pacific or any Heyboer or other brands. Also what is the songwriter exactly? AC30/Rocket type of circuit?

[67plexi]

Ken sent me on the right direction amp building and repair mostly repair I miss the conversations
I learned something new every time. Ken faxed me hand drawn information.
So why did ken fax over 3700 pages of his life’s work to a non amp builder friend?
The last week of his life I’m sure you can check the phone records and find out who it is.
Ken said he didn’t want his life’s work to go to waste I hope you will carry on ken’s wishes.

Regards, Steve.

[Allynmey]

Yes, I'm family. For the record, I said nothing about clones. My post was strictly about the name. You would be surprised how many people help themselves to the name. I've seen it on numerous sites with amps for sale, you tube demos, and in person at guitar and amp shows. I see no need to name individual builders. And by the way, I realize a joke was made, however, deliberate attempts to make a trademark name similar enough to confuse the public also qualifies as trademark infringement. As I said, good luck to all the amp builders out there. Just don't use someone else's name.
By the way, let me tell you a story. Wish I could say it's the only one, but that is not the case. Shortly after Ken's death, I was at a show when I spotted an amp with a Trainwreck logo on it. The man who had purchased it had physical challenges and had spent money he really didn't have to get a genuine TW. He saw the expression on my face as I walked by and then noticed my name tag. He asked me if it was real. It was a real rats nest inside, nothing like Ken's work. The poor guy was almost in tears when he found out he'd been ripped off. I guessed who made it just by looking at it and he verified that was who he purchased it from. Yes, it's a name guys on this forum would recognize. No, I do not wish to name any individuals and make this personal. It is, however, illegal.

Must admit, a couple of you are pretty funny!

Scott Fischer I presume......

No one on this forum has offered to sell TW clones with a TW logo on it as far as I know. Maybe you will just come out and say who is doing this?

[C Moore]

I guess I do not get what the big deal is. I can buy a Marshall, Vox, and Fender Logo if I want to. But what would you do with a Trainwreck Logo. Few guitar players are aware of the amps, and even fewer have ever played one. They were not popular.....only a few hundred were made, and from my understanding the specs and component values could vary quite a bit from one amp to the next.
With the exception of what ever these latest reissues are, the amps are not even being made anymore. Other than some type of criminal activity that would involve relicing (sp), antiquing, forgery, to make some poor sucker think he is buying an original, I can't imagine anybody would even buy an amp that said Trainwreck on it.
So....with the exception of the reissues (and who would pay FIVE GRAND for one of those) there are only a few originals floating around with HUGE price tags on them. That is IF you can find one for sale. So again.....who would buy an amp that said Trainwreck?
I am all in favor of protecting patents, trade marks, intellectual property, etc. etc. And that includes Trainwreck, nobody should have that name on their amp. But who would? It is not as though there is a gigantic market for counterfeit Wrecks. Of course, I guess I could be wrong......
So what is the big fear?

[57goldtop]

Fenders, Marshalls, Peaveys ..etc are all made in the thousands on production lines with identifying serial numbers and chassis stamps to track them, more difficult to copy. If you design something cheap enough and offer it at an affordable price, it will discourage competition to copy it.

Trainwrecks are relatively easy to build but the originals cost a fortune, all it takes is getting the right parts and a TW logo and then you're all set.

People would definitely be in the market for one if they "thought" it was an original and knew it would appreciate in value.

And then we're eventually flooded by accurate fakes because Trainwreck just turned a blind eye to it and sat idle...

Could you imagine what that would do to the collector value of the originals ?