Z~Legend----Info & Photo's

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 25 May 2012 11:01 am

I recently found out that Earl Knapp also calls his guitars The Earl Knapp (ToneCaster) so out of respect for my friend Earl I'm Changing the name of my guitars to Z~Legend Pro.

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 25 May 2012 1:55 pm

... out of respect for my friend Earl I'm Changing the name of my guitars ...

Just a thought: How about out of respect for Leo Fender, both you guys quit using 'Tele' and 'Caster'?

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 25 May 2012 2:43 pm

I do respect Leo a great deal but I love the Tele. I love the sound and the look and don't want to deviate from that. So with this being said give me a suggestion on what to call it(Seriously).
75% of the guitars made are copied from the Tele, Strat,and Les Paul ect. I don't think it is disrespectful to relate this awesome guitar to its ancestor the Telecaster.
Look at the Pedal Steel they all look pretty much the same except the names and the improvements underneath. I feel I have improved on an already great guitar. And Its made in America.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 May 2012 11:36 pm

I don't care what Bill or Earle call their guitars, I just want one of each.

Hey guys, do you need somebody to review them? (with the understanding that the reviewer keeps the guitar?)

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 26 May 2012 8:47 am

Your guitars look very nice Bill, and according the testimonial play and sound well also.

You might want to re-think using the word Tele since that is a registered TM of the FMIC giant. You could find yourself receiving a cease and desist order if they're nice or worse it they're not.

OTOH, they might not be too concerned about an individual with just a few guitars. Not a chance I'd want to take myself though.

You could do some research, maybe even hire a lawyer to research licensed brand names etc. and go from there. I'm sure you can come up with a name that pays tribute to Leo yet doesn't infringe on anybody's copyright. Good Luck.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 26 May 2012 9:19 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote: You could find yourself receiving a cease and desist order if they're nice or worse it they're not.

OTOH, they might not be too concerned about an individual with just a few guitars. Not a chance I'd want to take myself though.

If what happened to my friend Eric who runs Ravenwest guitars is any indication, they WILL. Eric's position is somewhat different, as he doesn't make the guitars himself, but has them made for him in Korea and imports and sells them, but he's still just one guy, trying to earn a living, and Fender came down on him hard because he copied the Tele headstock. He had to have the headstocks re-carved on an entire shipment of guitars. It cost him about a couple of thousand dollars.

I'm sure you can come up with a name that pays tribute to Leo yet doesn't infringe on anybody's copyright. Good Luck.

How about calling the guitar "The Leo?"

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 26 May 2012 10:10 am

I'm in total agreement. Its just really hard to find a good name. I've thought of Z~Sideman,Z~Custom ect.

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 26 May 2012 12:21 pm

They are getting pretty tough. I had a friend who was representing a guitar company that got the cease and desist from the big boys. It's ironic that the small company's master builder is a former builder for the big boy company...hmmmm

Website · Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 26 May 2012 5:43 pm

As seen on Fender's website, Tele® is a registered trademark of Fender Musical Instrument Corporation. You should consider using a name that isn't a violation of a trademark.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 26 May 2012 5:58 pm

Why not call it Dobkins?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 26 May 2012 6:12 pm

Roger Crawford wrote:Why not call it Dobkins?

How about simply "The T"? simple and elegant.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 26 May 2012 6:55 pm

How about Z~Tonemaster or Z~Twangmaster or Z~T custom

Keith Davidson · Post by **Keith Davidson** » 29 May 2012 6:43 am

How about "Leo Z Twangmaster"

To imply Leo The Twangmaster

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 29 May 2012 7:11 am

Thanks everyone for the input but I decided on Z~Legend because it has the sound of the original Tele's. The tone and bite these guitars have are to die for.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 29 May 2012 9:02 am

Tele is also a very common abbreviation for Television
is there a trademark or copyright on it too ?

Website · Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 29 May 2012 1:24 pm

CrowBear Schmitt wrote:Tele is also a very common abbreviation for Television
is there a trademark or copyright on it too ?

Abbreviation
tele (plural teles)
(UK, slang, rare) television
[edit]Usage notes
The more usual shortening of the word is telly.

I've never seen anything referred to as "Tele®" except for the Fender® Telecaster®. If you know of another brand using the term, please let us know.

Glenn Uhler · Post by **Glenn Uhler** » 29 May 2012 1:35 pm

Bill,
I would call it a "D~Legend" to make it more recognizable as a Dobkins-built guitar. Sounds almost the same as "Z".

Glenn

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 29 May 2012 6:32 pm

Brad Bechtel wrote:
CrowBear Schmitt wrote:Tele is also a very common abbreviation for Television
is there a trademark or copyright on it too ?
Abbreviation
tele (plural teles)
(UK, slang, rare) television
[edit]Usage notes
The more usual shortening of the word is telly.

I've never seen anything referred to as "Tele®" except for the Fender® Telecaster®. If you know of another brand using the term, please let us know.

Brad, in a guitar book I have. In the fender section there is a Tele with the trade mark.

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 1 Jun 2012 2:23 am

If I had one I'd call it a "Smelecaster" cuz the way I play stinks!!!

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 1 Jun 2012 8:03 am

"Deli-caster"

......tasty name!

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 1 Jun 2012 1:55 pm

Telly Tubby!!!!

Larry Rafferty · Post by **Larry Rafferty** » 1 Jun 2012 2:37 pm

You might also want to check in with Forum Member Randy Rollman, who owns and operates "The Legend" Music Store in Corinth, NY. Randy has been making "Legend" lap steel guitars for about 25 years. He had a few of them for sale in his store the last time I stopped in to see him.
He makes both 6 and 8 string "Legend" Steels. Randy is one of the areas finest PSG players

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 2 Jun 2012 8:08 am

Maybe "The Star-Caster"!!

Jerry Foster · Post by **Jerry Foster** » 11 Jun 2012 10:40 am

Hi Bill D. I would like to say That your Guitar is Second To none in every way. I had the pleasure of feeling & hearing it at the Conway & ST.James shows. I am very impressed. your picking friend, Jerry F.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 17 Jun 2012 1:00 am

They look good, whatever you call 'em. How much is one gonna set me back?

The Steel Guitar Forum

Z~Legend----Info & Photo's

Z~Legend----Info & Photo's

Respect Leo!

Name Game?