Is Rickenbacker's sound licensed??

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:41 am

Does Rickenbacker license its’ name with regards to its’ sound?

In the two years that I have been here, I sure have had a heck of an education. One thing that I do not recall seeing discussed, is the newer modeling technology.

Please forgive me if this is a stupid question, or if this has been discussed before.

To digress, the guitar player in my band is a huge Line 6 fanatic. We often get into heated discussions over our outlook on gear. He being a tech head on modeling, I being from the old school of vintage instruments.

I must admit that his Line 6 system is impressive as far as flexibility. It appears that any new song that we now do, he can upload the parameters (amp head, cabinet, guitar, and effects, etc) into his master controller and the sound is almost dead on. Without bringing a ton of gear on the road, it sure does a lot. My issue with it is that after two hours of listening to it, the inorganic coldness of the non magnetic pick up sound, grates on me. I’d much rather see it used for maybe a few songs only.

Having had said all that, his Line 6 (Variax 700), does have a few “Rickenbacker” guitar models on it. My question is; can another manufacture use the name Rickenbacker in describing of its’ intended modeled sound? Are the sounds themselves protected when being referred to a Rickenbacker sounding guitar?

I see that their website does acknowledge the trademarks…

“All product names used in this website are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. These trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose tones and sounds were studied during Line 6’s sound model development.”

“ RICKENBACKER® is a registered trademark of Rickenbacker International Corporation.”

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:56 am

I don't know about Line 6, but my Vox Valvetronix models various Vox, Fender, Marshall, Dumble and Mesa Boogie amps. With the exception of the Vox amps, all of the modelled amps are referred to by description without using brand names.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:06 am

Kris, if you go to this page and pan down to the "CHIME" tracks, you will see an example.

http://www.line6.com/variax/collection.html

lyle_from_minneapolis · Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:13 am

Kris's example makes me think there is a legal reason why those other models were not named. This is an interesting question.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:29 am

They are not named, but of course everything short of spelling out the name is done so you KNOW who they're talking about.

Just a way of avoiding the entire licensing issue, as far as I can see.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:34 am

But Paul Rickenbacker is named, look at the link above.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:45 am

I know there are "Rickenbacker" settings on some Bose modeling gear. I recall JH mentioning something about that a while back, so chances are there's some sort of agreement in place.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:04 am

I believe that Rickenbacker and Bose have an affiliation going. Perhaps Line 6 has a licensing agreement for the brand names it lists?

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:13 am

No highs, no lows....it must be Bose!

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:17 am

Nice coin of phrase, Dave - Paul Rickenbacker.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:26 am

A forgotten comma and thus a new name…LOL

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:28 am

I would imagine that since the actual setting is called "Chime" and it is described as being "modelled after a Rickenbacker" they would avoid any major licensing issues. They haven't said "this is a Rickenbacker" merely 'This is what our model of a particular guitar sounds like' which is different. If the setting was actually called "Rickenbacker" then they'd have some trouble. As it is, they probably can use the name legally as a reference point only. But I'm no lawyer!

PS - I think their 12-string model sounds awful - too much chorus!

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:31 am

It's interesting that the 1968 6-string they modelled has hi-gains. Not many if any hi-gains produced in '68, if I remember correctly.

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:24 pm

This might be an urban myth but didn't Harley Davidson try to patent/copyright their engine sounds?I guess I could look it up myself,just thought some bikers may know.

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:27 pm

Well,that didn't take long...
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000915.html