Examples of 3+1 tuner configs

[krysh]

the shuker neck on my frankenjazz:

[dlloyd]

Some disinformation in this thread.

Musicman have trademarked their headstocks, just as Fender have, as well as the specific arrangement of string posts on the headstock:

[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.1"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.1[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.2"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.2[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.3"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.3[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.4"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.4[/url]

Instruments such as the Teisco, Gus and Ou7shine's don't infringe on these trademarks. The Yamaha apparently does (I imagine it's in the tuner arrangement)

Edit: Note, there is no patent involved, nor is it copyright... it's a registered trademark.

Edit2: The term "3+1" is also a trademark.

I imagine the Shuker above also infringes the string post arrangement trademark.

Edited November 20, 2013 by dlloyd

[BigRedX]

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1384946115' post='2282541']
Some disinformation in this thread.

Musicman have trademarked their headstocks, just as Fender have, as well as the specific arrangement of string posts on the headstock:

[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.1"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.1[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.2"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.2[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.3"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.3[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.4"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.4[/url]

Instruments such as the Teisco, Gus and Ou7shine's don't infringe on these trademarks. The Yamaha apparently does (I imagine it's in the tuner arrangement)

Edit: Note, there is no patent involved, nor is it copyright... it's a registered trademark.
[/quote]

Unfortunately none of your links work :-(

[dlloyd]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1384946666' post='2282554']
Unfortunately none of your links work :-(
[/quote]

Yes... it looks like you have to go from the start.

Go to [url="http://www.uspto.gov/"]http://www.uspto.gov/[/url] then click on "Trademarks" then "Trademark Search". Click on "Word and/or Design Mark Search (Structured)" then put in the search term box: "1495728"

Bit long-winded, but it should bring up the four trademark registrations that are currently active.

Edited November 20, 2013 by dlloyd

[muttley]

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1384946115' post='2282541']
Some disinformation in this thread.

Musicman have trademarked their headstocks, just as Fender have, as well as the specific arrangement of string posts on the headstock:

[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.1"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.1[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.2"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.2[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.3"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.3[/url]
[url="http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:80336p.4.4"]http://tess2.uspto.g...4806:80336p.4.4[/url]

Instruments such as the Teisco, Gus and Ou7shine's don't infringe on these trademarks. The Yamaha apparently does (I imagine it's in the tuner arrangement)

Edit: Note, there is no patent involved, nor is it copyright... it's a registered trademark.

Edit2: The term "3+1" is also a trademark.

I imagine the Shuker above also infringes the string post arrangement trademark.
[/quote]

Thanks for posting that . I was in the process of adding something similar myself.

I will add a couple of things:
The Americans have something called a "Design Patent". This is a bit like Registered Design in that it protects a shape etc. It's how Apple and Samsung wasted so much money on their lawyers .
"Patents" (pronounced patt-ents, not pay-tents) protect inventions. To be granted a patent an idea has to be [u]both[/u] novel (no-one has thought of it before) [u]and[/u] inventive (non-obvious to those skilled in the art). Putting a tuner peg on the other side of a headstock cannot ever be termed inventive so a patent would never be granted.

[size=2]IANAL but I used to work with IP a lot.[/size]

[Matt P]

my favorite is the 2+3 config, allows for a shortish headstock and a bit more space for the low B. as seen on my Letts 5 string, it works a treat. i found that the 3+2 config on my rockbass and my old Yamaha was always a bit touch and go when it came to fitting the low B.