Pickups in cream color?

mr breaker

New member
I'm looking to buy a SH-1 (neck) and SH-5 (bridge) for a LP. But I can't find them in the solid cream color anywhere online.

Anybody know where I can find them?
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

The problem is that Dimarzio "owns" (through patent or trademark or something... I'm sure someone will come along soon to clarify) the "double-cream" color scheme for humbuckers. I haven't done this, but apparently you can order a covered set and request that the pickups be double-cream under the covers. Then you remove the covers and you have your pickups. Hopefully someone who actually knows what is going on will chime in soon!
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

The problem is that Dimarzio "owns" (through patent or trademark or something... I'm sure someone will come along soon to clarify) the "double-cream" color scheme for humbuckers.

It's a trademark. And that means that we can't sell cream humbuckers. Sorry.

And thus DiMarzio = FAIL.

They can't face the competition? :lmao:

:bsflag:

:crying:
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

Well, I guess that explains why I can't find them!

That's strange though. I didn't realize a single color could be a trademark.
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

it can even though its total bs since gibson made them in the late 50's and dimarzio didnt exist till the 70's
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

The problem is that Dimarzio "owns" (through patent or trademark or something... I'm sure someone will come along soon to clarify) the "double-cream" color scheme for humbuckers.

it can even though its total bs since gibson made them in the late 50's and dimarzio didnt exist till the 70's

Not even Gibson is allowed to sell double cream bobbined open humbuckers any more! I once owned a 1980/81 double cream Dirty Fingers. I wonder what that is worth now?
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

Wow, how can you patent a color? I understand wiring schematics, but color?

From another forum:

The trademark number is 73150505 and is still alive.

Search the US Trademark and Patent Office at www.uspto.gov

Content of the trademark text follows.


Goods and Services IC 015. US 036. G & S: Electronic Sound Pickup for Guitars. FIRST USE: 19740200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19740200
Mark Drawing Code (2) DESIGN ONLY
Design Search Code 22.01.25 - Batons, orchestra conductor's; Bows, violin; Conductor's wands, batons; Drumsticks (musical instrument); Harmonicas; Instrument cases (musical); Music stands; Picks, guitar; Wands, conductors' and magicians'
26.11.27 - Oblongs not used as carriers for words, letters or designs
Serial Number 73150505
Filing Date December 1, 1977
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition June 23, 1981
Registration Number 1169205
Registration Date September 15, 1981
Owner (REGISTRANT) DiMarzio Musical Instrument Pickups, Inc. CORPORATION NEW YORK 643 Bay St. Staten Island NEW YORK 10304

(LAST LISTED OWNER) DIMARZIO, INC. CORPORATION BY ASSIGNMENT NEW YORK 1338 RICHMOND TERRACE PO BOX 100387 STATEN ISLAND NEW YORK 10310
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Description of Mark The mark comprises the double design representation of an electronic sound pickup for guitars, which is disclaimed apart from the mark as shown. AND IS LINED FOR THE COLOR YELLOW WHICH RESEMBLES THE DISTINCTIVE SHADE OF CREAM.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20010928.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20010928
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

It's a trademark. And that means that we can't sell cream humbuckers. Sorry.

Interestingly enough, Carvin sells cream pups, and have been for ages.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/group.php?cid=82

Carvin's senior humbucker, the M-Series, has been around since 1978, and from 1978 to 1985 was only offered in cream with the option of cream or black bezels. I'm looking at The Dali's post, great job BTW, and see that DiMarzio filed for the right to cream bobbins in 1977 and was registered in 1981.

Now all Carvin humbuckers, C/H/M series, are available in all cream. The S-Series is just a "covered" version of the C-Series.

carvinpups.jpg


As a Carvin buff, I have never been able to figure out how Carvin has been able to offer cream pups while Seymour Duncan, a company dedicated to making pickups, has been shut down in this respect.
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

DiMarzio's lawyers don't bother sending Carvin a cease and desist because nobody is buying those things.
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

^^ That and just maybe Carvin actually pays the exhorbitant sum Dimarzio asks for use of the color ;)
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

Perhaps it is because of the 12 pole pieces?

Well each Carvin humbucker has 11 poles per individual bobbin so a total of 22 poles are in each humbucker. I think you might have something here Dali.

Since Carvin sells their guitars equipped with nothing but their own pups I wonder if this has anything with them being able to sell all cream pups.

I doubt Carvin has the funds to fork money over to DiMarzio in all honesty; Carvin, I think, might have something up their sleeve that is allowing them to get away with their own doing. I wonder if they have any patents of their own.

OP: FWIW, if you still desire to match an SH5 with an SH1, Carvin's closest equivalents would be a C22N for the neck and a C22B for the bridge.
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

Well each Carvin humbucker has 11 poles per individual bobbin so a total of 22 poles are in each humbucker. I think you might have something here Dali.



Ha! My 12 number came from 6 strings... doubled... but I guess they couldn't fit 12 in...
 
Re: Pickups in cream color?

Wow, how can you patent a color? I understand wiring schematics, but color?

From another forum:

The trademark number is 73150505 and is still alive.

Search the US Trademark and Patent Office at www.uspto.gov

Content of the trademark text follows.


Goods and Services IC 015. US 036. G & S: Electronic Sound Pickup for Guitars. FIRST USE: 19740200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19740200
Mark Drawing Code (2) DESIGN ONLY
Design Search Code 22.01.25 - Batons, orchestra conductor's; Bows, violin; Conductor's wands, batons; Drumsticks (musical instrument); Harmonicas; Instrument cases (musical); Music stands; Picks, guitar; Wands, conductors' and magicians'
26.11.27 - Oblongs not used as carriers for words, letters or designs
Serial Number 73150505
Filing Date December 1, 1977
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition June 23, 1981
Registration Number 1169205
Registration Date September 15, 1981
Owner (REGISTRANT) DiMarzio Musical Instrument Pickups, Inc. CORPORATION NEW YORK 643 Bay St. Staten Island NEW YORK 10304

(LAST LISTED OWNER) DIMARZIO, INC. CORPORATION BY ASSIGNMENT NEW YORK 1338 RICHMOND TERRACE PO BOX 100387 STATEN ISLAND NEW YORK 10310
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Description of Mark The mark comprises the double design representation of an electronic sound pickup for guitars, which is disclaimed apart from the mark as shown. AND IS LINED FOR THE COLOR YELLOW WHICH RESEMBLES THE DISTINCTIVE SHADE OF CREAM.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20010928.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20010928
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

I think this is the same way the EVH stripey sequence is protected even though it's a bunch of colors.

and as for the DMZ patent and the exorbitant fees with it, isn't the patenting of a color (not a sequence, as that can be a logo a la frankenstein), a bit off-putting? I wonder if there's been any complaints from companies big and small about this. I also sort of wonder how many cases DMZ has brought against other companies in patent / federal court about it, or if they just do C&D's and their bark is worse than their bite.
 
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