What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

[eschoendorff]

I came across this website, www.dragonfireguitars.com and saw that they are peddling some pickups that they call "Hot Rails."

Are these Seymour Duncan Hot Rails? If not, I was under the impression that "Hot Rails" were a trademarked product name. Somethings seems fishy...

http://www.dragonfireguitars.com/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=586

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

They are Dragon fires own pickups, that they are calling hot rails.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

On the one hand, this looks like a trademark infringement.

On the other hand, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Once a specific product has become THE standard reference marker for its type, it gains a definite market advantage.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

I'd kick these guys in the nads.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

LOOOOOOOOOOO-CHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! You got some splainin' to do...

 

[Aceman]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

Submitted, for your consideration:

Dragon fire has had sufficient requests for a budget Rail pickup. They want to move fast, but can't make it happen. They order a batch of Duncan Designed from Seymour Duncan. Duncan sells budget pups, Dragonfire sells pups, the name remains the same, and everyone makes money. The price point is such that it doesn't overlap with Duncan's market, and if anyone finds out, it makes them go to Duncan. Perhaps the batch has a time expiration like "you have one year to use the name and get your stuff together." At that point Dragonfire has their own rails, SD has mad
e new friends, and everyone wins....


In the Pickup Zone

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

Submitted, for your consideration:

Dragon fire has had sufficient requests for a budget Rail pickup. They want to move fast, but can't make it happen. They order a batch of Duncan Designed from Seymour Duncan. Duncan sells budget pups, Dragonfire sells pups, the name remains the same, and everyone makes money. The price point is such that it doesn't overlap with Duncan's market, and if anyone finds out, it makes them go to Duncan. Perhaps the batch has a time expiration like "you have one year to use the name and get your stuff together." At that point Dragonfire has their own rails, SD has mad
e new friends, and everyone wins....


In the Pickup Zone

Seems like a one-sided point of view. And it reeks of shady. A trademark is a trademark.

 

[CTN]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

Also it could be argued that they are helping to erode the "hot rails" brand, namely by selling duncan designed pickups under the same name as the USA Hot Rails.

If they are not USA Hot rails pups, they should not be called Hot Rails, period.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

Also it could be argued that they are helping to erode the "hot rails" brand, namely by selling duncan designed pickups under the same name as the USA Hot Rails.

If they are not USA Hot rails pups, they should not be called Hot Rails, period.

:werd:

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

I called the guy at Dragonfire Guitars and explained that "Hot Rails" is an SD-owned trademark. He didn't realize that. He's going to change it. He was cool.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

I called the guy at Dragonfire Guitars and explained that "Hot Rails" is an SD-owned trademark. He didn't realize that. He's going to change it. He was cool.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

:beerchug:

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

That was fast. He already changed his site.

 

[ErikH]

Re: What are these? Evan, you might want to see this...

He might want to check in the Power Rails thing too. That's the name of a GFS pickup (http://www.guitarfetish.com/Humbucker-Sized-Guitar-Pickups_c_26.html). Just call it the Dragon Rail or something.