The Loudini Rock and Roll Circus

Loudini: Gig “no no’s” that no one tells you about, Norm’s Rare Guitars Documentary, Cell phones at gigs, Why Audiophiles hate BOSE (are they right?), 

 

More Fender Drama, is Fender a “fashion brand”? Gimmick guitars? (chenders and chibsons, “I Could Be Wrong”) and counter suing Thomman: Musikhaus Thomann has filed a lawsuit against Fender Musical Instruments Corporation at the Düsseldorf Regional Court, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing intellectual property dispute over the Stratocaster body shape. 

 

The Catalyst: The lawsuit is a direct counter-measure to Fender’s aggressive campaign of cease-and-desist letters sent since May 2026, targeting manufacturers of "S-style" guitars. 

Thomann’s Stance: Thomann, which sells its own budget brand Harley Benton, argues that the Stratocaster shape is functional ("form follows function") and largely public domain, threatening industry diversity and innovation. 

Legal Strategy: By initiating the suit, Thomann seeks a negative declaratory judgment to clarify that producing S-style guitars does not infringe copyright, challenging a prior December 2025 default judgment that favored Fender. 

Industry Impact: CEO Hans Thomann frames the action as a defense of smaller builders and retailers who lack the resources to fight Fender’s legal team, urging Fender to return to cooperative partnership. 

The case is currently pending, with no hearing scheduled, and represents a rare instance of a major retailer suing a manufacturer it has carried since 1954.





Pittsburgh Kevin: Bonnie Tyler, Live AID, EVH and Peavey pt3

Loudini: Gary Richrath Guitars & Amps and best REO moments,  Is music a science or magic? Do we need it? Where does it come from? Treating music like an “engineering problem”.  Is music created or “uncovered”? Are musician’s like “priests”? Most musicians’ cannot explain it… they just do it. John Mayer calls it “Quigi Boarding it”. More magic in a group situation verses working by yourself. Allow the unplanned to happen.  Is there already too much music? Robert Fripp and his “Fripper-tronics”, 

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: EVH & Peavey, the pretty reckless, Louise Lassiter, Broadcast TV

Retrospective on Charvel/Jackson (schecter, JB Player, Seymour Duncan too!)) from 5 Watt World, Eddie, Steve Stevens (top gun sound track), Steve Vai (crossroads, Allan Holdsworth (IOU), Randy Rhoads and the first “Jackson”, Jeff Beck (private dance/ flash), Guthrie Govan, Jake E Lee (hard tail & slanted pick ups), SanDimas, DNKY, Compound Radius, Floyd Rose, “Style 1” and “Style 2”

Pro Guitarists Survival Skills (shane Theriot)

The “Keithburtst”

 

Kevin: They’re dropping like flies, Gibson’s new CEO, Will vintage guitars lose their value, Billy Gibbons

Van Halen III,  More RUSH talk… you’re killing me smalls! McCarty vs Tele, Bon Jovi is back? 100 best selling albums of all timeRod Stewart, Whole Lotta Love, EVH the Peavey Years

things that are holding you back that almost no one talks about (tension, how well do you  know what you are playing, sound), is RUSH more popular now than ever? Our gig last week and what I learned, Phones at shows (Justin Hawkins, Phoebe Bridges, Jack White, Ghost)? Fender back pedals invoking Leo’s legacy, tonemaster nomenclature (Phil McKnight), All In One Guitars,