Fender

The guitar giant says its countersuit is the “expected next step” after Thomann sued over cease-and-desist letters sent to Harley Benton, PRS, Yamaha and other makers of Stratocaster-style guitars.

The corporate buyouts of America’s biggest brands have been blamed for a decline in quality – but what if they only exacerbated the issues facing the industry at that time?

The retailer says it is stepping in on behalf of makers as Fender seeks to enforce copyright claims tied to the Stratocaster body shape.

Fender’s late-’60s wallpaper finishes were widely considered a commercial flop, causing owners to paint over them in droves. Decades later, a routine finish-stripping session by a master luthier shocked the gear world—and completely redefined the value of a "bad paint job."

PRS confirms it received a cease-and-desist letter over the Silver Sky — John Mayer’s massively successful signature model. But does this latest target meet Fender’s copyist criteria?