customizedguitars.net SKEEZ ALERT

[xtian]

I was doing a "vanity search" on google, and I found this page:

http://www.customizedguitars.net/monkeymatic_amps.html

Hey! That's my amp in the header. WTF is this site?

I notice that many of our builders are in the directory, including Monkeymatic, Glasworks, Volition, Fowler, Aiken, Milkman, Token, Moon, Zagray, and many, many others.

Domain is privately registered. Contact is glen@customizedguitars.net.

I'm emailing now to ask him to remove my image and name from his site.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Hey, there's a button on the home page "stolen instruments." Of course, nothing's there. What a public service.

Who is this guy? Besides a "special" kind of moron.

[xtian]

I received a reply. And I replied to that reply, shown below, FYI:

On Jan 13, 2016, at 2:41 PM, Glen Rashak <glen@customizedguitars.net> wrote:

Hi Aaron,

Please read these links that explain what we are about, we have 1000's of hits per day and we are also the most complete list on the web of over 14,500 guitar and amp builders in the world, There is no one else that has our content. Customers who have never heard of you're amplifiers could find you through our site and it costs you nothing. We treat you're company with respect and provide a link to you're website on the Monkeymatic registration page.

http://www.customizedguitars.net/index.html

http://www.customizedguitars.net/about_us.html

If after reading this you still wish to be removed please email us and we will do so.

Thank you,

Glen Rashak
Customizedguitars.net

In the spirit of Internet connectivity, you are welcome to link to my web site. However, your web site makes it look as if you are authorized by me to provide some paid registration service, which is not true. Please remove the photo of my amp and the stylized “MONKEYMATIC” because this is potentially confusing to customers, and conflicts with my own branding efforts.

Thank you,

-a

[Scumback Speakers]

14,500 guitar and amp builders...really? That seems like a pretty large # for actual full time builders, even if you take the world population into account.

Is that site listing anyone who's built an amp at home from a DIY kit as well? Otherwise I can't figure out how they got to that 14.5k number.

[Littlewyan]

It sort of looks like hes trying to do a legit thing and provide a service for free but has gone the wrong way about it.......

I mean if it really is about stolen gear then why use the domain 'customizedguitars.net'? This smells a bit fishy.

[xtian]

It is NOT a free service. He charges for "registrations" of the gear, and then, supposedly, it's a way to track stolen gear.

I told him to remove Monkeymatic, and he did, within an hour.

[LeeMo]

So far this is my fave:
http://www.customizedguitars.net/angry_beaver_gtr.html

[dorrisant]

I don't see the harm... Could someone explain how this could be bad? Especially when my site kinda blows. I have actually had a repair come in a couple of weeks ago due to this site. The customer couldn't remember Volition but this site gave them the contact info after the found it in the "V" section. Should I make them remove my site?

[xtian]

If it works for you, Tony, roll it with!

In my case, I've worked 25 years in graphic design, including corporate branding. The BRAND is everything, man! That's how you build your reputation and grow your business. No one else should be able to make bank on your brand unless you purposefully collaborate with them, and share profits fairly.

In the case of customizedguitars.net, they have mastheads at the top of the page with a photo of "our" amps along with stylized brand names, and this looks very much like official or sanctioned brand images. If this doesn't creep you out, then no worries, I guess!