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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2018 17:53:33 GMT
They are all around us saltee.
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Post by intenselycalm on Jun 11, 2018 17:05:32 GMT
I've often wondered why HB never stepped up their old logo a bit. I actually liked the stactked version I did on my SC400. Made it more pronounced over the original "one line" logo. Oh well, to each their own.  |
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Post by nicholaspaul on Jun 30, 2018 21:52:57 GMT
I'm probably the only person waiting for all guitars to change to the new logo before buying one. I really cannot stand the old one! It's just Brush Script, a basic Windows font. May as well be Comic Sans, as far as I'm concerned! Anyway, love the new logo, and I'm glad to see HB taking their branding seriously.
Has anyone heard plans of rolling it out on all models?
Confession: I'm a graphic designer and designed logos and written branding guidelines. I know, it's a problem, but at worst I can also refinish the headstock..
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2018 23:55:44 GMT
Confession: I'm a graphic designer and designed logos and written branding guidelines. I know, it's a problem, but at worst I can also refinish the headstock.. Please do and then offer it to Thomann. I find both of their efforts lame. But it could just be that the name is awful and leads everyone up a blind alley. |
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 1, 2018 0:44:45 GMT
I never realised the old logo was in a common font and I'm not sure why it should be a problem. It is one of so many I doubt anyone who's not an expert would find out. And if they do, it shows they're not wasting money on fancy extras which is why the "brand" is appreciated in the first place: you get what matters for as little money as possible. No branding "effort" customers have to pay for.
I also wonder why they didn't call it Thomann, by the way. Too German? It didn't bother Schecter.
So yes, the name is "funny", but not awful.
I don't mind the old logo. It is nothing special and as such it doesn't make me feel like I'm buying some fluff someone though ought to be important to me. I like the new one. It is more pleasing and gives an impression of movement, of dynamics. It has that annoying "youthful" quality, that fake handwriting trying to "look cool". Ok, it's the intended target population. At that price, once again, I refuse to complain about any of it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 9:02:31 GMT
I'm not sure that a brush script is meant to look youthful, LeoThunder . It often tends to be used as a sign of authenticity and quality. Like it has passed under the eyes at least of 'the big man' and he's signed it off. Think 'Disney', 'Harrods', 'Kellog's' and yes 'Fender'. At least we can be thankful that they didn't go for 'Jack and Danny Brothers'. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 9:14:58 GMT
... or Gear 4 Music  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 9:51:07 GMT
I wonder if all these details help to inspire us? Could I be drawn back again and again to a piano horribly bedecked in diamonds and chandeliers if it sounded unbelievably fantastic?
I think I surely could. Screw it. Call it irony.
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 1, 2018 10:01:51 GMT
I'm not sure that a brush script is meant to look youthful, LeoThunder . It often tends to be used as a sign of authenticity and quality. Like it has passed under the eyes at least to 'the big man' and he's signed it off. Think 'Disney', 'Harrods', 'Kellog's' and yes 'Fender'. At least we can be thankful that they didn't go for 'Jack and Danny Brothers'. I meant the new logo looks youthful, not the old one. Now, I did notice the old script looked a little like the Fender / Squier logos, especially in their outlined variant, which is probably why it was chosen. And really, can you go wrong with that when most of what you are selling are copies of Fender and Gibson models? Can you go wrong with such a logo when half your products are part of some "Vintage Series"? I think it was a smart choice in addition to being cheap. The new logo comes together with the emergence of more modern looking models, even though these are mostly copies too. I think the R457 to 8 is a copy of a Schecter C, the upcoming Fusion Roasted is a Guthrie Govan Charvel and I'm pretty sure the Fanfret 7 to 8 are also very close to an Agile Pendulum with a Schecter-like headstock I refrained from writing "at least, the brand name is not Dick & Fanny"  |
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Post by nicholaspaul on Jul 1, 2018 11:56:33 GMT
I never realised the old logo was in a common font and I'm not sure why it should be a problem. It is one of so many I doubt anyone who's not an expert would find out. And if they do, it shows they're not wasting money on fancy extras which is why the "brand" is appreciated in the first place: you get what matters for as little money as possible. No branding "effort" customers have to pay for. I also wonder why they didn't call it Thomann, by the way. Too German? It didn't bother Schecter. So yes, the name is "funny", but not awful. I don't mind the old logo. It is nothing special and as such it doesn't make me feel like I'm buying some fluff someone though ought to be important to me. I like the new one. It is more pleasing and gives an impression of movement, of dynamics. It has that annoying "youthful" quality, that fake handwriting trying to "look cool". Ok, it's the intended target population. At that price, once again, I refuse to complain about any of it. There are lots of ways to spend little effort and money to get great results. They have to have a logo so may as well be one that is considered carefully and not lazy. The problem with using a bad and common font (which is what Brush Script is, for technical reasons) is that it shows the owners don't care about everything about their business. Brush Script doesn't do anything except say "we picked a font and typed our name". As a guitarist, you want a company that considers everything, from string gauge, wood species, neck shape, nut material and so on. The lack of attention to detail like the logo does mean something to some people, and would actually mean just as much to people who wouldn't know Brush Script from a hole in the ground - it's more subconscious than literal. If you look at companies like American Airlines who use Helvetica - a much better designed font - you can see examples of spending little time and still exhibiting a professional brand. Of course, some people won't care, but they would surely be handy with a piece of sandpaper or black tape. |
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 1, 2018 12:24:29 GMT
Brush Script doesn't do anything except say "we picked a font and typed our name". As a guitarist, you want a company that considers everything, from string gauge, wood species, neck shape, nut material and so on. The lack of attention to detail like the logo does mean something to some people, and would actually mean just as much to people who wouldn't know Brush Script from a hole in the ground - it's more subconscious than literal. Well, I think people will be divided on this. Fine tuning the logo is something that can also be understood as setting priorities wrong. Sure, if you are charging a fortune for a status symbol like a Rolex or a Gibson, you bring everything to perfection. That's your key selling point, isn't it? On the other side of the price range, perfecting the logo is probably a way of dressing up the donkey by putting a horse saddle on it. The under-performing employee who's always well dressed and smooth spoken comes to mind. Attention to detail is something I appreciate when I hear that a Harley Benton doesn't only look like a Les Paul or a Strat but really sounds like one. That's what I want, in addition to the intrinsic qualities required from a music instrument. I understand that Harley Benton prices imply compromise, and I'm quite happy to see them made on something that doesn't matter. As to picking up a font, I see absolutely no added value in the "self-made" thing. I didn't make the language I use, nor the computer I type this with. This is how we get wealthier and better: by using things others make. Now, as you said, a more original logo doesn't have to cost the world and this is why it was changed. Yet it has a negative side. The cheap "house brand" is attractive for the very reason that it's not a brand. It does not sell its name together with the product. The funny name in a picked up font quite expresses that too. Its function is of identification only. Turn it into something cultivated and this also signals that something else is now part of the price. There's a "look at me" feel replacing the "check out my products" message. A similar thought applies to packaging, by the way. The very plain HB boxes tell me none of my money was wasted on something that will be either thrown away or stored in the cellar while some shiny packages from SX or others try to make an impression: |
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Post by salteedog on Jul 1, 2018 12:25:29 GMT
I'm probably the only person waiting for all guitars to change to the new logo before buying one. I really cannot stand the old one! It's just Brush Script, a basic Windows font. May as well be Comic Sans, as far as I'm concerned! Anyway, love the new logo, and I'm glad to see HB taking their branding seriously. Has anyone heard plans of rolling it out on all models? Confession: I'm a graphic designer and designed logos and written branding guidelines. I know, it's a problem, but at worst I can also refinish the headstock.. Welcome to the forum. I think there are more graphic designers here than there are jazz players! |
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 1, 2018 12:29:24 GMT
I think there are more graphic designers here than there are jazz players! I play jazz. No one ever really knows what note I'm going to hit next. I don't always know myself. What do you mean with "not a proper definition"? |
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Post by salteedog on Jul 1, 2018 12:44:11 GMT
I agree that identity and brand are critical and should reflect the values of the producer and product...and also that for budget gear, cost efficiencies need to be delivered somewhere. It appears that the 'Harley Benton' name and logo were selected way back when Thomann had only a half-assed business plan in place for their own-brand guitars and the subsequent success of the endeavor has exposed the weakness of the brand name and design. As such it's a pity they haven't been more daring with the latest re-branding effort. Also - I never realised that the old Harley Benton logo is a standard windows font. I've been a windows/office user for 26 years and have only ever used a handful of fonts  |
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Post by salteedog on Jul 1, 2018 12:48:56 GMT
My new logo:-  |
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