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I intend to use a laser engraver and backfill with colored resin. I combined two things I love to do... running & guitars. The picture is actually a petroglyph (modified, and used with permission) found in an ancient cave. For those who desire a good laugh, read this article where I found it (you will not be dissapointed, Blake is a ledgend in running circles, especially the Barkley Marathon... I just got accepted into that race. Click on the audio file in the picture)

For me, this logo says it all (the one with my initials is the one I am using... the others are for website, labels, etc)

Mike

You'll probably have to tone down the detail a bit unless you're making it really big, even with a laser. I'll let the designer crowd on here analyze the rest, but for me it'd be hard to see what I was looking at until the headstock was right in front of my face with all that's going on in that small space. I like the concept, but am wondering about 'viewability'

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I like it Mike my friend - it looks like "Guitar Warrier!!"

I'm no designer but I like it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Mike...opinions all of us...

Here's what I'd do. The MJO portion of the Logo would go on the headstock...just exactly as it is....Maybe even with the dude holding the guitar. I think laser is the ONLY way to go with this kind of logo. The label itself (for me) would be the one where the little dude is holding the guitar with one hand instead of two. There's something a little 'crazy' about that particular logo that I just love.

That's my input. I just had my second proof sent to me on my Logo for my guitars. Done by a laser....looks awesome....super fine lines. Even my label is being made by a laser machine.

Chris

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Mike,
Aren't logos from 1100 in the public domain ?
How did you get permision ? I would imagine you would have to go through channels or sould I say channelers to get permision on that one.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

I like the "MJO" part but the rest of it I'm not too fond of. You want your product to be identifiable with ease, and this looks cluttered to me.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

When you say MJO part, are you talking about JUST the letters or the letters with the running guy?

There are 3 different images here. The permission part has to do with the fact that it was modified and used in an article... The one I quoted. I hope some of ya got a chance to read it.

A designer made it (them). Its going to another designer for mods and conversion for laser. So I am listening to you all. Maybe I will get my laser gal to overlay it (digitally) and few peghead photos.

Mike

What about a running guitar instead? It would simplify the logo and make easier to identify.

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

Grab the spiral thing, bung it between the M and the J, and then you'll have a pretty cool brand name. Stick the guy with the guitar club under that or over it.

Done.

Why put the sun (spiral thing) between the M & J? My name is MJO

A running guitar? Not sure about that. But it is something to think about.

Thanks for the ideas and criticisms... I'm taking it all in... please keep them coming.

My thought was if you put the spiral thing between the M and the J, you'll be 'MOJO Guitars" and still have your initials in the mix. The stylised sun could be bigger or smaller than your initials, but it would still read as "mojo". I think MOJO Guitars is a kick ass name for guitar company/builder, and would appeal to the guitar buying public.

Well anyway, the idea appealed to me, your mileage may vary. But as I've been trying to come up with a cool/clever brand name for 6 or 7 years now, and failed, I guess I'm not an expert. I can't use my last name 'cause there's already a "Burns Guitars". I guess there's probably a bloke building guitars somewhere out there named Fender, who is in the same boat as me.

Cheers,

Paul

Way too much for a logo. I agree that the MJO letters make a great logo.

I also agree one of these would make for a good label.

Joe,

I can't figure out what folks are saying. Do you mean MJO without the running dude?

Mike

They are saying that they think that it's busy - too much happening to glean an "impression at a glance."

I disagree for two reason: First YOU said that you liked it and ultimately who are we trying to please here - you have every right to like what you like. Second: I like it too because it is different and because you are a runner and that is important to you it is an accurate depiction of you, what you do and like to do.

I think that some of us get caught up in how impracticable a complex logo may be to cut out and inlay which is a very valid concern. You are talking laser here so I assume that you have the complexity part covered.

So, you're not going to be using ebony for your headstock veneer (with your logo on it) then?!
Have you tried lasering ebony yet?
It doesn't do very well...mostly just burns and ends up in a charred mess.

YMMV,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

I'd like to throw another one in the fire here.....no harm intended to Mr. Fifield...just an my opinion and in fact he may think the same thing...I don't know.

I think Ebony is the most over used....and the most 'plain jane' headstock overlay there is. I don't intend to use it on my guitars...granted I've only made one. It's just too plain for my tastes...plus it weighs more than just about anything else.

I purposely drew my Logo...and purposely chose laser inlay and cutting...with the intent of never seeing epoxy fill on my headstocks. Granted...epoxy fill with lamp black on ebony headstock overlays if done right will make a person look intently to see the fill. I just never liked the look.

If you get someone (and I know someone) that is good with a laser machine...you can have just about anything cut and inlayed....and have something in the range of .003 thou of a witness line between the inlay and the headstock material.

Hint: The laser dude only needs the outline....not all the other stuff.

So anyway - choose what you like and how you like...get the 'laser dude' to run you a proof. His time isn't free so expect to pay him....and it ain't 6.50 an hour.

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

I like just the MJO only. I think it's simple and clean. The rest is just too cartonish for my taste and I Ihink might be somewhat of a distraction from the guitar visually. Please don't take this as non constructive but that's just how I see it. Maybe it would work on a crazy looking designed electric .

A really fun design...but very busy, too. I think you need to limit the headstock inlay to either your initials or the figure. Not both. Put them both on the label, and on your web page. Of the figures, I prefer the one carrying the guitar one-handed. I also think you should delete the strings. The sound hole and bridge alone are more than enough detail for the guitar top.

I love the logo, both the running dude and the lettering part, but here's what I think. I don't know if you intended to use both the guy holding the guitar with one hand and the one holding it with two hands, but I personally think you should pick only one and make it your official logo And as far as I'm concerned, the one holding with one hand, like as been said, looks "crazier", and is my personal favorite for that reason but anyway this part is up to you. I also feel that both the guy and the MJO on the headstock might be a bit tight ; I think it could be interesting to, let say, put the MJO a little bigger on the headplate and engraved the little guy on the fretboard, or the other way around...
anyway you put it, nice job, and I hope to see how it will end up looking

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

Welcome to the OLF oli-lgw!

thank you Hesh

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

Oli! Welcome to OLF and THANK YOU!!!! That is an awsome idea! I am going to have my logo designer look at this thread... but I LOVE the idea of the running dude on the fret board. How awsome is that? MJO on the peghead, running dude with one hand on guitar on the fret board.

MIke

Glad you like the idea Mike, but I won't take credit for it
Cheers!

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

Here are some updates. I am not considering the big ones.