Kessler Custom Sax Logo Help

[DaveKessler]

Looking for input on a few designs for our Kessler Custom sax logo...

Logo 1


Logo 2


Logo 3

[Helen]

Hi Dave. I picked 1, but for your name recognition, I was thinking that if you could work your whole name in, such as a big "K" and smaller "essler", that it might be a bit more advantagous for you.

Just a thought...

[retread]

Dave, I voted for #1, but I'd make the K even bigger and bolder, with the second line "Kessler Custom" smaller than the current "Custom", and the third line an even smaller "Las Vegas". This would give a stronger focal point on the logo. You could refer to it as a "Big K" sax.

[DaveKessler]

So how about this:

[tophatsax]

Dave,

I voted for 1 as well and I agree with Helen and Retread. You need your name in there.

I'm a Marketing Director by day, so if you need some additional input, drop me an email.

Phil

[DaveKessler]

Dave,

I voted for 1 as well and I agree with Helen and Retread. You need your name in there.

I'm a Marketing Director by day, so if you need some additional input, drop me an email.

Phil

So like the one above (2 posts up)

[Mike_K]

Dave - I like the modified # 1.

tophat - do you work for a Marketing firm, or in the Marketing department of a company?

[Sigmund451]

I edited my first reaction. After looking a few times I like 3. The others with the laurel and such look too much like mouthpiece stamps. Number 3 is nicely understated. It would of course depend on where it is on the bell and how big.

No offense but the large K makes me of a blue light special (Kmart). Plus, remember the K car and what people called it. Im not at all intending disrespect. I just think its important to think what potentially displeased people (there's always somebody!) will call your product. Im not a marketing experit but I think less is more in this occasion.

[Dave Dolson]

I voted #3 . . . simple, small, and says it all. DAVE

[Mike W]

I too like the modified 1.

[kcp]

The disposition of the text is well balanced in #3, it's up to you to decide weather you want your name more predominant but personally I would leave it as that, with different fonts to distinguis Kessler and Custom - It's nice to have "Custom" written with this kind of font cause I think it speaks for its self.

In #1 it's too spaced appart. In #2, the junction of the K and C is interesting but is rendered in a way that makes it difficult to read and I don't think it passes the message you want to get across - Kessler and Custom have to be two different things.

As far as the big K goes, it's a good idea but I would choose a different kind of font. Some types of fonts are meant to be used at a rather big scale. If you print this logo with that type of font say, on a business card, it's going to loose a lot of its details and look like a messed-up print job.

Personally, I like to keep things simple for this kind of logo - The bay leaves (or whichever they are called) are nice and symbolise quality which, is good. But disposed the way they are, IMO they to give a too conservative image. Perhaps disposing them in a less "traditional" manner would evoque quality but also an image of modernism, contempory, avant garde.

Perhaps something more like this:



Feel free to inspire yourself from it if you'd like.

cheerz 8-)

[Sigmund451]

There were posts while i edited. I like 3 or Kim's idea. Much less.

[DirkW]

The wreaths on #1, rather than envoke the impression of quality, makes me think that the horn is a Monique stencil. I do like Kim's alternative.

[tophatsax]

I like Kim's for the reason she stated.

Mike_K - I work for a small, private, medical device direct marketing company. Why do you ask? (Just curious)

[Old Charlie]

Ditto on Kim's idea.

[Mike_K]

I like Kim's, too.

tophat - my company (small firm, located in Cincinnati) is looking for a firm to help us prepare some marketing material. Thought I might have found a good reference! Well, I have a good Reference, (54), but it doesn't help with this...

[DaveKessler]

Kim,

Let me first state, you rule. I LOVE that logo. I think I might be inclined to use it. I overall preferred that original #3 logo but didnt think that it alone would work on a sax unless the sax was hugely engraved.

I am getting ready to start ordering my saxophone lines by Monday so this logo hunt has been a headache. You may have just given me a good dose of Advil! :)

Of course, if I do use it, I feel I need to compensate you. Send me an e-mail with your terms!

Dave

[saxmanglen]

I voted for #3 with Kim's modifications.

[tophatsax]

Mike,

I still might be able to help on a freelance basis (and I have design and print contacts, as well).

Contact me offline through the email button below.

Phil

[Bill Mecca]

how about instead of the leaves, poker chips, dice??? ;-)

But seriously, #1 was very traditional, maybe too traditional, looks like a lot of other logos.

I like the Custom in script, and agree with Kim on how that stands on it's own. there is something to be said about the "roundness" of #1, kind of encapsulates the logo. I did something similar with my video production company, MVP with the words Mecca Video Productions circling the MVP. as an aside, that was going to be my web image as well, but John Elway et al beat me to the MVP domain name..:-(

I like simple and to the point, but it;'s all a crap shoot, isn't it? (sorry I couldn't resist one more roll of the ,,, er pun)

with that said... I like Kim's design best so far. ;-)

[DaveKessler]

I think I might have to redo the poll with Kim's addition

[Big Al]

I'm looking at my Yamaha Custom right now and see that the font used on Kim's logo for "Custom" is almost identical---possible infringement here???

[DaveKessler]

I'm looking at my Yamaha Custom right now and see that the font used on Kim's logo for "Custom" is almost identical---possible infringement here???

Do they own the font used (Edwardian Script)? Do they own the word "Custom"? The font is actually a little different. Notice the looping on the C.

No infrigments. Plus, Yamaha's Logo Reads:

Custom
YAMAHA
Established in 1887
Japan

Mine reads:

Kessler
Custom
Las Vegas

which coincides with my mouthpiece branding which we will be including one of our professional mouthpieces with this sax.

I think that there is enough difference personally.

[kcp]

Wow, I didn't expect good responses from everyone :)


I'm looking at my Yamaha Custom right now and see that the font used on Kim's logo for "Custom" is almost identical---possible infringement here???

That's the same fonts as in dave's example #3 -I beleive that the name of that font is: "Cursive" - Regardless of what its called, I've seen it before. It's a very common font which almost everybody have. If you modify the font so it'd be unique, or if you create your own then that becomes a "logotype" and that is copyrightable.

[saxmanglen]

I was once told "It's easier to beg for forgivness than to ask permission."

:?

[DaveKessler]

I was once told "It's easier to beg for forgivness than to ask permission."

:?

This is a good thing to keep in mind, and when permission is needed, I definately do believe in requesting it. However, I am not using their font.

If this was a big concern, I think Selmer Paris whould have more to complain about with all the different logos largely based on their logo design (like my Big K logo).

[Big Al]

OK, then let's go with

"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

[Jason DuMars]

Dave, I like the "Kim version" of these the best so far, but all of them seem really derivative. The script on Custom is almost exactly like Yamaha, the laurel leaves are Selmer-like and the layout does evoke impressions of all the other Taiwanese/Chinese brands. What about doing something really daring, and do it in a classic vintage style with real engraving around it to set it off? Here's something very rough I just scritched out:



there's a bigger version here (http://www.dumarsengraving.com/misc/kessler1.jpg) if you want more detail. I am happy to give you more ideas if you like. The whole computer-generated logo + laser engraving thing makes me sad.

[retread]

Jason's beautiful example illustrates (no pun intended) another consideration. The logo will be on a vertical product (the sax bell). Unless you have engraving down the bell, as in Jason's suggestion, a horizontal logo might be a little awkward. Gues it depends on what else will be on the bell.

[Mike_K]

Wow. Nice. I would buy one just because of the engraving.

tophat: Cool - I will send you an email.

[pknight]

But is it easier to pay damages? Dave, talk to your lawyer about copyright issues. While the font is not copyrighted by Yamaha, the use of the font along with the name "Custom" may have some protection. Better safe than sorry.

[DaveKessler]

This is also a good point and I probably will pass it by my attorney.

I did do a search through the US Patent and Trademark office, Yamaha has no TM of anysort for "Custom". They obviously have one on file for "Yamaha".

[kcp]

Ah... but to go on a saxophone with Jason's elegant engraving you need something more like this:



:)

That "Las Vegas" is kinda small though....

[tonyg]

So does that make option #5. With Jason's engraving, best one so for IMO and unique. Exactly what kind of horns will this logo go on?

[Harri Rautiainen]

Kim is a pro.
I like both of her designs, and also the SOTW logo.

[kcp]

hmmm... there were a whole bunch of posts to this thread which followed tonyg's post. :scratch:

But thanks Harri :)

[Merlin]

I voted #3. I don't like the mixing of fonts in the other logos.

[jrvinson45]

I didn't vote, because I like the one that you use in the banner you use to post on this forum. Otherwise, I'd say 3.
John

PS. Guess this may be moot if you're already in production. That vintage finish is awesome Dave!

[Gandalfe]

This actually is a very old thread. Dave, et. al. have selected the logo and the new saxes are available, this month I think.