A question I have for ages.
I know if a guitar is build by a master it's masterbuilt. But why are some guitars like Epiphone called Masterbilt, without the 'u'?
And if so is a Peterbilt built by Peter? And what's a Ken worth?
In reverse order:
A Ken is worth a Henway.
Old truckers never die, they just get a new Peterbilt.
Masterbilt is a lame attempt market a product as premium when it probably is just a mass produced item with a few upgrades.
;D
But why call it 'Masterbilt' and not 'Masterbuilt'? What happened to the 'u'?? Old English? Luthier-slang?
Maybe because if they call it "masterbilt" without the u it implies that it is "built by a master" but since it isn't a real word they can't be busted for false advertising?
Or maybe because the 'masterbuilt' name is already kind of established in another industry?
http://www.masterbuilt.com/
Of course if the Epi is so hot it'll smoke turkeys, then they could have earned their 'u'!
that could also mean 'masterbilk'.
Quote from: hieronymous on January 28, 2011, 11:23:36 AM
Maybe because if they call it "masterbilt" without the u it implies that it is "built by a master" but since it isn't a real word they can't be busted for false advertising?
True. It's meant to imply something that it isn't. Not that I think they would really be busted for false advertising.
Quote from: hieronymous on January 28, 2011, 11:23:36 AM
Maybe because if they call it "masterbilt" without the u it implies that it is "built by a master" but since it isn't a real word they can't be busted for false advertising?
Then it will be called "busterb(u)ild" :P
Maybe an attempt to get into retro 60s lingo ? Back when Joey Dee's band were called the Starliters and the pre-fab four were called The Monkees ? Just a possitive thought ....... ;D
It's a meaningless marketing term designed to mislead, nothing more than that.
Like calling a mass-produced product "Hand-Bilt" to imply that it is without saying so.
Okay, thanks!
D'yer ken, laddie...? ;D