Fender sent cease-and-desist letters to guitar builders — top YouTubers cut ties

In May 2026, Fender relaunched an aggressive legal campaign against manufacturers of S-style (Stratocaster-inspired) electric guitars, sending cease-and-desist letters that demanded an immediate halt to production, recall of existing products, and destruction of the guitars. The campaign was based on a Regional Court of Dusseldorf ruling that Fender argued gave it the right to protect its Stratocaster body design in global commerce.

The backlash was immediate and concentrated among the very influencers who drove guitar culture. Two of the biggest guitar YouTubers — Brandon Shull and Tim Pierce — publicly cut ties with Fender. Shull posted a video titled 'I'm About To Burn a Bridge With Fender,' calling the campaign a 'PR disaster that will haunt you for years.' Pierce called it 'brand suicide' and said Fender had become 'the biggest bully in the world.' Guitar World readers overwhelmingly opposed the strategy, and boycott calls spread across social media.

Fender did not respond to Guitar World's requests for comment. The company later escalated by targeting Yamaha in July 2026, and German music retailer Thomann filed its own lawsuit against Fender.