Posted on April 22, 2025
26 April 2025 is World Intellectual Property Day and this year the theme is IP and music.
IP rights that are automatically acquired like copyright protection are clearly important in the music industry and can provided valuable legal rights over melodies, lyrics, sound recordings and the like. As patent attorneys and trademark attorneys our work on IP rights is typically focussed on registered rights such as patents, trade marks and registered designs. In this article, we highlight the work we've done withh Barefaced Audio, and Julian Crump, partner of Abel + Imray, tells us about his experience using the brand.
As a passionate guitarist and member of the indie rock band FIXER, I've always been in pursuit of the perfect sound. Playing live gigs with talented friends in front of an engaged pub crowd is an exhilarating experience, and having the right gear is crucial to delivering those excellent tunes.
While I own several great guitars, I've never considered myself a guitar nerd. I don't obsess over the technical details like the wire turns in my pickups or the exact neck radius. However, I do have a deep appreciation for good gear, whether it's guitars, amps, or speakers. My quest for the perfect sound is a continuous journey, often involving trial and error with different equipment until I find what I'm looking for.
During my University days, I played a Session 75 "tranny" amp. It was loud and affordable but notoriously directional. Later, with a better salary, I upgraded to an all-valve Marshall 2x12 combo, which sounded amazing until it failed me mid-solo at a gig. Despite Marshall's reputation and their efforts to fix the amp, my confidence was shaken, and I invested in a Marshall 100W head and a classic 4x12 cabinet for redundancy. The sound was fantastic, but I couldn't help but worry about another potential failure.
One day, while browsing my favourite music store in Stevenage, I was convinced to try a Cornford MK50 II amp. This all-valve, hand-wired beauty produced an incredible sound with just a guitar and a lead. I don’t rely on many effects, preferring to let the quality of the "axe" and amp shine. However, when the band stopped gigging for a decade, I downsized my gear and moved into the city.
Fast forward to 2022, post-Covid, and FIXER was ready to resume gigs. The audience was still engaged, but my new car couldn't accommodate my old rig. I needed something smaller without sacrificing the FIXER guitar tone. A chance visit to the music store led to a conversation about 2x12 cabs, and I was introduced to Barefaced.
Intrigued by Barefaced's glowing reviews, I reached out to them. Alex and their team were incredibly passionate about their work. Their patented cab design, featuring a unique arrangement of baffles, promised a louder and more uniform sound projection. To my delight, I discovered that Abel & Imray, with my friend and business partner Jim Pearson, had secured the patent.
After countless emails and hours of listening to demo videos, I finally decided on my speaker configuration. Inspired by an AC/DC track, I requested "Angus" on the right and "Malcolm" on the left. Alex understood exactly what I meant, and a few weeks later, my custom Barefaced Radical 212H arrived.
At our next rehearsal, I couldn't wait to test it out. Plugging my 1967 Gibson ES335 into the Cornford and then into the Radical 212H, the sound was everything I had hoped for. The patented baffle arrangement ensured even sound distribution, allowing everyone in the studio to hear clearly.
The Barefaced cab made its debut at FIXER's first gig in a decade in July 2024 and has been an essential part of our setup ever since.
Celebrating International IP Day with a story like this highlights the importance of innovation and the passion that drives it. Here's to the music and the incredible gear that makes it all possible.
