Fano Combo 600 Rip-off

[brianeharmonjr]

I just saw a review of this guitar in the new Premier Guitar magazine. It looks like a pretty deliberate Ric rip-off, but with P-90's.

http://www.fanoguitars.com/altdefactoRB6.html

[sloop_john_b]

I saw them on a NYC guitar hunting trip with Graham, Dave, and...who was that other guy again?

Anyway, quite nice guitars IMO.

[1965]

Anyway, quite nice guitars IMO.

May be nice, but they're u-g-l-y. The pickguard looks like a horrible afterthought. I guess I'm not a huge fan of the original Rick combos though either.

[dswp]

Here they be John....

[jingle_jangle]

They seem to have named it the RB-6, too...and it's only available pre-relicked...They have a dead-nuts Jazzmaster replica, in a color called "Blue Boy", too.

[wj350]

I think Washburn would have a bigger gripe than Ric.

[jdogric12]

Go ahead and blast me, but I think they look pretty neat. How much is them?

[beefandbones]

Fano used to make some really beautiful models of their (his) own design, including a number of models designed in collaboration with the three members of XTC. They were really gorgeous. Unfortunately, they've (he's) completely abandoned those wonderful designs of his in favor of these sort of 'twisted' takes on the classic designs of other brands. I think these new ones, inlcuding this one inspired by the Combo design, are just dead boring. I waited for years to be able to afford a Fano, and now that I can they're just apeing other designs. I'm not interested in these at all. But if other people like the designs, Dennis seems like a good guy to support.

[sloop_john_b]

Go ahead and blast me, but I think they look pretty neat. How much is them?

On the expensive side - maybe about $2k?

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Oooooooooh....

[jingle_jangle]

$2K? Are these made in Asia? Looks like it...info, please!

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

FWIW:

"Fano Guitars are hand made one at a time by noted guitar maker Dennis Fano. Dennis Fano brings the guitar makers craft to a higher level, creating instruments which are beautiful to look at, beautiful to hold and beautiful to play."

http://www.fattoneguitars.com/fanoguitars.aspx

[jingle_jangle]

There are no less than 51 different guitars shown on his website...knowing how long it takes to "handmake" guitars, "one at a time". I'd have to say there's a year's production, minimum, on his website alone. At $2K apiece, that's $100K gross, and probably $60K net, if his rent's cheap...

The man's working awful hard and taking home $30 an hour...not a lot of money considering the COL in suburban Chicago....

I'm gonna guess that he makes one line by hand and has another built offshore.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

The man's working awful hard and taking home $30 an hour...not a lot of money considering the COL in suburban Chicago....

I'm gonna guess that he makes one line by hand and has another built offshore.

Chicago? That link was one of the dealers (in IL) who carries these. The Fano Guitars link at the top of this thread shows Fleetwood, PA under the contact page.

The 10-16 compound radius sounds rather Warmoth-y to me...

[sloop_john_b]

$2k may have been a high estimate - it was about 7 months ago when I saw them. But I remember distinctly thinking "Cool but not worth it" - which would lead me to believe $2k or so.