Fano Combo 600 Rip-off

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Although the 1 RB-6 review on Harmony-Central doesn't give the price (it reads "UNKNOWN"), other reviewed Fano guitars are in the $2,000 price range.

[sloop_john_b]

One of those Combo copies would be great with a horseshoe at the bridge. Hmm...

[86kubicki]

I was watching Fano closely a few years ago as they were making an XTC "Oranges and Lemons" guitar. Maybe not to everyone's taste, but I thought it was kind of cool:
They also made a very nice hollowbody bass - I'll see if I can dig up a pic. Its sad that they went from some very interesting original designs to knocking off the classics.

[86kubicki]

Here's a link to a Japanese site with some pics of the Fano Rhythmstar bass:
http://www.apollonmusic.com/Fano/RS_bass.htm

[beefandbones]

Yes, the 'Oranges and Lemons' guitar was a limited edition, based on their Tonestar design. Gretsch-y shape overall, 335 style construction, German carve like a 381v69, P90s, and a faintly Rickish headstock. Neat f-hole too. Very neat design, IMO.

From the same Japanese site, here's 'the Partridge' model which was developed with Andy Partridge from XTC:

http://www.apollonmusic.com/Fano/Partridge.htm

And the guitar they developed with Dave Gregory from XTC:

http://www.apollonmusic.com/Fano/DG.htm

Ed Robertson from Barenaked Ladies with one of his Tonestars:

http://www.fanoguitars.com/photos/edrobertson.jpg

I don't know what the new designs cost, but in the old line (and a few years ago...) the cheapest guitar was around $2200-2300 or so, and the most expensive stock model was around $3000.

[jingle_jangle]

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...

Thanks, Andy...my mistake. And, of course, $30.00 an hour in Fleetwood PA is a different story. Or is it?

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Perhaps he's in "Amish country" and is the richest guy in town.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

One of those Combo copies would be great with a horseshoe at the bridge. Hmm...

Just make sure the 'shoes are magnetized. . .

[SixtyFour]

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. pagThe Fano Guitars link at the top of this thread shows Fleetwood, PA under the contact e.

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

Thanks, Andy...my mistake. And, of course, $30.00 an hour in Fleetwood PA is a different story. Or is it?

I have contacted Dennis Fano about the German carved top model RB6, ...each model on his website is made in Fleetwood, PA >>>read: USA!
I have to agree that the RB6 with horseshoe pickup would be an awesome instrument, ...nitro paint and more than a few "Retro" colors.
Glad to have come across this topic.

[86kubicki]

I believe Dennis used to be located in NYC. Perhaps he's gone country to reduce his overhead.

[jingle_jangle]

Paul, I must stop taking advertising copy so literally...

[deaconblues]

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.

Do you mean QOL?

Personally, I like the idea of being able to buy a Combo again, but would never buy from a faker.

[whojamfan]

I guess these are well made instruments by a guy who used to make unique creations, but now makes ,IMHO, ugly copies of 50s Ricks. The pickguards on these things really cheapen the look with both their shape and location, and the guitars themselves don't appear to be anything speacial that would benefit greatly from being "handmade". Not meant to offend anyone, especially the luthier, but these things look to me like one of those $400 Eastwood versions of the old, odd guitars they make, except not as cool. Maybe they play, sound, and are built great, but they just don't do it for me.

[brian_l]

I think Washburn would have a bigger gripe than Ric.

I agree with you on that one. Washburn's Idol series is quite popular, and I have always been amazed that the folks at Rickenbacker haven't put a stop to them. Back in 1999, a fellow bandmate had a brand new Idol and I thought it looked familiar, but I couldn't quite remmeber where I saw the body shape before. Not too long after, I was looking at one of my Rickenbacker books (the Richard Smith one, I believe) and there it was, a '50s Combo model. I even brought the book to practice and showed pictures of the Combo to our other guitarist, and even he agreed that the Ric and Washburn looked similar. The main difference is the Washburn doesn't typically have a carved top and the body is thinner like a Gibson SG. Since the Idol has had a nearly ten year production run, I would say that Washburn altered the body just enough to slip past Rickenbacker's trademarks, but I could be wrong. I would be curious to hear from John Hall on this one.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

The main difference is the Washburn doesn't typically have a carved top and the body is thinner like a Gibson SG.

I'll agree with the latter (i.e., thinner), but most have carved tops now. Have you taken a look at the Washburn site, lately?