Fano Guitars and Novo Guitars

When most of us think of guitar manufacturers in Pennsylvania, there is but one establishment that comes to mind: Martin Guitars of Nazareth.

Fleetwood Pennsylvania

However a few years ago, if you were travel 41 miles southwest of Nazareth you may come to the quaint town of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, which was once known as Schlegelschteddel by the Pennsylvania Deutch settlers. We are going to refer to it as Fleetwood, since my knowledge of German is quite limited.

Dennis Fano

This town was the home of luthier Dennis Fano, who built some exquisite and original guitars there under the brand name Fano Guitars, and then under another brand name Novo Guitars.


He sold Fano guitars to a company called Premier Builder Guitars, which eventually was acquired by Desert Son Musical Instruments. This company currently builds Fano Guitars in the much warmer climate of Scottsdale, Arizona. The story of how Desert Son Musical Instruments is somewhat convoluted, as I will explain.

Walter Becker's
Fano Alt de Facto GF6

I first ran across the Fano brand when researching an article about the passing of Walter Becker, and the unique guitars that he used. One of the guitars he owned was a Fano Alt de Facto which had twin Lindy Fralin P90 style pickups and a ‘Tone Styler’ control.

Matt Umanov Guitars

Dennis Fano got his start in the business repairing guitars at Matt Umanov Guitars in New York City's Greenwich Village on Bleecker Street, where he worked until 2001, when he decided to pursue guitar building full-time.


When Dennis first opened his Pennsylvania shop, Fano Guitars, he repaired and modified bass guitars, with one of the first models Fano modified were his Fender Jazz Bass and then a Harmony bass. Since those day Dennis Fano acquired a reputation for building boutique guitars. His flagship model was the aforementioned Alt de Facto guitar line-up which is available in a wide range of styles and options.

2010 Fano Alt De Facto JM6

Dennis built up Fano Guitars until 2009, when he sold the company to Premier Builders Guild aka PBG. Dennis Fano then became an employee of that company, working at his old workshop and doing prototypes and one-offs. He worked there until 2014 when he started his current brand Novo Guitars.

Gene Baker
B3 Guitars

PBG Fano Guitars also purchased boutique builder Gene Baker's "B3" guitars and set up shop in Arroyo Grande California.

Koll Guitars

Saul Koll was another builder associated with PBG. He left PBG in 2015 and returned to running his company, Koll Guitars in Los Angeles, California.

In 2015 Gene Baker took back his B3 brand from PBG and resumes building his own boutique guitars.

That same year PBG shut down the Arroyo Grand facility and farmed out building Fano Guitars to Grover Jackson's company. The company, still known as Fano Guitars, began offering the Fano Standard Series, which utilized necks and bodies possibly made in Japan. However the Alt de Facto series was always made in the USA.

Jack Schwartz - Fano Guitars

At the end of 2016 PBG (Premier Builders Guild) made a decision to sell out to Desert Son Music, which was headed up by Jack Schwarz, who spent many years working for Fender Musical Instruments.

Desert Son Musical Instruments
- Fano Guitars

Desert Son Music currently builds Fano Guitars, including the Alt de Facto models, the Standard Series, which is completely USA made in small batch production, the Omni Series, and the Builder's Choice models, which are custom designed instruments built to the buyers specifications.

Dennis Fano at work

Dennis Fano is currently building his own models under the Novo Guitar brand. He once again moved his shop. This time to Nashville, Tennessee. He hired Matthew Timmons, formerly of Lollar pickups as the shop's general manager.

A Few Fano Models

Fano offers three base models under the Novo brand, and a more affordable guitar called the Rivolta under a partnership with Eastwood Guitars. All Novo guitars all use pine for the body. To me this is reminiscent of New York City luthier Rick Kelly, that searches demolished city building for 'Bowery' pine to make some of his Carmine Street guitars.

The Novo Serus line up consists of six different models. These have familiar features from popular guitars such as the Telecaster, Jazzmaster, and Strat, but with a different shape. The design favors the offset-body style like the Jazzmaster,  but with sharper on the horns.

All feature Fralin pickups, or Lollar pickups and Mastery bridges (from The Mastery Bridge Company).

Novo Serus J

For the J Series,  Novo prefers to use P-90's instead of regular Jazzmaster pickups. However, like on all Novo models, you can customize pickups, pickguards, and colors. All Serus model guitars have a similar unique body shape.

The also utilize Emerson potentiometers and Emerson paper in oil capacitors of varying types.

For the Serus J-Series, think Jazzmaster, but without the second circuit.

Novo Serues JS

The Serus JS-Series is a similar guitar, but without the vibrato bar.

Novo Serus S

The Serus S-series comes with three Fralin single coil strat-like pickups and the vibrato,

Novo Serus SV

The Serus SV model combines a strat-style whammy bar, but with two different Lollar humbucking pickups. The neck pickup on this guitar is a Lollar Firebird model, and the bridge pickup is a Lollar Imperial. This instrument features a chrome control panel. You can customize it with your choice of colors, amount of distress, fretboard binding, and types of inlays.

Novo Serus T

The award winning Serus T model  comes with Tele-style knobs, a chrome control panel and chrome Tele-style bridge plate, with a three piece brass bridge/saddle assembly. The Fralin pickups are a Tele model, and a P-45 in the neck position.

As with all Novo guitars, this model comes standard with a pine body, but you can customize it with different wood, and other options.

Novo Serus TC

The Serus TC model features a "chopped" Tele style bridge with the three piece adjustable brass saddles, and two Lollar Imperial humbucking pickups. Both T, and TC guitars feature a forearm contour and are customizable.

The Novo Miris Series is made up of two guitars. The standard body is pine, but as with all Novo models you can customize to a different wood material.

Novo Miris J

The Miris J is done in the Fender Thinline Telecaster style, with a single 'F' hole, but in the Novo shape. The large pickguard in made of chrome/nickel, and topped with two Fralin Alnico hum-cancelling P-90 pickups.

The guitars top is trimmed in herringbone. This model has a Jazzmaster style vibrato, and strat-style knobs.

Novo Miris T

The Novo Miris T features a similar body with herringbone trim on the top. The pickguard is plastic, but can be customized. It also has the single 'F' hole, and comes with a Fralin hum-cancelling Alnico pickup in the neck position. The Telecaster syle bridge has a three piece saddle arrangement and a Fralin T-style single coil pickup.

The two models that make up the Novo Solus Series sport a different shape. This series feature more of a single pickup Les Paul Standard type guitar.

Novo Solus F1

The Solus F1 has a chrome/nickel Tele-style bridge plate with the three piece brass adjustable saddle unit, topped with a Fralin T style pickup. The neck scale on this guitar is 24.75" compared to 25.5" on other Novo models.

Novo Solus M1

The Solus M1 is similar but comes with a single Fralin Dogear P-90 pickup. Novo guitars are handmade and therefore range in price from $2400 to $3800 USD.

Eastwood Rivolta Guitars

The more affordable Eastwood Rivolta line was designed by Dennis Fano, and built by Eastwood Guitars. Their guitars are built in China and South Korea.  This line up consists of 14 different guitars, a baritone guitar, and a bass guitar, ranging in price $900 to $1400 USD.

Click on the links under the pictures for sources. Click on the links in the text for further information.
©UniqueGuitar Publications 2020 (text only)

Remember John Prine And His Guitars

John Prine

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist passed away on April 7th. His death was resultant of contracting COVID-19. He was one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, known for humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary and songs that recollect melancholy tales from his life.

Prine was born and raised in Maywood, Illinois. He learned to play the guitar at the age of 14.

Chicago Old Town
School of Folk Music

As a teen he attended classes at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. This wonderful place brought students in touch with such great performers as Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Odetta, Josh White, and Big Bill Broonzy.

Notable musicians that attended the school include Roger McGuinn, Frend Holstein, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, and Bob Gibson.


In 1966 Prine was drafted and served in the US Army in West Germany. He got a job in the service, in his words, “pretending to repair trucks”.

A young John Prine

After being discharged his brother got him a job working as a mailman. He did this for five years. The time spent on his route gave him the ability to think and formulate songs.


About this same time Prine began to sing at open mic nights at a Chicago folk club called The Fifth Peg . Initially he was an audience spectator, but seriously took on a taunt when someone said, “You think you can do better?” He then began to perform.

John Prine singing at The Fifth Peg

Chicago Sun Times movie critic, Roger Ebert, was in the audience one night and wrote an article saying, “He appears on stage with such modesty he almost seems to be backing into the spotlight. 

He sings rather quietly, and his guitar work is good, but he doesn't show off. He starts slow. But after a song or two, even the drunks in the room begin to listen to his lyrics. And then he has you.”

Prine with Bill Quatement,
Bonnie Koloc, and Steve Goodman

By 1971 Prine was playing regularly at the Earl of Old Town. Steve Goodman who was performing with Kris Kristofferson at another Chicago club. Goodman persuaded Kristofferson to go see Prine after their set was finished.

Kristofferson later recalled, "By the end of the first line we knew we were hearing something else. It must’ve been like stumbling onto Dylan when he first busted onto the Village scene." This lead to Prine recording his first LP in 1971.

Paradise, Kentucky

Prine wrote so many great songs, Paradise was gleaned from his childhood trips with his father to his father’s childhood town in Muhlenberg County Kentucky where his father and his relatives worked in the coal mines. All that remains of the town is crumbling debris.

Angel From Montgomery

He followed up with Angel From Montgomery, Hello In There, Linda’s Gone to Mars, Lake Marie, In Spite Of Ourselves, Dear Abby, Christmas In Prison, Illegal Smile, Far From Me, and so many others. He was a student of history, and people, and studied both before penning his lyrics.

John Prine in 2014 Concert

During his concerts, John Prine would use one to three different different guitars. He favoured Martin D-28's.

Prine with his 1968 Martin D-28

Indeed his most used guitar was his 1968 Martin D-28. Prine had the back of its neck shaved into a V-shape in the style of Martin Guitars of the 1930's. He stated this guitar never missed a concert in all his years of shows.

Prine with his Martin D-28

However on February 10th  of 2007 this guitar fell over backstage during the encore of Paradise when he was playing at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan. John's guitar tech was devastated.

John just shrugged and said "Sh*t Happens, we'll get it fixed." It was taken to a local luthier for repair. John continued his subsequent concerts with his friend, Steve Goodman's D-28.

Martin LTD
John Prine D-28

In 2017 Martin Guitars actually produced a D-28 John Prine signature guitar. This beautiful model is limited to only 70 instruments. John Prine played a 1960’s D-28 his whole life, and he wanted his signature model to replicate his coveted Martin guitar.

This guitar is crafted with an Engelmann spruce top and gorgeous Madagascar rosewood back and sides. The Madagascar rosewood head plate is inlaid with pearl angel wings, a nod to Prine’s masterpiece and most commonly covered song “Angel from Montgomery”. The top bears an antique toner finish for a warm, aged appearance.

This model also features antique white binding, bone nut and saddle, an ebony bridge, and an ebony fingerboard inlaid with abalone pearl snowflakes.

John with his
Gibson J-200 (metal tuners)

In addition to his 1968 Martin D-28, which he uses mainly for finger picking,  Prine takes two Gibson J-200s for rhythm playing, one tuned down a whole step. One of the J-200 has silver metal tuning machines, while the other has plastic ivoroid tuning buttons.

His 1993 Guild JF-100, with Indian rosewood back and sides and Sitka spruce top, is kept at home for writing. In 2003 Prine was presented with a new custom J-200 Elite by the director of The Americana Music Association festival, which was sponsored by Gibson Guitars.

Late 1950's Silvertone
Model 653 

Prine received his first guitar in 1960 as a Christmas gift from his parents. It was a Kentucky Blue Silvertone acoustic model 653 with F-holes and a cream body and heart shaped top. He said for the first year he didn't know how to play it, but would stand in front of the mirror with a string around my neck with that guitar and I'd try to look like Elvis. Then his brother Dave taught him a couple of chords.

Prine says when he came back from the Army and his little brother had painted it purple during his "Hendrix phase."

John's Silvertone Guitar

Luthier Michael "Moses" Scribner refinished his Silvertone with a new blue metallic finish. Prine spent $400 restoring a $35 guitar. Anyone who loves guitars can understand.

Before being drafted Prine bought a Gibson Hummingbird with his 'mailman money' then took it to Germany, where the neck got cracked in the process.

In Germany he purchased a Framus acoustic guitar with a little amp for about $60. He had the Hummingbird repaired and sold the Framus.

Prine with Guild F-40
with Steve Goodman

During his career Prine used a couple of Guild guitars. His Guild D-35NT once belonged to his guitar tech, Gary Fish. He put a Dean Markley Pro-Mag pickup on this guitar. His other Guild was a D-40.

Prine with his Ovation
acoustic electric

In the 1960's Prine also played an Ovation acoustic electric. But then most performers used Ovation guitars during that era.

Prine's Ferrington Guitar
with 'Oh Boy' on the neck

Danny Ferrington built a guitar for John Prine. Ferrington offered to put Prine's name on the fretboard, but Prine declined and asked him to put "Oh Boy" on the neck.Oh Boy was the name of Prine's record company. He put two pickguards on the guitar because Prine plays very hard. Ferrington guitars are designed to be very light and rather fragile.

John broke that guitar more than a few times. The last time he fixed it, Ferrington gave the guitar a shiny black finish.

Prine also played a couple of electric guitars

One was a stock 1976 Stratocaster, with a black finish, a maple neck, and the larger headstock.

Prine's Music Man Silhouette

In 2001 Prine purchased a. Music Man Silhouette. The guitar had a white swamp ash body, with a maple neck and fretboard with 24 frets. It was a very light guitar weighing only 7 pounds.


In 1996 Prine discovered a lump in his neck. It was a cancerous tumor. He had surgery, which left him with his head permanently slumped to one side. But he continued to go on with life, write songs, and perform. Life was good until just a few weeks ago.

Fiona and John Prine

According to Fiona Whelan Prine, John's wife, John was planning a tour to support his most recent album, Tree of Forgiveness. He had never played a concert in Paris and wanted to go there. Against the advice of his manager, since the venue would lose money, a concert was held in a 500 seat theater.

Prine had trouble with his hip and could barely walk, but did the concert seated.

Upon returning home Prine had surgery on his hip. Afterwards he developed a bad cough. At his doctors suggestion both he and his wife were tested for COVID-19. Fiona's test was positive and she moved out of their home to quarantine herself. Then John developed the disease and was immediately hospitalized.

Prine passed away at Vanderbilt Hospital this past Tuesday. He was heavily sedated, but was with his wife, Fiona at his side. He is survived by his wife, John was the love of my life and adored by our sons Jody, Jack and Tommy, daughter in law Fanny, and by his grandchildren.

Click the links below the pictures for sources. Click the links in the text for further information.
©UniqueGuitar Publications 2020 (text only)

Remembering Seven String Jazz Guitarist Bucky Pizarelli

Bucky Pizzarelli

This past Wednesday, April 1st, Jazz guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli passed away at age 94. He had suffered numerous health issues, including a stroke, but what took his life was COVID-19.

John Paul “Bucky” Pizarelli was born on January 9 1926 in Paterson, New Jersey.

His father was the owner of a local grocery, but as a teen had decided to explore the Wild West which he only knew from movies. So he spent some time as a ranch hand in Odessa, Texas. Upon returning to New Jersey, he had a lot of memories plus a lingering love for the West that would lead him to nickname his young son Buckskin. Shortened to Bucky, the name stuck.

Bucky learned to play guitar and banjo at a young age. His uncles, Pete and Bobby Domenick, were professional musicians, and sometimes the extended family would gather at one of their homes with their guitars for jam sessions. They decided that Bucky should take up guitar, since his skill on the banjo was something to be desired. Bucky took their suggestion to heart.

Joe Mooney Quartet

Pizzarelli cited as an inspiration Joe Mooney, a blind accordion player who led a quartet that included Pizzarelli's uncle, Bobby Domenick. During high school, Pizzarelli was the guitarist for a small band that performed classical music.

Vaughn Monroe Orchestra

Pizzarelli began his professional career at 17 when he joined the Vaughn Monroe dance band in 1944. The employment was brief, as he was drafted and spent two years serving in the U.S. Army. Upon honorable discharge he rejoined Monroe’s band in 1946.

Bobby Rosengarden

By 1952 he joined the ABC orchestra under the direction of Bobby Rosengarden.

Skitch Henderson

That same year Pizarelli also worked at NBC, with orchestra leader Skitch Henderson. Henderson lead the Tonight Show Band under a succession of hosts.

Tonight Show Orchestra - 1964

By 1964 Bucky Pizarelli became a member of the Tonight Show Band Starring Johnny Carson.. His role there included accompanying guests and musical stars performing  in various musical genres.

He enjoyed the job since it allowed him to stay at home in the New Jersey area to take care of his children instead of touring.

However when Johnny Carson moved “The Tonight Show” to California from New York in 1972, Mr. Pizzarelli stayed behind. He explained at the time that he did not want to uproot his four school-age children from their New Jersey home.

George Barnes & Bucky Pizarelli

Freed of the responsibilities of a regular job, he began performing more frequently in New York nightclubs. Among those clubs was a Midtown Manhattan spot appropriately named the Guitar, where he had already attracted attention in a duo with his fellow guitarist George Barnes in 1970.

Reviewing one of their first performances, John S. Wilson of The New York Times wrote: “This is a brilliant and unique team. Mr. Barnes and Mr. Pizzarelli can be dazzling and they can be sensuously brooding. They sparkle with excitement, leap with joy or relax with a warm romantic glow.”

Stephan Grappelli and Bucky Pizarelli

After Bucky and George. Barnes parted ways in 1972, Mr. Pizzarelli began performing and recording in high-profile settings: unaccompanied, as the leader of small groups, and as a sideman with leading jazz musicians like the saxophonists Zoot Sims and Bud Freeman.

Bucky also played guitar alongside the violinists Stéphane Grappelli and Joe Venuti.

The Three Suns

From 1956 to 1957, Pizzarelli used the stage name "Johnny Buck" and performed with The Three Suns pop music trio. This group was featured on the then popular Kate Smith Show.

He toured several times with Benny Goodman until Goodman's death in 1986. Pizarelli performed with Benny Goodman at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Bucky performed for presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and First Lady Pat Nixon.

2010 Jersey Jazz Guitars

He participated in an event called "Jersey Jazz Guitars" in 1985 held at the Rutgers University Nicholas Music Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The ticket featured Pizzarelli, Les Paul, Tal Farlow, and Pizzarelli's son, John. The concert was aired on New Jersey's public radio station as part of their three-part New Jersey Summerfare Series. Pizzarelli and Les Paul had performed together before, as they were not just good friends, but neighbors too.

Pizarelli with Howard Alden,
Herb Ellis, and Billy Baurs

The list of musicians he collaborated with includes Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Stéphane Grappelli, and Antônio Carlos Jobim. Pizzarelli cited as influences Django Reinhardt, Freddie Green, and George Van Eps, who taught him to play 7 string guitar.

Bucky and John Pizarelli

Bucky was a first call player in the busy New York recording scene. His last guitar partner was his son John. A reviewer once wrote, "Watching them play was like seeing the Von Trapp Family on martinis".



He died of COVID-19 on April 1, 2020, in Saddle River, New Jersey with his wife and caregiver, Ruth, at his side. Bucky Pizarrelli had been battling several serious health problems in recent years. Bucky PIzarelli is survived by his son John Pizarelli, who also plays the seven string guitar, and is a noted Jazz singer, and his son Martin Pizarelli, a Jazz Double bass player and by his two daughters, Anne Hymes, Mary Pizarelli, and four grandchildren.

Bucky Pizarelli with his Gibson

Pizzarelli's first guitar was an L series arch top Gibson, which was an expensive instrument at the time.

Pizarelli with his Gretsch 7 String

When he switched to a seven string instrument he played a Gretsch 7 string guitar, similar to the one that George Van Eps played.

Benedetto Pizarelli Model

He later played a Benedetto Bucky Pizzarelli Signature seven-string guitar made by Robert Benedetto, who also made guitars for Howard Alden and Frank Vignola.

George Van Eps

Pizarelli learned to play the seven-string from George Van Eps. The extra string on Pizzarelli's guitar, tuned to low A,  provided him with a bass line during performances.

Bucky with his Dale Unger Guitar

Pizzarelli also played a custom seven-string American archtop guitar made by luthier Dale Unger, who also makes custom guitars for Pizzarelli's partner, Ed Laub.

Ruth Pizzarelli

Addendum: Seven days after Bucky Pizzarelli death his wife Ruth passed away of natural causes. She was 89 years old. May God comfort her family.

Click on the links under the pictures for sources. Click on the links in the text for further reading.

©UniqueGuitar Publications 2020 (text only)