All Things Novo, Fano, and Rivolta Guitars

[gearJunkie]

I'm a big fan of the Novo Guitars aesthetic, driven by their craftsmanship, material & hardware selections, and abundance of unique models and finish options. Beyond the great looks and superb build quality, they are top-notch performers with exceptional playability and comfort.

So like the title reads, use this thread to discuss anything related to Dennis Fano's guitar lines (Novo, Fano, Rivolta).

 

[gearJunkie]

I found my first Novo for sale via TOP Emporium back in May of 2020.

It's a pre-Nashville Novo Serus Athena (24.75") built by Dennis Fano in the early Pennsylvania days of Novo Guitars, featuring Arcane gold foil neck and Lollatron bridge pickups. Finished in aged Pelham Blue over 3 Tone Burst.

This is actually one of the rarest Novo guitars in existence. It's one of 3 pre-Nashville builds with a 24.75" scale neck; the other two being Matt Timmons' (previous GM at Novo) Harmony Burst and Nick Greer's (Greer Amps) Uffington Athena. That's it!

The video below was created by one of this guitar's previous owners and posted back in January of 2019.

 

[gearJunkie]

I added a second Novo to my collection in June of 2020.

I found this Serus TC in Firebird Burst with a German carve and Throbak SLE-101 neck and SLE-101 Plus bridge pickups at the Mesa Boogie Hollywood store on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles.

absoluteRockMachine™ :)

 

[gearJunkie]

The third Novo I added to my collection was also purchased via TOP Emporium back in August of 2020. Lake Como Blue 3 x P90 Serus J with an extra-wide chunky neck.

 

[gearJunkie]

I was in the process of ordering a Novo Miris in March of 2023. Before I confirmed my build choices and sent a deposit, this custom Novo Miris H2 with a Transparent Amber finish became available on the Novo web site.

That's the story of Novo #4.

Weight: 6.42 lbs

Swamp ash body
Thinline construction w/ S-hole
Top binding
Tempered maple neck
Rosewood fingerboard
MOTO dot inlays
25.5" scale length
22 Jescar medium frets (.047"x.095")
1.643" nut width
Neck Depth @ 1st Fret: .868"
Neck Depth @ 12th Fret: .964
Unbleached bone nut
Chrome/nickel hardware
Kluson® Supreme tuners w/ staggered posts
Emerson Custom paper in oil capacitor
Thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish
Fralin Modern PAF humbuckers
Bridge Pickup: 9.14k
Neck Pickup: 8.20k
TonePros Tune-o-Matic bridge & stoptail

 

[gearJunkie]

This is Novo #5 for me. I received an email from Novo introducing their new baritone model in December of 2023, and after a few clicks through their Reverb store, this one was on its way to me.

Novo Serus J Baritone

Amber Burst
Aged Pearloid pickguard
Lollar Mini-Broiler pickups
Medium 'C' neck (.830")
9.5"-14" fingerboard radius
28" scale length
22 Jescar medium frets
1.687" nut width
Mastery bridge and vibrato
Kluson® Supreme tuners w/ staggered posts
6.9 lbs

 

[HomespunEffects]

I wish they’d bring back the Sectis.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I always thought the aesthetics were unique and cool, but have never tried one. I like that #5 with the mini broilers config.

 

[gearJunkie]

I wish they’d bring back the Sectis.

I've never seen a Sectis in person. I wonder if they dropped it due to some kind of issue with the single bolt neck attachment design.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I've never seen a Sectis in person. I wonder if they dropped it due to some kind of issue with the single bolt neck attachment design.

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I think they dropped it because guitar players are traditionalists.

 

[gearJunkie]

I think they dropped it because guitar players are traditionalists.

The "official" reason for dropping the Sectis model is poor sales; only 24 sold over the three years it was available.

 

[HomespunEffects]

The "official" reason for dropping the Sectis model is poor sales; only 24 sold over the three years it was available.

Yeah. That’s what i said.

Guitar players with that much loot don’t want no innovation.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I kinda always wanted a Fano de facto JM6. Jarred Scharff played one on SNL. His tone is immaculate.

 

[gearJunkie]

I kinda always wanted a Fano de facto JM6. Jarred Scharff played one on SNL. His tone is immaculate.

To be honest, I've always been a little confused by the differentiation of the Fano and Novo brands, especially since Novo produces a "Signature" series of guitars built exclusively by Dennis.

Whatever the reason, it must be working for them.

 

[HomespunEffects]

To be honest, I've always been a little confused by the differentiation of the Fano and Novo brands, especially since Novo produces a "Signature" series of guitars built exclusively by Dennis.

Whatever the reason, it must be working for them.

Fano went from built by Dennis to being sold and fabricated by another shop. Then he bought the name back. (I think).

 

[Chocol8]

Yes, Dennis parted ways with Fano and founded Novo about 10 years ago. He recently got it back and now Novo and Fano are under the same umbrella, but they are keeping the separate names for now.

 

[metropolis_4]

I like the aesthetics too! I think I like Fano more than Novo. I always loved the tc6 with the round hole in the pickguard.

I came really close to buying this exact one a while back; always kind of wish I had

 

[gearJunkie]

I like the aesthetics too! I think I like Fano more than Novo. I always loved the tc6 with the round hole in the pickguard.

I came really close to buying this exact one a while back; always kind of wish I had

Great color combo. Looks like lots of other builders like that combo as well.

Shabat

Nik Huber

Suhr

 

[metropolis_4]

Great color combo. Looks like lots of other builders like that combo as well.

Shabat
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Nik Huber
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Suhr
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It’s always been one of my favorites!

 

[Eagle]

I've never seen a Sectis in person. I wonder if they dropped it due to some kind of issue with the single bolt neck attachment design.

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Their customer base is traditional to retro and that is the opposite. I can believe they only sold a handful each year. It’s still a pretty clumsy rendition of a redesign because it has kept 99% of the reasons for doing something different.