❌SOLD❌ Fano PX6 Alt de Facto Sunburst, 2010

The Fano PX6 Alt de Facto draws from the ‘Non-Reverse’ Gibson Firebird designs of the late 1960s, and is available with a number of options, including bolt on or set Maple or Mahogany neck. A wide range of pickups are also available.
A key point of Fano construction is that the guitars are made one at a time, start to finish by a single luthier – there is no production line or factory.

Dennis Fano opened Fano Guitars in 2001 after many years of repairing guitars for Matt Umanov Guitars in New York, and focused on ‘Boutique’ style building. This concept relies heavily on custom orders, providing the customer exactly what’s required. In 2009, Fano allied with Premier Builders Group (PBG), an organization intended to provide key construction and marketing supports for Boutique guitar and amp builders. This lasted until PBG folded in 2016, and during that period, Fano guitars were built in Arroyo Grande, California. Fano is now a brand of Desert Son Musical Instruments and are made in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Here, we’re looking at a Fano PX6 Alt de Facto model with three key options – Lollar Firebird pickups instead of P90s and a set, Mahogany neck rather than a bolt-on Maple neck. This model hews close to the ‘Non Reverse’ aesthetic, with a bound Rosewood fingerboard and six-on-one-side tuning machines. The body is a slab of Mahogany with lightly rounded edges. The neck is Mahogany with a bound Indian Rosewood fingerboard and trapezoid position markers. For hardware, six Kluson-style Fano branded tuners are at the head, with a Tone Pros tune-o-matic and stop tailpiece set at the body. The pickups are wonderful Lollar Firebird models ( ), providing a bright, clear and articulate sound without hum. Controls are simple – a pickup selector, master volume, master tone and an output jack.

This guitar is in overall good shape with some honest play wear, and a fair amount of natural lacquer checking. It seems to have undergone a light ‘relic’ process. Fretwear is minimal, and it plays quite well. It’s responsive and resonant, clear and crisp.

The original rectangular black and white tweed case is included.

Here’s what Lollar says about the Lollar Firebird pickups:

“Not to be confused with a Minibucker with no poles, our Firebird® humbucker has a unique design and a sound closer to a fat single coil than a full-size humbucker. Compared with a Minibucker, it features a brighter overall sound and a bass response that remains tight and defined noticeably longer. It also gives you less snarl and more spank. Made with Alnico 5 blade (pole piece) magnets. Single conductor braided shield lead wire and 4 conductor lead wire is available. “

“Grab onto something solid, like this Alt de Facto PX6. Inspired by the classic “Non-Reverse” look, this guitar also carries its own unique, distinctive touches. The neck and fingerboard are reminiscent of a ‘50s-era bolt-on style look and feel, and the two Lollar P-90 pickups deliver strong versatile tones. Take your pick of wood, finish, and pickups.”