16 frets to the neck!!

shaun

Hi there. Just been offered a Favino but it has 16 frets to the neck. Does anyone have experience of a long scale guitar like this? Ease of play, sound etc? It really is a first for me and I can't find anything about 16 fret model. Any expert help and information would very welcome.
Thnx
Shaun

Bob Holo

If it's a JP, try asking him if it was originally built that way or was altered. He might have notes. He's a pretty sharp dude. It seems unlikely that he'd build something unplayable.

Having 16 to the body would either significantly alter bridge placement on the top - or significantly increase the scale - or some balance of the two. It would have to be an incredibly long scale to preserve the bridge placement and have 16 to the body. Maybe it's 15 and the seller is counting the zero fret? Or maybe it's some alteration of the body at the heel? Get a picture of it - front and back - and post it -and ask the guy to measure the distance between the zero fret and the 12th, and also the distance between the bridge center and the 12th. They'll be a couple millimeters different, and it will reveal whether he understands what a zero fret is and whether he's counting it as a nut or as a fret. With the front and back pictures and some zero-12th & 12th-bridgecenter measurements, there are a couple of people on this board who can help you make sense of it. JP would be the best source of info though.

guitarmike

There is one for sale at Guitare-village. 1977 Favino 16 fret
For pictures and details. Look their inventory under "Occasion" "Jazz"

Bob Holo

I'll be darned. It is indeed 16 to the body. Looks like the bridge is pulled forward. It's unusual, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. There is an awful lot of real-estate behind that bridge, but I suppose it depends on how he's braced it.

In the words of Spock…

"Fascinating"

;-)

shaun

Yes, indeed I'm looking at the one from Guitar Village in France. Great price but sounded a little unusual. Bob, thanks for your tremendous insights here. I haven't played it yet but before I drive the 600 miles I though i'd reach out to you guys. Any ideas how this would sound or what the playability might be?

Bob Holo

Drive 600 miles? That's quite a commitment in and of itself given the price of gas and hotel rooms.

Ask them what they think about it. I haven't bought anything from them in several years, but I seem to remember that they were very straightforward and accurate in their explanation. When I got the guitar it was exactly as described. Guys named Alex and Chris worked there at the time and they were helpful and honest.

Without knowing fairly detailed info about the bracing and top, I couldn't predict the sound with any accuracy. Playability depends on so many things.

shaun

Thanks Bob. I'll be sure to give them a ring before stepping into the car!!