Fibenare Guitars

It's pretty hard to re-invent the wheel... It's easy to say that the two most recognizable shapes in the guitar world are the strat's sexy curves and double cuts, and the Les Paul's classy single cut silhouette. Since the introduction of both models, there have been numerous versions of these guitars. Some  successful, some not so much. I find that in most cases, particularly with the single cut LP style, that the efforts tend to fall short and leave you wanting the real deal. Today I'll clue you in on a company that is taking that classic LP look and taking it to the next level: Fibenare Guitars.

Fibenare is a Hungarian guitar company that produces a number of basses and guitars in varying styles. The two I'm focusing on today are their Basic Jazz Single Cut models. I was introduced to these amazing guitars last year when the guys from Fibenare came into Rudy's Music fresh from the Montreal Guitar Show with two pieces to show. We were pretty blown away and have been a proud supporter since.

There are two versions of the guitar you see pictured in this post. The first is the Basic Jazz model with a one piece burl maple top. One look at that highly figured top and you can already see why these guitars are a step above the rest! A nice flame or quilted maple is pretty common, but to see a bubbling and boiling burl like this on a guitar is pretty rare, let alone ONE PIECE! The body of the guitar is chambered korina, and lends it an incredible low weight. The most common complaint with any LP players is the awful heavy weight. Gibson has tried to correct this with weight relieving and chambering of their own, but they have never achieved what Fibenare has with these bad boys! The guitar is so impossibly feather light you wouldn't believe gravity can hold it to your strap. All the hardware is proprietary, including the humbuckers. Encased in a flame maple ring, these pickups have all the warmth and clarity you could want from a PAF style humbucker, with an added crispness you won't find in your average gibson model. Rolled up in a lovely package that features large pearl block inlays on the rosewood fretboard, flame maple binding and a burl maple headstock overlay, this guitar looks as good as it sounds. The playability is pretty damn perfect straight out of the case, and I've seen more than a few customers blown away after just a few minutes with one in their hands.

The second model, which is newer to us, is the Basic Jazz model with two P90 pickups. This guitar has an incredible flame maple top on the same chambered korina body. The pickups are nearly noiseless (a wonderful perk for those who love p90's but loathe the 60 cycle hum) and feature a "push-push" tone knob that gives you some series/parallel options. Using this feature fattens up the pickups to an astounding degree, nearly replicating a humbucker sound. Flexible is an understatement with this guitar! The dressings are basically the same on this model with the exception of the all rosewood neck. Completed in a "barely there" finish, this neck feels fast and comfortable and is a beautiful sight with it's highly figured rosewood.

Priced at $4,900 for the burl maple top, and $5,024 for the P90 model, these guitars are not exactly on the "budget" market, but one look and one play will make you understand that good craftsmanship is worth the money. This is a point that can't be stressed enough...It's certainly very easy to find very well made and reliable guitars within cheaper prices, but there is also an indescribable certain something about a guitar that is slowly and lovingly hand crafted, where the attention to detail is without compromise. These are guitars you buy and keep for a lifetime. The name may be new to you but I strongly suggest keeping this company on your watch list..they will be making big waves in a crowded industry, and these days that says a lot!

I encourage you to come to the shop and play one if you're ever in the city. I'd love to discuss it in person, or of course leave a comment or ask a question here! You can check out the full Fibenare line here or see some more shots and stats on our website.


-K.