The Story So Far
The
Legacy
Novo Guitars was founded in 2015 by luthier Dennis “DF” Fano, but his calling to build instruments started long before. His love of the bass soon led him to experiment with his own instruments and piece together guitars from parts. That curiosity eventually brought him to the repair department at Matt Umanov Guitars in New York City, where time at the bench gave him the knowledge and skills that would shape his career as a builder. DF has always been a student of electric guitar design, drawing inspiration from heroes like Leo Fender, Ted McCarty, Roger Rossmeisl, and many others. Through years of repair work, he developed a deep understanding of what makes a great instrument; always looking for ways to improve the guitars that crossed his bench. Before long, DF began designing and building instruments of his own.
His first company, Fano Guitars, paid homage to the familiar silhouettes created by his heroes, but mixed and matched pickups, tonewoods, bridges, and other features in ways that hadn’t been seen before. During the Fano years, DF always asked, “What if?” What might those designers have created if they had all been locked in a room together? That willingness to question convention extended to the finishes. At a time when flawless, “dipped in glass” finishes were in vogue, DF was among the first wave of builders to intentionally distress guitars. By putting the first dings and scratches in them, he made the instruments feel more approachable and freed players from having to be precious with them. The result was a functional work of art, beautiful enough to hang on a wall, but built to be played, taken onstage, and brought out on the road. That spirit of curiosity, respect for the past, and willingness to do things differently would become the foundation for what DF created next: Novo Guitars.
Our
Philosophy
Novo was DF’s chance to take the next step, moving beyond familiar silhouettes to create a design language of his own. The idea was simple: vintage reimagined. For DF, originality didn’t mean leaving the past behind. It meant respecting what came before, carrying that spirit forward, and adding something personal along the way. That philosophy still guides us today. We strive to create guitars that feel both new and somehow familiar, with the comfort and soul of an instrument from the golden era of electric guitars. Our hope is that a Novo feels a bit like an old friend, even the first time you pick one up.
Designed by DF
Built by hand in Nashville
Novo has called Music City home since 2017. What began as a four-person shop has grown into a talented team of craftspeople, each bringing their own skill and care to DF’s designs. The team shares his respect for the past, along with his belief that tradition is something to build on, not simply repeat.
As we’ve grown, we’ve worked hard to hold on to what mattered from the beginning: a hands-on approach, fanatical attention to detail, and a shared love of building great guitars. Every Novo is still designed by DF, then brought to life by people who care deeply about each step of the process. Our goal is to create instruments that feel consistent from one to the next, while preserving the individual character that makes each guitar unique.
The one you keep reaching for
For all the talk of design, wood, and craftsmanship, our goal is pretty simple: to build guitars that players want to pick up, plug in, and keep playing.
Novo instruments are built around original offset silhouettes, unconventional wood choices, and finishes that allow the natural texture of the grain to be seen and felt. Different combinations of pickups, bridges, hardware, finishes, and hand-distressing give each guitar its own personality, while giving players room to make it theirs.
The Novo lineup began with the Sectis, which evolved into the Serus and opened the door to a growing family of solid, chambered, and semi-hollow instruments, along with the Ivorus, our first bass. The signature guitars all spend time on DF’s bench, where he experiments with exotic woods and unique materials, incorporating custom specs and finishes to create one-of-a-kind builds. As we look ahead, DF and the team continue to ask the same question that started it all: “What if?” What could we build next that might become someone’s all-time favorite guitar?
Looking forward
The people who build Novo matter every bit as much as the guitars we make. We’re proud of the team we’ve built and the culture we’ve created together here in Nashville. As we look ahead, growth isn’t only about building more guitars; it’s about creating more opportunities for our team and keeping Novo a place where people care about their work and feel proud of what they create.