Fernandes FAG-170 around 1980

Fernandes FAG170 compared with Alembic Distillate

Fernandes FAG-170(or AG-170), a replica of Alembic SSG(Short Scale Guitar), called “Ferbic”, also extremely rare guitar.

In 1982, Fernandes became to remove the first letter “F” of B.C.Rich and Alembic model names. I have no information to confirm precise manufacturing year of old Fernandes guitars, so I will unite the model name with “F” in this site for the sake of convenience.

I can see FAG-170 priced 201,000JPY on 1980/81 catalogue, the meaning of poked 1000JPY is a mystery. From 1982 to 1986 its model name was changed to AG-170 and the price was decreased to 170,000JPY.

This one was a dead stock of a shop located in Kitakyushu. This is definitely the most well-conditioned Febric in the world. You can see the perfect remain of Head logo which was easy to fade by friction.

This guitar is astonishing, of course body wood work, especially brass CNC hardware. I wonder why they manufactured such a wonderful artwork by low cost. 3.90kg(includes strings). (Updated 2016.8.21)


		I tried to compare my FAG-170 with original Alembic Distillate Guitar. I wish I had a genuine SSG, but it’s too expensive to get. But there seems to be no problem because both SSG and Distillate guitar have very similar specification basically. Distillate is a little browner. The difference is possibly resulted from usage and storage condition. In fact Distillate have weather check everywhere. Let’s take a look on fingerboard. You can see the difference of color at a glance.
Let us take a look on the headstock. FAG-170’s has a little scattered grain, but atmosphere is almost the same as Distillate. Sad to say FAG-170's cheap logo sticks out like a sore thumb. Distillate equips Schaller tuners, FAG-170’s tuner is unknown.	It seems to be impossible to distinguish one from the other by the back side view.	Fingerboard, FAG’s is rosewood, Distillate’s is ebony. Position marks, FAG’s are pearloid cells, Distillate’s are made of pearl oyster.
FAG-170’s adjustment bolts has plus screw head. Brass bridge was surprisingly copied completely.	Alembic Distillate’s adjustment bolt has minus screw head.	Every inch of body was perfectly copied. In case of FAG-170, serial number was engraved on the head end of the headstock, on the other hand, Distillate has it on the fingerboard.

HIKI

DAORE

Fernandes FAG170 compared with Alembic Distillate

Let us take a look on the headstock. FAG-170’s has a little scattered grain, but atmosphere is almost the same as Distillate. Sad to say FAG-170's cheap logo sticks out like a sore thumb. Distillate equips Schaller tuners, FAG-170’s tuner is unknown.

It seems to be impossible to distinguish one from the other by the back side view.

Fingerboard, FAG’s is rosewood, Distillate’s is ebony. Position marks, FAG’s are pearloid cells, Distillate’s are made of pearl oyster.

FAG-170’s adjustment bolts has plus screw head. Brass bridge was surprisingly copied completely.

Alembic Distillate’s adjustment bolt has minus screw head.

Every inch of body was perfectly copied. In case of FAG-170, serial number was engraved on the head end of the headstock, on the other hand, Distillate has it on the fingerboard.