Bill, The Fernandes FAG 170 guitar was a very close copy ("Fernandes Alembic Guitar" FAG)) of a series guitar using a similar circuit board but with more readily available standard components and all non Alembic parts. It also used an external power supply. It sounds much more 'hi fidelity' to my ear. They also made a bass model, the FAB.

My RS850 has the hum canceller, preamp, low pass filters, and Q switches.  More Alembic-like than any of my other, non-Alembic guitars.  It has a full sound with a lot of presence in the lower end.  Never heard of the RS1000.  The RS850 came in two different versions: one with a Fender-like 6 in line headstock, the other with a Gibson-like 3+3 headstock. Mine is the 6 in line.  Great guitar, one of the few of mine that makes its way on stage now and then.

I also have a Fernandes Alembic copy, the MH-110 Masterhand.  The body isn't a direct copy, like the FAG 170, being more Strat like.   Unfortunately the electronics were lunched when I found it.   I replaced everything with Alembic PUs and guts.  I have another couple of Masterhands that I hope to put together into one complete one, one of these days.


Bill, tgo

Quote from: gtrguy on Today at 11:21:20 AMBill, The Fernandes FAG 170 guitar was a very close copy ("Fernandes Alembic Guitar" FAG)).

You've got to love the choice of acronym.

Quote from: Nova Constellatio on Today at 11:29:19 AM

Quote from: gtrguy on Today at 11:21:20 AMBill, The Fernandes FAG 170 guitar was a very close copy ("Fernandes Alembic Guitar" FAG)).

You've got to love the choice of acronym.

Cigarettes, to our British friends. (as I understand it... still trying to sort out the language barrier)

The early eighties Fender Stratocaster Elite is somewhat similar to the Aria 850. I had 3 single coils with a fourth dummy coil pickup under the pick guard and complex active electronics and is a fantastic sounding guitar. It got great Les Paul and Strat tones. however, it turned out Fender strat players were more traditionalists then the Fender company realized and the players did not like it. The whammy bar was also kinda problematic.