A new company based in Southern California, Falbo Guitars is the brainchild of luthier Frank Falbo. Working in a part of the Larrivée Guitars factory, Falbo uses some of Larrivée’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, and his guitars share body shapes and various components with Larrivée models. What sets Falbo guitars apart from any other flattop is their innovative “Intension” bridge concept. Designed to reduce the torque that traditional flattop bridges put on the guitar’s top, the Intension bridge uses a unique string-anchoring system that allows the top to be braced primarily for tone, rather than strength.

We checked out a Falbo Dreadnought (Jumbo, Grand Auditorium, and Parlor models are also available) built with an Italian spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides. The guitar was set up with incredibly easy-playing action and had a full dreadnought sound with excellent tonal balance.

SPECS: Dreadnought body with 14-fret neck. Solid Italian spruce top. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25½-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. Enclosed chrome tuning machines. Made in USA. $3,100 street. falboguitars.com

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