Favilla Guitars, Inc. was a family-run musical instrument company which produced quality string instruments for approximately 96 years until 1986. Originally called 'Favilla Bros.', the company built guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and violins.[1]
- This made-in-New York all-mahogany body uke, with the Favilla decal peghead logo, is quite unusual because it has six strings. Two of the courses are doubled, and one of the strings is an octave higher than the other - like a 12-string guitar. To look at this ukulele quickly it is quite convincingly mistaken for a C F Martin brand instrument. However, it is a bit deeper body than a Martin.
- This is my 1963 Favilla Baritone ukulele model B2 serial number 110163 in its original case which i have owned for some years. It has its intact paper lable showing 'made in usa - established 1890 -original favilla - favilla guitars inc-. Style b2 baritone- ser no. 110163 and the Herk Favilla signature It is a mahogany.
- We have the Favilla 1960s C-5 Classical Acoustic Guitar in stock in our Vintage collection. Shop now and receve free shipping on your order today!
- Fender Serial Dating. First, narrow it down by the country of origin. Serial dating is easiest for instruments made in the USA or Mexico, but is also possible for those made in Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter. That letter indicates the decade. S for 1970s; E for 1980s; N for.
Company history[edit]
Brothers John (ca. 1871-1956) and Joseph Favilla, after having emigrated from Italy to New York City, formed Favilla Bros. (or Favilla Brothers, predecessor to Favilla Guitars, Inc.) either in 1890[2][3] or 1894.[1] By the 1920s, the company had expanded to over 50 employees. The company produced instruments in various New York locations, but around 1930 settled into the West 16th Street location where it would remain until 1959. At that time, Hercules (“Herk”) Favilla, son of John Favilla and a former vaudeville performer,[3] took over the business and renamed it Favilla Guitars, Inc.[1] Herk’s older brother Frank had been running administrative affairs for the company since the late 1940s. John Favilla died in 1956, and when his son Herk took over in 1959, the company was moved to a larger facility in Brooklyn.[2]
In 1965 the company relocated again, this time to Long Island. Around this time, guitar production peaked at 3,000-3,500 per year. Herk’s son Tom (b. 1942) worked for the company, and in 1970 began importing guitars from Japan under the Favilla name. (These instruments can be distinguished by their having the Favilla name in script on the guitar, instead of the full Favilla crest.)[2][4]
Sep 15, 2017 Most guitar manufacturers put a serial number on each instrument they produce. This number can be used to date a guitar and in some cases tell where it was made. Serial numbers tend to be stamped or written somewhere on the headstock or neck joint of the guitar. On some acoustic guitars, the serial number is on the inside of the sound hole.
Due to a shift in the guitar market from acoustic instruments to electric instruments, the Favilla company ceased production in 1973. However Herk and his son Tom continued building custom instruments until their retirements, in 1980 and 1986, respectively.[1]
Instruments[edit]
Over almost a century, the Favilla family produced a wide range of instruments in America. Some of these bore names such as “Favilla Bros.”, “Favilla”, and “Marca Aquila.”
- Guitars (including classical, archtop, dreadnought, and tenor)
- Mandolins (including “bowl back” and “flat back” models)
- Ukuleles (including “Teardrop” models, soprano, concert, tenor, baritone)
- Other
- Dulcet Guitarette
- Wimbrola
Publications[edit]
In the 1950s and 1960s Herk Favilla was involved with music publication as well. In 1951[3] he authored and published a two-volume baritone ukulele method, one volume for self-taught beginners, the other for students and professionals.[5] He also published a collection of arranged guitar music in 1965.[6]
Footnotes[edit]
- ^ abcd'Those Fabulous Favillas'. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ abcWheeler 1992, p. 41
- ^ abcBeloff 2003, pp. 102–103
- ^'Favilla Acoustic Guitar Values'. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^“The Baritone Ukulele” (c. 1958 by Herk Favilla in Brooklin, NY.; c. 1962 by Favilla Guitars, New York, NY) (OCLC numbers 428979358 and 20191514, respectively). Book one: A Self-teaching Method for the Beginner; Book two: A Practical Method for Students and Professionals.
- ^'World Classics for the Guitar' transcribed and edited by Howard David (c. 1965 by Herk Favilla Publications) (OCLC number 79822350).
References[edit]
- Beloff, Jim (2003). The Ukulele: A Visual History (Rev. & expanded). San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN978-0-879-30758-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Wheeler, Tom (1992). American Guitars: An Illustrated History (rev. and updated ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. ISBN978-0-062-73154-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Cagnetta, Andrew (2017) Favilla Familia: A History & Guidebook ASIN: B073ZNMT1K
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Favilla_Guitars&oldid=847901966'
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