Found the following at:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Fannin/D57/10/1

Fannin guitars were made by a small Japanese Firm in the 70’s to mid 80’s (mine is dated 1979 according to the stamp on the heel block, they didn’t use a paper label to my knowledge). Unlike the other post listed here, they had no association with “Fender,” as far as I know, but were imported & distributed by a company called “Nu Look Fashions,” out of Columbus Ohio in the early 1980’s. A quote from Bob Ward at Sound Associates Music Ltd Lawrenceville GA. who seems to have intimate knowledge about Fannin Guitar’s history!

“In the seventies and eighties. During one of the buying trips overseas Larry Fannin, president of Nu Look, discovered a small guitar factory turning out very high quality instruments that competed quite well with the Yamaha, Aria, Epiphone, Sigma and Fender guitars imported into America at the time. Mr. Fannin , a talented guitar player himself, recommended several notable improvements to the initial acoustic designs the small factory had, added a number of new models, and then scheduled guitars for delivery and warehoused them in Columbus Ohio. Unfortunately Nu Look did not have enough sales staff on the road to call on and promote quality musical instruments directly to music stores, so the distribution was limited to a very few retailers that were called by the telephone sales staff in Columbus. With not enough telephone sales generated by the clothing sales staff and no national advertising campaign, the Fannin guitar line was discontinued within five years of the introduction. Numbers of specific model production are unknown. The Fannin Guitars are still considered to be one of the better import guitars of the late seventies and early eighties.”

Hope this helps!

I could have made it easier… the same individual (“i’mapunkforlife”) appears in posts #1, 13 and 16. All is forgiven, and I do empathize with you! Cool avatar!

Syl

This has been a tough one. I can only guess it’s somebody’s clone of an old Epiphone FT-200 (currently, the model DR-200S…(see a larger pic at musiciansfriends.com). WHY anyone would have cloned that guitar is beyond me. However, Mac, (and I’m a Taylor person, too) I have an Epi of the FT series from the early 70s that also has great tone and is a dream to play.

There are so many things wrong with the picture:

The serial # for one… but because there are both “8”s and “3”s in it, it’s confusing. If it were a true 81xxxx series, it would have been made in 66 or 69. For even more confusion, go read about Epi serial #s here:

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/AGuitar/ASerialization.pdf

If anyone else wants to follow along, i’ve posted larger pics at:

http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r212/fstop1955/

Here’s what I’m seeing as “wrong with this guitar:”

The headstock is not finished in black, as Epis are and is missing the “slash C” Epi logo just above the nut. The same logo is missing also from the pickguard.

The rosette does not resemble the Epi model, either vintage or current.

The label is obviously fraudulent, and the site I mentioned earlier about serialization backs this up.

I really wonder what the story is behind this animal! This HAS been fun!

Best,

Syl

Thanks Tim for the Photobucket referral… Yahoo just screwed up their whole photo site. Photobucket took about 5 minutes to figure out and post the photos. Cool.

See post #13 on this page. Someone else owns one!

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=393032

Syl

When I bought my 2000 Taylor 812C (added my own Highlander…no holes for electronics), I was choosing between Martin’s 000-28ec, a Gibson Nick Lucas reissue and the Taylor. Taylor won hands down in every category. If you’ve been playing a J30, you will think you’ve died and gone to heaven. Your hands will heal immediately. I also suggest Thomastik-Infeld strings. They feel like silk and last forever. Try their Jazz Swing series. I use both JS110 and JS111. Best of luck!