NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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Maggieo
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NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Maggieo » Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:13 am

You guys might remember the Hamer Phantom I had- you know, the pointy Andy Summers-approved, 80's SuperStrat thing. Well after it passed the one year in its case mark, I decided to sell it. Turns out, no one really wants one. There are two on my Reverb watch list that have been there for years.

So, I was pretty jazzed when Mike Robinson of My Rare Guitars accepted my offer of a trading the Hamer for a Rivolta.

And let me tell you, it was a great decision. The Combinata is definitely a Dennis Fano guitar. It feels right. It's a true semi-hollow, like a 335, but is more like a 339 in size. The German carve makes it super comfortable to play, it just snuggles up to your body. The P-90s surprised me with how good they are. I'd rate them at the same level as the Lollars in my SG, or the Antiquities in the Eastman. I read that Fano spec'd them, and they sound like it.

The Dusenberg Les Trem is, once I got it adjusted (which was a bit of a trial) more like a Strat's than a JM or Jag's, but it's smooth and usable. Be warned though, the vibrato arm comes from the factory really, really, stiff. And it might even squeak when you try to push it out of the way. Thankfully, the fix is easy, if you're smart enough to do it on a workbench and not your sofa like I did. :fp:

I got the natural top, which is Maple, the painted tops are Mahogany, so if you want that extra snap, get a transparent finish. The rest of the body is Mahogany, and the neck is a real beauty, with a Fano-shaped contoured neck heel. I'm impressed at the level of craftsmanship that's gone into this guitar. There isn't a clam to be found on mine. The inlays on the neck are gorgeous. Take a look:

Image
Rivolta Combinata XVII, January 24, 2020 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Image
Rivolta Combinata XVII, January 24, 2020 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Image
Rivolta Combinata XVII, January 24, 2020 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by wproffitt » Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:45 am

Wow!
That looks great! I’m really impressed by the loll of these and the way they did the specs. What is the neck profile like? Would you compare it to an SG Classic or is it more slender?

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by BoringPostcards » Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:26 pm

Nice. Got them old school Rickenbacker combo vibes. Good score!
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by garyptaszek » Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:31 pm

I was GASing for one of these for ages, this post hasn’t helped :?

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Maggieo » Wed Jan 29, 2020 2:49 pm

wproffitt wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:45 am
Wow!
That looks great! I’m really impressed by the loll of these and the way they did the specs. What is the neck profile like? Would you compare it to an SG Classic or is it more slender?
It's about as thick as a Casino. The neck is a "C" that's a bit bigger than my ECJM, but not as big as the 50's Tele types. It's very comfortable to play. Actually, it feels like a slightly small version of my SG Classic's.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Maggieo » Wed Jan 29, 2020 2:50 pm

BoringPostcards wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 12:26 pm
Nice. Got them old school Rickenbacker combo vibes. Good score!
Thanks! It reminds me of Roger McGuinn's Ricky 12 string.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Gavanti » Wed Jan 29, 2020 5:47 pm

Nice! I had one awhile back (without the Les Trem) and really liked how it played. The pickups had plenty of bite but were very clear. So lightweight too.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by gnoleb » Wed Jan 29, 2020 6:29 pm

Maggieo wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:13 am
And let me tell you, it was a great decision. The Combinata is definitely a Dennis Fano guitar. It feels right. It's a true semi-hollow, like a 335, but is more like a 339 in size. The German carve makes it super comfortable to play, it just snuggles up to your body. The P-90s surprised me with how good they are. I'd rate them at the same level as the Lollars in my SG, or the Antiquities in the Eastman. I read that Fano spec'd them, and they sound like it.
I knew you'd like it! Congrats. It actually gets better and better. I've only had mine for 6 months or so, I think, but it really responded to getting played and started to "open up" really fast.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Maggieo » Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:40 am

gnoleb wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 6:29 pm
Maggieo wrote:
Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:13 am
And let me tell you, it was a great decision. The Combinata is definitely a Dennis Fano guitar. It feels right. It's a true semi-hollow, like a 335, but is more like a 339 in size. The German carve makes it super comfortable to play, it just snuggles up to your body. The P-90s surprised me with how good they are. I'd rate them at the same level as the Lollars in my SG, or the Antiquities in the Eastman. I read that Fano spec'd them, and they sound like it.
I knew you'd like it! Congrats. It actually gets better and better. I've only had mine for 6 months or so, I think, but it really responded to getting played and started to "open up" really fast.
Cool!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by simonhpieman » Fri Jan 31, 2020 6:55 pm

I keep walking past a beautiful blue one of these. I actually prefer them with the all-white hardware, not so sure about the chrome personally, though different strokes...

Great to hear about how it sounds and feels, though. Well, not for my GAS but, you know...

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Lamar Fandango » Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:30 pm

Beautiful guitar! What did you do to tame that Les Trem spring? I got the low tension spring from Reverend and it's great, but now I'm thinking I wasted $10.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:15 am

Lamar Fandango wrote:
Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:30 pm
Beautiful guitar! What did you do to tame that Les Trem spring? I got the low tension spring from Reverend and it's great, but now I'm thinking I wasted $10.
I think it came with the low tension spring. The arm pivot was really stiff and I had to disassemble it, loosen the self-locking nut under the pivot point and then put the assemble back together.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:16 am

simonhpieman wrote:
Fri Jan 31, 2020 6:55 pm
I keep walking past a beautiful blue one of these. I actually prefer them with the all-white hardware, not so sure about the chrome personally, though different strokes...

Great to hear about how it sounds and feels, though. Well, not for my GAS but, you know...
I'm such a Neil Young fangirl, I've wanted chrome P-90s forever! YMMV, of course!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by Larsongs » Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:45 am

I really like the looks of that Guitar.. In YouTubes it sounds great too.. Very tempting!

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Re: NGD: Rivolta Combinata XVII

Post by The Dead Ranch Hands » Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:47 am

That thing is gorgeous! I'm a sucker for German carve

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