Born at the intersection of mid-century design and outer-orbit sonics, the Novo Serus J Baritone is a long-scale instrument built for players who hear beyond standard tuning. Finished in Wrapped in Grey, this guitar looks like it drifted in from deep space—subtle, industrial, and quietly menacing.

At the helm is Dennis Fano, a designer whose career has been defined by re-imagining the past rather than copying it. From his early days restoring vintage instruments to founding Novo Guitars in Nashville, Fano’s work has always balanced old-world soul with modern reliability. The Serus J Baritone is a perfect example: familiar offset lines, but engineered for the gravitational pull of lower frequencies.

With its 28" baritone scale, the Serus J operates in a different orbit than standard guitars. Tuned to B or A, it delivers:

• Piano-like low-end clarity

• Taut string tension for articulate picking

• Massive chord definition without mud

The tempered pine body keeps things resonant and lightweight, while the tempered maple neck and rosewood fingerboard offer a broken-in feel right out of the case. A compound radius (9.5"–14") makes it equally comfortable for wide ambient chords or focused lead work up the neck.

Loaded with Lollar Mini-Broilers, this baritone is voiced for clarity over chaos. These pickups excel at translating the low register without losing detail, making them ideal for players who want depth without darkness swallowing the note.

This is where the legends come in:

• Duane Eddy, the godfather of baritone guitar, used the low register to create cinematic twang—notes that felt like they echoed across desert highways and sci-fi soundtracks alike.

• Bill Frisell explores baritone territory for space, air, and emotional gravity—letting notes bloom, decay, and hover in orbit.

• Mark Lettieri brings the baritone into modern groove, funk, and fusion, using its extended range for percussive clarity and deep-pocket rhythm work.

• Troy Van Leeuwen harnesses baritone guitars for riff authority and atmosphere, anchoring songs with weight while leaving room for texture.

• Brent Hinds taps into the darker side—using lower tunings for heavy, swirling tones that still retain articulation and character.

The Serus J Baritone comfortably lives in all of these worlds.

A Mastery bridge paired with Novo’s NV vibrato ensures tuning stability even under heavy use, while still allowing subtle pitch movement—perfect for surf-inspired warble, ambient shimmer, or slow-burn bends. Thoughtful hardware choices throughout keep the guitar solid, responsive, and road-ready.

The Novo Serus J Baritone isn’t just a lower-tuned guitar—it’s a sonic instrument for explorers. Whether you’re chasing vintage twang, cinematic ambience, modern groove, or heavy riffage, this guitar delivers clarity, depth, and unmistakable character.

From Dennis Fano’s design philosophy to the players who shaped baritone history, this is a guitar that doesn’t just play notes — it pulls them into orbit.

Model: Serus J Baritone 
Body Construction: Solid
Body: Tempered Pine
Body Finish: Nitro Light Aging 
Neck: Tempered Maple
Fingerboard: East Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: MOTO Dots
Nut: Bone, 
Neck Profile: Medium "C" (.830")
Headstock: Matching
Frets: Medium 22 N/S Jescar 47095
Truss Rod: Fully Adjustable
Radius: 9.5" - 14"
Scale Length: 28"
Neck Finish: Light Aging 
Tuners: 102-18G Rotomatic 
Hardware Color: Nickel
Bridge Style: Mastery M1 & NV Vibrato w/Lighting Bolt Arm
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black
Pickups: Lollar Mini-Broilers
Switching: 3-Way Toggle 
Controls: Vol. Tone 
Series: Nucleus
Knobs: Black Witch Hat
String Gauge: Stringjoy 14-68
Case: Novo Deluxe Bag