Early 70s FRAMUS instruments....

[Califatboy]

Anyone have an opinion about the quality / collectability of 60s and 70s Framus guitars and banjos? Are they back in business? Thanks

[Tony474]

Don't know too much about collectibility these days but Framus guitars were always of fairly decent quality. They're certainly back in business - basically the same company as Warwick bass gear - making a range of high-end guitars and amps in Germany. They advertise extensively in the UK magazine "Guitar Buyer" and their website is www.framus.de.

[garytelecastor]

I have a framus bass and I too, would love to hear if anyone has any info on this topic.

[mildwild]

I have a 70's Framus 12 string that needs tuning pegs but I haven't been able to find any that fit.

The guitar probably isn't playable anymore, it has been lying around and neglected since the mis 70's.

I would like to put tuners on it even it jst to hang it on the wall.

Does anyone know if there what would fit.

Sorry for the hijack.

[Maestro]

I don't think they are really collectible. My dad has a bass, a banjo, a AZ-10 (best build guitar I've ever seen, the only archtop I've ever felt wouldn't break if it fell) and a mandolin. They are good instruments (they where the more expensive framus made instruments at the time) the entry line was appalling. But the rest was all really good value for the money. the AZ10 is as good an archtop as any top of the line Us model (gibson, epiphone, ect) from that period.

[Gareth John]

I dunno what would fit, but you could make something fit to make it playable, failing that a pair of pliers to grip the tuning peg. you could check the framus website, they've just started selling vintage replacement parts.

[mildwild]

Thanks

Last time I looked at their website I couldn't find anything but now they I have what I need.

They are 36,70 euros, which I think is about $53.00

What I need to decide is it worth spending money on a guitar that is likely just hang on a wall.

[Califatboy]

Originally Posted by mildwild

Thanks

Last time I looked at their website I couldn't find anything but now they I have what I need.

They are 36,70 euros, which I think is about $53.00

What I need to decide is it worth spending money on a guitar that is likely just hang on a wall.

Could you not punt the machine-strip altogether and install 12 individual machines? I am sure you could find reasonably decent ones on ebay for less than $15.00

[Gareth John]

If I was just gonna hang it on the wall I wouldn't bother repairing it, but have a go and you might be suprised, you may actually find a use for it. Slide on a 12 string sounds cool. I say make it playable however you go about it.

[mildwild]

Slide on a 12 sting sound like a great idea !!!!

I just wanted a work around that didn't cost me very much money.
It would nice to have it playable.

It was never much good after the first 5 frets, but that was probably me.

Califatboy, I noticed you were from Toronto as well.

Last year I saw a 6 string Framus similar to mine in a junk store out in Etobicoke.

The owner was asking something like $450.

I thought he was WAY out of line.

[micpoc]

For what it's worth, I'm fairly positive that John Lennon played a Framus 12-string on "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away." An earlier model, obviously.

[Gareth John]

The top on my archtop has sunk a little and the neck has been ripped off by my drunken grandad and then bolted back on (before I owned it) and just to get it playable I've wedged a piece of wood, some corn flakes box and a few plectrums underneath the bridge and held it all together with stickytape. It's probably the most played guitar in my collection. definately make it playable somehow!

[Clive Hugh]

A guy asked me if I could fix a Framus 12 string that his girl friend had tried to fit over his head but it was too far gone to fix. The neck construction was interesting, it was laminate, in that it was made from strips about 4 -5 mm thick edge up (under the fret board) and alternating dark and light wood. Never seen that before, the neck was fine as it was used as the handle in the "fitting"

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by Clive Hugh

A guy asked me if I could fix a Framus 12 string that his girl friend had tried to fit over his head but it was too far gone to fix. The neck construction was interesting, it was laminate, in that it was made from strips about 4 -5 mm thick edge up (under the fret board) and alternating dark and light wood. Never seen that before, the neck was fine as it was used as the handle in the "fitting"

One assumes that this was soon an ex-girlfriend... A Framus Les-Paul-a-like that I had in the early 70s also turned out to have a multi-ply laminated neck. Wonderfully playable guitar, nice tone, low action, ticked all the boxes, but its life came to an abrupt and premature end when it got knocked off its stand during a break at a gig and the headstock was fractured, revealing the laminated construction - about 42 thin strips of wood glued together. A repair would have been tricky and costly so I sadly traded the remains in for silly low money towards another guitar.

[mildwild]

I really would like to get this guitar in shape.
I think the neck might a out of lineas well as needing tuners.
Unfortunately I neglected it for over 30 years. Gave up playing guitar in the
mid 70's and didn't start again till about 3 or 4 years.

Between my son and I we have guitars all over the house.

A 12 string would be nice,but buying one is out of the question right now.

I am going to try harder to get it fixed.

[Big John]

I can remember a 9 string Framus that used to hang as an ornament in the hairdressers shop beside Bel studio in Oslo, the top three strings were paired and the bottom 3 as normal, never played it but often fancied buying it.
Still got lousy hair too !!

[Gareth John]

I bought a £99 Ashton 12 string, budget guitars really are good for the money these days, so if the cost of your repairs is over a hunder you should check one out. You could always stick it on ebay if you don't think it's worth the time and effort, my framus, though I play it alot, I wouldn't be too bothered if I never saw it again, like I said before, it's not THAT good.

[Wild Rice Chris]

We've got an older Framus 6-string banjo (banjitar). Very cool as a novelty, plays decent, sounds OK. Doesn't hold tune well or project much.

[casterway]

Originally Posted by mildwild

I have a 70's Framus 12 string that needs tuning pegs but I haven't been able to find any that fit.

The guitar probably isn't playable anymore, it has been lying around and neglected since the mis 70's.

I would like to put tuners on it even it jst to hang it on the wall.

Does anyone know if there what would fit.

Sorry for the hijack.

Gee. That neck looks familiar. I assembled this from a Framus Texan, with a broken body and a LP copy that my nephew found with a broken neck in his school yard. Sorry, no spare parts but I did see one hanging in a restaurant not too far from me this fall.

[mildwild]

You are right !!!

It is a Framus Texan.

Made in Bavaria as the sticker in the body says.

I guess that would make it MIB

[Califatboy]

Originally Posted by casterway

Gee. That neck looks familiar. I assembled this from a Framus Texan, with a broken body and a LP copy that my nephew found with a broken neck in his school yard. Sorry, no spare parts but I did see one hanging in a restaurant not too far from me this fall.

That neck DOES look familliar...

[casterway]

Originally Posted by mildwild

You are right !!!

It is a Framus Texan.

Made in Bavaria as the sticker in the body says.

I guess that would make it MIB

I think mine dates from about 1967 or 68.

[casterway]

Originally Posted by Califatboy

That neck DOES look familliar...

That banjo is nutty! Did you make the body?