Framus acoustic guitars.. Anybody know anything about them ?

[tuffythepug]

Was wandering around in a local antique and collectible shop earlier today and ran across this.    I've heard the name Framus associated with electric guitars.    Never have seen either electric or acoustic one up close.

Very interesting bridge .   Also their is a little metal bar across the strings between the nut and the first tuners.   This puts pressure on the strings to increase resonance I suppose.    Probably to compensate for a very shallow neck angle.

Pics are with an old camera phone so they aren't very good.     What is something like this worth ?



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[Strings4Him]

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N--SdNgz2c

[Strings4Him]

tuffythepug,

here's another link.  Interesting stuff.  How much was this guitar selling for?

http://www.framus-vintage.de/?katID=11111&cl=EN

[eded]

Wow...  Framus, where does one start?  They were German made low end guitars.  They were very popular with US GI's stationed in Europe from the early '50s through the mid '60s.  As you can see, the neck is bolt on similar to Fender style electric necks.  One thing about 'em...  you don't want to get hit by one.  A typical Martin dread is pretty light.  A Guild dread is relatively heavy.  A Framus is probably twice as heavy as the Guild.  Quality-wise, they are (kind of) the Harmony of Germany.  Not a lot of finesse just a functional guitar.

Because they were popular with American GI's, there is a certain allure built around them.  Peoples memories remembering what they want to remember or younger people nostalgic about that geetar dad got when he was in the Army and played back when.  

IMO, they are kind of horrid toneless imitations of guitars.  YMMV.  Play it and decide what you think they are worth.  There arebfolks who go nuts over '60s and '70s Yamahas or Harmonys these days.  Framus is pretty well on par with them but in my opinion they are under a C-note guitars even on a good day.

Oh...  Edited in after posting...  The backs were usually pressed laminated and the sides usually laminated, too.
Ed  

[AZLiberty]

To add to what Ed said, the Framus 12 strings were pretty well regarded "for their day".  Mostly because as Ed mentioned they were built along the line of a main battle tank.

[tuffythepug]

tuffythepug,

here's another link.  Interesting stuff.  How much was this guitar selling for?

http://www.framus-vintage.de/?katID=11111&cl=EN

The guitar has a tag on it that says it is a 1967 model.     price tag said $125.00      It had a sign on it saying that it needed new strings and to please not adjust them..   They were real loose so I figured there might be some structural issues with it and they didn't want the strings tightened.      I couldn't have played it anyway since I'm a lefty.    Just wondered if it had any collectible value.

[camb]

Yours is a very odd looking guitar. If you really want to find out about it contact the Framus museum in Germany: info@warwick.de They are very helpful and always keen to see pix of old models. I have a sixties Blue Ridge, bought 1967 / 8 and it is quite a classy instrument (I also have Martin, Gibson, Rainsong, etc ). I don't think yours will be very valuable but, who knows?

[tuffythepug]

camb
First off, welcome to the forum and thanks for the information you provided.  Just to be clear, this guitar doesn't belong to me I just saw it in a local antique / consignment shop.    I thought it was interesting but I don't really have any interest in owning it.  The $125 price tag made me wonder if it was an undervalued little gem or an overvalued white elephant.

[ducktrapper]

Baddish Gibson-like things that haven't aged well, for the most part. The odd one was ... interesting. I would be very reluctant to get one for a lot more than free.  

[camb]

You guys are being harsh on Framus. They made some pretty nice instruments in the sixties, This is mine from 1967 - I've had it since then and it sounds good![i][/im/Users/cam/Desktop/Framus/Back.jpgg]

[pastorharry]

To add to what Ed said, the Framus 12 strings were pretty well regarded "for their day".  Mostly because as Ed mentioned they were built along the line of a main battle tank.

Their guitars ARE built lightly.....compared to their banjos!!!

P.S. I've always thought their instruments were so ugly that they were kinda cool !!