Framus mystery

[een]

I have recently bought a beautiful old arch top, semi-acoustic, single pick up, single cut away Framus and was wondering if anyone might have any information about it, or where i might find some. On the label in the f-hole is 5/54 (handwritten) 50344 & 61 M (printed) plus a testers signature. Any clues would be muchly appreciated.

 

[odominguez]

Hello een,

We just recently opened a new world site for Framus Guitars. There's information there about all the current models as well as most of the vintage guitars. If for any reason you can't seem to find information about your exact one, do not worry, just contact one of the e-mail address on that website and they will help you out.

Here is the site: www.framus.de

 

[Stroud]

Here is the site: www.framus.de

i take it framus and warwick both originated from the same company (something to do with violins?). do the companies still have close ties?

 

[odominguez]

Here is the site: www.framus.de

i take it framus and warwick both originated from the same company (something to do with violins?). do the companies still have close ties?

Framus was the company that Hans-Peter Wilfer's father founded in 1946, after World War II. In the beginning they were making instruments to give a chance to the musicians that were left without instruments during the war to play music, since that was what they knew how to do. After a little while Framus got into building electric guitars. Hans-Peter grew up seeing all that happen and wandering around the Framus factory. Framus originally designed and produced the first Triumph basses back in 1956. After some of the Asian companies started offering their products at really competetive prices, it was really hard for Framus to stay in the market and still keep their high standards in the quality of their guitars, so they had to close down.

Hans-Peter Wilfer then founded Warwick back in 1982 and as soon as the company made enough to support Framus again, he re-opened Framus in 1996 to keep making these great guitars which were a unique trademark of European Guitarmaking back in the 40s and 50s. Right now Framus has more than 10 models out there and is still a part of Warwick GmbH & Co. Music Equipment and is owned by Hans-Peter Wilfer.

The companies owned by Warwick are:

Warwick
Framus
Rockcase
Rockbag
Rockstand
Multistripe

Particularly tied to Warwick with partnerships for production or distribution in Europe are:

Seymour Duncan
MEC Pickups
Morley Pedals
DigiTech
Jim Dunlop
Hip Shot
GHS Strings
Elite Strings
Dean Markley
Duncan Turner Acoustic Research
Bartolini
BC Rich
Danelectro

 

[Stroud]

I'm not a guitarist and don't usually drool over guitarist's kit but good god that cobra stack by framus...*dribbles*

 

[een]

to Stroud - i think odominguez is the font of knowledge who has your answer.

to odominguez - thanks so much - i now know i am the proud owner of a virtually pristine '61 Riviera which i am using with great effect at my gigs now - it has a great tone! One minor oddity in the code, however- the letter which denotes the month - mine says M - the 13th month!? Or is this the initial of a month in german? Any idea where i might get it accurately valued? I'm getting lots of conflicting opinions here in Melbourne Australia. Thanks again for your help.

een

Here is the site: www.framus.de

i take it framus and warwick both originated from the same company (something to do with violins?). do the companies still have close ties?

 

[Grgzilla]

I'm not sure about Framus but on Warwicks the letter denotes the month with the exception of "I".If that's the case then "M" denotes December.
Also this dealer in Sydney is a vintage guitar specialist,if anyone knows it's true value & is willing to be honest with you about it,it's Steve Jackson.Did you catch him on TV last weeks collectors show on ABC?
Be careful when visiting his website,$150,000 guitars intimidate me.Not to mention seeing the Rickenbacker I bought 20 years ago for $400 on sale for over $4000 today,but with that kind of foresight I could retire.

 

[een]

well onja thumperton - insta-results! December it must be. I missed said prog but coincidently a member of the choir i sometimes perform with mentioned it at rehearsal in awe-filled terms - praps Steve Jackson (actionman name if i ever heard one) will reveal my Framus is famous & i am sitting on a goldmine instead of just a pimply arse - i shall email him for an opinion - (about the guitar, not my arse) thanx again

een

I'm not sure about Framus but on Warwicks the letter denotes the month with the exception of "I".If that's the case then "M" denotes December.
Also this dealer in Sydney is a vintage guitar specialist,if anyone knows it's true value & is willing to be honest with you about it,it's Steve Jackson.Did you catch him on TV last weeks collectors show on ABC?
Be careful when visiting his website,$150,000 guitars intimidate me. :?