{"product_id":"framus-5168-52-strato-deluxe-solid-body-electric-guitar-1965-13128","title":"Framus 5\/168-52 Strato Deluxe Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965)","description":"Framus 5\/168-52 Strato Deluxe Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965), made in Bubenreuth, Germany, serial # 33296-65H, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, laminated beech neck with rosewood fingerboard, black gig bag case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Framus company of Bubenreuth, Germany may get the award for all-time widest variety of instruments produced; in the 1950s and '60s a seemingly endless array of often wildly eccentric looking electric and acoustic instruments originated in their factory \"Built in the Heart of Bavaria\". Although they were distributed in the US (out of Philadelphia, actually) in the 1960s Framus instruments were better known and more respected in Europe, with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's Star Basses being their best advisement around the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFramus identified their models by a dizzying array of names and numbers, and there are many small variations; according to their 1965 catalog this is a Strato De Luxe Model 5\/168-52 \"Mit Orgel Efekt\". This last refers to the spring loaded, curved-arm volume control on the face into which the player can insert a little finger to create a volume swell, a cool and somewhat useful feature Framus pioneered. Apart from this this \"Strato\" (wonder where they got that from?) model is an eccentric offset solidbody with an oddly skewed look and a generous helping of switches and knobs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe body and headstock shapes are obviously derived from the Jazzmaster, mutated a bit by Bavarian ingenuity. The fairly slim bolt-on neck has an almost \"Soft V\" profile and is made up of many laminated beechwood strips, something Framus pioneered that Japanese guitarmakers picked up on too. The tilted-back headstock is similarly constructed but spliced on behind the nut, with the face painted black. The bound, dot inlaid fingerboard is rosewood, there is an adjustable truss rod fitted and the individual tuners are housed in round cans with fluted plastic buttons. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe body is laminated maple with some beautiful birdseye figure on the top and back, finished in a Fender-y 3-color sunburst. The two pickups are single coil with exposed poles, oddly mounted at two different off-axis angles. There are 3 knobs (a volume and two tones) and 4 switches that offer a range of tonal options, with the \"Orgel\" switch as a cool bonus. The upper horn and entire lower area of the body are covered by metal plates, the center by a striped pattern plastic pickguard. The vibrato sits in a well in the body and is reasonably effective, with a nifty lockable-into-position arm. The fully adjustable bridge is equipped with a large flip-up mute that actually works quite well, perhaps the handiest of all these systems. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAccording to the coded serial number stamped into the back of the headstock this guitar was assembled at the Framus factory in Bubenreuth, West Germany in August 1965. Although these have been long been considered \"cool trashy\" guitars there is a lot of original engineering built into this Teutonic twanger. If the look is a bit ungainly, the build quality is better than many give these Bavarian beauties credit for.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1\/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1\/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9\/16 in. (40 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis guitar shows some general wear and tear but remains original and quite a decent player. The body finish has some small dings and dents but no major wear. The neck finish has shrunken up a bit and the lamination line for the spliced headstock can be felt, but all is structurally solid. The headstock face has some finish flaking off; some of the gold Framus logo has gone missing leaving an outline behind. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith the exception of a small screw-on cover for the tail end of vibrato assembly all hardware is intact and working as intended with some mostly light wear. The original frets have been crowned down a bit and still play well. While perhaps eccentric looking to eyes weaned on the classic Fender designs it is derived from this \"Strato\" is a better quality instrument than Framus is often given credit for, a solid playing guitar with a unique character. It comes in a modern gig bag. Overall Very Good + Condition.","brand":"Framus","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49684165361804,"sku":"13128","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_ae831c2a-7901-4a56-ba6f-82eca23dfa24.jpg?v=1778356513","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/framus-5168-52-strato-deluxe-solid-body-electric-guitar-1965-13128","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}