Framus Grand Star Black Rose Model 5/125 Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1962), made in Bubenrauth, Germany, black and red sunburst finish, laminated maple body and neck; spruce top, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The 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 some were distributed in the US (By a Philadelphia jobber, 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.
This early 1960s Framus Archtop Electric is quite the imposing beast with its striking "Black Rose" finish and elaborate decorative touches. We believe it to be a Grand Star 5/125 Model but there is no label inside to confirm that; the variations in Framus products seem endless but this is one of their best higher end guitars. It is in all original condition, a fine showcase for the craftsmanship and design Framus were capable in this era. The company has sadly never gotten much respect here in the US, but built large numbers of interesting instrument s in the 1950s and '60s, many of which (like this one) are serious bargains today compered to most others from this period.
"Built in the Heart of Bavaria" this 17" cutaway acoustic/electric archtop actually has a carved solid spruce top, something of a rarity on Framus guitars. The back, sides and neck are laminated maple. The body has a single rounded cutaway and is multi-bound top and back, with bound F-holes. The body and neck are finished in a 2-tone red-black sunburst "Black Rose" in Framus parlance. The neck has a large, chunky almost squared-off profile; it feels a bit like a small ice cube tray! The bound rosewood fingerboard has large pearloid block inlay, with an odd pink inlay at the top. The elaborate bound, pearloid-faced V-pattern headstock is fitted with fancy strip tuners with plastic outer barrels and fluted buttons. Visually this is not a subtle guitar in any way!
This model is fitted with the elaborate "Framus Mixer" floating two-pickup assembly, familiar to Rolling Stones fans as the same layout seen on Bill Wyman's early Star Basses. This setup is quite elaborate, with 6 adjustable poles on the Schaller-made single coil units and 4-way lever switches for selecting pickup combinations and tonal options. A volume knob and jack are also mounted on the large chromed metal plate. The entire assembly is pinned at the neck and rim and floats independent of the guitar itself, it can be removed with a few screws. The range of tones is considerable and a lot of fun to play with!
The bridge is an adjustable Shaller unit used on a number of different '60s guitars. The vibrato tailpiece features the longest arm we have ever seen fitted to a guitar! This large and admittedly somewhat eccentric looking archtop is a well preserved and surprisingly fine playing and sounding guitar, a far better instrument than most US players might expect from this often-dismissed builder.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a nicely original guitar, showing some general wear overall but no major damage or repair. There are some deeper scratches to the top and scratching to the back into but not through the finish, dings, dents and scuffs but no really major wear or notable repairs. The neck has some light dings and dents but no serious wear.
Everything on the guitar appears original including the complex floating pickguard/electronics assembly and elaborate vibrato tailpiece. A small leather dog clip hook is attached to the top of the neck heel in period German guitar fashion (they were apparently allergic to strap buttons at the time). There is some minor fret and fingerboard wear but nothing that impedes playability. This imposing instrument is actually a good player (as Framus guitars go anyway) with clean frets and a comfortable action. It resides in what appears to be the original HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
