Framus Model 5/59 Sorella Rhytmus Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1961), made in Bubenreuth, Germany, serial # 45922, metallic copper and cream sunburst finish, laminated maple body and neck; spruce top, ebony fingerboard, period tweed hard shell case.
This 1961 Framus 5/59 Sorella Archtop Electric is quite the imposing beast and features a particularly stunning sunburst finish, which looks rather like a Danelectro "appliance burst" sprayed inside out! The guitar is in very clean and 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 are serious bargains today compered to most others from this period.
"Built in the Heart of Bavaria" this 17" cutaway acoustic/electric archtop is a Framus 5/59 Sorella, fitted with the elaborate "Framus Mixer" floating three-pickup assembly used on the high-end Attilla Zoller 1/162 "Deluxe 62" model. The Sorella was offered from the mid-50's into the mid-70's and was a fairly popular Framus model, available in a variety of finishes and formats from fully acoustic to this fully tricked-out 3-pickup electric.
This Sorella features a laminated maple body with an unusual deep cutaway allowing access to the entire fingerboard. The body is finished in this wild 2-tone semi-metallic bronze burst, while the neck is finished in black. The bound rosewood fingerboard has pearloid block inlay and (new to Framus at the time) an adjustable truss rod. The "Framus Mixer" floating three-pickup assembly is quite elaborate, with 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 plate. The 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 early adjustable type with sliding saddles. While most of these have "Sorella" engraved in the tailpiece, this one says "Rhytmus" which Framus used primarily for banjos. There is a repair at the hinge so this may be replaced; all else is original. This guitar has a label stamp indicating it was finished out in December 1961; it is absolutely the coolest Sorella we have ever seen. The combination of the unusual finish and 3 pickup array is rare to begin with, but this is also a superbly well preserved and surprisingly fine playing and sounding guitar, a far better instrument than most 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 very clean, all original guitar showing only light wear and tear overall. There are a some small dings, scratches and dents, more heavily to the back than face with one feelable ding to the neck behind the 11th fret. All hardware appear original, with the possible exception of the tailpiece which has an old repair at the hinge and a crossbar reading "Rhytmus".
There are no other repairs or structural issues. The neck joint is completely solid (unlike some of these!) and the original frets have only light wear. This is as good a player as any Framus we have ever seen, much better than most, actually. It comes in an original period tweed hard case, which appears to have had the neck area sawed apart and screwed back together! We wonder if it was a bass case adapted for this guitar long ago? At any rare it is fully functional and adds to the story! Excellent - Condition.
