Framus
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | String instruments |
Founded | Luby,Czechoslovakia(1946 ) |
Founder | Fred Wilfer |
Defunct | 1975–1995 |
Headquarters | Markneukirchen,Germany |
Area served | Global |
Products | Violins Violas Cellos Double basses Dulcimers Zithers Lutes Classical,archtop,acousticandelectricguitars Lap&pedalsteel guitars Acoustic&electricbasses Electric upright basses Ukuleles Banjos Mandolins Amplifiers |
Owner | Hans-Peter Wilfer |
Divisions | WarwickGmbH&Co Music Equipment KG |
Subsidiaries | Giannini Drums |
Website | Framus Vintage website Framus International website |
Framusis a Germanstring instrumentmanufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part ofWarwickGmbH&Co Music Equipment KG,inMarkneukirchen,Germany. The company's custom shops are located in Markneukirchen,Shanghai,New York City,andNashville.
Timeline
[edit]- 1946: The foundation ofFränkische Musikinstrumentenerzeugung( "Franconian Musical Instruments Fabrication" ) by Fred A. Wilfer KG inErlangen,Germany, to help resettleluthiersdisplaced fromLubyin theSudetenland).
- 1954: A larger factory was built inBubenreuth,Germany, to house the 300-strong workforce.
- 1967: Further expansion saw the building of a second facility inPretzfeld,Germany.
- 1975: The rapidly changing market forced the company into bankruptcy.
- 1995: Framus musical instruments resumed production under Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG.
History
[edit]Early years
[edit]Framus originated in the town ofLuby(now in theCzech Republic), until 1946 known as Schönbach, which was the world centre of making ofviolinsand otherstring instruments.The founder of Framus, Fred Wilfer, was born in theBohemianarea in 1917. AfterWorld War II,when he heard about plans to expelSudeten Germansfrom post-War IICzechoslovakia,he decided to build up a new basis for his countryman and the music industry in the west.
Even before the first train transported violin makers from Schönbach to other areas, Wilfer contacted different government authorities inBavariaand told them about his plans. The Bavarian government welcomed his approach and asked him to create all the conditions needed for the industry in Bavaria. In 1946, he founded theFRAMUSworks, the name being aportmanteauofFRAnconianMUSical instruments, and designed to draw attention to the fact that the celebrated violin makers of Schönbach had madeFranconiatheir new home.
When the first train transporting violin makers from Schönbach arrived in Erlangen, Framus was the man in charge of finding housing for them. He also made arrangements for the establishment of the first workshops.
Progress
[edit]In March 1946, the first group of Schönbach violin makers arrived in Erlangen, with Fred Wilfer and the refugee commission arranging accommodation. A factory was set up in autumn 1946, in a former wheel warehouse inMöhrendorf.At the end of 1948, the factory was moved to a former brewery in the nearby town ofBaiersdorf.Soon, even that large space proved inadequate.
In late 1949, Bubenreuth became the centre of settlement for the Schönbach violin makers. There, Wilfer began building one of the most modern factories of the time and, in the summer of 1954, about 170 employees went to work at the new facility. With 2200 square metres of space at their disposal, they were soon producing more than 2000 instruments in a month.
-
Framus archtop(1959)
-
Framus archtop
-
5/168-54Strato de Luxe(1960s)
-
5/296 Texan 12string(mid1960s–1970s)
Theguitar—particularly theelectric guitar—became the new best seller. Sales increased enormously due to the popularity ofrock and rollmusic at the end of the 1950s. Because of that development, several technologic advances were introduced, such as puttingtruss rodsin guitar necks. In 1966, a second factory was built in Pretzfeld, 25 km north of Bubenreuth, inFranconian Switzerland.Framus became the largest guitar producer in Europe, employing around 300 workers by that time.
In the 1950s,Paul McCartneyowned a model of a FramusIvor Mairants"Zenith" guitar. He had originally been given atrumpetfor his 14th birthday in 1956 but realised he could not sing and play a trumpet, so he swapped it for a Framus "Zenith" model 17. He used the guitar to compose some of his first songs, including "When I'm Sixty-Four".It still hangs in his studio.
Although their guitars were more popular by far, Framus made other stringed instruments. In particular, their four-string tenor banjos were very popular among Irish traditional musicians.[citation needed]
The company included a musical kindergarten in the Bubenreuth factory. It employed a young teacher, Gertrud Fischer, who used with small, colored "note men" that helped children start learning musical notation at the age of three.
Visitors to the factory in Bubenreuth included theVienna Saengerknaben(Boys Choir), who performed a special concert in the workshop, and German ChancellorKonrad Adenauer,who toured the factory and its musical kindergarten during a visit to the violin-making village.
Bankruptcy
[edit]In an interview, Wilfer summarized his all-embracing concept: "It's not only important to produce instruments, over a long period it is important to 'produce customers'". That motto also related to other Framus projects. Eventually,dumpingby companies fromJapan,along with other factors, both external and internal, forced Framus into bankruptcy in the mid-1970s.
Many aspects of the history of Framus are still unclear, due to the company archives being lost as a result of the bankruptcy.
Framus today
[edit]In 1995, Hans-Peter Wilfer (son of founder Fred Wilfer) revived the Framus name to produce musical instruments as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen, Germany. Along with a range of electric guitars, the company produces replacement parts, such as knobs, tuners, bridges, and tailpieces, for their vintage models, as well as a small range of high-endtubeamplifiers.
Notable users
[edit]In the early 1960s, Framus Star Bass guitars were among the first bass guitars imported into Britain. Many of the early British rock and roll bass guitarists—includingJet Harris,Brian Locking,Brian Gregg,Heinz Burt,andBill Wyman—played Framus basses. In 1964, Wyman signed a three-year sponsorship deal endorsing the Star bass.[1][2]Guitarists in theUnited Stateswho endorsed Framus guitars at that time includedCharlie MingusandJim Hall.
- Billy Lorento(later known as pickup designerBill Lawrence) played his signature 5/120.[3]He was also the Framus tech forDan Armstrong.[4]
- (Sandy) Alex Gplays a Framus Panthera.[5]
- Peter Krausplayed various signature models oftenor guitar,including a small-bodied flat-top acoustic and the two-pickup 5/141 semihollow electric.[6]
- Jan Akkermanplays his signature model.[7]
- Lamb of Godguitarist Willie Adler uses Framus speaker cabinets with four 12 inch speakers. In their DVD entitledKilladelphia,Adler praises Framus for giving him "A backdrop to fuckin' die for."
- John Lennonbought a Framus Hootenanny in 1965, whichGeorge Harrisonoccasionally also played. It was used by Lennon to perform the songYou've Got To Hide Your Love Awayin the 1965 filmHelp!(He also used it onIt's Only Love,as well as on title-track for the 1965 Parlophone record).[8]George used the instrument during the recording ofI've Just Seen a Face.[9]In 2024, the guitar was sold for $2.9 million by Julien's Auctions of Gardena, California.[10]
- Paul McCartney'sfirst guitar was a Zenith (built by Framus on commission from Boosey & Hawkes), which he still owns.[11]
- Phil CampbellofMotörheaduses several Framus guitars.[12]
- Earl Slick,guitarist forDavid BowieandNew York Dolls,uses a Framus signature guitar.[13][14]
- Rik Emmett(Triumph) played a Framus Akkerman (AK74 or AK1974) early in his career[15]
- Phil X(Triumph,Bon Jovi) plays a Framus signature model as well.[16]
- Arcade FireguitaristRichard Reed Parryuses a vintage Framus Billy Lorento model.[17]
- Devin Townsend,uses a number of Framus guitars including several custom made guitars of the model AK-1974, Mayfield and a signature model.[18][19][20]He also collaborated with the company to develop The Blank model.[21][22]
- Stevie Salas,uses the Framus Idolmaker model, which was developed in a collaboration with him.[23][24]
- Wolf Hoffmann,of the Germanheavy metalbandAccept.He made a signature model based on theGibson Flying V.
- Simple PlanguitaristSébastien Lefebvre's electric guitars include the Framus Mayfield and Tennessee models. He used to play Framus Panthera and Renegade models. He currently uses a Framus Dragon head and cabinet amplifier with his Framus custom model.[25]
- Guy Pratt,who plays withPink FloydandDavid Gilmour,plays a Framus Triumph.[26]
- Clemens Rehbein,who plays with Milky Chance, fromKassel,DE uses a Framus Mayfield.
- William DuVall,of the AmericangrungebandAlice in Chains
- Kristof Hahnof American experimental rock bandSwansplays a Framus 8 string Lap Steel Guitar.
Further reading
[edit]- Hoyer, Christian:Framus – built in the heart of Bavaria: the history of a German musical instrument manufacturer 1946–1977.Edition Framus, Markneukirchen 2007,ISBN978-3-940448-01-9.
References
[edit]- ^"Bill Wyman".Framus Vintage Archive. Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2015.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
- ^"'Framus – known all over the world'".Framus Vintage Archive. Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2015.RetrievedApril 29,2015.
- ^"Billy Lorento".Framus Vintage Archive(Framus-Vintage.de).RetrievedJanuary 19,2018.
- ^http:// danarmstrong.org/Where.html[bare URL]
- ^"On the radar: (Sandy) Alex G".18 September 2017.
- ^"Peter Kraus".Framus Vintage Archive(Framus-Vintage.de).RetrievedJanuary 19,2018.
- ^"Jan Akkerman".Framus Vintage Archive(Framus-Vintage.de).RetrievedJanuary 19,2018.
- ^""You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by The Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History ".beatlesebooks.Retrieved2024-06-05.
- ^""I've Just Seen A Face" by The Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History. Song Structure and Style ".beatlesebooks.Retrieved2024-06-05.
- ^"Lost John Lennon guitar sets Beatles instrument record at auction".bbc.Retrieved2024-06-05.
- ^Miles, Barry. Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now. Vintage-Random House 1998,ISBN0-7493-8658-4.
- ^Moseley, Willie G. (November 2002)."Philip Campbell – Decibel Level Be Damned".Vintage Guitar.RetrievedDecember 21,2013.
- ^Derrough, Leslie Michele (February 7, 2013)."Earl Slick: In the studio with David Bowie".Glide Magazine.RetrievedJuly 18,2014.
- ^Molenda, Michael (January 30, 2013)."Earl Slick's Street Rock Odyssey".Guitar Player.RetrievedJuly 18,2014.
- ^"Guitar & Genre" Mismatches ": Let's See Them!".3 June 2020.
- ^"Video: NAMM 2015: Framus".Guitar Player.January 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-07.RetrievedMarch 27,2015.
- ^"Video: Reflektor".Vimeo/Official music video by the band Arcade Fire. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-21.RetrievedJuly 8,2014.
- ^"Video: Devin Townsend on his Framus Guitar".Framus/Warwick.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
- ^"Video: AK1974" Mandelbrot "for Devin Townsend".Framus/Warwick.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
- ^"Video: Devin Townsend AK1974".Framus/Warwick.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
- ^"Framus launches pricey new the Blank and Television guitar models".28 February 2017.
- ^"Product Demo the Blank with Devin Townsend".25 September 2017.
- ^Varga, George (January 23, 2014)."Music & technology merge at NAMM".U-T San Diego.RetrievedJanuary 24,2014.
- ^Molenda, Michael (August 20, 2014)."Framus Idolmaker Five R Reviewed".Guitar Player.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.RetrievedFebruary 22,2015.
- ^Lefebvre, Sebastien."Thanks @warwickframus for this brand new guitar!..."SebastienLefebvre.RetrievedJuly 8,2014.
- ^Pratt, Guy."Guy Pratt".GuyPratt.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.