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Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
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Author:  WudWerkr [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
Bought a Framus " Texan " Guitar off ebay as far as I can tell based on the model and serial number it was built in 72 .

Put a new set of strings on it and tuned it up and it sounds great . Has a very clean sound . My daughter is taking guitar lessons from a guy here in town and he has a nice old martin and the framus is very close in sound , the martin is better but not by much .

The point I mainly wanted to make is that the Framus has NO back bracing at all . None , nada , No center strip , no cross bracing nothing . You have end block , neck block and kerfing strips .

I had my doubts when I bid on it , but am actually pleased with the result ..... :D
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know !
Framus made some interesting critters, for sure.
Anyone remember when Mark Farner played one back in the day?
Author:  Mark Fogleman [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know !
Chris Pile wrote:
Framus made some interesting critters, for sure.
Anyone remember when Mark Farner played one back in the day?


I guess I didn't have a good enough time. I remember. :lol:
Author:  Jim_H [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
Jim,

Was this a one piece back? Or two? If two, was the seam reinforced at all?
Author:  TRein [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
These are plywood backs pressed into the shape of an arch, very similar to a Gretsch, Gibson 335, or Taylor 110.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
No seam reinforcing either . It IS a Laminated back which im sure makes a diffrence , I wouldnt call it plywood though . I guess it could be . But to answer the question , NO back bracing period .
Author:  Kim [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
It is a ply wood. Lots of companies, Ibanez, Yamaha, Maton, etc, etc, etc, all use ply for backs and sided bookmatching the veneers so it 'looks' like solid wood. They do so with tops to on the real cheapies...Maton had an interesting product description for the low end models during the 70's.."Best Acoustic Ply"..truth is that some, at least those with a solid top, can sound pretty good and can be your best friend in a pub brawl.

Cheers

Kim
Author:  WudWerkr [ Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
Kim wrote:
It is a ply wood. Lots of companies, Ibanez, Yamaha, Maton, etc, etc, etc, all use ply for backs and sided bookmatching the veneers so it 'looks' like solid wood. They do so with tops to on the real cheapies...Maton had an interesting product description for the low end models during the 70's.."Best Acoustic Ply"..truth is that some, at least those with a solid top, can sound pretty good and can be your best friend in a pub brawl.

Cheers

Kim


You are probably right here , there is a center seam though , may be a line in the ply but its there , simple fact is I was major impresed with the tone quality on the guitar . BTW I have $ 99.00 invested LOL I was expecting a dog , and its a very nice sounding guitar .
Author:  Tai Fu [ Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
Lack of a back bracing or center seam reinforcement is a telltale sign that it's a plywood/laminated back. Laminated is just a nice word for plywood. Another telltale sign is purely decorative bracing (for example, center seam reinforcement that runs parallel to the grain of the back).

Three piece backs have two seam reinforcements by the way...

Plywood is so strong that you can completely omit bracing even for soundboards. I've seen plywood topped steel string guitar with fan bracing, without a bridge plate! All in all it allows guitar companies to save a significant amount of money making it...
Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Well whadda ya know ! Framus Guitar !
Quote:
simple fact is I was major impresed with the tone quality on the guitar..... I was expecting a dog, and its a very nice sounding guitar .


Had a Western Auto Truetone many years ago - plywood 335 kinda thing. Looked like crap, but it sounded great, and played easy. Loaned it to a pal who used it onstage in college jazz band all 4 years. Eventually added some rock'n'roll pickups and played it even more until someone wanted it real badly, and I sold it. Wish I still had it - best $25 I ever spent.
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