Framus
Encyclopedia
Framus is a German
guitar
, bass
, lap steel guitar
s and banjo
manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick
GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen
(Germany).
. The city at the foot of the Erzgebirge was shaped by the music. Violins and other string instruments have been manufactured and exported from Schönbach worldwide. There, in the Bohemian area, the founder of Framus, Fred Wilfer was born in 1917. When he heard about the expulsion plans of the allied forces, that were going to affect his homeland in south Germany, he decided to build up a new basis for his countryman and the music industry in the west.
Even before the first train was going to transport violin makers from Schönbach to other areas, Fred Wilfer contacted different government authorities in Bavaria
and told them about his plans. The Bavarian government welcomed his plans and asked him to create all conditions needed for the settlement to Bavaria. For this reason he founded the "Franconian music production Fred Wilfer investment trust" (of which Framus is an acronym) in Erlangen on January 1, 1946. This factory became the central aim of the Schönbach violin makers.
When the first train transporting violin makers from Schönbach arrived in Erlangen he was the man in charge to find housing for them. He also made arrangements for the establishment of the first workshops.
In the 50s Paul McCartney
owned a model of a Framus Ivor Mairants
"Zenith" guitar. He had originally been given a trumpet for his 14th birthday in 1956 but he learned he could not possibly sing playing a trumpet so he swapped it for a Framus "Zenith" model 17. He used it to compose some of his first songs with it including "When I'm 64". It still hangs in his studio.
Since the end of 1949 Bubenreuth became the centre of settlement of Schoenbach violin makers. Fred Wilfer built up one of the most modern factories of this time. In summer 1954 Framus moved into the new factory. About 170 employees started to work, having 2200 square meters at their disposal to produce more than 2000 instruments in a month.
The guitar, particularly the electric guitar, became the new bestsellers. The sales increased enormously due to the popularity of rock and roll music
at the end of the 1950s. Because of this development a second factory had to be built in Pretzfeld
, 25 km north of Bubenreuth
in the Franconian Switzerland, in 1966. It was at that time that Framus became the biggest guitar producer in Europe employing about 300 workers in the late 1960s.
Famous musicians were guests welcomed at Framus in Bubenreuth, e.g. the Vienna Saengerknaben (Boys Choir) who delivered a special concert in the Framus workshops. There were also many politicians who visited Bubenreuth and Framus.
Since the factory in Bubenreuth was built, a musical kinder garden was planned. Supported by a young teacher, Frau Gertrud Fischer, a note book was written which enabled children to start learning the musical note system at the age of three. This was possible due to the development of the little coloured "note mans" which made it very easy to play.
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
came into the violin-making-village. And of course a tour through the Framus factory and the musical kinder garden could not be missing.
Many aspects of the history of Framus are still in the dark. This is due to the bankruptcy of the company when almost the whole archives were lost. For this reason contemporary information about Framus would be welcomed in this article.
, Brian Locking
, Heinz Burt
, as well as Bill Wyman
, played Framus basses. Wyman's connection was established in 1964 when the bassist signed a three-year sponsorship deal endorsing the "Framus Star Bass". Endorsers in the United States
at this time were Charlie Mingus and Jim Hall
.
, Simple Plan, Unearth
, Dead To Fall
, The Deer In Your Headlights, Deer Velvet, August Burns Red
, Los Angeles
guitarist Dale Hauskins and many others.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
, lap steel guitar
Lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
s and banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen
Markneukirchen
Markneukirchen is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It lies in between the Erzgebirge and the Fichtelgebirge in the Elstergebirge, southeast of Plauen, and northeast of Asch ....
(Germany).
Timeline
- 1946: The foundation of 'Franconian Musical Instruments by Fred A. Wilfer KG in ErlangenErlangenErlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, Germany to help resettle luthiers displaced from Schönbach, today Luby u ChebuLuby (Cheb District)Luby is a town in the Czech Republic....
in the SudetenlandSudetenlandSudetenland is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the northern, southwest and western regions of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans, specifically the border areas of Bohemia, Moravia, and those parts of Silesia being within Czechoslovakia.The...
. - 1954: A larger factory is built in Bubenreuth, Germany to house the 300-strong workforce.
- 1967: Further expansion sees the building of a second facility in Pretzfeld, Germany.
- 1975: The rapidly changing market forces the company into bankruptcy.
- 1995: Framus musical instruments enter into production under Warwick GmbH & Co.
Early years
Framus originated in the town of Schönbach, today called Luby u Chebu in the area of EgerCheb
Cheb is a city in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic, with about 33,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the river Ohře , at the foot of one of the spurs of the Smrčiny and near the border with Germany...
. The city at the foot of the Erzgebirge was shaped by the music. Violins and other string instruments have been manufactured and exported from Schönbach worldwide. There, in the Bohemian area, the founder of Framus, Fred Wilfer was born in 1917. When he heard about the expulsion plans of the allied forces, that were going to affect his homeland in south Germany, he decided to build up a new basis for his countryman and the music industry in the west.
Even before the first train was going to transport violin makers from Schönbach to other areas, Fred Wilfer contacted different government authorities in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and told them about his plans. The Bavarian government welcomed his plans and asked him to create all conditions needed for the settlement to Bavaria. For this reason he founded the "Franconian music production Fred Wilfer investment trust" (of which Framus is an acronym) in Erlangen on January 1, 1946. This factory became the central aim of the Schönbach violin makers.
When the first train transporting violin makers from Schönbach arrived in Erlangen he was the man in charge to find housing for them. He also made arrangements for the establishment of the first workshops.
In the 50s Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
owned a model of a Framus Ivor Mairants
Ivor Mairants
Ivor Mairants was a professional jazz and classical guitarist, teacher and composer.With his wife Lily in 1958 he created Ivor Mairants Musicentre, a specialist guitar store in London that was the first of its kind in the country and is still among the foremost of its kind in the...
"Zenith" guitar. He had originally been given a trumpet for his 14th birthday in 1956 but he learned he could not possibly sing playing a trumpet so he swapped it for a Framus "Zenith" model 17. He used it to compose some of his first songs with it including "When I'm 64". It still hangs in his studio.
Progress
In march 1946 the first transport with Schönbach violin makers arrived in Erlangen. Fred Wilfer and the refugee commissioner troubled for the accommodation. A factory was set up in a former wheel warehouse in Möhrendorf in autumn 1946. At the end of 1948 the factory was moved to the near town Baiersdorf. However, even in the rooms of a former brewery was soon not enough space anymore.Since the end of 1949 Bubenreuth became the centre of settlement of Schoenbach violin makers. Fred Wilfer built up one of the most modern factories of this time. In summer 1954 Framus moved into the new factory. About 170 employees started to work, having 2200 square meters at their disposal to produce more than 2000 instruments in a month.
The guitar, particularly the electric guitar, became the new bestsellers. The sales increased enormously due to the popularity of rock and roll music
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
at the end of the 1950s. Because of this development a second factory had to be built in Pretzfeld
Pretzfeld
Pretzfeld is a municipality in the district of Forchheim in Bavaria in Germany....
, 25 km north of Bubenreuth
Bubenreuth
Bubenreuth is a municipality in the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, in Bavaria, Germany....
in the Franconian Switzerland, in 1966. It was at that time that Framus became the biggest guitar producer in Europe employing about 300 workers in the late 1960s.
Famous musicians were guests welcomed at Framus in Bubenreuth, e.g. the Vienna Saengerknaben (Boys Choir) who delivered a special concert in the Framus workshops. There were also many politicians who visited Bubenreuth and Framus.
Since the factory in Bubenreuth was built, a musical kinder garden was planned. Supported by a young teacher, Frau Gertrud Fischer, a note book was written which enabled children to start learning the musical note system at the age of three. This was possible due to the development of the little coloured "note mans" which made it very easy to play.
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
came into the violin-making-village. And of course a tour through the Framus factory and the musical kinder garden could not be missing.
Bankruptcy
In an interview Fred Wilfer summarized his all-embracing concept with the following words: It's not only important to produce instruments, over a long period it is important to "produce customers". This motto is found in other Framus projects, as well. Eventually the price dumping by companies from Japan along with other factors, both external and internal forced Framus into bankruptcy at the end of the 1970s.Many aspects of the history of Framus are still in the dark. This is due to the bankruptcy of the company when almost the whole archives were lost. For this reason contemporary information about Framus would be welcomed in this article.
Notable users
In the early 1960s, Framus Star Bass guitars were among the first to be imported into Britain. Many of the early rock and roll British bass guitarists, including Jet HarrisJet Harris
Jet Harris, MBE was an English musician. He was the bass guitarist of The Shadows until April 1962, and had subsequent success as a soloist and as a duo with the drummer Tony Meehan....
, Brian Locking
Brian Locking
Brian "Licorice" Locking was the bass guitarist with The Shadows between 1962-1963.- Career :...
, Heinz Burt
Heinz (singer)
Heinz was a bassist and singer.-Life:Heinz was born in Detmold, but from the age of seven was brought up in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, where a road is named after him. His biggest solo hit was "Just Like Eddie", a tribute to Eddie Cochran...
, as well as Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
, played Framus basses. Wyman's connection was established in 1964 when the bassist signed a three-year sponsorship deal endorsing the "Framus Star Bass". Endorsers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at this time were Charlie Mingus and Jim Hall
Jim Hall
Jim Hall is the name of:* Jim Hall , jazz guitarist and composer* Jim Hall , Australian boxer in the late 19th century* Jim Hall , race car driver and founder of Chaparral Cars...
.
- Lamb of GodLamb of GodThe title Lamb of God appears in the Gospel of John, with the exclamation of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" in John 1:29 when he sees Jesus....
guitarist Willie AdlerWillie AdlerWilliam M. Adler is the rhythm guitarist in the groove metal band Lamb Of God. He is the younger brother of bandmate Chris Adler.Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, [Keven Maglasang ], left the band...
uses Framus 4 X 12 cabinets. In their DVD entitled KilladelphiaKilladelphia (DVD)Killadelphia is a 2005 live DVD from US metal band Lamb of God, released on Epic Records and shot and directed by Doug Spangenberg. It consists of footage filmed during the band's two gigs at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia on October 16 and 17 of 2004, hence the pun title of the DVD...
, Willie gives praise to Framus for giving him "A backdrop to fuckin' die for."
- Dutch guitarist Jan AkkermanJan AkkermanJan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
had a Framus signature model issued in 1974.
- Rik EmmettRik EmmettRichard Gordon Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of the Canadian rock band Triumph. Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Absolutely, was released in 1990 and became a moderate hit across North America thanks to the hits "When a Heart...
, of the Canadian Hard rockHard rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band TriumphTriumph (band)Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
, used an Akkerman signature model for several years prior to his Yamaha endorsement deal.
- Roy EstradaRoy EstradaRoy Estrada is an American musician and backing vocalist, best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and for co-founding Little Feat.-Biography:With drummer Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins, Estrada was an original member of Frank Zappa's...
of the Mothers Of Invention used a Framus bass through most of 1968.
- Dave HillDave HillDave Hill is an English musician, who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the English glam rock group, Slade. The music journalist, Stuart Maconie, commented "he usually wore a jumpsuit made of the foil that you baste your turkeys in and platforms of oil-rig-derrick height...
of the British glam band, SladeSladeSlade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
, used a Framus made copy of his original John BirchJohn Birch (luthier)John Birch was an English luthier mainly known for his electric guitars. His customers included Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath, Brian May of Queen, Dave Hill and Jim Lea of Slade, Gerry Shephard of The Glitter Band, and Roy Orbison.-Early life and career:John Birch was born in West...
Super Yob.
- Sebastian Lefebvre of French-Canadian Pop Punk Band Simple PlanSimple PlanSimple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
Primarily uses the Framus Mayfield.
- John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
bought a Framus Hootenanny in 1965 which occasionally was played by George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
as well. Paul McCartney's first guitar was a Zenith (built by Framus on commission from Boosey & Hawkes), which he still owns.
- Billy Lorento (alias Bill LawrenceBill Lawrence (guitar maker)Bill Lawrence is a recording musician and an electric guitar pickup designer/maker and guitar designer/maker in the musical instrument industry, designing pickups and guitars for Fender, Gibson, Peavey and other companies from the 1950s to the present.MusicianThe Bill Lawrence story began...
) has been associated with Framus since 1953.
- Bruce PalmerBruce PalmerBruce Palmer was a Canadian musician notable for playing bass guitar in the folk rock band Buffalo Springfield.-Early years:Palmer was born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Canada...
, bass guitarist for the Buffalo SpringfieldBuffalo SpringfieldBuffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
, played a Framus Star Bass during the infancy of the band, as well as used the Star Bass in his previous group, The Mynah BirdsThe Mynah BirdsThe Mynah Birds were a Canadian R&B band formed in Toronto, Ontario active from 1964 to 1967. Although the band never released an album, it is notable as featuring a number of musicians who went on to have successful careers in rock, folk rock and funk....
from Toronto.
- Denzil Warner Austin bass guitarist for the Everydudes and Herman The GermanHerman the GermanThe Hermann Heights Monument is a statue erected in New Ulm, Minnesota. The statue depicts Hermann the Cheruscan, also known by the Latin name Arminius, but locals refer to the statue as Hermann the German. The only National Register of Historic Places property of its kind in Minnesota, the...
first played a Framus bass purchased at the Vox Box in Marshall, Mo. in the early 70's.
- Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones had a Framus bass that is notable in most images and videos of the Rolling Stones from 1963 to 1968.
Framus today
Since 1995, musical instruments are being produced again under the name Framus. Today's Framus brand was revived by Hans Peter Wilfer (son of founder Fred Wilfer) as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen (Germany). Along with a range of electric guitars, the company produces a small range of high-end tube amplifiers which are used by Killswitch EngageKillswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
, Simple Plan, Unearth
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
, Dead To Fall
Dead to Fall
Dead to Fall was originally a melodic death metal band from the Chicago suburbs and later stretched from Chicago to Minneapolis. Formed in 1999, it drew influences from Swedish Gothenburg metal, death metal, and other genres, and is usually labeled as a melodic death metal band...
, The Deer In Your Headlights, Deer Velvet, August Burns Red
August Burns Red
August Burns Red is an American metal band, from Manheim, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2003, the group began their first performances while a majority of the members were attending their senior year of high school, and soon began playing shows around Lancaster, before being signed to CI Records, and...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
guitarist Dale Hauskins and many others.