Framus

Framus is a German guitar, bass, lap steel guitars 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).

Timeline

• 1946: The foundation of 'Franconian Musical Instruments by Fred A. Wilfer KG in Erlangen, Germany to help resettle luthiers displaced from Schönbach, today Luby u Chebu in the Sudetenland.
• 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.

History

Early years

Framus originated in the town of Schönbach, today called Luby u Chebu in the area of Eger. 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. After World War II, when he heard about the expulsion plans of the allied forces in his south eastern Germany homeland (which was probably soon becoming part of the Soviet Union), 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.

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 at the end of the 1950s. Because of this development some technologic advances were introduced (as for example implementing truss rods in guitar necks some time around 1960) and 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.

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 Harris, 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.

• Lamb of God guitarist Willie Adler uses Framus 4 X 12 cabinets. In their DVD entitled Killadelphia, Willie gives praise to Framus for giving him "A backdrop to fuckin' die for."

• Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman had a Framus signature model issued in 1974.

• Rik Emmett, of the Canadian Hard rock band Triumph, used an Akkerman signature model for several years prior to his Yamaha endorsement deal.

• Roy Estrada of the Mothers Of Invention used a Framus bass through most of 1968.

• Dave Hill of the British glam band, Slade, used a Framus made copy of his original John Birch Super Yob.

• Sebastian Lefebvre of French-Canadian Pop Punk Band Simple Plan Primarily uses the Framus Mayfield.

• John Lennon bought a Framus Hootenanny in 1965 which occasionally was played by George Harrison 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 Lawrence) has been associated with Framus since 1953.

• Bruce Palmer, bass guitarist for the Buffalo Springfield, played a Framus Star Bass during the infancy of the band, as well as used the Star Bass in his previous group, The Mynah Birds from Toronto.

• Denzil Warner Austin bass guitarist for the Everydudes and Herman The German 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 some direct replacement spare parts for their vintage models (as knobs, tuners, bridges or tailpieces) and a small range of high-end tube amplifiers which are used by Killswitch Engage, Simple Plan, Unearth, Dead To Fall, The Deer In Your Headlights, Deer Velvet, August Burns Red, Los Angeles guitarist Dale Hauskins and many others.

External links

• Framus International website
• Framus Vintage website