Super Rare 1965 Framus Strato De Luxe model. This wild offset features more switches and knobs than a jet cockpit...Well, not really-but you get the idea. This specific guitar model was only made for a few months with the Black headstock, striped pickguard, Gold hardware (it is polished brass-actually), two pickups, pink-finger actuated volume swell control (!), and of course the crazy "Organ" tone stack (6-cans!) powered by a 9V accessible from the back. This guitar was produced at the original Framus factory in Bubenreuth, West Germany in 1965. This guitar is 100% original and it is in amazing condition-as you can see. It is fully functional and ready to play.
The body features a very similar shape to a Fender Jaguar: same offset, same contours etc. The body is made of Mahogany. I think... The pickguard and control plates cover up most of the 3-color Sunburst finish, but what is actually exposed is in very good condition with nominal handling evidence and a couple of line checks-see photos. The backside is just as clean, and the finish has that awesome 1960's lacquer gloss look. There are a couple of line checks here and there near the edges on the backside as well, adding to the vintage vibe. The pickguard is super-awesome and fairly flat. It has shrunk a small amount-most noticeably on the top point-near the upper control plate. It does go on and off fairly easily-just go slow and be patient. With the 'guard off-you can see that this guitar has the factory route for a 3rd pickup. It has no screw holes or other witness marks in this area so it certainly never had a 3rd pickup-probably just a production "stream-lining" thing to make things more simple at the factory. Although 3-pickups look super-rad, the versions of this model that I have played all have the same issue: the bridge pickup is very low in volume, as if it were underwound to give additional surf "mute-tones"... (Boo!). THIS 2-PICKUP version sounds nothing like that. The bridge pickup has a nice hot signal with lots of volume, in fact both pickups rock the Häus non-stop! I'm getting ahead of myself here...back to the body...There is a factory Ink stamp with year "1965" next to the bridge pickup. Also interesting is the fact that both pickups have 4-bolt mounts with only 2 screws used-on opposing diagonals. Again, nothing is missing-as you can see for yourself the other two holes were never drilled into the body. Framus saving monies like a Boss! The neck joint is an excellent fitment. It features a bolt-on neck design with integrated heel.
The neck itself appears to be a medium-tint stained maple construction with nice linear tight grain pattern. It is a 2-piece design with the U-shaped joint near the headstock for added stability. The truss rod functions and the neck is nice and straight. It has minimal relief and no twisting or other funny business. The profile is best described as a slim-C shape. It measures 1.58" wide at the nut and the neck depth measures .804" at the 1st fret and .823" at the 12th fret. The tuners are the original sealed back units with the beautiful pearloid Tulip button-these are same type that Hofner used as well. They function smoothly and just look classy as all get-out. The headstock and logo display excellent with a touch of patina-see photos. The Gold Framus logo on the Black painted face is a KILLER look! The headstock shape is VERY similar to a Fender Jaguar (I detect a pattern!) The Rosewood fingerboard is super clean and nice and smooth. The White Binding is in great condition. The frets have been professionally leveled, crowned and polished and appear crisp and super clean with an excellent height-see photos. The action is set low fro a fast and easy playing experience. The string height is currently .010" at the 1st fret and .055" at the 12th fret. The action can be easily raised by turning the 2-height adjustment screws on the bridge if you prefer a higher action. As it is-it plays very nicely with a super-light touch. There are no dead spots anywhere and it strums and picks excellent.
The pickups are single coil with exposed pole pieces (kinda like a Fender Jaguar)...they both have an excellent signal. The neck position measures 6.50 ohms and the bridge pickup measures 6.63 ohms. The controls and various switches all function. The wiring harness is in excellent condition. These mini-slider switches collect more dust than my 'honey-do' list; so cleaning maintenance is recommended every now and then-maybe during string change (also: just like a Fender Jaguar) The control plates look like mirrors in the photos and that seems to be what happens whenever they get a any light exposure. There is light patina (mostly just tiny stain spots) that I attempted to show from a shallow angle-see photos. Even in dim lighting-the reflection is pretty breath-taking. On stage-it looks like you are going super-nova! Can they handle it? You'll have to find out.
Here is the control breakdown for you: Upper control plate-from horn tip towards bridge: 1st switch-neck pickup on/off 2nd switch-bridge pickup on/off 3rd switch-bass tone cut 4th switch-"Rhythm Mode" aka Bridge pickup bypass switch (again: kinda like a Fender Jaguar) Lower control plate-from tone-swell potentiometer towards output jack: pinky finger-friendly "hook" swell control. It is a spring loaded potentiometer that releases volume as you pull up-so you can play a chord that no one can hear and gradually (or quickly) you can increase the volume similar to a violin-like volume swell. Yes-it is the same thing as turning your volume control up and down but the spring-loaded feature ensures an improved consistency and the pinky control lets you do it while you are playing! Pretty far out. Next up, the Volume control potentiometer. This control is for the normal tone circuit. To the left, the tone control potentiometer-also for the normal tone circuit, controlling the Treble/Bass EQ. Above that is a slider switch which enables or bypasses the volume swell potentiometer. Back to the left of the normal circuit tone potentiometer is the "Rhythm Mode" Volume potentiometer-it controls the volume only while the "Rhythm Mode" switch is actuated. Above it, is the "Rhythm Mode" Tone potentiometer which controls the Treble/Bass EQ. only while the "Rhythm Mode" is actuated. To the left of it is the "Organ circuit" on/off switch. In the up position the tone is mellow and sounds like your amp is buried in a pile of dirty clothes. In the down position-all hell breaks loose. The tone drives the hell out of the amp and you are LITTY LIT! It sounds like a Tube Screamer is inside your guitar somehow. THIS is the position you want that switch in. On the backside-the necessary 9-volt battery port can be found Ships with NO battery btw)...
The bridge mute functions BETTER than a Jaguar in my opinion-and it doesn't rattle and stays where you want it. The Vibrato is also similar to a Fender Jaguar (I know, I know) but wait! It's actually BETTER! You can easily adjust the arm-swing tension so the arm stays in the same place! Really great feature!
The guitar is very comfortable to play and it has a good weight-it weighs only 8.20 lbs. Of course you will have fun exploring the different tone settings for hours on end. The guitar has a really rocking tone and is sure to satisfy. The switches do need the standard "preventive maintenance" cleaning so once again, I recommend keeping a can of electronic cleaner around (best to do this while strings are off so you can access everything easily. The guitar has sat in a case for a REALLY long time, so it is entirely possible that once it actually starts seeing some consistent use, the switches might behave better. If you've read this far, I feel like I should give you a medal. Just know that YOU are appreciated. Actually, its time for me to go back in my cage, so I'll see you next time...
Comes complete with original hard case! How cool is that? (cooler than living in this damn cage)
