Interesting Framus prototype (?)

ilan · March 27, 2012, 06:21:18 PM

On eBay.

The seller says "According to Framus guitars in Germany, this bass was never issued, and they have only seen photos of it."

No pics of a headstock logo. Could be a project using all Framus parts.

In any case, nice LP shape with "German shoulders" carve front and back.

drbassman · March 27, 2012, 07:23:11 PM

Cool little bass, I like except for the funky wiring rout in the back.

Dave W · March 27, 2012, 10:13:43 PM

Yeah, I don't believe for a minute that it's a real Framus. Or that Framus would want something in their museum that they have no record of making.

drbassman · March 28, 2012, 06:34:10 AM

Yeah, looks like something I would have made out of random parts! I think that's the origin of a lot of so called prototypes. They often have no record of their pedigree and it's usually bogus.

But, I still think it's a cool looking little bass! I have some ideas for an LP style bass myself, including the nice bevel around the edges and maybe even an f-hole of sorts. Can't wait for summer, I'm off June till September!

godofthunder · March 28, 2012, 07:39:19 AM

That's a pretty elaborate route

I am pretty sure a experienced builder would have approached that differently. Looks like someones project to me not a prototype.

gweimer · March 28, 2012, 07:45:33 AM

What would that selector switch do? I only see what looks like one single coil pickup. It is a pretty bass, though.

Dave W · March 28, 2012, 09:24:14 AM

Is there any word more misused in eBay descriptions than RARE (in caps)? Occasionally the item is rare, usually it's not.

When I see both RARE and "prototype" in a listing title (or in this case, "unissued") my bullshit detector goes off. This one's a good example. Somebody puts something together with Framus parts from a junked bass, and suddenly it's a RARE unissued Framus. Sure, pal. Framus didn't issue it because they never made it.

I can count the genuine prototypes I've seen on eBay on one hand.

drbassman · March 28, 2012, 10:49:40 AM

Quote from: Dave W on March 28, 2012, 09:24:14 AM
Is there any word more misused in eBay descriptions than RARE (in caps)? Occasionally the item is rare, usually it's not.

When I see both RARE and "prototype" in a listing title (or in this case, "unissued") my bullshit detector goes off. This one's a good example. Somebody puts something together with Framus parts from a junked bass, and suddenly it's a RARE unissued Framus. Sure, pal. Framus didn't issue it because they never made it.

I can count the genuine prototypes I've seen on eBay on one hand.

Amen Dave.

ilan · March 28, 2012, 11:24:33 AM

It's a nice project though. Better looking than some factory Framuses.

drbassman · March 28, 2012, 11:41:37 AM

Quote from: ilan on March 28, 2012, 11:24:33 AM
It's a nice project though. Better looking than some factory Framuses.

I agree, they don't have the best designers in the guitar world.

Dave W · March 28, 2012, 07:31:51 PM

Yep, I like the shape and the simplicity.

Framus was never well regarded in the US back in the day. I can't see this being worth his minimum bid even if it were a real Framus.