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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:35 pm
by rictified
That "homemade fretless" sounded damn good. I especially like the bass sound on 12 X 5. that is probably my all time favorite album by them, I've had various copies of it since I was about 11 or 12 (when it was brand new, I got it for Christmas)
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:44 pm
by carr
Dave have you ever owned a Framus bass? I asked that in Don's column, and someone answered yes, but I forgot who it was.
Guilty..It was me. I had two
John
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:47 am
by rictified
John, how did they sound, and where did you get them, are any still around, are they still being made?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 8:00 am
by ricnvolved
Joey Vasco-- Yeah, I figured you meant the newer stuff. And if I found myself in a position where I *HAD* to choose between Rickenbacker and a nice vintage Fender, I really don't know what I would do. This isn't meant as sacrilege towards Rickenbacker at all. But it would be an extremely tough choice. My Rics are far more comfortable to play regarding the feel of the neck compared to my P-bass. As mentioned in another post, the Ric tone isn't quite as versatile as my P-bass, IMHO. The good thing is that my choices aren't limited and I can play & enjoy both.
I daresay that most Ric lovers here can appreciate other high quality brandname instruments and savor the differences in playing them. It doesn't mean we love our Rics any less for that. Certainly we're not all going to agree on everything, whether it's Rickenbacker or something else. But that's okay; think how dull it would be around here if we did!
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 8:58 am
by dave4004
Bob, the Framus Star hasn't been made since the early 70s, maybe even a little earlier. The company was owned by Fred Wilfer, father of Hans-Peter Wilfer who owns Warwick. Now Warwick has restarted the brand and it's being handled by the same importer, but the only bass in the Framus line is the Soulman, a J-clone in the Warwick natural finish style.
But you do see them on eBay every so often.
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 1:14 pm
by carr
Bob Wrote" Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 01:47 pm:
John, how did they sound, and where did you get them, are any still around, are they still being made?"
Sorry I missed this post. it happens when the end of the day rolls around and the difference it time zones..cos usually I only check out the"last day posts"
The Framus basses were really a cheap bass by comparison with Fenders but they were light weight with a real skinny neck and ****** machine heads. Usually supplied with metal flats they thudded a bit . I changed to Plastic wound and got a reasonable sound more twang, less slap. They came with a loose bridge which was a pain, Glued in neck which didnt take kindly to being dropped. I had a Star bass and a Junior star. Both Single pick up from memory. They were good enough for rehearsal in a back room or tuning without an amp. Id like to get one " for old times sake' and also to check out how good/bad they really were. I recently sold off my Framus 12string. It was well past its use by date and the cost of getting it restored to be a first class second rate guitar was prohibitive. Im pretty sure there is a web page dedidcated to the history of Framus ( originally violin makers). I bought mine when I was living inthe Uk in the 60's. I haven't seen a Framus apart from the 12 string I bought secondhand in NZ in about 1980