Framus 5/117-52TN Atlantic

A little update of my previous review, for all you Framus-freaks out there: I got it wrong, the model should be 5/113-52T. The 5/117 was the Caravelle model made by Framus. As yet I have not seen a 5/113 with only one cut-away, as my guitar has. I have seen Atlantic models with one cut-away that were called 5/110. Well, I don't really know how consequent Framus used their model-numbers anyway, but the guitar remains a great instrument.

Thinline (4.5 cm deep), hollow-body, single cut-away electric archtop. Typically Framus multi-ply bolt-on neck. 2 Single-coil pick-ups. Very cool vibrato tailpiece (somewhat Bigsby-like, but more elegant to my opinion). Black-to-red "sunburst"-finish (an option called Black Rose by Framus). Building year impossible to read anymore, but must have been somewhere between 1962 - 1970. Top probably a laminate and not solid wood, but I haven't checked yet. The left 'shoulder' contains a small celluloid plate with 3 switches: neck PU on/off, bridge PU on/off and some sort of 'boost'-switch (or maybe a master on/of switch, but some signal still leaks through in the 'off'-position. Four knobs: 2 volume, 2 tone (Les Paul-configuration). Ebony, jazz-type, bridge, which is not original. I have an original bridge that Framus applied on these guitars, it's plastic, with six white little saddles en 2 wheels for height-adjustment. Original Framus-tuning mechanisms, an open 3-on-a-plate construction, which are not great (I consider replacement).

For what I can read on the fainted label inside the guitar, it's an Atlantic model, type 5/117-52TN. Actually I can only distinguish A.... /..7 52TN, so I guessed it's the Atlantic model. It's very hard to read though. In an old Framus-catalog I saw a very similar guitar, but that was a 5/113 Sorella. In the same catalog the Atlantic model is only available with two cut-aways.... do I have a Framus with a wrong label in it? Don't know. Serial number is still clear: 29484. Framus used to stamp the date of production after the serial number, but that's gone, unfortunately.

I like the sound! It's definately the sound of a hollow-bodied jazz-box, but of course with the typically thinline "mid-honk". Surprisingly loud when played acoustically. Plugged, the tone is dark, sweet, jazzy, blues. It lacks treble-bite a bit, in spite of the zero-fret and metal topnut. I consider replacing the bridge for a metal-on-wood type roller-bridge a la Gretsch. The sound is very usefull for my playing style: jazz, blues (from Chicago to swing), and rock & twang-a-billy roll-something.

The guitar is also very suitable to be played overdriven. The pich-ups allow a mild T-Bone just-over-the-edge tone, to a more raw and sustainfull grunge. Lack of treble doesn't mean the sound is blurred. Especially not on the Fender Blues Deluxe I use, that has a lot of treble from it's own.

The neck is straight as an arrow, an still in very good condition. The strings are set up very low and still it doesn't buzz.... it amazed me! The strings presently used are D'Adario's 0.011 roundwounds. It plays so smooth though, that bends up to a whole tone are (almost) possibly. Haven't played it on stage yet, my experience is that playing live I like my necks fairly hollow. Requires harder work, but gives so much more tone in return. So maybe I'll loosen the trussrod somewhat in the future. The neck is a big chunk of wood, shaped somewhere in between a C and a V. My hands, most certainly not the largest hands on the planet, love it though!

The vibrato must be used with care, otherwise it goes out of tune. Properly winding the strings round the posts and greasing the top nut helps a lot though.

Finish shows only some minor wear. Framus used high quality lacquer, it appears. I would gig without a back-up, although I always bring more guitars, just for tonal variation and for fun.

I contacted the Framus factory for information about my 1975 Missouri. The were helpfull and gave me the adress of Vlado Hansal, former employee in the old factory, for more information.

I love the looks, the sounds and the features, although the switches need some getting used to. Love the vibrato. Together with my Framus Missouri, this is a great couple of guitars, that fullfills all my guitaristic needs!