Framus Sorento 6

Framus thinline archtop, rather similar to an ES-335 but even more to an ES-330 or to an Epiphone Casino, because it has no centre-blok over the entire length of the body, just one under the bridge and tremolo (the tremolo being bolt on to the top just about where the stop-tailpiece would be with an ES-335). Therefore the body is mainly hollow. More Casino-like features: single-coil P90-like pickups, neckjoint at the 16th fret (as opposed to the 19th fret on an ES-335). More features: multi-laminate neck with unbound rosewood fingerboard, dot-inlays, very low vintage fret-wire, neck is bolt-on, painted or decall f-hole, adjustable roller-bridge that lets you adjust both intonation and string-spacing. Three pots: volume, tone, and one with an unknown function (it doesn't seem to do anything). Input jack at the side. All laminated woods. Vibrato unit, somewhat Bigsby-like but much smaller and more elegant.

The model could be a Sorento 6, but viewing the info on www.framus-vintage.de, it could also be an Atlantik 6. There is a serialnumber stamped on the back of the headstock, but it is hard to read. Production mark reads 77B, which would indicate february 1977. I always believed Framus went out of business around 1975, so this surprises me. There is no model-indication anywhere.

I only got it recently, but used it last tuesday on a jazz-jamsession playing through a small Fender transistor-amp (unsure of the model). Listeners and musicians there complemented me on the tone: clear but also brown and jazzy. I think it sounds very similar to an ES-330 (maybe a little brighter?), think jazz tone a la Grant Green! Since I'm very much into Grant's music and style, this was all I could wish to hear :-). Myself, I play it through a Fender Blues Deluxe and through a Roland Cube 30. It has a clear, but rich, full and round sound, with some hollowness and darkness, with bell-like qualities. Never get's fizzy or sharp. It slightly favoures the mids, which I like. The fact that it doesn't have a real f-hole limits it's acoustic volume, but since I use it only amplified that's actually a big advantage since it doesn't feedback (haven't tried hi-gain distortion yet). I give it a solid 9 rating, for I don't yet know how a 10 would sound....

Factory set-up: I couldn't tell of course. Plays easy. I fitted it with 011 flatwounds, may even change those to 012 to obtain even more jazz-feel in the strings. The pickups are great! The electronics do crackle a little after 30 years, but otherwise still function flawless (apart for the mystery-controlpot) and feel solid. Quality material I would say. Okay, maybe apart from the third control that doesn't seem to do anything. The frets were originally very low I think and now show signs of wear, so it might need a refret in the near future. All in all very good craftsmanship.

Definately withstands live playing! I replaced the vibrato for a more jazz-guitar like Framus tailpiece that I had laying around. I don't need the vibrato, have other guitars for that. I also changed the tuners to vintage Kluson-imitations, because one of the originals was bent and they all were very stiff. The original tuners did seem to hold tuning though. I used it without a backup (I always bring only one guitar except for when I would engage on a worldtour, which hasn't happened so far..). Also had to replace the strap-button at the body, which was a very thick plactic one and I couldn't get a strap te fit.

The finish is still very good and smooth after some polishing. One big scratch at the side, probably due to an accident in the past.

Framus offers a lot of information on their vintage models on www.framus-vintage.de. Very good!

I play for a long time (since I was 10, I'm 34 now...). I always look out for old Framus guitars, because they offer great value for money. If it was stolen I wouldn't loose a lot of money, but I doubt if I would ever find a similar model that plays and sounds so great for so little money. I set up this guitar for my amplified jazz-gigs, but it could well do blues, soul and funk too. It is just great, especially for the low price I paid. I'm very happy with it, since this fulfils my Grant Green sound aspirations, without having to pay the jackpot for a Gibson ES-330! To my ears it sounds just like Grant's ES-330 as being recorded on the numerous Blue Note album's. Add to that a great playabillity, feel and look and some vintage-ooze and then I feel I could only rate it a solid 10! But since it will be needing a costly refret that reduces the what-you-get-for-your-buck-value, I give it a 9, still very impressive.

This guitar was made in 1971 in Bavaria, Germany. It's a semi-hollow ES 335 copy but it adds some remarkable differences in the way it was built. It comes with a maple body, a maple bolt-on neck with 21 frets and very old fashioned Framus-tuners. Like an ES 335 there's a sustainblock in the body. Also there's some kind of Bigsby-style whammy on it which just looks very cool. There are two soapbar singlecoil pickups (they look like P-90/94s), one volume and one tone knob and a three-way selector. What's very special about this guitar, there are no f-holes cutted into the body. There's just one painted on it. Lazy Bavarians? No matter, I like the way it looks and feels...

I play rock 'n roll, Blues, Jazz and some funk and this guitar gets the hell out of these styles. The pickups really do sound like good old P-90s and get a nice slightly overdrive out of my Fender Blues Deluxe I'm using for gigs. At home and for rehearsals I use an very old Dynacord Twen tube amp which seems to be built for this guitar. They both are kraut-made so I guess they like each other... But well, you can't expect an ES 335 sound. It's more like you put a Telecaster and a Casino together in one guitar. I love it!!!

As I got this guitar there was much to do but after properly adjustment everything just fits fine (it's a 34 year old guitar)...

Therefore it's an very old guitar it seems to be very well built. And I trust in german 'Wertarbeit'...

Never dealt with them...

I really love this guitar and if it gets stolen I'll find the guy and kill him!!!