When Frederick Wilfer returned to his home town of Walthersgrun at the end of World War II, he realized that the American-controlled Sudetenland area was soon to fall under control of the Russian forces. With the help of the Americans, Wilfer succeeded in resettling a number of violin makers from Schonbach to Franconia (later in the district of Erlangen). Between 1945 and 1947, Wilfer continued to find homes and employment for the Schonbach violin makers.
In 1946, Wilfer founded the Framus production company, the company name an acronym for Franconian Musical instruments. As the company established itself in 1946, Wilfer drew on the knowledge of his violin builder from Schonbach to produce a range of musical instruments including violins and cellos. The new Framus company expanded out of its first couple of production buildings, eventually building a new factory in Bubenreuth in 1955.
The first Framus electric guitars appeared in the 1950s. Due to the presence of American servicemen stationed there, the influence of rock ´n roll surfaced earlier in Germany than other European countries. As a result, German guitar builders had a headstart on answering the demand caused by the proliferation of pop groups during the 1960s. Furthermore, as the German production increased, they began exporting their guitars to other countries (including the U.S.). The Framus company stayed active in producing acoustic and electric guitars, and electric basses until the mid-1970s.
In the 1970s, increased competition and serious price undercutting from firms in the Asian market had a serious effect on established companies. Unfortunately, one aspect was to force a number of firms into bankruptcy - and Framus was one of those companies in 1975. However, Wilfer did have the opportunity to watch his son, Hans-Peter Wilfer, establish his own company in 1982 (see Warwick). Warwick's success allowed Hans-Peter to re-introduce the Framus trademark to the European musical market in 1996. In honor of his father Frederick, Hans-Peter chose to use the world famous Framus trademark when he began offering guitar models in 1996
Current Framus instruments (including the electric guitars, acoustics, and hand wired tube guitar amps) are produced at the Warwick facility. In 2009, Framus opened a custom shop in New York City, where several standard and custom instruments are on display and they also have a repair shop in the basement. Currently, Framus instruments are available in England, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, and the United States.
Sources: Hans Peter Wilfer, Warwick GmbH & Co. Music Equipment Kg, and Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Guru's Guitar Guide.
Instruments currently produced in Markneukirchen, Germany. Distributed by Warwick GmbH & Co. Music Equipment Kg of Markneukirchen, Germany. Instruments were previously produced in Germany from the late 1940s through the mid-1970s. In 1996, the trademark was reintroduced and was distributed by Dana B. Goods in the U.S until 2007.

FRAMUS Electric Guitars Models

FRAMUS AK-1974 Image

FRAMUS AK-1974

- single sharp hollow cutaway, two-piece flamed maple body, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, single f-hole, flamed sycamore set neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlays, three-per-side tuners, Framus Tunomatic br...

FRAMUS JAN AKKERMAN MODEL Image

FRAMUS JAN AKKERMAN MODEL

- single sharp hollow cutaway, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, single f-hole, flamed sycamore set neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with custom inlays, 3-per-side tuners, two humbucker pickups, two knobs (v, tone) and 6-way rotary swi...

FRAMUS STRATO Image

FRAMUS STRATO

- offset double cutaway, several variations, one, two, or three pickups, bolt-on neck, tremolo, various finishes, mfg. early 1960s-1972.

FRAMUS AZ-10 Image

FRAMUS AZ-10

- single cutaway archtop guitar, solid spruce top, solid flame maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, multi-layer binding, 21-fret ebony fingerboard with MOP triangle and clover inlays, three-per-side tuners, adj. ebony bridge, chrome tra...

FRAMUS CAMARILLO CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS CAMARILLO CUSTOM

- double offset cutaway, two-piece swamp ash body, two-piece bookmatched flame maple top, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, three-per-side tuners, Framus Tunomatic bridge and stop tailpiece, two...

FRAMUS DIABLO CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS DIABLO CUSTOM

- double offset cutaway, two-piece swamp ash body, two-piece boomatched flame maple top, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, 3-per-side tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, three Seymour Duncan SSH pickups,...

FRAMUS DIABLO PRO Image

FRAMUS DIABLO PRO

- double offset cutaway, two-piece swamp ash body, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, MOP celluloid pickguard, Wilkinson tremolo, 3 Seymour Duncan SSH pickups, two knobs (v, tone), five-wa...

FRAMUS HOLLYWOOD CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS HOLLYWOOD CUSTOM

- single cutaway Explorer/Charvel design, hollow Honduras mahogany body, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, two f-holes, wood body binding, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, three-per-side t...

FRAMUS MANHATTAN CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS MANHATTAN CUSTOM

- offset double cutaway swamp ash body with tone chamber, AAA flame maple top, gold binding, ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with YinYang inlays, gold chrome plated headstock with three-per-side tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, gold c...

FRAMUS MAYFIELD CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS MAYFIELD CUSTOM

- symmetrical double cutaway thinlines semi-hollow body, choice of two-piece bookmatched AAA flamed maple, AAA quilted maple, or laminated Rio rosewood top, back, and sides, top body binding, two bound f-holes, AAA flamed maple neck, 22-fre...

FRAMUS MAYFIELD LEGACY Image

FRAMUS MAYFIELD LEGACY

- symmetrical double cutaway thinline semi-hollow body, laminated mahogany top and back, solid mahogany sides, top and back body binding, two bound f-holes, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overla...

FRAMUS MAYFIELD PRO Image

FRAMUS MAYFIELD PRO

- symmetrical double cutaway thinline semi-hollow body, laminated flame maple top, back, and sides, top body binding, two bound f-holes, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, three-per-side tuners, Framus Tunomatic bridg...

FRAMUS MONTEREY CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS MONTEREY CUSTOM

- double offset cutaway swamp ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with small dot inlays, three-per-side tuners, Framus vintage tremolo, three Seymour Duncan single coil pickups, two knobs (v, tone), five-way switch, c...

FRAMUS MORRIGAN CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS MORRIGAN CUSTOM

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret tigerstripe ebony fingerboard with sharkfin inlays, six-on-one-side tuners, Floyd Rose double locking vibrato bridge, two Dave Mustaine Live Wire humbucker pickups, two knob...

FRAMUS MORRIGAN PRO Image

FRAMUS MORRIGAN PRO

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with sharkfin inlays, six-on-one-side tuners, Framus Floyd Rose double locking vibrato bridge, two Seymour Duncan humbucker and one single coil pickups...

FRAMUS PANTHERA CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS PANTHERA CUSTOM

- single cutaway, Honduras mahogany body, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, 3-per-side tuners, one-piece fixed bridge, 2 Seymour Duncan HH pickups, tw...

FRAMUS PANTHERA PRO Image

FRAMUS PANTHERA PRO

- single cutaway, Honduras mahogany body, two-piece flamed maple top, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, Framus Tunomatic bridge and stop tailpiece, 2 Seymour Duncan HH pickups, two k...

FRAMUS PANTHERA CLASSIC CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS PANTHERA CLASSIC CUSTOM

- single cutaway semi-hollowbody, arched AAA flame maple top, Honduras mahogany back and sides, top wood body binding, single f-hole, bolt-on neck, 22-fret tigerstripe ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, three-per-side tuners, t...

FRAMUS PANTHERA CLASSIC PRO Image

FRAMUS PANTHERA CLASSIC PRO

- single cutaway semi-hollowbody, arched maple top, mahogany back and sides, top body binding, single f-hole, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two...

FRAMUS PANTHERA STUDIO CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS PANTHERA STUDIO CUSTOM

- single cutaway, Honduras mahogany body, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, 3-per-side tuners, one-piece fixed bridge,three Seymour Duncan HSH pickups, thr...

FRAMUS PANTHERA STUDIO PRO Image

FRAMUS PANTHERA STUDIO PRO

- single cutaway, Honduras mahogany body, two-piece flamed maple top, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, Framus Tunomatic bridge and stop tailpiece,three Seymour Duncan HSH pickups, th...

FRAMUS RENEGADE CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS RENEGADE CUSTOM

- single cutaway, two-piece swamp ash body, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, 3-per-side tuners, one-piece fixed bridge,2 Seymour Duncan HH pickups, two knobs (v, tone), three-way switch, chrome...

FRAMUS RENEGADE CUSTOM II Image

FRAMUS RENEGADE CUSTOM II

- single cutaway Tele-style U.S. swamp ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay, three-per-side tuners, Telecaster-style bridge with adj. saddles, one Seymour Duncan SM1 and one Sey...

FRAMUS RENEGADE PRO Image

FRAMUS RENEGADE PRO

- single cutaway, two-piece swamp ash body, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, 3-per-side tuners, STB bridge, 2 Seymour Duncan HH pickups, two knobs (v, tone), three-way switch, chrome hardware, availab...

FRAMUS SPITFIRE CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS SPITFIRE CUSTOM

- offset double cutaway swamp ash body, AAA flame or quilt maple top, wood binding, one-piece maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, one Seymour Duncan humbucker and two single...

FRAMUS SPITFIRE PRO Image

FRAMUS SPITFIRE PRO

- offset double cutaway swamp ash body, AAAA flame or quilt maple top, wood binding, one-piece maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, SSH pickups, two knobs, five-way switch, ch...

FRAMUS STREETWALKER CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS STREETWALKER CUSTOM

- offset single cutaway basswood body with slight similarities to the Explorer, ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard withdot inlays, three-per-side tuners, Floyd Rose licenesed tremolo, Pearly Gates humbucker and a Hotrail, one knob,...

FRAMUS TENNESSEE CUSTOM Image

FRAMUS TENNESSEE CUSTOM

- single cutaway, hollow Honduras mahogany body, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, single f-hole, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with cross and diamond inlay, three-per-side tuners, MOP celluloid pickguard, Framus Tu...

FRAMUS TENNESSEE PRO Image

FRAMUS TENNESSEE PRO

- single cutaway, hollow Honduras mahogany body, two-piece bookmatched flamed maple top, single f-hole, bolt-on ovangkol neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, MOP celluloid pickguard, Framus Tunomatic bri...