On a visit to the factory in Markneukirchen, Germany, where Framus guitars and Warwick basses are made, you can be sure you’ll learn what’s behind the creation of these quality instruments and get a first-hand look at some of the company’s extraordinary custom finishes being made.
What you might not anticipate is how much the subject of wood comes up. Of course wood is important to the sound and look of guitars and basses, and you would rightfully expect the luthiers at Framus and Warwick to pay particular attention to these details. But, seriously, these guys are obsessed. They’ve got more than 45 different types of the stuff, not counting all the different grades on hand. There’s bubinga, rosewood, ebony, wenge, camphor, flame maple and countless others. We are even shown mahogany that’s distinctively marked from having been used as a countertop in the production of parmesan cheese. Although some of the wood we see is raw, its quality shows through. Tapping a random chunk of maple yields a high, hollow drum sound that hints at the acoustic properties it will one day impart to a Framus guitar.
Now part of Warwick GmbH, the Framus brand is legendary, having been founded in 1946 by Fred Wilfer, the father of owner Hans-Peter Wilfer. It was, in its time, the biggest musical instrument maker in Europe. Within years of its founding, the company’s guitars were in the hands of young musicians like John Lennon, Bill Wyman and Elvis Presley. After going bankrupt in 1974, Framus came back with a new lineup in 1995 and, under Hans-Peter’s guidance, began ushering in innovations like its Invisible Fret Technology, which leaves two millimeters of wood at either end of each fret to increase stability and prevent twisting, as well as a bolt-on neck