owen Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 A student bought this in asking us to help him restring it. It is clearly going to need more that a new set off strings. Re-setting the neck is only the beginning! I am not expectingn it to be 1901 Martin, but was wondering what is actually is. Any ideas? Does the F stand for Framus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, owen said: ... Any ideas? Does the F stand for Framus? Well, it's not a 'Framus' 'F' (it's reversed, which they never did...); it's more like a hand-scribed copy of the 'Fender' reversed 'F'. A one-piece neck, with no truss rod, so very old, and inexpensive when new. I can find nothing for the two distinctive 'clue' features, i.e: the tuner bushings nor the tailpiece. This last seems to be a five-string tailpiece..? For a banjo..? Maybe the photo is fooling me. No other clues as to manufacture, and it's only worth restoring from a nostalgia perspective (that's to say: not much money to be spent on it...). It's a project, and good for learning how to restore, but the result would be, I'd suggest, rather modest, musically. On the other hand, it's always a shame to put an instrument on the fire. A bare minimum then, to get it playable, but there's no monetary value in there, I suspect, and nothing that needs preserving as 'original'. Hope this helps; let us know what is decided..? Meanwhile... Have a splendid day. Douglas Edited October 10, 2023 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen Posted October 10, 2023 Author Share Posted October 10, 2023 Thanks Douglas. The blindingly obvious lack of truss rod should have told me all I needed. But it is good to check these things. There will certainly be no spending on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magister Ludi Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Its a stripped out Framus Capri 5/53 from the 1950s - There were a multitude of differing types,but yours just looks 'basic stripdown' ! https://www.framus-vintage.de/en/5-53-Capri/5-53.2-Capri/ 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magister Ludi Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 I'd be tempted to give it a go to get in shape,given its age and the present state.Its certainly not a charity shop special-Sourcing the tuners shouldn't be too difficult. The F holes gave it away !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen Posted October 10, 2023 Author Share Posted October 10, 2023 Thanks Magister. Very interesting. It is not mine to do anything with, but will feed back to the student who's grandfather owned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 2 hours ago, owen said: Thanks Magister. Very interesting. It is not mine to do anything with, but will feed back to the student whose grandfather owned it. Fixed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardMarlowe Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 12 hours ago, Dad3353 said: Fixed. STOP.... http://madisonchasefitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MC-Hammer.jpeg GRAMMARTIME! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
