1970s Framus 5/296 Texan 12-String Guitar

Update 2023: this guitar is back in for sale and arrived back just as it left for the most part. I've updated the description where necessary...

I've worked on lots of old Framus Texans. This one's the 12-string format and, once you've got these boxes fixed-up and dialed-in, they make reliable, practical, easy-going, stage instruments. They're easy to adjust and rugged as heck.

A consignor dropped this off a while back and I figured I'd get it done alongside the other Framus that'd been dropped here... a while back... as well. I've owned a lot of Framus guitars from time to time and someday I'll make room to keep a few in the house as special-needs recording buddies. I'm very strict with my instrument-collecting habits, though, because if I'm not the place would be overrun in a week.

Post-repairs this guitar plays beautifully and has a good, midsy, breathy vibe that works well with the 12-string configuration. It's x-braced under the hood and features an adjustable bridge and bolt-on neck, so fret access and ease-of-use are right there. The body is all ply (spruce ply over maple ply) and it has a Guild-style arched back. The neck is fast and comfortable with a wider nut but slim-medium C profile on the back.

Repairs included: a bridge relocation and glue-down (these were only bolted when they were made!), fret level/dress, mild compensation to the original saddle, cleaning, and setup.

Top wood: ply spruce

Back & sides wood: ply figured maple

Bracing type: x

Bridge: plastic (yep!)

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: super-multi-ply maple

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (height-adjustable)
String gauges: custom extra light 22w/46w, 14/36w, 10/26w, 8/18w, 13/13, 10/10

Neck shape: slim-medium C

Board radius: ~12-14"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium-low

Scale length: 24 3/4"

Nut width: 1 7/8"

Body width: 15 3/4"

Body depth: 3 7/8"

Weight: 5 lbs 11 oz

Condition notes: it's all-original throughout. The finish shows weather-check all over and there's minor playwear/usewear throughout with a few minor finish chip-outs here and there. It looks good overall. There's a "shadow" where the bridge used to be, but I had to move it for better intonation when I glued it down. Also note: just like an old Fender, with the neck at tension, it "ramps" a little bit at the fretboard extension. I've leveled the frets in that are lower to help with that, but if you're playing aggressively at frets 16+ it will fret-out just a hair with the action set slinky-low.