Vintage German archtop help w/ ID

[deangreen]

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/...psd5k5oakq.jpg



I recently got this guitar at an auction, but have no idea of the maker. It says "made in Germany" on the tailpiece, but could not find any markings on or in it. It has three 4-pointed stars on the headstock. My internet search found similar guitars made by Framus and Huttl, but I could not find an exact one. It seems to have had a pickguard at one time. Any idea of who the mfg is would be much appreciated.

[HHP]

Looks like an early 60's Hopf.

[RobertD0]

Huttl made an archtop that looks very much like yours. Here's a link to an example:

http://ancientpoint.com/inf/120555-a...us_hofner.html

[deangreen]

http://www.guitarworld.com/node/12508#slide-6

Here's a Framus with the 4-pointed inlaid stars on the headstock. Are the stars just a generic decoration or does it represent Framus?

[RobertD0]

Originally Posted by deangreen

http://www.guitarworld.com/node/12508#slide-6

Here's a Framus with the 4-pointed inlaid stars on the headstock. Are the stars just a generic decoration or does it represent Framus?

I think you may be right. It does look a lot like the Framus 5/74 Queen:

http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules...tID=4628&cl=EN

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by deangreen

...It says "made in Germany" on the tailpiece, but could not find any markings on or in it...

FWIW that's not necessarily an assurance that the guitar itself was made in Germany, as those tailpieces were quite common at the time - Harmony used them on their H75/77 top-of-the-line electrics in the early-60's, as did several other makers both here and abroad - and Hofner (admittedly a German outfit) still uses them on some of their archtop models. Based solely on the photos I'm not convinced it's either a Hopf or a Framus - the former was/is more high-end than this instrument appears to be (pearloid inlays/inexpensive tuners), the latter's cutaway archtops that I've seen all had a distinctive body contour that this one lacks - and although it boasts a five-piece neck and a decent OHSC I'm thinking it was one of the better imported "jobber" models from the late '50s, intended for the low-midprice market in the days before the Japanese cornered that trade...

[deangreen]

Thanks. Are there any clues from the faux alligator guitar case?

[deangreen]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Framus-Jazz-G...item1e9724d056

but, not quite there.

[Dischord]

Before reading a single word in this thread, my first inclination was Framus - just from looking at the photos. That was based on the shape of the headstock as well as the laminated neck. In the 70's, I had a Framus 12 string (flat top) that had similar neck/headstock features....

Interesting looking guitar at any rate....

Mark

[deangreen]

Along with the f holes, there is a round sound hole. Any reason for that?

[RobertD0]

Originally Posted by deangreen

Along with the f holes, there is a round sound hole. Any reason for that?

An attempt to cross and f-hole with a flat top sound, less of the thud of and more overtones/harmonics?

Been doing more research. So far I identified two Framus models with the three star headstock inlay, the Framus 5/120 Billy Lorento and the 5/115 Hi Fi Six.

http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules...llID=467&cl=EN

http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules...tID=4627&cl=EN

[deangreen]

Now it looks like a Klira, but with an extra sound hole and no truss rod.


http://www.vintageaudioberlin.de/vab...arre/index.htm

[RobertD0]

Originally Posted by deangreen

Now it looks like a Klira, but with an extra sound hole and no truss rod.


http://www.vintageaudioberlin.de/vab...arre/index.htm

There's a photo of a 3 hole Klira in this thread at European Guitars Forum:
http://www.euroguitars.co.uk/viewtop...&t=26&start=80

And a short history of Klira at Wiki that mentions Framus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klira

Klira was founded in 1887 by Johannes Klier in Schönbach, today Luby u Chebu in the Czech Republic. His son Otto Josef Klier took over the company in 1914. Following World War II, the Klier family left the company in 1946. The company was soon re-formed in the Franconia region of Bavaria, West Germany, in the city of Erlangen. This coincides in time and place with the founding of the Framus company by Fred Wilfe, also from Schönbach. In 1950, the Klira company was moved more permanently to Bubenreuth.

[cmajor9]

This style of soundholes was shared between several West German makers, including Hopf, Klira, and Soli. The headstock decoration was likewise used by multiple makers (including Framus and Hopf). It may be difficult to ID the guitar exactly - the German system of "homeworkers" resulted in many features such as these being shared between various guitars.

For more information, you might want to look in the West Germany section of the Euroguitars.co.uk Web site, probably the best source of info on similar guitars. You can also peruse the schlaggitarren.de Web site, which is in German, but with many photos. In both places, look especially under Hopf, Klira, and Soli.

How does the guitar sound, and play?

[deangreen]

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, some dufus glued the bridge on it in a bad position. I'm having someone try to remove it. Wish me luck that he doesn't screw it up. I can't wait to play it!