Framus Star Bass ('65 I think)

[fraff]

Hi

I've got a nice Framus Star Bass (5-150 I think) that I bought at the end of the eighties and which hasn't seen any real action for about 15 years or so now, so I'm wondering what the current value might be, as I'm looking out for a back up bass to my '76 Jazz and, predictably, need some readies.

When I bought it (from Andy's on Denmark Street) in about '89, I recall they told me it dated from 1965, but I've not been able to verify that. One of the machine heads is a replacement and not the original Framus one, the neck pick up has a couple of screws missing and, generally, the old thing could do with a little TLC. The body has a few dings, but not bad for a guitar of this age. There's no case.

But all in all, a lovely bass for someone who fancies a small restoration job!

So, any thoughts on value would be welcome, or indeed recommendations of good vintage guitar specialists who might take it as?

Thanks

[fraff]

Late evening bump.

Anyone got any more thoughts on this? Dealers look to be after £650 - £700 on ebay for similar things in playable nick, though that sounds a lot to me!

What do you think?

[skankdelvar]

TBH, this sort of bass crops up so infrequently here on BC, you might be hard pushed to get a price steer. Unlike vintage guitars, these old troopers rarely seem to get much love... you could certainly tout it round Denmark St and see whether anyone bites. Bass Gallery in Camden might be worth a call, New Kings Rd Guitars in Fulham - in other words, the usual suspects.

That said, you might profitably check out the prices in some German guitar stores and ebay.de - perhaps there may be more of a premium for Framuses in their land of origin.

Edited March 3, 2010 by skankdelvar

[Shaggy]

Used to have a Framus Grand Star archtop guit*r - that had a "parallel fingerboard" too (no taper). Odd. Nicely made instruments, but probaly unfashionable even when they were new.

[fraff]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='762471' date='Mar 3 2010, 01:36 AM']TBH, this sort of bass crops up so infrequently here on BC, you might be hard pushed to get a price steer. Unlike vintage guitars, these old troopers rarely seem to get much love... you could certainly tout it round Denmark St and see whether anyone bites. Bass Gallery in Camden might be worth a call, New Kings Rd Guitars in Fulham - in other words, the usual suspects.

That said, you might profitably check out the prices in some German guitar stores and ebay.de - perhaps there may be more of a premium for Framuses in their land of origin.[/quote]

thanks SD. I have a feeler out with a couple of dealers but will speak to a couple you suggest too - cheers. After that it may be the dreaded eBay.

[willem]

[quote name='fraff' post='762543' date='Mar 3 2010, 10:14 AM']thanks SD. I have a feeler out with a couple of dealers but will speak to a couple you suggest too - cheers. After that it may be the dreaded eBay.[/quote]
Hi there, what did you eventually pay for the bass? I got one from Ebay a while ago for 340 euro. Never knew what it would be worth in the end. It took me some more expenses to make it really playable (action was extremely high, so i had the neck repositioned...)