Finally, the Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman needs to be mentioned in this respect. Endorsers in the States at this time were Charlie Mingus and Jim Hall. The Bill Wyman connection was established in 1964 when the famous bass player of the Rolling Stones signed a three-year sponsorship deal endorsing the 'Framus Star Bass'. By the way, Paul McCartney started his career on a Zenith which was built by Framus on commission from Boosey & Hawkes. John Lennon bought a 'Framus Hootenanny' in 1965 which occasionally was played on by George Harrison, too. Even with them one can find links to Framus. No doubt, the most famous group are the Beatles. For the idol of German Rock ´n´ Roll music, Peter Kraus, a new 4-string-guitar, especially for pop songs, was constructed by Framus in 1957 - the 'Peter-Kraus-pop-song-guitar'. A very fruitful cooperation emerged soon afterwards with Attila Zoller, perhaps the most famous Jazz guitar player in those days. The oldest and longest relation between Framus and an outstanding guitar artist is the one with Billy Lorento (alias Bill Lawrence) which was established in 1953. One of the most interesting chapters of the firm history is the relationship between Framus to its stars. Thus the “Franconian Musical Instruments Manufacture Fred Wilfer” (FRAMUS) was founded on January 1st, 1946, in Erlangen, which became the central location of instrument makers, who were displaced from Schoenbach.

Since Fred Wilfer was classified as an “anti-Fascist” by the Czechoslovakian authorities, the US military government in Bavaria gave him the permission in 1946 to found a company. The Bavarian government welcomed his plans and asked him to create all conditions needed for the settlement to Bavaria. Even before the first train was going to transport violin makers from Schoenbach to other areas, Fred Wilfer contacted different government authorities in Bavaria and told them about his plans. In 1945, when he heard about the expulsion plans of the allied forces, which were going to affect his homeland in the Sudetenland as well, he decided to build up a new basis for his countryman and the music industry in the west. In that Bohemian part of the music industry the founder of Framus, Fred Wilfer was born in 1917. Violins, as well as all other instruments have been manufactured and exported from Schoenbach to the whole world. The city at the foot of the Erzgebirge was shaped by the music. The origin of Framus is to be found in the music town of Schoenbach, today called Luby u Chebu in the area of Eger.

Old framus guitars