German-built wood/plywood vs bottom-of-the-range Chinese-built plastic...

Yeah, pretty much. Did you have anything to contribute about these? I'm honestly interested in your thoughts.

Im a long neck player and though I've never had a Framus I've always heard they are a bit of a sleeper for how good they sound. They are very very common over here in UK and i regularly see them sit on auction sites or sell for £200-300. Im not sure how they varied during the years. I believe them to be decently built, just a little fugly.

There is a well known folk performer over here (Ireland) who tours using one.

The Gold Tone is pretty much an amazon basics banjo.

I had a Framus long-neck. Very nice instrument. Only sold it because I wasn't using it.

If possible, get your Framus checked by a pro repairman before purchase.

Folk on here get really upset about the fact modern, factory built Chinese instruments are regularly better made and more reliable than old instruments that have been sat in poor conditions for goodness knows how long. I assume it's because they themselves have old instruments and they like the idea of their outstanding, mythical qualities, and so need to propagate that myth.

If you like the feel and the sound of the Gold Tone, buy it new, with a nice warranty and enjoy a reliable solid instrument for years to come. If you don't like the feel and sound of it, shop around and find something you like that seems sturdy, and hope the neck doesn't pretzel if you ever feel like changing the string gauge

The Framus is far more capable of sound/tone than the GT. The way their necks are made, in the old East Germany, they're impossible to warp.
If your arm get tired because of the longer stretch put your capo on the 3rd fret and then it'll play/feel like a "regular banjo."
It's very hard to find a case for a long-neck.
My personal pref: the Framus all the way.

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Originally posted by Bawheid

The Gold Tone is pretty much an amazon basics banjo.

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That's not true at all. The AC range easily out performs cheap wood rim banjos and even somewhat better cheaper banjos. For the price they are hard to beat.

Thanks for the replies! Any idea what a Framus long neck would be worth? It's in fair to good condition and needs some work. It has no bridge, so I really couldn't try it out. The dealer wasn't specific but said "Maybe around $500", but that seems a little high to me. Thoughts? I might could get it for $400 if I try hard enough. But even that might be high. I probably have a bridge I can use, and the head is intact. The neck looked fine but I didn't really check the frets.

I don't think this is one of the higher end versions with a flattop tone ring. I assume it may have a tone hoop of some kind.

I had a framus long neck. I liked it. I sold it because I wasn't using it really.

500 sounds crazy high. 400 seems high to me too. I paid 75 for mine when I got it, but that was admittedly a great deal at a thrift shop, and back around 2017. I sold it for $200 after about a year.

I would offer him $200 and stand firm. It needs a bridge, it's not in playable condition, which carries a significant discount. You'll need to put a new bridge on it, new strings, probably wash the whole thing too. But if he's asking 500, it's possible he overpaid and actually thinks it's worth that. If the seller won't listen to reason I'd walk away. You should be able to buy two framus banjos for 500 bucks. 

I wouldn't buy an AC-series banjo. I know online people say they're great and they're popular, but I've played them and am not impressed. Plastic rim, plastic finish, plastic nut. They'd be good for like $150 but Gold Tone charges way too much for them.

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

Yeah, pretty much. Did you have anything to contribute about these? I'm honestly interested in your thoughts.

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I haven't played one, so can't comment on this specific model. I did have a couple of other Framus instruments - a parlor guitar and a tenor banjo - and neither were very playable. The thing I don't like about the AC models is that they're entry-level stuff (and a composite rim is a no-go for me). 

There's a Framus LN for sale for me - at the moment it's 380 euros. I haven't bought it because it's too far away to play it before buying , and mostly because I don't know if my shoulder/elbow will support the longer reach nowadays.

On the other hand, I've bought other higher-end Gold Tones sight unseen with no hesitation, so there's that.

I agree that $500 is way too much for that banjo in that condition. I wouldn't even pay $200 for it - my guess is it's taken too much abuse to be playable. I should probably take back what I said earlier, since now that I think about it, I've had pretty bad luck with Framus in terms of quality. (I was thinking of Hofner, who made excellent instruments)

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Originally posted by CrazyCatLazy

Folk on here get really upset about the fact modern, factory built Chinese instruments are regularly better made

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Many if not most of my instruments were made in China or Indonesia, where they invested heavily in digital production technologies, which makes it possible for them to churn out tons of very well made instruments. At my skill level, I can't justify dropping 2000 euros on an instrument when I can pick up something like the Gretsch 9455 (my current favorite) used for 200. 

It really depends on the brand's specifications. I had a Gold Tone MM-150 which was an excellent banjo - but the specifications for those AC banjos are nowhere near as high. One thing I hate about Chinese-built instruments is that most of them appeared to have been dipped in polyester. I really don't like a glossy finish, especially one that will never age (which is why I sold the MM-150 and why I'll be selling my Gold Tone Banjola)

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Originally posted by Bart Veerman

The Framus is far more capable of sound/tone than the GT. The way their necks are made, in the old East Germany, they're impossible to warp.
If your arm get tired because of the longer stretch put your capo on the 3rd fret and then it'll play/feel like a "regular banjo."
It's very hard to find a case for a long-neck.mas unique, especially their action adjusting mech. Very simple and easy to do. 

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

 

It's in fair to good condition and needs some work. It has no bridge

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That don't sound encouraging... A new bridge is no prob but you better find out exactly what needs fixing > could you do it yourself or would you need to find a luthier with banjo experience. Let us know because we might change our opinion.

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Originally posted by Bart Veerman

The Framus is far more capable of sound/tone than the GT. The way their necks are made, in the old East Germany, they're impossible to warp.
[…]
My personal pref: the Framus all the way.

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Mine too, but Framus wasn't made in East-Germany (GDR), it was from West-Germany…

The "composite" GT is their variation on the same plastic banjo sold under many names for the last 25 years or so. The plastic rim is softer than the Bakelite Harmonys from the 1960s that are being copied. Saga sold a cast aluminum version of that pot for decades as the 30 series but it's long discontinued, unfortunately. My daughter has the last one I owned.

Harmony did make a long neck that can be found under many brands on eBay now and then—found one under the Old Kraftman (Speigel catalog) brand in a thrift shop for $50 not long ago and sold it for $200. Here's one on eBay — the Bakelite is chromed like on a model car. I have no interest in it but have added to my Watch List just to see if it sells anywhere near the asking price. 

Harmony long neck on eBay

The only problem I've ever had with Framus is all of the nuts and bolts that need to be secure—and so often aren't. If you have a mechanical mind, go for the Framus but don't be surprised if you have to take it apart and re-assemble it from scratch. It will be fun and you'll not only have the better banjo but it will be a conversation piece whenever you bring it out in public.

Whatever you chose, buy it to play. Don't expect to make any money be reselling either.

Thanks for the awesome replies! I am going to pass on these for now. I revisited the Framus today and I couldn't pay more that $250 in the shape it is. I also don't want to settle for a plastic banjo.

Slight update here. He has offered to sell it to me for $300. Any thoughts on this newer price?

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

Slight update here. He has offered to sell it to me for $300. Any thoughts on this newer price?

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If you like it, can resurrect it, your lover is okay with it and it meets your needs; $300 doesn't amount to much from a long term use and ownership perspective. 

And, $300 is a fine price for a long neck Framus.  

Thanks! I may consider it. I like fixing things up. Do these use standard sized heads?

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

Thanks! I may consider it. I like fixing things up.  Framus is on my list of things to check out too.

Do these use standard sized heads?

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It's probably an eleven inch medium crown head...  The head size isn't critical when we have a resource like @Bob Smakula  https://www.smakulafrettedinstruments.com/store/c4/banjo-heads

I think @mike gregory and @Bart Veerman would know what size head that Framus used for certain.

https://www.banjohangout.org/archive/168517

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Originally posted by pinenut

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

Thanks! I may consider it. I like fixing things up.  Framus is on my list of things to check out too.

Do these use standard sized heads?

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I think @mike gregory and @Bart Veerman would know what size head that Framus used for certain.

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I just measured it for you on mine: 11"  Can't find the crown height though. it looks similar to my RB-1, but I'm not sure. Most of us in the Netherlands, starting between mid 60-ies and mid 70-ies had a Framus at some point.... 

Okay, so it shouldn't require a strange sized head though? This is good to know.

Since I have y been able to play it, thoughts on how these sound?

The Framus is an odd instrument but it can sound pretty good. I refitted a Framus pot that had no neck with a new neck. It was a decent instrument. For $300 you can have some fun and learn a lot. BH is always here when questions arise.

I think the GT AC is a decent banjo for the price. I am not adverse to different materials, especially at that cost.
Nonetheless, the Framus can offer you some fun and be "online" in an afternoon.

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Originally posted by RB-1

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Originally posted by pinenut

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

Thanks! I may consider it. I like fixing things up.  Framus is on my list of things to check out too.

Do these use standard sized heads?

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I think @mike gregory and @Bart Veerman would know what size head that Framus used for certain.

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I just measured it for you on mine: 11"  Can't find the crown height though. it looks similar to my RB-1, but I'm not sure. Most of us in the Netherlands, starting between mid 60-ies and mid 70-ies had a Framus at some point.... 

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I love the Framus, artsy meets industrial, style. 

That one's an archtop; probably low crown.

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I love the Framus, artsy meets industrial, style. 

That one's an archtop; probably low crown.

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The one I had in 1973 (not this one) was made in Bubenreuth, north of Erlangen that, in itself, is north of Nürnberg, so in Bavaria, region Frankenland.  Framus:  Fränkische Musikinstrumentenerzeugung ("Franconian Musical Instruments Fabrication")

The head looks original to me and likely a high crown (the tensionhoop is level with the outside of the tone ring).

My first banjo (short neck) had the same set up.