Emiel: thanks for your correction, Bruno: thanks/bedankt for the name info

About the head size: 11 inch and, unlike many archtops, they need a medium crown.

BUT: size- wise them Framuses are finnicky! That, plus the fact that some 11 inch heads are only 11-ish heads. You might consider an 11 1/16 inch head, Bob Smakula (see his link above) can hook you up with one of those.

You still haven't told us what needs fixing...

Honestly, aside from it looking a bit worn, it's missing a bridge and probably needs a new head. The frets look serviceable but may eventually need refretting. I think the neck is straight on it.

quote:

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Originally posted by BoneDigger

probably needs a new head

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If it's dirty go over it with a spoon & detergent (Mr. Clean etc.)

To check function: go all the way around the head at the inner side of the inner archtop ring side and apply 15~20 pounds of pressure with your thumb. If it feels firm/solid all around you're all good. If one, or more, area feels flubby/soft then the head's glue has let go and is "broken." Whether it needs replacing or not depends on what your ears think about the way it sounds: if you like the sounds as-is then "what me worry" and start enjoying that banjo already.

Framus made quality instruments. I sold my Framus "Gaucho" guitar in a panic - to buy a National steel body.
I regret selling it, but I couldn't afford to have both. My 4 string banjo is an older Asian cheapy - with aluminum pot.
It has been satisfactory. I did not even know Framus made Banjo's - but I'd go for an affordable one.
Good Luck, C .

Framus tone rings aren't much to write home about -- basically just a thin metal band (kind of like a hose clamp, without the holes) welded into a circle and inset into the wooden rim.

An easy improvement to make: Measure the diameter of the metal band (I forget off the top of my head what it is) and get a rolled brass rod style tone ring the same size.

The rod will fit perfectly snug and tight around the tone ring, which will hold the rod in place.

Since the original metal band will sit maybe 1/4" taller than the rolled brass ring, I sanded the band down on my spindle sander so that rolled brass rod sits just proud of the band. That was the only modification I made.

Put on whatever style head you prefer (I used a Renaissance head), cinch everything down, set it up, and voila!, you have a respectable sounding banjo -- better (IMO) than the sound provided by the original metal band.

BTW -- Framus's high-end Derroll Adams model banjo came with a much more substantial tone ring. These are quite decent banjos IMO -- more American-style in design. (They were made to Adams' specs; he was an American player who spent most of his career in Europe.)

Banjo players are inveterate tinkerers!

Glenn

banjohangout.org/forum/attachm...ID=317593

Thanks to everyone for the great replies! So, I went by today and talked him down to $275, which I know isn't a GREAT price, but it's better than nothing. I decided to put it on layaway for now and pick it up in a month or so.

I brought some different height bridges with me and found one that works. Even with older strings, it sounded pretty descent. I would probably upgrade the tuners to standard banjo style tuners. The head is quite dirty but functional. I could try to clean it first before replacing it.

Overall, it's a pretty good sounding banjo! I mean it's not perfect, but it's old and has some character to it. It also comes with what I assume to be the original case. I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me.

Hey Bud...
Find a bridge n put it on it to play it before buying..
Then you will know more real info... :0)

As per my above post, I did and was impressed enough to go ahead and get it.

BoneDigger,

If yours matches RB-1's Framus, in the pics above, you may have the more substantial Derroll Adams-style tone ring, rather than the thin metal band I referred to in my post above. I wasn't aware Framus used this tone ring on any but their Derroll Adams models. It appears that's what's on RB-!'s anyway.

Post some pics!

I don't believe it is the heavier tone ring model. This is the less expensive version.

quote:

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Originally posted by wileypickett

BoneDigger,

If yours matches RB-1's Framus, in the pics above, you may have the more substantial Derroll Adams-style tone ring, rather than the thin metal band I referred to in my post above. I wasn't aware Framus used this tone ring on any but their Derroll Adams models. It appears that's what's on RB-!'s anyway.

Post some pics!

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I'd like to comment on this 'Derroll Adams-style' tone ring, setting some straight:

When I got my 13100 Solist 5 string (sep. 1973), the leaflet I got with it showed just the Solist, Texan and  Old Time Gold  styles.

A few years later, updated leaflets showed the Derrol Adams and Nashville series for the first time too.

Conclusion: the heavy archtop ring wasn't introduced with the DA series but few years earlier.

The thin non-tonering must have been the first attempt at making a banjo.

When looking at the Framus banjos I can't help thinking that they only had pictures of banjos to work from and never had a real one (like a Gibson Mastertone) in their hands.

Therefore my respect to them for coming up with instruments that sounded way better than some of the crap nowadays found in the budget/ beginner categories.

Let's face it, the looks were horrible and  the (extremely narrow) necks were on the verge of unplayable, but I'm grateful it took my through my initial stages until I got my Masterclone Iida 233

Here's a similar one like my 13100 (apart from the replaced guitar style tuners): https://www.banjohangout.org/archive/337099 (thumbnails don't work, but picture links still do}

Because of the clear head ( a 11" 5 star ) the inner life is clearly  visible.

Thanks RB-1!

RE: "I can't help thinking that they only had pictures of banjos to work from and never had a real one (like a Gibson Mastertone) in their hands."

I love it!

That may be why the DA model was more American in its design -- an American player was advising them?

G

quote:

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Originally posted by wileypickett

Thanks RB-1!

RE: "I can't help thinking that they only had pictures of banjos to work from and never had a real one (like a Gibson Mastertone) in their hands."

I love it!

That may be why the DA model was more American in its design -- an American player was advising them?

G

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We couldn't agree more, could we? 

Here's something about the crown height.

The (top)tension hoop is a very solid affair (probably contibuting to the surprizingly good sound).

I just measured it at ~13 millimeter, that would be more or less 1/2 " to you.

When adding the height difference with the tone ring's inner edge, I tend to believe that a standard high crown head should fit.

Here's an update:

I took the banjo completely apart and replaced the head (11 1/16th head) and the tuners. I cleaned it up nicely too. It came equiped with a tailpiece that required ball end strings, so I replaced that with one that takes loops. This resulted in needing to buy special long neck strings (gold tone) because normal strings are too short. I added an arm rest, which wasn't easy due to how the banjo is constructed, but I had something that would work.

Now I have a quite nice and good sounding long neck with some degree of uniqueness about it. For anyone considering buying one of these, I'm quite happy with it!