ENGLISH 6
Mahogany body with flamed maple top (solid body)
Mahogany is a dense and finely textured tone wood that in conjunction with a flamed maple top creates the basis for a
full-bodied tone and long sustain. This combination has been used for the last 50 years on most electric guitars with a
solid body, thus creating a standard for guitar construction thanks to its tonal characteristics. As far as assembly is con-
cerned, there is no difference between this option and the previous one with swamp ash body and flamed maple top.
Both have the same top wood thickness, same curvature, and same “book matching” feature.
Body with TCS™ (Tone Chamber System)
Next to their acoustic and semi-acoustic models, Framus also offers guitars with a tone chamber. The so-called TCS™
(short for Tone Chamber System) is the first step towards hollow-body construction. This system doesn’t need f-holes
and is used in models that are classified as solid body guitars. The body is then routed to give it a number of tone cham-
bers, which are later covered once the top is glued on. Not visible to the outside, this design has an audible conse-
quence: the resulting guitar tone has a quick response and a very transparent quality, and at the same time makes the
guitar a little lighter, which is one of the benefits of this system.
Semi-hollow bodies (semi-acoustic guitars)
This option utilizes basically the same process as previously described in the TCS™ system. The main difference lies in
the actual guitar design, namely the fact that instead of routing many chambers a complete cavity is created. The wood
beneath the pickups and the bridge is not touched and the final assembly of hardware components is done just like in
a solid body guitar: screwed in tightly. All Framus guitars’ tops that are built like this are book matched, a 2-piece com-
ponent that is, and carry f-holes. These reinforce the acoustic characteristics of such a construction design: guitar mo-
dels like the Tennessee and the Hollywood are a little big bigger body-wise, but not thicker. The end result is a more
free-vibrating top, which therefore influences the resonance behavior. These guitars are acoustically much louder, su-
stain longer when amplified, and are warmer and bigger sounding.
Laminated bodies (semi-acoustic guitars)
Laminated woods are manufactured with flamed maple veneers using a traditional and time-consuming process to bend
them into the desired shape. This manufacturing technique is specifically utilized with the semi-acoustic models May-
field Custom and Mayfield Pro. The body is completely hollow and 2 f-holes adorn its top. In order to mount the pickups
and the bridge in a way that resembles the solid body guitars, a so-called sustain block will be glued between the body
and the guitar’s top and will reach all the way from the neck’s heel to other end of the body. The block is made of ma-
hogany and is responsible for good sustain behavior and makes the guitar impervious to feedback. This construction me-
thod produces a powerful, full-fledged, warm tone in old tradition…Once upon a time…
Hollow-body (full-resonance guitars)
With a classic hollow-body and arched top the jazz guitars are arriving. Only proven tone woods are used in this cate-
gory, just like the traditional violin construction. Massive flamed maple and massive spruce are used for the body and
top respectively. The characteristic arch is obtained with the use of a wood-milling machine, after being caulked sym-
metrically (book matched). The sides use the same wood as the back to guarantee homogenous vibration properties in
the instrument – this is the main point in full-resonating guitars. The shapes are accomplished with time consuming ben-
ding procedures. Differences between each instrument are thus ruled out. With a Framus archtop guitar you get a co-
herent instrument where every little detail has been taken care of in best tradition. And don’t forget that the Framus
custom shop also offers different wood combinations for the guitar’s sides and back.
