Fr-

made

info    updated 15/7/2011

Frame Works

1995 to present

German luthier Frank Krocker, compact guitars

Framus

1940s to 1970s then 1996 to present

In 1946 Alfred Andreas founded the "Framus" works... the name being an acronym of FRAnconian MUSical instruments.  The first workshops were established in a disused community work camp in Möhrendorf near Erlangen. The firm soon grew out of these premises, and Framus moved to a sometime brewery building in Baiersdorf. 1955 saw the official opening of new works in Bubenreuth. By this time there were some 300 employees on the payroll.  In addition  to guitars Framus made zithers, basses and banjos.  In 1966, a second factory was established in Pretzfeld in the area known as Fränkische Schweiz.  100 people were employed in this facility.

In the Seventies, price dumping by companies from the Far East began seriously undercutting the established brands and Framus went bankrupt in 1975. [Source: Warwick ]

Framus vintage archive

Dating Framus guitars

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/infos/info.php?katID=5183&cl=EN

Framus guitar catalogs

1960s http://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/framus.html

mid 60s http://www.stromgitarren.net/English/documents.htm#hoefner

http://vintage.catalogs.free.fr/Index.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Framus

? can be confused with Tellson

Image eBay:

Tony Francis

Tony Francis makes old school Hawaiin style guitars in Waikanae Beach, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Franciscan

"The Franciscan brand, and the guitar in your picture, actually came from Japan in the sixties and seventies.  They're not selling for much more than $100 from what I can tell" [Source: Jay, email 19/6/2009]

Images: eBay

Franciscan

2003 to present

Franciscan guitars are custom made by Sam Grosvenor, Syracuse, NY

Frankie

Frankie guitars - Made in Canada.  At least makes  Jazz Bass copies.

Frankinstein

2001 to present

Frankinstein Guitar works . Seppo O. 

" First Frankinstein built in 2001 under this brand name.  I make them in a home based shop in Woodstock, Ontario. All my instruments have sequential serial numbers starting from #1 in 2001 located in various locations on the body. About three years ago I started date stamping and initialling them.
I am an army of one; all aspects of Frankinstein are performed by me, and me alone. I have over 48 years experience working on predominately guitars and basses.
Here's pix of a cigar box guitar I recently completed showing serial
number, date stamp, initials, logo. Of course in this case I did not build the body; it's a genuine cigar box from the Philippines (as shown).
I received training from a professional luthier (who apprenticed with Hofner) during the 1970's. [Source: Seppo O Valjakka, email 15/9/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Frankinstein+Guitar+Works

Franklin

current

Luthier Nick Kukich, handmade in Missouri, USA

Franklin guitar catalog 1979

Ken Franklin

2003 to present

Acoustic guitars, Ukiah, California, USA

"I made a few guitars and dulcimers in 1973, which had my signature and date inside.

Since 2003 I have made guitars under the Ken Franklin label in Ukiah, California.  They are signed and dated on the underside of the soundboard. Since 2005, each guitar has been given a name.  The label has my signature but not always the date." [Source and images: Ken Franklin, email 23/11/2008]

Paul Franklin

1964

Pedal Steel Guitars.

Paul Franklin Snr built the first Franklin Pedal Steel in 1964 and worked for Sho Bud building customs from 1972 to 1978 when he went back to continuing the Franklin line.

Franklin Music House

According to eBay this Franklin guitar was made in Chicago, by Kay Kraft (Kay Musical Instrument Company), Franklin was a brand name out of New Jersey, and the guitars they sold were often made by Kay, Regal, Harmony (Supertone) and many other makers of the time. The headstock and bridge shapes are Kay Kraft. Pobably late 1920's to early thirties, but maybe late thirties. Unlikely to be after World War II.

Freedom

This brand appears in a number of contexts and has been used in Japan and Australia (presumably by different companies) and is associated with electrics and acoustics.

http://toguitars.com/gallery-japan/freedom-guitars.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Freedom

Image eBay

Freedom Custom Guitar Research

current

Japan

Scott French

Scott French trained at Roberto-Venn in 2003. He is building in Auburn, California, USA.

Fresher

1973-1985

Japanese made Gibson and Fender copies.

Fresher started as 2nd class brand of Kyowa sales network (their first class is Gallan). Fresher used 4 different logo marks from the 1970s-80s.  [Source and examples of logos Music Trade Japan]

http://www.sk.aitai.ne.jp/~luesan/AI13.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fresher

Images Fresher Straighter guitar with on board effects eBay:

Freshman Guitars

2002-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshman_Guitars
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Freshman

Freshwater

current

Fretted instruments, mandolins etc. Scotland

Daniel Friederich

1955 to present

Legendary French luthier, custom classical guitars from Paris France.

http://creativeguitar.org/blog/daniel-friederich-classical-guitars/7171

Images eBay (1965) Guitar Salon (2008)

Frima

by Egmond, Netherlands

http://www.daisybelle.nl/nedgit.htm

Stephen Frith

1979 to present

http://vzone.virgin.net/marc_g_ashly-salter.guitars_cool_guitars/frith/frith.html

Image Kent Guitar Classic:

Fritz Brothers

1988 to present

Acoustic, electric guitars built by Roger Frit, in albion, California.  Previously made in Mobile, Alabama

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fritz+Brothers

1978 to present

John Garcia, aka Johnny Frog. Made famous by the Skull and Crossbones guitar be made for John Lynch of Dokken. Since 1999 made in conjunction with Ed Roman.  Ed Roman on fakes

http://www.usacharvels.com/noncharvels/jfrogww.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/J+Frog

Froggy Bottom

1970 to present

Luthier Michael Millard, flat-tops.

"Serial numbers on our guitars are stamped on the neck block (visible through the soundhole). Early guitars have no such stamped number. All instruments have been personally signed on the inside of the top on the lower bout by myself and, since sometime in 1995, by my partner Andrew Mueller, This is the most certain and accurate way to date the guitar. With a mirror you will find written:
Michael Millard
Froggy Bottom Guitars
Richmond, NewHampshire (or, after April, 1985 Newfane , Vermont)
Date of assembly (eg. January, 2007)
Although written in a cursive hand (usually in ballpoint pen) and backwards, due to the mirror, all this information is there.  Since my partnership with Andrew began in 1995, there has been a rare guitar which does not have my signature. These are few and far between, however, and these would still be signed by Andrew and accurately dated by him." [source: Michael Millard, Froggy Bottom, email 24/1/2007]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Froggy+Bottom

Images eBay:

Frye Guitars

1987 to late 1990s

Frye Guitars were built by Ben Frye in a shop with his father Lawrence in Green Bay, WI USA.  {Source: Blue Book] Today (2008) Lawrence runs a repair business String Instrument Workshop in Green Bay.  Ben currently works for Rock n Roll Vintage in Chicago doing restorations.

Fryer Guitars

1980s

Luthier Greg Fryer made guitars in Australia and is one of few people to be allowed to repair Brian May's guitar.  He also made 3 copies of that guitar for use on tour.

Image 1985 Greg Frey bass with Alembic pickups eBay:

Jesus Fuerte

classical guitar made by Jesus H. Fuerte in Paracho, Michoacan, Mexico

Image 1998 eBay:

Fukuoka Musical Instruments

1993 to present

Custom nylon, steel flat-tops and archtops made in Japan.

Fuji Gen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen

http://jimshine.com/fuji/

http://toguitars.com/gallery-japan/fujigen-gakki-guitars.html

Fuji Roland

Fuji Roland Synth Guitar http://www.joness.com/gr300/G-303.htm

Catalog http://brochures.yokochou.com/en_index.html

See Roland

Fullerton

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Fullerton

Fullertone

Stratocaster copies ? Japanese

"Label is Signed and dated by Narciso Fumero. He writes model by total of instrument he has made for example 24C-IRC is the 24th Classical Guitar he as made, IRC stand for Indian Rosewood with Cedar top." [Source: Omar Fernadez, Direct Sales & Design, Inc., www.directguitar.com Fort Lauderdale]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fumero

Furch

1981 to present

Made since" 1981 as a private person, 1990 as a manufactory, in Czech Republic (Czechia) member of European Community, Central Europe (former Czechoslovakia)
An inside-body heel-positioned label shows the day of production, model code and the Prod.No." [Source:

Frantisek Furch, email, 23/7/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Furch

Fury Guitars

1962 - present

Fury are Canada's first electric guitar manufacturer.

Fury guitars model history http://www.furyguitar.com/vintage.html

Dating Fury Guitars

 http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/fury.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fury+Guitars

Futurama

1958-

Originally made (1958) in Czechoslovakia by Resonet (Graziosa), imported by Selmer to UK, then Sweden and Japan until 1967. [Source: Blue Book, Junk Guitars ]

http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofnerfs/futurama/fut.html

http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/resonet_gracioso.html

http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/star1.html

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/charlottecooper/guitarsite/docs/Kent.html

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/charlottecooper/guitarsite/docs/FutIII.html

Futurama guitar catalogs

1964 (Selmer) http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/images/CatSelm64/P13selm64.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Futurama

See Hagstrom, Selmer

Image eBay:

Fredrico Garcia

Fylde Guitars

1973 to present

"I started Fylde in 1973, first of all in Kirkham , Lancashire, and since 1996, in Penrith, Cumbria.
The serial number is on the label inside the guitar.

That serial number is sequential, and would allow me to date it, but Id rather that people mailed me when there is a query- it allows me to keep in touch with instruments, and sometimes helps me track the whereabouts of unusual instruments, and even stolen ones!" [Source: Roger Bucknall, Fylde Guitars, email 4/4/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fylde

Images eBay: