The Steel Guitar Forum

Just curious how many forumites play a Franklin.




Heres mine, ("Black Frankie") S/N 22, IMO The best Steel money can buy and I have ever owned !!!!

Seems like we've hashed this before, but I'm not sure... pics of mine are in the link in my sig line... the serial number is 011, but that's because he marked them as he sold them, NOT as he built them. It's the third one he built.

(Wonder if that's a clue on the old Sho-Bud numbering system, as Paul worked there for so long?)

know where there are any more like that for sale???

See this recent forum thread on Franklin's.

Click Me

In the rare occasion they do come up for sale how much are they selling for? Is there a way to put a price on them?

I can only speak for my (late) 81 D-10. Paul (Sr) checked it over in September and told me he could easily get me double what I paid for it new, if I wanted to sell. But, it's not for sale.

Hey Jamie,
Jack is right 'bout the recent thread discussed.
BTW, I just wondered if somebody knows how many Franklins have been made by Paul Sr...200...300?

It looks like an Emmons clone!

It may look like an Emmons clone (as do many other guitars), but that's where the comparison ends. The changer mechanism is different, the underside is completely different, metal compositions are different, tone is different, etc.

Here`s #124 a 1988 model.

Mine has the number 061 stamped on the underside.I had it built Sept 1982 ..Great guitar...Great builder...Ron

Ron, I don't know about the S/N on yours. Mine is 065, ordered in Oct 81 and delivered late Dec 81. According to Paul, mine is the first one that he delivered with the "new" Franklin logo (like the one on the front of your guitar).

Mines serial 22, 27 years old, now with the new logo, anyone know how much mines worth ???

Also I have that metal brace thing taken off mine, is it important ????

The metal brace between the front and back aprons is there in case the aprons would expand or contract and cause problems with the cross rods.

Whether it's needed?? Emmons has used them for years (my 71 PP D-10 had a cross brace) but the early Franklin's did not have them. I put one on mine as I was having some cross rod binding problems that was eventually traced to the cross rod mounting blocks on one end having been machined to a too close tolerance. There was no room for expansion or contraction (mine was the first one he used parts that were custom made by a machine shop and he specified a too close tolerance on the hole - that mounting block was the only part that Paul did not make). After I showed Paul my cross brace he apparently decided to add that as later ones have the cross brace.

I have #014 D10

I have D10 #084. Mr Paul told me it was built in 1984. I would love to have three C6th levers on it.
Jerry

I still have my Number 16 bought in the 70s even tho I'm now playing Rains. Dale Thomas

Number 22 came with the brace.As for how many have been built? I'm thinking around 220.But that's just my best guess.I've owned 3. Could have owned 5. But felt they were a little over priced at the time..bb

After rereading Jacks post.The cross brace may have been added later.I was the 2nd owner....bb

Here's nr. 85, a 1984 model I've heard.

Here is mine #79 stereo model 1983 or 1984.
I've replaced the E66's by a pair of Tonaligners, much better , IMO.
Concerning the total number of Franklins made, does Theresa Galbraith would like to settle the matter?

Guess mine must be number 061.Talked to Paul Sr and mine is 061. I did have it built in Sept,1982.

Dale Thomas wrote:I still have my Number 16 bought in the 70s even tho I'm now playing Rains. Dale Thomas

Dale, I'm not going to argue semantics with you, but they started in 1978. Paul put numbers on them as he sold them, instead of as he built them. Mine (third one he built) is # 11, I bought it in May of 1980. If yours is # 16, it could have been built in '78 or '79, but you had to have bought it after I got mine.

(For timeline purposes only.)

Hi Jamie heres my D10 8/7 #147 the best purchase I ever made

With mine being 065 and Ron's 061, but Ron's was delivered after mine it makes you wonder how Paul serialized the guitars.

I had thought I got mine in Dec 82 but I was at Paul's house and he got his book out of all the guitars he has built(and who it was sold to) and showed me where mine was ordered in Oct 81 and delivered in Dec 81.