Framus Texan 5/196 - how old?

[Oldaxe]

I've got a Framus Texan 5/196, serial #08174
No stamp for year/month under 'tested by' space.
Just wondering if anyone knew the year it was made, and/or it's approximate value. It's a great playing guitar, but lacks volume. I'm contimplating selling or trading in.

[VintAxe]

Welcome Oldaxe,

The Texan model was produced for many years so it's going to be difficult to tell exactly how old your particular guitar might be. Relying on the catalogs I have posted in the catalog section, The 5/196 Texan first appears in the 1964 catalog and continues til the 1970 catalog. Unfortunately, serial numbers are no help. If it's a $10 question, you could try looking through the catalogs and see if you can find a catalog illustration that matches your instrument. Sorry I couldn't be more help here. sb

[jedistar]

one site says "framus
the last 2 digits of the serial number are the year of manufacture "

bit more Framus info at
http://www.jedistar.com/jedistar%20guitar%20dating.htm

[pawnshopjunkie]

He,

There should also be 2#'s and a letter behind the serial #. Like 67A. The 2 numbers are the year it was produced and the letter is the month, A being Jan, B is Feb and so on. VintAxe also has a link to Framus that can help date the guitar.

MS