This guitar is a commission sale. If you have a high-end or vintage guitar you are interested in selling please contact us.
Mainland UK buyers ONLY. Delivery by specialist courier only. Prices start from £55 depending on location - please inquire.
Here for sale we have an absolutely exquisite Franklin Guitar Co. OM acoustic guitar in Gloss Natural finish. The work of Nick Kukich, Franklin Guitar Co. was founded on Franklin Road, Franklin, Michigan in 1974. Nick had spent the preceding years at a specialist pre-war guitar shop in Detroit, repairing instruments and developing an intimate knowledge of traditional guitar construction methods. This prepared him for creating the finest modern iterations of traditional pre-war guitar designs. Beginning with the OM, Jumbo & Dreadnought models are now also available, following on from the legacy his OM guitars carved out. As of 2018, Kukich has produced around 700 guitars. The waiting list to purchase a new one is around 12-18 months long, and prices start from $11250- testament to the reputation of impeccable quality that his instruments command.
Made in the Sandpoint, Idaho workshop in 1982, this instrument of course features an all-solid construction comprising a Spruce top, Koa back & sides, Mahogany neck and 21 fret Ebony fingerboard with matching bridge. The body is double bound in Ivoroid, whilst the top is adorned with a Tortoiseshell pickguard, Herringbone purfling & multi-stripe rosette. To the rear is a handsome back strip, appearing to be made from a different, highly flamed piece of Koa. The Ebony of the fingerboard is inlaid with Abalone, whilst the headstock is overlaid with Koa and inlaid with the 'F' logo in Mother of Pearl. Bone bridge pins, saddle & nut are fitted, along with a set of Gold Gotoh 510 tuning machines - a modern addition to the instrument which has been carefully & respectfully performed. A K&K Trinity pickup has also been added, making this guitar suitable for both live & studio use.
The Mahogany neck plays beautifully, with a profile which might be described as a rounded 'C' shape. Comfortable in all positions, the profile very subtly encourages ergonomic thumb positioning across the register. The profile is substantial enough to inspire confidence in your left hand grip whilst remaining slim enough for articulate playing. With a nut width of 1.709" and a volute, the playing experience is distinctly pre-war inspired. The Ebony of the fretboard is supremely luxurious under the fingers whilst providing a smooth and durable playing surface. The smooth lines and modest stature of the body are very comfortable in the arms, ensuring that long playing sessions are fatigue free.
The acoustic voice of the Franklin Guitar Co. OM is both rich and fabulously well balanced. The OM body size is favoured by a wide range of players due to its even response, and this instrument exemplifies exactly that. The low end is warm and gentle without being too soft, the mid range is open and clear whilst the high end is sparkling and bright. Together, these qualities converge to produce a tone which is authentically traditional. The Spruce top projects beautifully, delivering a wide dynamic range which feels sensitive to the players' touch without any loss of clarity at high volumes. Whilst traditionally thought of as a fingerstyle player's guitar, it has to be said that strummed chordal playing on this instrument is just as well balanced and rewarding. A truly exquisite piece.
This guitar is a commission sale. If you have a high-end or vintage guitar you are interested in selling please contact us.
Mainland UK buyers ONLY. Delivery by specialist courier only. Prices start from £55 depending on location - please inquire.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Franklin Guitar Co. OM Gloss Natural 1982 Vintage Hand Made Electro-Acoustic
Brand - Franklin Guitar Co.
Model - OM
Finish - Gloss Natural
Year - 1982
Made In - USA
Top - Solid Spruce
Back/Sides - Solid Koa
Neck - Mahogany
Fingerboard - Ebony
Fingerboard Radius - 16" (Measured)
Frets - 14 Clear, 21 Total
Scale Length- 25.5"
Nut Width - 1.709" (43.4mm)
Pickups - K&K Trinity
Our ID: 1021225159022
Weight: 4.5lbs
Serial: 336
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall very good condition. The front face demonstrates some slight chipping of the clear coat towards the top edge. This continues onto the top of the headstock, particularly along the rear edge where some indentations pierce the finish slightly, revealing the wood beneath. The sides demonstrate very light circular scratching, consistent with the use of a string winder. The rear edges towards the nut demonstrate similar markings to the top of the headstock to a lesser degree. The original screw holes for the previous machine heads have been carefully filled to closely resemble the surrounding colour.
Neck: Overall very good condition. The rear of the neck demonstrates a patch of very small indentations which discolor the finish slightly. These are very difficult to discern beneath the thumb and do not impact the overall playability of the instrument. Some mild finish wear is present at the bass side rear beside the 2nd fret. The heel of the neck demonstrates some light to mild indentation, piercing the finish on the bass side but not exposing the wood. The fingerboard demonstrates some very light scratching visible only under direct lighting at certain angles, difficult to discern against the natural grain.
Body: Overall very good condition. The front face demonstrates consistent light indentation throughout, most notably along the lower bout. Some of these pierce the finish very slightly. Others are only visible under direct lighting at certain angles. Some finish checking is apparent under close inspection, typical for an instrument of this age. The rear and sides demonstrate 3 light indentations to the treble side lower bout, two on the rear face and one on the side. These appear to have had some touch up work, as the colour is slightly more orange than the surrounding finish.
Condition of Frets:
The frets demonstrate light signs of use, not affecting playability. There is moderate material remaining for any future fret work the new owner may wish to perform.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: N/A
Hardware: Excellent condition. The tuners have been replaced with a set of Gold Gotoh 510. No original parts are included.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-2.25mm - Bass 2.75mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - D'Addario Phosphor Bronze 12-53
There is considerable material remaining in the saddle for future adjustments.
Electrics:
Fully functional.
Case & Accessories
Hiscox hard case
The case demonstrates light signs of use. Previous seller listings included in the case. No TRS cable or K&K preamp included, required for optimal use of the K&K Trinity system. The system can be used adequately with a regular 1/4" instrument cable.