I just spoke to Leo Posch about some work on one of my guitars and I asked him about Franklin guitars. He said he was'nt very impressed with the sound or the design, and that he actually had one in his shop right now for repair.
He did however have very nice things to say about, Borges, Collings, and Slobod. He also said he was not impressed with Merrill.
Personally i have never even seen any of these guitars much less played them except for Collings.

Different strokes, but all I can say is when I bought my Franklin it was in preference to any OMs I encountered at the "A-list" shops in: Chicago, Kansas, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Nashville, and some other stops. I was not guessing, I physically played all these instruments before I made my purchase decision. The search process took months. I had a Collings dreadnaught at the time, if I thought any Collings I encountered then was better I would have bought it. And I played a ton of them.

Its true however that, to this day, I've never seen guitars of Borges, Slobod, of Merrill. I'm not sure these were really even options back then (2001-2002). Or Walker. Or Claxton. Or Dudenbostel. etc...

He's certainly entitled to his opinion, but somehow I don't think he knew you were planning to publish those comments.

I don't know how many he's seen. I haven't seen many at all. I just know I like mine a ton. I'd say he could be generally right, except how to explain all the other people who feel the same way about them as I do about mine.

I actually brought mine into his former place of employment, but he was already gone at that point.

I do know of a guy out there who played my guitar and, many months later, a Posch. I think he liked them both. I know he liked mine quite a bit, at the time.

I've listed sound clips on page 4 of this thread, you can hear for yourself what some sound like, though as imperfectly as recorded media can be. None of those instruments are mine, and I think a good number of them sound pretty darned good. YMMV.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: D2H2259,

I apologize to anyone who takes offense to the above post. I wasn't thinking about cuurent Franklin guitar owners, my mistake, i was only trying to report what i had heard a respected Luthier comment on. It is his opinion and i cannot make it my opinion because i've never heard a Franklin.

Papi,

I've spoken to many well educated guitar players about franklins and if there has been one consistent response, it's that Nick's guitars are among the very best. And I've done my research. If you spoke with Mike at Luthiers you may have heard what he thinks. He speaks very highly of Nicks work and sells them as fast as they arrive.

I've also spoken with El McMeen who has bought five over the past few years and who said they were amazing guitars and as good or better than other fine guitars sold at twice what Nick currently sells his OM's for.

I had put my email address for anyone who wanted nicks email but I don't recall receiving a request.

I think you have the contact info by now, but if you don't, let me know.



Stuart

Hey, I'm not offended. Everyone's entitled to an opinion. I was just offering some balance, hopefully.

I don't care if someone doesn't like mine, either. I only care that I like it.

In full agreement.

But they are great guitars.



Stuart

Yes, I checked my e-mail and someone did send me Mr. Kukich's information. Was that you Stuart?
Thank's guys for being gracious.

quote:

Originally posted by PAPI:
I just spoke to Leo Posch about some work on one of my guitars and I asked him about Franklin guitars. He said he was'nt very impressed with the sound or the design

I've heard a lot about Franklins lately, but this is the first time I've heard a negative response, in fact usually the reviews are glowing.

Not me, have his contact info at work, but glad you got it.

I took a risk ordering a Franklin without playing one, though I've heard many recordings. But I'll travel into the US and visit Nick at some point likely and play a Brazilian vs a mahogany.

I have heard that his mahoganys are some of the very best on the planet. And since his Brazilians are very good, it could be a tough choice. I think I will be too tempted by the Brazilian, but I don't know which tone will grab me the most. And the beauty of the Brazilian is - well, its a factor.

I look forward to having three guitars. The multiple tuning thing is painful and does in the strings very quickly.

Stuart

Well, that does it for me... if Mr. Leo Posch doesn't like Franklin guitars, then I'm gonna have to sell mine.

I had an OM Franklin pass thru my hands back in the early 80's and I wasn't real impressed. I can't remember what kind of spruce but it was Braz. b&s. I was babysitting for a dealer for a few weeks and then had to send it on to the buyer out in the great NW. It recorded OK though and used it on a few tracks of home demos.

Josh White Jr's Franklin D is killer.

Maybe his early guitars were not very impressive and now his current work is greatness?