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In pictures: Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

By Michael Brown
( Total Guitar )
published 10 September 2013

We take a trip behind the scenes at Warwick HQ

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

We were beyond thrilled when the guys at Warwick & Framus invited us over to their headquarters in Markneukirchen, Germany, and we took the opportunity to get some undercover snaps of the company’s unique production process.

So, join us as we explore the journey from wood to instrument with our shots of the coolest parts of the process…

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Page 1 of 46
Page 1 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

First, the slabs of wood are cut into smaller pieces, then sent to this rip-saw machine, which uses lasers to cut them into more precise sizes

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Page 2 of 46
Page 2 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

The instrument-proportioned slabs of wood are then taken to the drying chamber, before being checked for moisture

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Page 3 of 46
Page 3 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Now, the necks are cut using another of those cutting machines – we’ll see more of those later…

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Page 4 of 46
Page 4 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

There are different ways of cutting depending on what the wood will be used for – the band saw is used for tops, for example

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Page 5 of 46
Page 5 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

More cross cutting going on over here

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Page 6 of 46
Page 6 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Slabs of wood are hand selected and glued together, based on their wood grain and colour

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Page 7 of 46
Page 7 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

And here’s the gluing in action

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Page 8 of 46
Page 8 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

There are those necks again, headstocks attached, and truss rods installed

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Page 9 of 46
Page 9 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Each of those slabs of wood from earlier gets cut to form two necks, as you can see here

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Page 10 of 46
Page 10 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Now, those necks head over to these CNC router machines, which follow a set program to precisely cut the neck and headstock to size…

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Page 11 of 46
Page 11 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

…resulting in the lovely finished Warwick and Framus necks you see here

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Page 12 of 46
Page 12 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

See that lil’ QR code? That tells the next machine exactly what scale and radius the neck has, and what size frets it needs

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Page 13 of 46
Page 13 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick's Fretboard Processing Unit is the only one in the world, and it handles fretboard radius, fret slotting, fret pressing, truss rod adjustment and drilling, and fret levelling. Phew!

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Page 14 of 46
Page 14 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

And here are a few necks, ready to undergo the aforementioned process

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Page 15 of 46
Page 15 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

In this shot, we’ve caught the machine in the middle of sanding a neck

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Page 16 of 46
Page 16 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Here are some fretboards in the process of receiving some tasty-looking inlays

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Page 17 of 46
Page 17 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Now, back to that CNC routing machine, where guitar and bass bodies are also routed

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Page 18 of 46
Page 18 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

That leaves us with a big ol’ pile of bodies, ready for necks, hardware and electronics

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Page 19 of 46
Page 19 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Tops for semi-hollow instruments are also crafted here

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Page 20 of 46
Page 20 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Necks are then bolted on to bodies, or neck-through designs have their wood sides glued on

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Page 21 of 46
Page 21 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Some Warwick basses looking good, even before they get their finishes

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Page 22 of 46
Page 22 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

This fingerboard has a tasty fingerboard grain and yin-yang inlays

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Page 23 of 46
Page 23 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

The bodies and necks are hand-sanded for a comfortable feel

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Page 24 of 46
Page 24 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

After a quick spray with lacquer, each instrument heads to the UV drying chamber…

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Page 25 of 46
Page 25 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

A guitar or bass is only up there for 10 seconds, after which the lacquer is completely dry – speedy!

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Page 26 of 46
Page 26 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Here we have a few guitars, waiting for the next stage – note the awesome chrome finish at the back

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Page 27 of 46
Page 27 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Here we have a few guitars, waiting for the next stage – note the awesome chrome finish at the back

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Page 28 of 46
Page 28 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Some finishes require multiple sanding and lacquering stages – this is the sanding station

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Page 29 of 46
Page 29 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Some finishes require multiple sanding and lacquering stages – this is the sanding station

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Page 30 of 46
Page 30 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

And here’s where bodies are stored while they wait to be processed – it’s like IKEA for guitars!

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Page 31 of 46
Page 31 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

And here’s where bodies are stored while they wait to be processed – it’s like IKEA for guitars!

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Page 32 of 46
Page 32 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

That there display gives a rough idea of the different parts that go into a Framus semi-hollow guitar – it’s a lot more complicated than a solidbody

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Page 33 of 46
Page 33 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

That there display gives a rough idea of the different parts that go into a Framus semi-hollow guitar – it’s a lot more complicated than a solidbody

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Page 34 of 46
Page 34 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick and Framus use 45 different types of wood for their instruments

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Page 35 of 46
Page 35 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick and Framus use 45 different types of wood for their instruments

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Page 36 of 46
Page 36 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

That’s right, forty-five!

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Page 37 of 46
Page 37 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

That’s right, forty-five!

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 38 of 46
Page 38 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

After the lacquering stage, hardware parts, such as machineheads and bridges, are fitted

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Page 39 of 46
Page 39 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

After the lacquering stage, hardware parts, such as machineheads and bridges, are fitted

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Page 40 of 46
Page 40 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Next come the pickups and electronics

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Page 41 of 46
Page 41 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Next come the pickups and electronics

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Page 42 of 46
Page 42 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Finally, each instrument is tested for setup and function

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Page 43 of 46
Page 43 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Finally, each instrument is tested for setup and function

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 44 of 46
Page 44 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

The factory produces around 10 to 15 instruments from start to finish each day

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Page 45 of 46
Page 45 of 46
Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

Warwick & Framus Factory Tour

The factory produces around 10 to 15 instruments from start to finish each day

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 46 of 46
Page 46 of 46
Michael Brown
Michael Brown
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Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

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