It’s high time to highlight an underrated guitarist, none other than Framus endorser Hans Platz. If you’ve seen his performances or follow him on social media, you’ve likely spotted Hans playing his stunning Framus Custom Diablo II 7-string guitar — an instrument that reflects his technical mastery and style, full of character and flair.
Born in 1971, Hans Platz has built an impressive musical career. A quick look at his Wikipedia page reveals that he’s played in several bands over the years, including Cyrus Dance and Sushifarm. He also served as a backup guitarist for the comedic metal band J.B.O. and played with the folk rock group Fiddler's Green in 2006 and 2007.
In 2013, after four years of dedicated work, he released his solo album "Timestamps", featuring none other than renowned drummer Marco Minnemann. This album showcases progressive metal at its finest, with intricate riffs and masterful compositions. If you’re a fan of technical guitar work, Timestamps is definitely an album worth listening to.
But Hans Platz is far from just a studio musician. Since 2008, he’s been part of the medieval metal band Feuerschwanz, which has gained enormous popularity in Germany and throughout Europe. Their 2021 album Memento Mori even debuted at number 1 on the German charts — a rare feat for any metal band. With every live performance, Feuerschwanz delivers an epic show, and Hans' guitar work is a key element of that experience.
In addition to Feuerschwanz, Hans co-founded the band The Dark Side of the Moon, alongside Melissa Bonny of Ad Infinitum, Jenny Diehl of Feuerschwanz, and Morten Løwe Sørensen of Amaranthe. The band's name pays homage to the iconic Pink Floyd album, but their music offers epic, symphonic metal versions of famous soundtracks. Their album Metamorphosis is a unique listening experience, featuring metal interpretations of well-known movie and TV themes and of course own music. You will also hear collaborations with the Dutch Charlotte Wessels (May it Be), Tom S.Englund (Misty Mountains), Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie) and Rusanda Panfili (Violin).
Fun fact: Hans and Melissa first collaborated on a cover of the song Ding, which they recorded with Feuerschwanz. This project led to a challenge from Hans: create a metal version of Jenny of Oldstones, a song by Florence and the Machine. This collaboration became the spark that ignited The Dark Side of the Moon. With their distinctive style, the band has quickly gained a loyal following.
Why Framus?
Hans Platz is a loyal Framus endorser and owns an impressive collection of guitars. Among his favorites are the Diablo Progressive X, Diablo, Panthera II Supreme, and the stunning Idolmaker. Yet, it is his Framus Custom Diablo II 7-string that he plays the most, both live and in the studio.
Framus guitars perfectly match Hans’ versatility. These are high-quality instruments, with unparalleled tonal diversity and craftsmanship. Hans’ guitars aren’t just aesthetically impressive – his Custom Diablo II 7-string, has a unique “burnt” look. Could this guitar have actually been set on fire?
What makes Framus special? The guitars are built only upon request by a small team of experienced luthiers. All Team and Masterbuilt models receive Plek and ITF (check our website for more info on this), and, of course, the Customshop models also include these features. You can even customize a Framus in this category to your liking, from wood types to pickups and finish.
Handmade in Germany and 94% CO2 neutral, with attention to detail and ergonomic comfort, Framus is truly a brand worth trying at The Guitar Master Shop.
Come experience it for yourself!
Curious about Hans Platz’s guitar skills? On November 28th, he’ll be performing with Feuerschwanz at Patronaat in Haarlem, a show you absolutely can’t miss. It promises to be a spectacular night filled with epic music and an incredible live performance.
At The Guitar Master, we are proud to be the only dealer in Europe with an extensive collection of Teambuilt, Masterbuilt, and Customshop guitars from Framus. Who knows, you might even find your own dream guitar here — just like Hans did.
Take a look at our webshop or schedule an appointment to try a Framus guitar yourself.
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