In 1962, as Leo Fender's health was faltering, he discussed the idea of selling Fender Electric Instruments company to Don Randall (head of Fender Sales). While Randall toyed with the idea even as late as the summer of 1963, they eventually concluded to sell to a third party who had money. Negotiations began with the Baldwin Piano Company in April of 1964, who offered $5 million (minus Fender's liabilities). When talks bogged down over acoustic guitar and electric piano operations, Randall met with representatives of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). An agreement with CBS was signed in October 1964, for $13 million that took effect in January of 1965.
Baldwin, outbid by CBS but still looking to diversify its product lines, then bought the Burns manufacturing facilities from Jim Burns (regarded as "the British Leo Fender") in September 1965. U.S. distributed models bore the Baldwin trademark. During Baldwin´s first year of ownership, only the logos were changed on the imported guitars. In 1966, the Burns-style scroll headstock was redesigned; and in 1967 the 700 series was debuted. The Baldwin company then began assembling the imported Burns parts in Booneville, AR.
Baldwin acquired the Gretsch trademark when Fred Gretsch, Jr. sold the company in 1967. As part of a business consolidation, the New York Gretsch operation was moved to the Arkansas facility in 1970. Baldwin then concentrated its corporate interests in the Gretsch product line, discontinuing further Baldwin/Burns models. However, it is interesting to note that many Burns-style features (like the bridge vibrato) began to turn up on Gretsch models after 1967. For further Baldwin/Gretsch history, see Gretsch. Source: Paul Day, The Burns Book, and Michael Wright, Vintage Guitar Magazine.
Instruments previously produced between 1965 and 1970. Baldwin guitars and basses were initially built in England by Burns; later models were shipped by components and assembled in Booneville, AR. Distributed by the Baldwin Piano Company of Cinncinnati, OH.

BALDWIN Electric Guitars Models

BALDWIN 706 MODEL Image

BALDWIN 706 MODEL

- double cutaway hollow ES-335 style body, white body binding, f-holes, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, double trapeze tailpiece with "B" in the middle, raised black pic...

BALDWIN 704 MODEL BASS Image

BALDWIN 704 MODEL BASS

- double cutaway hollow ES-335 style body, white body binding, f-holes, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, scroll style headstock, two-per-side offset tuners, double trapeze tailpiece with "B" in the middle, raised blac...

BALDWIN BABY BISON BASS Image

BALDWIN BABY BISON BASS

- sharp pointed double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, three separate black pickguards, two "bar magnet" pickups, t...

BALDWIN 712R MODEL  Image

BALDWIN 712R MODEL

- 12-string configuration, double cutaway hollow ES-335 style body, white body binding, f-holes, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, raised black pickguard, two "Double Pole" pickups, double trapeze tailpiece with "...

BALDWIN BISON BASS Image

BALDWIN BISON BASS

- sharp pointed double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, 3/2-per-side offset tuners, three separate tortoiseshell pickguards, three single coil pickups, cover over se...

BALDWIN G.B. 66 BASS Image

BALDWIN G.B. 66 BASS

- single cutaway hollow body, f-holes, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, regular style headstock, two-per-side tuners, double trapeze tailpiece bridge, black pickguard with "Baldwin"engraved, two &qu...

BALDWIN BABY BISON Image

BALDWIN BABY BISON

- sharp pointed double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, three separate black pickguards, two "bar magnet" pickups, t...

BALDWIN JAZZ SPLIT SOUND BASS Image

BALDWIN JAZZ SPLIT SOUND BASS

- offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, two-per-side offset tuners, bridge with cover, black pickguard, three single coil pickups, three knobs, available in...

BALDWIN BISON Image

BALDWIN BISON

- sharp pointed double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, three separate tortoiseshell pickguards, three single coil pickups, th...

BALDWIN SHADOWS BASS Image

BALDWIN SHADOWS BASS

- offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, three separate blue/gray tortoise or brown pickguards, three diagonal single coil pickups, co...

BALDWIN VIBRASLIM BASS Image

BALDWIN VIBRASLIM BASS

- double cutaway arched hollowbody, f-holes, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, regular style headstock, three-per-side tuners, black pickguard, two "bar magnet" pickups, four knobs mounted under pick...

BALDWIN DOUBLE SIX Image

BALDWIN DOUBLE SIX

- 12-string configuration, offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, six-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, three separate black pickguards, three diagonal single...

BALDWIN G.B. 65  Image

BALDWIN G.B. 65

- single cutaway hollow body acoustic, vertical soundholes similar to f-holes, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, regular style headstock, three-per-side tuners, double trapeze tailpiece, two pickguards (one fo...

BALDWIN G.B. 66 STANDARD Image

BALDWIN G.B. 66 STANDARD

- single cutaway hollow body, f-holes, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, regular style headstock, three-per-side tuners, double trapeze tailpiece bridge, black pickguard with "Baldwin" engraved, two...

BALDWIN G.B. 66 Deluxe Image

BALDWIN G.B. 66 Deluxe

- similar to the G.B. 66 Standard, except has a density control on the treble bout, available in Golden Sunburst and other color finishes, mfg. 1965-1970.

BALDWIN JAZZ SPLIT SOUND Image

BALDWIN JAZZ SPLIT SOUND

- offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, black pickguard, three single coil pickups, three knobs, available in Red, Re...

BALDWIN MARVIN Image

BALDWIN MARVIN

- offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, tremolo bridge, three separate blue/gray tortoise or brown pickguards, three diagonal single...

BALDWIN VIBRASLIM Image

BALDWIN VIBRASLIM

- double cutaway arched hollowbody, f-holes, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, "Rezo-tube" tremolo bridge, small, clear pickguard, two "bar magnet&...

BALDWIN VIRGINIAN Image

BALDWIN VIRGINIAN

- single cutaway hollow body acoustic, round soundhole, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, moustache bridge, black, clear, or tortoise pickguard, two "bar mag...