BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. ARTIST
- double cutaway body, 24-fret maple fingerboard with dot inlay, cream pickguard, three Tri-Sonic pickups, six knobs, two switches, available in Cherry finish, mfg. 1960 only.
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BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A.
Jim Burns has been hailed as the British Leo Fender due to his continual electric guitar designs and innovations. Widely accepted in England and Europe, Burns guitars never really caught on in the U.S. market.
James Ormsted Burns was born in 1925. Burns built his first lap steel while still serving in the Royal Air Force in 1944. By 1952, he completed his first solid body electric, and, along with partner Alan Wooten, Burns built his first twenty guitars under the Supersound name in 1958. Burns' first production guitars were built with Henry Weill in 1959 under the Burns-Weill trademark, then later under the Burns logo. The Burns, London company (1960 to 1965) was the watermark of Jim Burns´ career, as the company stayed very successful producing guitars, basses, amplifiers, and accessories. Even while many popular British artists used Burns instruments, Jim Burns turned to exporting his instruments to the U.S. market briefly under both the Ampeg and Burns trademarks.
In 1965, the Baldwin company lost to CBS in its bid to acquire Fender. Searching for another proven winner, Baldwin bought Burns and began importing the instruments under the Baldwin or Baldwin/Burns trademarks. Jim Burns stayed on as managing director and "idea man" through 1966, then left to pursue other projects. Baldwin eventually began assembling imported parts in Booneville, Arkansas. By 1970, Baldwin decided to concentrate on production of Gretsch guitars and drums (acquired in 1967, the Gretsch operation was also moved down to Arkansas).
In 1969, Jim Burns returned to the musical instrument world as a design consultant to Dallas-Arbiter's Hayman trademark. Along with ex-Vox employee Bob Pearson, Burns was reunited with Jack Golder (ex-Burns mainstay) but only continued his affiliation until 1971. A new Burns organization arose in 1973 as Burns, U.K., but this company met with less success than intended and folded in 1977. A later stab at affairs continued as the Jim Burns Company from 1979 to 1983.
Jim Burns died in 1998, and also served as an acting consultant at Burns, London Ltd. This Surrey, England-based company was established in 1992, and is currently producing authentic reproductions of the desirable 1960s-style Burns models. In 2002, Codel Enterprises began distributing Burns guitars in the U.S. again, and in late 2005, Crafter USA became the exclusive U.S. distributor.
The most collectible Burns instruments would be from the company's heyday between 1960 and 1965. The Burns-Weill models are relatively scarce, and the Ampeg by Burns of London models were only distributed from 1963 to 1964. Baldwin models, while not plentiful, do surface in the U.S. vintage market - and some examples pop up in Elvis Presley's 1960s movies! A Double-Six 12-string model is currently on display in Graceland. Later, Burns' companies probably contributed to smaller guitar productions, although the Burns U.K. Flyte model has a pretty cool jet plane-shaped body design. Jim Burns was the first to pioneer a number of distinct design ideas that are accepted worldwide in guitar production. Burns originated interesting features like the 24-fret fingerboard, the heel-less glued-in neck joint, knife-edge bearing vibrato unit, active electronics, and stacked-coil pickups. Source: Paul Day, The Burns Book.
James Ormsted Burns was born in 1925. Burns built his first lap steel while still serving in the Royal Air Force in 1944. By 1952, he completed his first solid body electric, and, along with partner Alan Wooten, Burns built his first twenty guitars under the Supersound name in 1958. Burns' first production guitars were built with Henry Weill in 1959 under the Burns-Weill trademark, then later under the Burns logo. The Burns, London company (1960 to 1965) was the watermark of Jim Burns´ career, as the company stayed very successful producing guitars, basses, amplifiers, and accessories. Even while many popular British artists used Burns instruments, Jim Burns turned to exporting his instruments to the U.S. market briefly under both the Ampeg and Burns trademarks.
In 1965, the Baldwin company lost to CBS in its bid to acquire Fender. Searching for another proven winner, Baldwin bought Burns and began importing the instruments under the Baldwin or Baldwin/Burns trademarks. Jim Burns stayed on as managing director and "idea man" through 1966, then left to pursue other projects. Baldwin eventually began assembling imported parts in Booneville, Arkansas. By 1970, Baldwin decided to concentrate on production of Gretsch guitars and drums (acquired in 1967, the Gretsch operation was also moved down to Arkansas).
In 1969, Jim Burns returned to the musical instrument world as a design consultant to Dallas-Arbiter's Hayman trademark. Along with ex-Vox employee Bob Pearson, Burns was reunited with Jack Golder (ex-Burns mainstay) but only continued his affiliation until 1971. A new Burns organization arose in 1973 as Burns, U.K., but this company met with less success than intended and folded in 1977. A later stab at affairs continued as the Jim Burns Company from 1979 to 1983.
Jim Burns died in 1998, and also served as an acting consultant at Burns, London Ltd. This Surrey, England-based company was established in 1992, and is currently producing authentic reproductions of the desirable 1960s-style Burns models. In 2002, Codel Enterprises began distributing Burns guitars in the U.S. again, and in late 2005, Crafter USA became the exclusive U.S. distributor.
The most collectible Burns instruments would be from the company's heyday between 1960 and 1965. The Burns-Weill models are relatively scarce, and the Ampeg by Burns of London models were only distributed from 1963 to 1964. Baldwin models, while not plentiful, do surface in the U.S. vintage market - and some examples pop up in Elvis Presley's 1960s movies! A Double-Six 12-string model is currently on display in Graceland. Later, Burns' companies probably contributed to smaller guitar productions, although the Burns U.K. Flyte model has a pretty cool jet plane-shaped body design. Jim Burns was the first to pioneer a number of distinct design ideas that are accepted worldwide in guitar production. Burns originated interesting features like the 24-fret fingerboard, the heel-less glued-in neck joint, knife-edge bearing vibrato unit, active electronics, and stacked-coil pickups. Source: Paul Day, The Burns Book.
Instruments previously built in Britain during the late 1950s and 1960s and in Boonville, AR by Baldwin between 1965 and 1972. Currently produced in Surrey, England by Burns London Ltd. and in Korea. Currently distributed in the U.S. by Saga Musical Instruments in San Francisco, CA since 2011. Previously distributed in the U.S. by Codel Enterprises of Bethel, CT from 2002-June 2005 and by Crafter USA in Ashland, VA from late 2005-2009.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Electric Guitars Models
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. BARRACUDA BARITONE
- baritone configuration, Marquee body style, alder body, maple neck, 23-fret rosewood MOP bound fingerboard with dot inlay, three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, three separate pickguards, three knobs, five-way switch, push/pull control for seven...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. VISTA SONIC BASS
- offset double (almost dual) cutaway hardwood body with short horns, bolt-on neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, four-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, black inscribed pickguard, three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, bridg...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. BRIAN MAY SIGNATURE
- double offset cutaway, solid mahogany body and neck, ebony 24-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlays and zero fret, matching headstock, three-per-side tuners, black pickguard, three Burns Tri-Sonic pickups wired in series, switches for ea...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Vibra-Artist
- similar to the Artist, except has a tremolo unit, mfg. 1960-62.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. BISON BASS
- double sharp cutaway alder body, hard-rock maple neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, matching headstock, four-on-one-side tuners, black pickguard, three Tri-Sonic pickups, four knobs (v, two tones, pickup selector), chrome hardware, avail...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Brian May Signature Left-Handed
- similar to the Brian May Signature except is in left-hand configuration, mfg. 2002-05.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. MARQUEE BASS
- double cutaway select alder body, rock maple neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, matching headstock, four-on-one-side tuners, three piece black pickguard, three Tri-Sonic pickups, two knobs (v, tone), five-way switch, gold hardware, avail...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Vibra Artist De Luxe
- simliar to the Vibra Artist, except has an ivorine-bound rosewood fingerboard, MOP tuner buttons, laminated black pickguard with controls in it, three knobs, three switches, available in Cherry finish, mfg. 1961-62.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Brian May Special
- similar to the Brian May Signature, except has gold hardware, MOP body and neck bindings, and is available in Black finish, mfg. 2004-05.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. SCORPION BASS
- double cutaway Scorpion bass alder body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 22-fret rosewood MOP fingerboard with dot inlays, P/J style pickups, three black pickguards, three knobs, three-way switch, two-per-side tuners, available in "Gothic&q...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. BISON
- double cutaway, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, gray tortoise pickguard, three "Rez-o-Matik" pickups, tremolo unit, three knobs, two switches, scroll style headstock, three-per-side tuners, Black or White finish, mfg. 1964-65.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. MARQUEE GUITAR
- double offset cutaway, solid alder body, maple neck, maple or rosewood 22-fret fingerboard with dot inlays and zero fret, classic scrolled headstock, three-per-side tuners, three-piece pickguard, three single coil Rez-o-matic pickups, fiv...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Marquee Left-Handed
- similar to the Marquee except is in left-hand configuration, mfg. 2000-05.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Black Bison 3 Pickup
- similar to the Bison, except has three "Ultra-Sonic" pickups, regular style headstock, six-per-side tuners, four knobs, available in Black finish only, mfg. 1962-64.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Black Bison 4 Pickup
- similar to the Black Bison 3 Pickup, except has four "Ultra-Sonic" pickups, one volume knob, and two pickup selector knobs, available in Black finish only, mfg. 1961-62.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. Marquee Special
- similar to the Marquee guitar except has a flattop with body bindings on the top and a photo-flame finish, available in Trans. Green, Red, or Blue finish, mfg. 2000-05.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. DOUBLE SIX
- 12-string configuration, offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three separate black pickguards, three diagonal single coil pickups, tremolo bridge, scroll style headstock, six-pe...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. THE BISON
- double offset cutaway with pointed horns, solid alder body, maple neck, rosewood 22-fret fingerboard with dot inlays, matching color "bat-wing" headstock, six-on-one-side tuners, black pickguard with Burns inscription, three Tri...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. THE DOUBLE SIX
- double cutaway 12-string, alder body, hard-rock maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard, classic Burns matching finish headstock, three piece black pickguard with Burns logo, six-per-side tuners, three chrome Tri-Sonic pickups, three kno...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. JAZZ
- offset double cutaway hardwood body with inward curving horns, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, black inscribed pickguard, two Burns Tri-Sonic pickups, bridge/tremol...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. JAZZ SPLIT SOUND
- offset double cutaway hardwood body with inward curving horns, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, six-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, black inscribed pickguard, three Burns Split-Sonic pickups, bridge/trem...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. THE FLYTE
- update version of the classic Flyte, arrowhead-shaped body with contours, alder body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 22-fret rosewood MOP bound fingerboard with dot inlay, two seperate pickguards, two Burns split humbucker pickups, stop tailpie...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. THE SCORPION
- updated version of the 1980s Scorpion, double cutaway, alder body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 24-fret MOP bound fingerboard with dot inlay, two Burns split humbucker pickups, two pickguards, three knobs, two switches, three-per-side tuners,...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. MARVIN
- offset double cutaway solidbody, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three separate blue/gray tortoise or brown pickguards, three diaganol Rez-o-Matik pickups, tremolo bridge, scroll style headstock, three-per...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. THE STEER
- semi-hollow alder body with acoustic chambers, hard rock maple neck and 22-fret fingerboard, black plate that goes around the soundhole and pickups, two pickups (single coil, humbucker), black pickguard with Burns inscription, classic Bur...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. NU-SONIC
- offset double cutaway hardwood body with short horns, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, black inscribed pickguard, two Burns Nu-Sonic pickups, bridge/tremolo tailpiec...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. The Steer Cutaway
- similar to the Steer except has a single cutaway, available in Green Sunburst or Red finish, mfg. 2003-05.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. SONIC
- double cutaway body, 21-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, two Tri-Sonic pickups, three knobs, two switches, black pickguard, tremolo bridge, six-on-one side tuners, available in Cherry finish, 23.385 in. scale, mfg. 1960-...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. The Steer Cutaway Deluxe
- similar to the Steer except has a single cutaway with a curly maple top and gold hardware, available in Honey Sunburst, mfg. 2004-05.
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. SPLIT SONIC
- offset double cutaway hardwood body with short horns, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, black inscribed pickguard, three Burns Split-Sonic pickups, bridge/tremolo tai...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. TR 2
- offset double cutaway semi-solid body (solid center section), two f-holes, white body binding, bolt-on neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, bound headstock, bridge/Mk. 9 tremolo tailpiece,...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. VIBRASLIM
- offset double cutaway semi-hollow body, two f-holes, white body binding, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, two Ultra-Sonic pickups, tremolo tailpiece, black pickguard with controls mounted underneath, four knobs,...
BURNS LONDON LTD./BURNS U.S.A. VISTA SONIC
- offset double cutaway, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, black pickguard with Burns London engraved, three "Tri-Sonic" pickups, two knobs, one switch, tremolo unit, available in Red Sunburst finish, mfg. 1962-64.