James O. Burns has produced many guitars and amplifiers in Britain from the 1940s-1980s. More known for his guitars, Burns has many original ideas such as the 24-fret fingerboard and other features on the guitar. For a full history on Burns Guitars, refer to the Blue Book of Electric Guitars.
After making guitars for many years, Burns released his first line of amplifiers in 1961. The idea for an amplifier came from the first Hawaiian guitar that Burns made. An amplifier would be needed to amplify the sound of the guitar. In the 1950s, Burns made a number of one-time amplifiers, but nothing that went into production as a model line. In the early 1960s, Burns had become a very big name in guitars in Britain so they tried their luck with a line of guitar amplifiers. Jim Burns bought a slug of empty TV cabinets to encase his new amplifiers, which became the Tele-Amp models. The Orbit and Sonic series were released in the early to mid-1960s. In September, 1965, Baldwin, bought the Burns manufacturing facilities from Jim Burns (regarded as "the British Leo Fender"). Many amplifiers were only changed cosmetically to the name Baldwin-Burns, and later to strictly Baldwin, whereas completely new and redesigned series were introduced. The Baldwin company then began assembling the imported Burns parts in Booneville, Arkansas. Amplifier (and guitar) production ceased in 1970. When Burns revived the company as Jim Burns Actualizers LTD in the late 1970s/early 1980s four models debuted: The Steer 50 (a combo amp made for the Steer guitar), the mini Snake, the Bullfrog Bass, and the practice Bee. (Courtesy: Paul Day, The Burns Book and Per Gjorde, Pearls and Crazy Diamonds: Fifty Years of Burns Guitars, 1952-2002).
Amplifiers previously produced in England from circa 1961-1970. Baldwin-built Burns were produced from 1965-1970 in Booneville, AR. Amplifiers were produced again in England circa 1979-1983.

BURNS Guitar Amplifiers Models

BURNS TELE-AMP Image

BURNS TELE-AMP

- 15W, 1-12 in. speaker with a treble and mid-range units, dual channels, tremolo, top control panel, four inputs (two per channel), five controls (v1, v2, tone, tremolo depth, tremolo speed), cabinet that was designed for televisions, gril...

BURNS ORBIT 2 COMBO Image

BURNS ORBIT 2 COMBO

- 40W, 1-12 in. "Orbital" speaker, solid-state, dual channels, vibrato, rear-top control panel, four inputs (two per channel), seven silver knobs (Ch 1: v, b, t, s, i, Ch 2: v, t), black covering, aluminum metal grille, mfg. 1963-...

BURNS DOUBLE B BASS AMPLIFIER Image

BURNS DOUBLE B BASS AMPLIFIER

- 75W, piggyback and cabinet with 2-18 in. speakers, solid-state, single channel, front black and silver control panel, two inputs, three black and silver knobs (v, b, t), black covering, dark grille cloth for cabinet, mfg. 1965-66.

BURNS SONIC 20 COMBO Image

BURNS SONIC 20 COMBO

- 20W, 2-10 in. Orbital speakers, solid-state, dual channels, top black control panel, two inputs (one per channel), six silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, i, s, Ch. 2: t, v), dark covering, light cloth grille, mfg. 1964-65.

BURNS BISON Image

BURNS BISON

- 24W, 1-15 in. Jensen speaker, solid-state, dual channels, top control panel, four inputs (two per channel), six controls (Ch. 1: v, tone, tremolo depth, tremolo speed, Ch. 2: v, tone), tone switches, grayish covering, light cloth grille,...

BURNS SONIC 25 COMBO Image

BURNS SONIC 25 COMBO

- 25W, 2-10 in. speakers, solid-state, dual channels, front black control panel, two inputs (one per channel), six black and silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, i, s, Ch. 2: v, t), dark covering, black cloth grille, mfg. 1966.

BURNS ORBIT 3 COMBO Image

BURNS ORBIT 3 COMBO

- 60W, 3-10 in. speakers, solid-state, dual channels, vibrato, rear-top silver control panel, four inputs (two per channel), seven silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, 6-way tone select, t, s, i, Ch. 2: v, t), black covering, aluminum metal grille, mfg....

BURNS SONIC 30 COMBO Image

BURNS SONIC 30 COMBO

- 30W, 1-12 in. Orbital speaker, solid-state, top black control panel, two inputs (one per channel), six silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, i, s, Ch. 2: t, v), dark or light covering, light cloth grille, mfg. 1963-65.

BURNS BISON BASS COMBO Image

BURNS BISON BASS COMBO

- 35W, 2-12 in. Jensen Bass speakers, solid-state, tremolo, dual channels, top control panel, four inputs (two per channel), six controls (Ch. 1: v, tone, tremolo depth, tremolo speed, Ch. 2: volume, tone), grayish covering, light grille cl...

BURNS DOUBLE 12 COMBO Image

BURNS DOUBLE 12 COMBO

- 60W, 2-12 in. speakers, solid-state, dual channels, vibrato, rear-top silver control panel, four inputs (two per channel), eight silver knobs (Ch.1: v, 6-way tone select, t, s, i, Ch. 2: v, b, t), black covering, aluminum metal grille, mf...

BURNS SONIC 35 COMBO Image

BURNS SONIC 35 COMBO

- 35W, 1-12 in. heavy-duty speaker, solid-state, dual channels, vibrato, front control panel, three inputs (two for channel one, one for channel two), eight black and silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, b, m, t, i, s, Ch. 2: v, t), dark covering, dark...

BURNS SNAKE Image

BURNS SNAKE

- 0.6W, 1-5 in. speaker mini-combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, front control panel, single input, three knobs (v, b, t), DC powered, optional rechargable unit, suede leather/paint covering, carrying-type handle, mfg. circa 1979-19...

BURNS SONIC 50 COMBO Image

BURNS SONIC 50 COMBO

- 50W, 2-12 in. Orbital speakers, solid-state, dual channels, vibrato, top black control panel, four inputs (two per channel), eight black and silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, b, t, i, s, Ch. 2: v, b, t), dark covering, light grille cloth, mfg. 1963...

BURNS STEER 50 Image

BURNS STEER 50

- 50W, 1-12 in. speaker combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, reverb, front silver control panel, two inputs, eight knobs (v, b, m, t, p, r, MV, power), preamp out, power in, black covering, silver or metal grille, mfg. circa 1979-198...

BURNS ORBIT 75 COMBO Image

BURNS ORBIT 75 COMBO

- 75W, 2-12 in. heavy-duty speakers, solid-state, dual channels, top front control panel, four inputs (two per channel), nine black and silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, b, t, i, s, reverb dimension, Ch. 2: t, b, v), light covering, black cloth grill...

BURNS SONIC 55 COMBO Image

BURNS SONIC 55 COMBO

- 55W, 2-12 in. heavy-duty speakers, solid-state, dual channels, vibrato, top front control panel, four inputs (two per channel), nine black and silver knobs (Ch. 1: v, b, t, i, s, 3-way tone select, Ch. 2: v, b, t), various coverings with...