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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2631.0. "BURNS Guitars back in business" by SPEZKO::A_FRASER (The reply below contains exactly ) Wed Nov 25 1992 11:09

        Latest Guitar Player just arrived and looking through the small
        print assified clads at the back, I see:
        
        "BURNS IS BACK manufacturing the Legend series of guitars which
        made it famous in  the  '60s.    These  are  made  to  the same
        specifications as the 1964 models.
        
        For  further  information, contact Burns  of  London  Worldwide
        Distribution, 51 Hallgate, Doncaster, England DN1 3PB
        Tel: 0302-320186 FAX: 0302-366803"
        
        So I gave them a call,  and the only model in production at the
        moment  is  the  "Marvin"  as illustrated in  the  Burns  book,
        scrolled headstock and all.  Sandy, if you're  reading this - I
        want one! :^)
        
        Andy
        
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2631.1GrowlTECRUS::TECRUS::ROSTLimo driver for Ringo StarrWed Nov 25 1992 11:303
    Great, I can be the first on my block with the "Mad Dog" tone!
    
    						Glen Buxton
2631.2PASHUN::SAKELARISWed Nov 25 1992 12:3311
    Wait a minute, splain me this:
    
    Why would anyone want a Burns guitar? More remotely, why would Burns go
    back into a business that they didn't and couldn't succeed in? Am I
    missing something?
    
    I remember a couple of 'em at the music store I worked at as 
    a kid. Every one I ever saw was awful, not to mention fugly. And this
    was in comparison to my Sears Silvertone which was no beauty.
    
    "sakman"
2631.3gobble.....ROYALT::BUSENBARKWed Nov 25 1992 13:317
    Hey don't you know the reissue buisness is where it's at?  :^)
    
    Big bucks..... right?
    
    
    							Rick
    
2631.4SMURF::BENNETTSmile a little smile for meWed Nov 25 1992 15:013
	Now if only FORD would reissue the '57 T-Bird. Imagine shipping
	them babies to Japan!
2631.5SPEZKO::A_FRASERThe reply below contains exactly Wed Nov 25 1992 16:0924
        Dunno Dave - Burns  had  more than 30 models of guitar, many of
        which were  as  revolutionary  in  styling  as  the  Strat  was
        compared to the  semi-acoustics  traditionally used in the late
        50s.  owned two;    a  Black Bison and a TR2 - they both played
        well and sounded good -  I  made  money  playing  both  of them
        through the mid-late 60s.
        
        As  to  why  "they'd" go back into business  -  Jim  Burns  has
        probably sold the marque.  The guy I talked  to  on  the  phone
        wouldn't/couldn't  say, but to me, Burns guitars are a part  of
        my early years, so there's a sentimental value there too.
        
        The Marvin was co-designed by Hank Marvin (Shadows) and was one
        of my dream guitars back then - cost #173 (don't know  what the
        exchange rate was in '64), 22 frets, 25.5:  scale - the  Black
        Bison  was  just affordable (for me at least) at #136 (I bought
        mine used)  but  the Marvin was beyond the budget.  Figures are
        from "The BURNS Book" by Paul Day.
        
        I'll be interested to get the  literature and prices - could be
        it's a revivalist rip-off (.3 Rick) but we'll see.
        
        Andy
        
2631.6Vintage dealersMVSUPP::CARRDDave Carr 845-2317Thu Nov 26 1992 02:1312
re .0
 >>        For  further  information, contact Burns  of  London  Worldwide
 >>        Distribution, 51 Hallgate, Doncaster, England DN1 3PB
 >>        Tel: 0302-320186 FAX: 0302-366803"

This address looks like "Music Ground" which is a shop specialising in
vintage guitars (especially Gibsons). Well worth a visit if you're in the
area...
I have heard tell that Japanese collectors are after vintage Burns models
(and paying big money), so perhaps that accounts for the interest in the marque.

*Dave
2631.7I *want* one!MRKTNG::IBBETTSlowhandThu Dec 17 1992 10:2115
    Any idea as to prices for the "Marvin"? I *want* one. Go nicely with
    the red/white Strat :-) Hank was mostly responsible for me starting to
    play, and I *still* enjoy attempting to replicate his sound. (Knopfler
    credits Hank the same way, but apparently EC didn't like the Shads much
    :-)
    
    My memory of the Burns guitars the Shadows used was they were white
    with sorta black pinstriping around the scratchplate, etc. I seem to
    recall the legend "BALDWIN" on there too (Burns/Baldwin?). Curly
    headstock. I also recall Hank saying they were a b*tch to keep in tune
    and that was one reason they went back to the Strats.
    
    But I'd still love one. Please post any further info (and/or mail me).
    
    Tnx, Jimi B Marvin.