BURNS

James Ormston Burns (1925-1998) set up his own company in 1960. The earliest Burns electrics proved popular with many semi-pro players of the day, the Vibra Artist in particular incorporating advanced features such as a heelless neck and twenty-four-fret fingerboard.

Next came the Black Bison, an aptly titled combination of carved wood, complex circuitry, and over-engineering. lt proved costly and time-consuming to construct, soon prompting a suitably rationalized replacement that was the first Burns with a bolt-on neck.

This was subsequently joined by many simpler and less expensive guitars that became the  mainstay for British beat groups unable to afford imported American alternatives. Such economic considerations didn't concern The Shadows, but the UK's leading instrumental outfit still switched from Fender to Burns in 1964, as only the latter could offer the replacement required for their trademark Stratocasters. This was the Marvin designed in conjunction with the group's lead guitarist Hank Marvin, it was destined to become the most desirable of all Burns six-strings.

However, the following year the Baldwin company of the United States took control of Burns. By now the range boasted various solids and semis in six-, four-, or twelve-string form and most continued to be manufactured until Baldwin pulled the plug on production in 1970.

After dabbling with occasional Ormston and Hayman designs, Jim Burns reemerged in 1973 with a range marketed under the Burns UK brand. Odd shapes were the order of the day, with the Concorde-inspired, angular Flyte being the best known, but players didn't find any example very appealing and the company collapsed in 1977.

After a two-year break, Burns was back under the Jim Burns banner. Although original designs such as the Scorpion took precedence over plundering the past, new versions of the Marvin and Bison eventually appeared, but erratic quality and bad management brought the curtain down in 1984.

The latest chapter in the Burns saga started in 1992, when guitar builder Barry Gibson the Burns name and established the Burns London company, producing authentic re-creations and updated versions of original classics lint Burns subsequently rame on board. ar tlng as consultant until his death in 1908 at age seventy three The company is still gnmq strong riltrrr sixteen years, With the earlier hand built UK marie models eventually giving way to high quality limited editions and cheaper equivalents all sourced from the Far East