THE GUITARS OF JAMES ORMSTON BURNS

REFERENCE & RESOURCE PAGES:

 

SUPERSOUND (1958) - BURNS-WEILL (1959) - FENTON WEILL (1960-65)

ORMSTON BURNS (1960-1965) - AMPEG (1963-64) - BALDWIN (1965-69)

SHERGOLD WOODCRAFTS (1967-69) - ORMSTON (1968) - HAYMAN (1970-75)

BURNS UK (1973-77) - BURNS ACTUALIZERS (1979-82) - SHERGOLD (1975-92)

 

BURNS LONDON

TIMELINE - PUBLICITY - FACTORY

ARTIST - SONIC - VIBRA-ARTIST-DELUXE - BLACK BISON - VISTA-SONIC

BLACK BISON III - JAZZ - TR-2 - NU-SONIC - MARVIN - DOUBLE 6

BISON - VIBRASLIM - GB65 - GB66 - VIRGINIAN - BABY BISON

AMPLIFIERS - ACCESSORIES - PROTOTYPES

 

 

ARTIST RANGE (1959-62)

ARTISTES MODEL, VIBRA ARTIST 6 & ARTIST BASS

 

A look at the development of the BURNS 'Artiste' Models produced from December 1959 until mid-1962, with thanks to Bill Lovegrove and Paul Day.

 

Melody Maker 19th December 1959

 

19th December 1959 - "The Burns Short-Scale De-luxe Artistes Model" (and bass to match) advert appears in Melody Maker

with a photograph of the prototype featuring a Sycamore fingerboard, 22 frets, Ivoroid pickguard, Ivoroid headstock badge. No selector switch, cream Bulgin knobs, and some small mysterious holes on the pickguard.

 

Jan-Mar 1960 - First few produced with Ivoroid Pickguards (from mid 1960-onwards only Black Pickguards are known). Black bulbous selector switch, 24 frets, black headstock badge, open-backed rectangular rugby ball tuners, contrasting black ribbed knobs, T-shaped Strap buttons.

 

May 1960 - the "Vibra-Artist" first appears in Besson adverts in Melody Maker, and quickly supercedes the Artistes Model. Features initially continue unaltered apart from the additon of a flat, square-based vibrato unit, sometimes engraved 'VIBRA'.

 

June-Dec 1960 - A move to Rosewood fingerboards, enclosed plastic-buttoned teardrop Van Gent tuners, and smooth cream knobs. Also during this period the shape of the secondary pickguard evolves from the early squared 90 degree corner, through a more rounded version to eventually stabilise on a pointier shape. There are also some known anomalies with a shaded finish, of unclear provenance.

 

1961 the Bulbous selector switch has been changed to a metal toggle switch. I would contend that in keeping with later Burns 'across the range' rationalisations, these largely cosmetic changes were made to update the Artist as parts became available and to be more in keeping with the new Sonic Model, introduced November 1960.

 

March 1961 - MK IX vibrato design registered and introduced to the Vibra-Artist

 

2nd December 1961 - Vibra-Artist guitar is advertised as incorporating MK IX vibrato.

 

28th April 1962 - "Vibra-Artiste 6" and "Vibra-Artiste Deluxe" advertised in dealer sheets and Melody Maker

 

June 1962 - Bell Catalogue states that the new Vista-Sonic models "replace the famous Burns Vibra models" (although the Artist bass continues to be advertised). The 1962 Short Scale Jazz models also carried on the legacy of the Artist range with continued use of 23 3/8" short scale.

 

 

Dec 1959-mid '60 Artistes Model:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contemporary photos:

 

Burns Artiste early prototype

 

Photo annotated by Jim Burns:

Burns Artiste prototype

 

Frank Allen & The Skyways (pre-The Searchers)

 

 

 

early 1960 Artistes Model

 

This example with standard button magnet polepieces:

Burns Artist

 

 

Anotgher with solid magnetic polepieces:

Burns Artiste

 

Burns Artiste

 

Burns Artiste

 

Burns Artiste Case

 

Burns Artiste Case

 

Burns Artiste Schematic

 

 

 

 

Mid 1960 - Publicity shots:

 

1960 Burns Artist Publicity Shots

Publicity Shots detailing the Artist alongside the new Vibra-Artist

 

1960 Burns Artist Publicity Shots

 

1960 Burns Artist Publicity Shots

 

1960 Burns Vibra-Artist Publicity Shot

Vibra-Artist detail; Note ribbed cream knobs and black trim behind vibrato unit

 

 

 

Vibra Artist:

BELL catalogue Vibra-'Artist Model' advert, c.1960/61

 

 

Mid 1960 Vibra-Artist

A refinished example with changed knobs and unusual solid magnetic polepieces.

Original features include open-backed rugby ball tuners, plus early rectangular secondary plate shape:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

 

Mid 1960 Vibra-Artiste

with cream Ribbed knobs and sycamore fingerboard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid 1960 Vibra-Artiste

with clear Ribbed knobs, but Rosewood fingerboard!

Alfons' Vibra-Artist

 

Alfons' Vibra-Artist

 

Alfons' Vibra-Artist

 

 

 

 

Mid-late 1960 Vibra-Artiste

Blank Pickup Covers, Ribbed Knobs. Revised secondary plate-shape. With vibrato string-tension bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late 1960 Vibra-Artist

 

This one has older-style Bulgin knobs and a string-retainer:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

 

Late 1960 Vibra-Artist

Smooth Knobs, non-original Bridge. Sycamore fingerboard. Vibrato unit further back than usual:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra-Artist Guitar

 

 

late 1960 Red/Black shaded Vibra-Artists

 

Three different red/black shaded examples, all from this specific era before the move to metal toggle switch. Whether some are refinishes is uncertain:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

 

Mid-1961 Vibra-Artist

Now with metal toggle switch:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

And another:

 

 

1961 Vibra-Artist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White, no blown-in neck, so probably a refinish:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

 

1961 Vibra-Artist

 

1961 Burns Vibra-Artist Guitar

 

1961 Burns Vibra-Artist Guitar

 

1961 Burns Vibra-Artist Guitar

 

1961 Burns Vibra-Artist Guitar

 

1961 Burns Vibra-Artist Guitar

 

 

Late 1961 Vibra-Artist

with added vibrato string-tension bar:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burns Swinging Christmas 1961 advert

Melody Maker 2nd Dec 1961

 

 

1962 Vibra-Artistes

Final version, now featuring the MK IX Vibrato:

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Black was not the standard finish, but 'any' colour finish could theoretically be custom ordered.

 

The Blond example below is very unusual, being made from Sycamore instead of Mahogany and as such is probably unique.

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar

 

There is also a matching blond sycamore Vibra-Artist Deluxe, and I've also seen a photo of a blonde Artiste Deluxe Bass hanging in Plymouth Music Centre circa 1962.

 

 

Lower Right: Blond Artist Deluxe Bass

Top Right: Two Artist Basses

Top left: Vibra Artist

Lower Mid: Vista Sonic Bass, and maybe the guitar version to the left

 

 

 

Artist Bass:

 

Bell Music Catalogue 1962

 

(1960) presumably bulbous selector sycamore board examples exist? None known to collectors.

(mid 1960) bulbous selector, Rosewood fingerboard

(by 1961) toggle switch, smooth knobs

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

another example, different pickguard fixing positions

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

Burns Artist Bass

 

 

 

The Cliffters

 

 

 

 

 

And there's this, which could be a prototype with a changed fingerboard, perhaps developing the cradle bridge?

Burns Vibra Artist Guitar