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

 

 

VISTA-SONIC & SPLIT-SONIC RANGE (1962-64)

GUITAR, BASS, & 6-STRING BASS

 

First introduced accompanied by pictures of the prototype in the Bell Catalogue attributed to March 1962 as replacing the Vibra-Artist models, the Vista and Split Sonic range were officially announced 30th June 1962.

 

The first Burns model with a bolt-on neck design, and the first to sport the new Polyester finish. The Split Sonic featured 'Split-Sound' circuitry which would also appear on the redesigned Bison III guitar. The earliest examples featured a carved rebate either side of the routing for the Series 1 vibrato system. Some examples have bound fingerboards. Some Vista-Sonics have plastic-buttoned Van Gent tuners. Series 1 Vibrato with push-on cover is superceded by Series 2 system with screw-on cover after Dec 1963.

 

The Vista-Sonic & Split Sonic Ranges, plus the original Sonic Range were all replaced by the Nu-Sonic in April 1964

 

Bell Music Catalogue March 1962

 

Burns split Sound advert

Melody Maker 30th June 1962

 

Early 1962 Vista-Sonic:

Serial No. 162

 

Carved body rebate flanking vibrato routing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-1962 Greenburst Vistasonic Bass:

Serial No.229

 

 

1962 Vista-Sonic Guitar - Left-Handed

Serial No. 246

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Vista-Sonic Guitar

Serial No. 615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Split-Sonic Guitar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Split Sonic, White with Grey plates

Serial No. 693

One of 6 in this colour scheme (EC via PD)

split sonic albino

 

 

 

 

 

1962 Vista Sonic Bass

Serial No. 735

vista-sonic bass

 

 

 

September 1962 Split Sonic

Serial No. 1242

split sonic

 

 

 

 

Besson Burns Vista-Sonic advert

Melody Maker 21st Sept 1962

 

 

early 1963 B&M Trade Catalogue

 

Burns 6-String bass advert

Melody Maker 23rd Feb 1963

 

Crescendo April 1964

Crescendo April 1964

 

 

Burns Split Sound advert

New Musical Express 9th August 1963

 

 

Burns Split Sound advert

New Musical Express 6th September 1963

 

 

Burns Split Sound advert

Melody Maker 14th September 1963

 

 

late 1963 Split-Sonic

Serial No. 3615

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

1963 Burns Split Sonic

 

 

6th Dec 1963 Vista-Sonic Short-Scale Bass with Vibrato

Serial No. 3783

vista-sonic-shortscale-bass

 

 

 

 

Burns Series 2 vibrato advert

New Musical Express 20th December 1963

 

 

1964 Split Sonic Guitar

with Series 2 vibrato system.

 

 

1964 Vista Sonic Custom Colour

Serial No. 4479

burns vistasonic

 

 

 

21st April 1964 Split Sound Six-String Bass with Vibrato

Serial No. 5186

split-sound six string bass

 

 

 

and another:

 

 

 

1964 Vista Sonic Bass

Serial No. 5211

 

 

 

 

1964 Vista Sonic Bass

Serial No. 6278

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 May 1964 Split Sonic Guitar

Serial No. 6660

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst

 

1964 Burns Split Sonic Greenburst