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

 

An archive of photographs of the SUPERSOUND guitars now in the collection of Guy Mackenzie focusing on the earliest guitars built by Jim Burns, accompanied by the collected writings of Paul Day (who studied and restored them) from the series of 'historic and notable guitars' articles he wrote for Guy's website, appended with further information compiled from public forums and personal correspondence, interspersed with my own observations. More information is available at supersound.org.uk

 

SUPERSOUND 1958

Jim Burns had built a very basic solidbody guitar in 1952, but six years later his improved efforts attracted the attention of British amplifier company Supersound, who employed him to help design and construct the UK’s first commercially made solid electrics.

The limited line included the Short Scale Standard and the more curvy Ike Isaacs Short-Scale model, the latter being endorsed by this well-respected British guitarist and intended as a serious, professional six-string. Priced accordingly at £66, it was initially advertised in December 1958, but by then Supersound had already given Burns the bullet and terminated Isaacs’ association, while the company’s pioneering instrument production was temporarily suspended. - Paul Day Aug 2015

 

SUPERSOUND SHORT-SCALE MODEL

Early photo of this guitar, before acquisition by Guy M: from Trevor Midgley's site.

Later PD notes indicate this guitar was originally finished in White, and that a headstock veneer has been removed.

 

Original Comment from Guy MacKenzie's site:

Built by Jim Burns with electrics by Alan Wootton and dating from early Autumn 1958

 

 

After restoration... now with added Supersound Logo and Strap-Buttons:

 

 

By 1958, the Supersound company was already established as a maker of instrument amplification and decided to explore the production of solidbody electric guitars. At that time, the latter were still quite a rare commodity in this country and the market was accordingly equally minimal. But this obviously didn't deter Supersound boss Alan Wootton, who enlisted the services of Jim Burns to help with design and manufacture, as he had already built some six-strings of this type.

 

One of Jim's earlier instruments formed the basis of the shortlived Supersound 'Ike Isaacs Short-Scale' model, introduced late in 1958, but it was preceded by a plainer alternative that could best be described as the 'Short-Scale Standard'. For this, Supersound supplied Jim Burns with the materials required to fulfil his part of the production process, which involved building the body/neck chassis. The company then completed each guitar, carrying out the necessary paint and finish work, plus the installation of pickups, circuitry and hardware.

 

The Supersound 'Short-Scale Standard' is certainly the first solid electric to be produced in Britain and this example is currently the only known, fully-functioning survivor from those trail-blazing times of well over five decades ago. Built before Jim Burns' departure from Supersound in late 1958, its vintage is confirmed by the use of pine for the body, which was Supersound's choice of timber back then. The single-cutaway styling is along the lines of the Ike Isaacs model, although the body is significantly more sizeable all round. The outline is also less curvy, with unusual flat-bottomed lower bouts that would become a distinctive feature of various later Burns instruments. The end result is quite chunky in looks and feel, but player comfort is enhanced by some contouring on front and back, the shaping again being similar to that seen on certain subsequent Burns models.

 

The glued-in mahogany neck carries a bound rosewood fingerboard and bar-type, cream plastic position markers, as used on the Supersound Ike Isaacs. The short, 23-inch scale length and 22 frets are additional common factors, likewise the overall shaping and proportions, but an obvious difference concerns the electrics, which are instead all mounted on a large black scratchplate. The two own-made pickups are basic, bar-magnet single-coils, each bearing a black plastic cover sporting the Supersound Hi Fi logo. The twin selectors duplicate the switching circuitry of the Ike Isaacs, although the partner control pots number three rather than four.

 

The simple, single-saddle bridge is aluminium and strings anchor in a somewhat crude tailpiece block hidden beneath a chromed metal cover. The tuners are an acoustic guitar type, equipped with bone posts that sit very low through the overly thick headstock. In fact, the latter's black plastic facing was subsequently removed to allow enough usable height for stringing purposes. Another cosmetic change concerns the body, as the original white finish has been stripped at some time and instead a clear lacquer coat reveals the two-piece pine construction.

 

Despite any such subsequent alterations, the guitar is essentially the same as when built almost 55 years ago. Such a lengthy time-span means this particular oldie is the earliest known, UK-made, solid electric, which adds appropriate historical importance to its already undoubted rarity and acknowledged innovative status. A thorough but sympathetic renovation has restored the instrument's original playability and performance, ensuring that this Supersound 'Short-Scale Standard' is a credit to its pioneering creators.

 

from 'historic and notable guitars' by Paul Day, May 2012

 


 

Bob Rogers

Bob played on "hundreds of BBC broadcasts, films, shows and recordings” from 1942 onwards as a member of the John Barry 7, Don Lang’s Frantic Five and others, including a session with Jimmy Page! Film credits include 6.5 Special and Beat Girl and, most recently Bob worked as a Skinnerette on the Frank Skinner show in 2001!

 

Comments from Paul Day, 2016

"This is undoubtedly currently the earliest known solid electric six-string built in Britain, but it certainly isn’t the actual guitar employed by Bob Rogers on TV back then. While Bob was playing that instrument, the neck began to part company with the body and after this obviously very disconcerting experience he rapidly returned it to Supersound. Jim Burns in turn learnt a salutary lesson and ensured that his future efforts featured much firmer anchorage between both components.

 

I carried out the comprehensive restoration of Guy’s guitar and I estimate it’s slightly later. The neck/body join is totally original and employs Jim’s improved woodworking, with absolutely no evidence of movement or any prior repair work, which would be apparent if this was the re-assembled Bob Rogers’ instrument. I can understand Guy wanting to believe he has number one, but I’ve never suggested it and I consider the expectation to be unrealistic. Isn’t it enough for him to know that he owns what is as yet the oldest survivor from that pioneering period?

 

The falling-apart fate also befell the Supersound bass being played by Teddy Wadmore during the same TV show, but unlike Bob Rogers, he was very keen on the concept of a solid body electric and subsequently put his suitably repaired four-string to good use on many recording sessions. He was the first to play such a bass in Britain and at this time his Supersound was available ahead of any similar home-grown or imported competition."

 

 

 


Ted Taylor Four, 1958

Teddy Wadmore with the very first Supersound Bass, built Summer 1958, used by Bob Rodgers on the Jack Jackson TV show that year.

The neck joint glue allegedly 'failed' after (or during?) the show causing mayhem!

 

Comments from Paul Day:

When Supersound designed the first British-made solidbody four-string, it was at the request of Teddy Wadmore, bass player with The Ted Taylor Four. In 1958 he managed to borrow a Fender Precision from a US serviceman and rushed it round to Alan Wootton and Jim Burns at Supersound. However, rather than a slavish copy, Wadmore wanted a shorter scale, plus a more traditional look, i.e. single-cutaway, two-a-side headstock and sunburst finish, as this would fit in better with the band's image. It should be remembered that at this time the solid bass guitar was still very much an alien instrument in the UK, a fact ably illustrated by the story concerning The Treniers, a US group who apparently inspired The Shadows' stage footwork. After their 1958 British tour finished, The Treniers decided that, rather than take their instruments back to America, they would sell them here and raise some extra money. At this time the import embargo on US products was still in force, so the plan proved very successful, except for their Fender bass, which failed to attract any interest or offers, simply because nobody here knew what it was!

 

SUPERSOUND BASS I

Bass version of guitar detailed above... Originally white, refinished in black.

Note: body shape refined; tighter curve to upper bass bout, sharper point to treble horn

Note: Bass above retains original 'Super Sound' Headstock veneer

I see terrible pickguard wobble on treble side, and inaccurate fret-placings?

Same Bass after acquisition by Guy MacKenzie, who claims:

"Almost identical to the first bass made for Teddy Wadmore of the Ted Taylor Four and used by him on TV's Jack Jackson show in that year." but pictures reveal differences in pickguard shape, and bridge/tailpiece arrangements...

Now with added strap-buttons!

 

 

 

 

In 1958 the Supersound company decided to partner their amplifiers with solidbody electric guitars, which was a brave move back then, as this type of six-string was still very scarce, with a correspondingly small market to match. Knowledge was equally limited, so guitar builder Jim Burns was employed to help with design and manufacture, as he had already dabbled in this field.

 

Although the equivalent bass was virtually unheard of in Britain, that year Supersound built just such an instrument for The Ted Taylor Four's bassist, Teddy Wadmore. He had seen a Fender Precision owned by a US serviceman, but the post-war import embargo on American-made products was still in force and this innovative Fender four-string wasn't available in the UK. Immediately aware of its potential, Wadmore borrowed the bass and showed it to Alan Wootton and Jim Burns at Supersound. They came up with a design that didn't copy the Precision, but instead combined elements from the Fender with features better suited to Teddy Wadmore's requirements.

 

It became the very first British-built solidbody bass guitar and Supersound soon made other four-string electrics along similar lines, this example being one of them. As with Supersound guitars of that time, Jim Burns built the body/neck chassis and the company completed each instrument. Differing from the radical Fender Precision, Wadmore's bass employed a quite conventional, single-cutaway outline, presumably in accordance with his wishes, but styling then changed to a more curvy and sharp pointed body horn, much like the shaping seen three years later on the Burns Bison.

 

Like its stablemates, this early Supersound's body features flattened lower bouts, plus front and rear contouring, and these distinctive design aspects also appeared on some subsequent Burns models. Departing from Fender's format, the Supersound spreads 20 frets over a shorter, 30.5-inch scale length, while the glued-in, chunky neck has a pronounced V-profile. It shares the six-string's bound rosewood fingerboard and full-width, cream plastic position markers, but the heel join is long, smooth and chamfered. As on the Teddy Wadmore original, a traditional-type headstock carries Framus guitar tuners with fancy buttons and bone posts, while the black faceplate bears a gold Supersound logo. Interestingly, to provide sufficient front height, the machine heads have been neatly recessed into the rear of the very thick headstock.

 

The re-styled scratchplate is black with gold edges and boasts another Supersound emblem, this time accompanied by a confirmatory 'Bass Guitar' title. Electrics comprise volume and tone controls plus a Supersound Hi-Fi single-coil. Equipped with a bar-magnet and suitably branded black plastic cover, this is mounted in the same position as the Fender Precision's pickup, and the Supersound was arguably the only other four-string in the world to follow Fender's lead at that time. The same doesn't apply to partner hardware, as a simple, single-bar saddle bridge is accompanied by an equally basic, block-type tailpiece that's topped by a chromed metal cover.

 

This Supersound started life with a white painted body, but it was later re-finished black, while the neck is natural wood. Virtually all else remains as it was when the bass was made nearly 55 years ago, and, apart from the obvious age and extreme rarity factors, it's currently the only known example in near-original, fully playable condition. Such a combination makes this Supersound Single Cutaway Bass four-string a very important instrument from the formative era of the modern UK music industry.

 

from 'historic and notable guitars' by Paul Day, May 2012:

 

 


 

Uncompleted 2-Pickup Bass, note extra control holes in pickguard

Guy notes: This photograph clearly shows the 'glued and screwed' neck joint which was a feature in Burns guitars including the Bison.

Routing for selector switch on upper bass bout absent, switches relocated to radical knee-rest position(!)

Fingerboard inlay also now present at first fret, perhaps post Burns? Head not drilled for tuners

 

Same Guitar after acquisition by Guy MacKenzie

 

Headstock decal now deteriorating, also new scratches marks in body cavity

 

Guy notes: Probably built by Jim Burns prior to his departure from Supersound in December 1958. However the '50s radio push buttons' were almost certainly added later by electrics expert Alan Wootton who was not a guitar player!

 

This Guitar would appear to be a completed version of the above 'prototypes', and features a pickguard extension covering the pushbutton pickup selectors?


DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Dating from probably December 1958 this was one of the last bodies to be built by Jim Burns prior to his split with Alan Wootton in that month. However it was subsequently modified either by Alan Wootton or the carpenters shop in Hastings after the Company moved there in 1959


SUPERSOUND BASS II

 

With electrics by Alan Wootton and body by a carpenters shop in Hastings (NOTE: Mary Wooton's memoirs indicate that Alan initially did the Woodworking himself post JB), this bass dates from between 1959-1963 and is one of possibly around 20-30 instruments built after Jim Burns left Supersound (but originally designed with his assistance in late 1958). Brian Davis of Dave Edmunds' band, the Raiders, used one of these in 1963.

The same bass prior to acquisition by Guy MacKenzie

 

And after restoration, with more suitable knobs...

 

 

Another example? An older photo from Trevor Midgley's site

 

Early in 1959 the Supersound company re-located from the Dartford area to Hastings. Instrument manufacture resumed soon after this move, but as Jim Burns’ employment had already been terminated, the relevant woodworking required was now handled by a local cabinet maker, conveniently situated next door to the new Supersound premises.

Debuting the previous year, Supersound’s SCB single-cutaway bass had already achieved the status of the first British-made, four-string solidbody. The double-cutaway DCB soon followed, but the amount of Jim Burns’ involvement with the conception and completion of this revised design is open to conjecture.

Body styling isn’t simply a double-cutaway version of the SCB’s shape, although the distinctive flat-bottomed lower bouts are common to both basses and also to some Supersound six-strings. The DCB’s horns are angular, unlike the smoothly curved single example on its earlier stablemate, but they’re equally sharp-pointed, while comfort contouring on the front and back is another shared feature.

On the evidence of the surviving Supersounds produced after Jim Burns’ departure, his absence was keenly felt concerning certain aspects of construction and design. The bass necks in particular suffer from an obvious lack of awareness about proportions and shaping, with overly beefy dimensions contributing to a distinctly player-unfriendly feel that contrasts those made before by Burns. The glued-in neck still lacks an adjustable truss-rod and the shorter scale length also stays the same, likewise the 20-strong fret count. However, the rosewood fingerboard’s full-width position markers are pearl plastic rather than cream, while the previously matching cream binding is replaced by a black equivalent. These easily seen cosmetic differences help to visually identify the Hastings-origin instruments.

The body on this DCB bass appears to have been re-finished in black over the original white, with the neck again left natural. As on the SCB, the headstock is faced with black plastic and carries the Supersound logo in gold. Tuners are again a German-made guitar type, equipped with ornate buttons and bone posts, but on this particular bass all four are actually right-hand versions, with the treble side twosome accordingly installed upside down!

The black plastic scratchplate features gold-painted edges and carries a confirmatory ‘Supersound Bass Guitar’ legend, while the company logo also accompanies the ‘Hi Fi’ title adorning the plastic cover of the bar-magnet, single-coil pickup. As on the SCB, the position of the latter follows the pioneering lead set by Fender’s Precision bass, partnered by similarly simple volume and tone circuitry. The single bar-saddle bridge is like that used by the earlier SCB, as is the somewhat primitive tailpiece hidden under a plated metal cover.

The family likenesses between the SCB and DCB basses are obvious, but the latter’s differences indicate that it came later and accordingly lacked the advantages of Jim Burns’ input. Despite any related drawbacks, it was still a very advanced-looking four-string for 1959 and certainly deserves to be better remembered. This particular DCB appears to be the only fully functioning and almost all-original example in existence, making it yet another rare and important instrument that helps to cement Supersound’s place in the annals of the English electric.

 

from 'historic and notable guitars' by Paul Day, Dec 2012



 

Mary, widow of Alan Wootton, with a cache of hitherto unknown Supersounds, 29th October 2009

Guitars have been modified and refinished to varying degrees over the years by sons Cliff (left) and Dan (right) Wootton

 

IKE ISAACS SHORT-SCALE MODEL

Alan Wooton's Design Notes

 

Jim Burns continued to construct the Ike Isaacs solid under his own steam during early 1959. However, lacking Supersound’s supply of suitable components, he had to adapt acoustic guitar pickups and parts, before finding a fresh electronics ally in the form of another amp maker, Henry Weill, with whom he founded BURNS-WEILL

 

Melody Maker Advert proof from Dec '58