BURNS GUITARS

So Simon Gilson and Terry Hope sold their business PMT which is the biggest music store chain in the UK. Now they are on a totally new venture. They are resurrecting Burns guitars. But this time it is the real deal, not just Burns shaped bodies with off the shelf dirt cheap Fender style hardware. Yes they are going to authentic replica's of the originals and plan to even have a Custom Stop in the near future.

In the 50' war torn UK put heavy duties on everything to help British companies to recover. Fender and Gibson in particular felt entry in the Brit market would be a costly money losing venture. They did from time to time sell to very small Brit companies one off purchases of a few dozen guitars but that was it.

Jim Burns teamed up with Alice Louise Farrell who had the capitol and facilities to make Jim's guitars im 1959. By 1960 Burns was the biggest seller of guitars in Brit. Hank marvin with the Shadows had several instrumental hits in a style similar to the State side Ventures playing a Burns. Players like Page, Mark Bolan etc. started out playing a Burns.

Burns whammys were licenced
out to many makers
incl. Gretsch

In '65 do to the big guitar boom thanks to the Beatles the Baldwin Organ Company felt owning a Brit guitar company would be a great money maker.

They bought the company. Jim Burns had a partnership but it did not include any ownership. Over a short time the only thing Burns on a Burns guitar was the Burns printed on the headstock. The company tanked. The name was sold several times but only to those wishing to make a buck with Burns on the headstock.

So hopefully in a couple of years we will see all the models back with original specs.