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:
Photo annotated by Jim Burns:
Frank Allen & The Skyways (pre-The Searchers)
early 1960 Artistes Model
This example with standard button magnet polepieces:
Anotgher with solid magnetic polepieces:
Mid 1960 - Publicity shots:
Publicity Shots detailing the Artist alongside the new Vibra-Artist
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:
Mid 1960 Vibra-Artiste
with cream Ribbed knobs and sycamore fingerboard
Mid 1960 Vibra-Artiste
with clear Ribbed knobs, but Rosewood fingerboard!
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:
Late 1960 Vibra-Artist
Smooth Knobs, non-original Bridge. Sycamore fingerboard. Vibrato unit further back than usual:
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:
Mid-1961 Vibra-Artist
Now with metal toggle switch:
And another:
1961 Vibra-Artist
White, no blown-in neck, so probably a refinish:
1961 Vibra-Artist
Late 1961 Vibra-Artist
with added vibrato string-tension bar:
Melody Maker 2nd Dec 1961
1962 Vibra-Artistes
Final version, now featuring the MK IX Vibrato:
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.
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
another example, different pickguard fixing positions
And there's this, which could be a prototype with a changed fingerboard, perhaps developing the cradle bridge?