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

 

 

TR-2 MODELS (1963-64)

TR-2 GUITAR & TR-2 BASS

 

Burns had been experimenting with prototypes for a Thinline model since 1961. Very early TR-2s feature a Bison-head engraving on the headstock, indicating it had inherited some characteristics from the Bison Guitar.

First mentioned in September 1963 adverts for the Split Sound guitar, the TR-2 (Transistorised 2-Pickup) was only offered for less than a year before being superceded by the Vibraslim in September 1964

 

 

early 1963? Thinline/TR-2 Prototype

 

 

And another with different knobs added pickguard:

 

 

Further revisions to pickups and pickguard.

 

Jim Burns with TR2 Prototype

 

Jim Burns with TR2 Prototype

 

Jim Burns with TR2 Prototype

 

Ike Isaacs with c.1963 TR2 Prototype

 

Two Pre-production TR2s still with Bison etching on headstock badges!

 

 

Costings Sheet!

 

New Musical Express 25th October 1963

 

Melody Maker 9th October 1963

 

c. Oct. 1963 TR2

Serial No. 3102

 

 

 

 

 

 

c. Dec 1963 TR2

Serial No. 3499

 

 

 

1964 TR-2 Bass

 

 

c. Jan 1964 TR2 (non-original bridge)

Serial No. 3998

 

c. Jan 1964 TR2

Serial No. 4013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c. Jan 1964 Burns TR2

Serial No. 4020

 

 

 

 

 

c. Jan 1964 Burns TR2

Serial No. 4023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

early 1964 TR-2 Bass

Serial No. 4254

 

 

 

 

 

 

1964 TR-2

Serial No. 4559

 

 

 

 

1964 BURNS TR-2

2-screw mounted pickups with exposed polepieces

Serial No. 4746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1964 BURNS TR2

Serial No. 4893

2-screw mounted pickups with concealed polepieces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1964 TR-2 Bass

Serial No. 4896

 

 

 

 

 

1964 BURNS TR2

Serial No. 4906

2-screw mounted pickups with concealed polepieces

 

 

 

Beat Monthly July 1964

 

c1964 TR2

Serial No. 5696

With cut-back Vibraslim plate?

 

 

 

 

1965? TR-2 in Red

Serial No. 10949 (seems very high?)

6-screw pickup mounts suggests earlier?