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 Series 1 Vibrato with push-on cover is superceded by Series 2 system with screw-on cover after Dec 1963.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
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)
1962 Vista Sonic Bass
Serial No. 735
September 1962 Split Sonic
Serial No. 1242
Melody Maker 21st Sept 1962
early 1963 B&M Trade Catalogue
Melody Maker 23rd Feb 1963
Crescendo April 1964
New Musical Express 9th August 1963
New Musical Express 6th September 1963
Melody Maker 14th September 1963
late 1963 Split-Sonic
Serial No. 3615
6th Dec 1963 Vista-Sonic Short-Scale Bass with Vibrato
Serial No. 3783
New Musical Express 20th December 1963
1964 Split Sonic Guitar
with Series 2 vibrato system.
1964 Vista Sonic Custom Colour
Serial No. 4479
21st April 1964 Split Sound Six-String Bass with Vibrato
Serial No. 5186
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