Burns

Also known as: Burns London, Burns Guitars, Burns of London, Ormston Burns

Burns is an English electric guitar and bass manufacturer founded in 1959 by luthier James Ormston Burns. Based in London, the company became one of the most prominent British guitar makers of the 1960s, producing distinctive instruments that offered a home-grown alternative to American imports. Early models like the Black Bison, with its four-pickup configuration and scrolled horns, helped est...

47 Products · Used by 88 Artists

Burns Brian May Signature Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

$1,037.49

1 available store

5.0 (5)

2 artists using

Burns Brian May Guitar Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars

$1,037.49

1 available store

1 artist using

Burns Double 6 Extended Range Guitars

5.0 (5)

13 artists using

Burns Bison Bass Guitar Electric Basses

4.5 (3)

5 artists using

Burns Double Six Extended Range Guitars

$1,501.35

1 available store

5.0 (1)

5 artists using

Burns Cobra Solid Body Electric Guitars

4.5 (3)

3 artists using

Burns Vista Sonic Guitar Uncategorized

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Burns Sonic Solid Body Electric Guitars

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Burns Zep Theremin Synthesizers

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Burns Bison Bass Electric Basses

8 artists using

BURNS NU-SONIC BASS 1963 Electric Basses

3.0 (1)

Burns Flyte Solid Body Electric Guitars

4 artists using

Burns Sonic Bass 1962 Electric Basses

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2 artists using

Burns Marvin Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

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6 artists using

Burns Nu-Sonic Solid Body Electric Guitars

7 artists using

Burns Custom Legend Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Nu-Sonic Bass Electric Basses

4 artists using

Burns Magpie Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Sonic Solid Body Electric Guitars

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2 artists using

Burns Short Scale Jazz Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

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3 artists using

Burns Bison Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

2 artists using

Burns Bison 61 Bass Electric Basses

Burns Baldwin Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Brian May Tri-Sonic Pickups Electric Guitar Pickups

Burns Dream Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Drifter Solid Body Electric Guitars

2 artists using

Burns Marquee Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

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4 artists using

Burns Cobra Solid Body Electric Guitars

Burns Barracuda Solid Body Electric Guitars

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1 artist using

Burns Vibra-Artist Electric Guitar (1960) Solid Body Electric Guitars

4 artists using

burns steer Steel-string Acoustic Guitars

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1 artist using

Burns Black Bison Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns TR-2 Solid Body Electric Guitars

Burns Orbit 2 Combo Guitar Amplifiers

2 artists using

Burns Imperial Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Vista Sonic Bass Electric Basses

4 artists using

Burns Hank Marvin Signature Solid Body Electric Guitars

4 artists using

Burns Barracuda Special Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Marquee Bass Electric Basses

1 artist using

Burns Jet-Sonic Solid Body Electric Guitars

2 artists using

Burns London Jazz Split Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Cobra Guards Left Handed Solid Body Electric Guitars

Burns Scorpion Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Burns Bison 62 Solid Body Electric Guitars

5.0 (1)

1 artist using

Burns Split Sound Six-String Bass Electric Basses

1 artist using

Burns SG-28 Solid Body Electric Guitars

Burns Weill Bass Electric Basses

1 artist using

The company is perhaps best known for the Marvin, a model developed in 1964 in collaboration with Hank Marvin of The Shadows. Featuring a scrolled headstock and the Rezo-Tube vibrato, the Marvin went through roughly thirty prototypes before Marvin and bandmate Bruce Welch approved it. Other notable Burns instruments include the Nu-Sonic, the Split Sound bass, the Jazz Split Sound, and the Steer. Burns guitars were briefly imported to the United States under the Ampeg badge, and the original company's assets were acquired by Baldwin Piano Company in 1965.

The brand was relaunched in 1992 by Barry Gibson as Burns London Ltd, initially producing hand-built reissues of classic models with Jim Burns as a consultant. In 1999 the company introduced the Korean-built Club Series, including the Marquee, Nu-Sonic, and Cobra, making the Burns aesthetic available at budget price points. Players historically associated with the brand include Hank Marvin, Brian May (who built his Red Special using Burns Tri-Sonic pickups), Rory Gallagher, Jimmy Page, and Elliott Smith.

Burns has 47 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, and Extended Range Guitars. Their gear is featured by 88 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include Brian May, Nick O'Malley, and Gaz Coombes.