Built by Jim Burns in 1961 (Ormston Burns era), this is a rare early Burns instrument, uncirculated since the 1970s. In very good original condition throughout, it’s rosewood fretboard is seamlessly contoured into a light weight body featuring threeunmarked ‘Tri-Sonic’ pickups, original Burns bridge and Vibrato unit, two-layer black/cream pickguard and six cream control knobs, a three way selector and treble boost slider control.
These Artist models along with the Burns Sonic are seen in countless pictures from the period at a time before American electric guitars became more easily available outside the USA. This hand-made Vibra Artist is extremely playable with a double octave 24 inch (612mm) scale length neck with a 1-5/8″ (41.3mm) nut. Fitted from the factory with 3 Burns Tri Sonic pickups, each with its associated volume, tone controls plus combination options. The dark red-shading-to-black finish is still very sharp and vibrant for 63 years old, showing only minor wear and natural fine lacquer checking. All the plastic is original and crack free. The early Burns vibrato works well as do the original streamlined Van Ghent tuners. The back of the neck shows some wear and minor bumps.
This rare vintage Burns in original condition comes in its original blue-lined grey ‘hounds-tooth’ pattern case, also in very good condition with all latches working, plus the correct guitar lead to suit the original 4mm diameter guitar output socket.
