The ShadowMusic Web Community

I see this Chinese company have appeared on the scene again. They are now offering to replicate a Burns Vibra Artist de luxe. I guess these are the company offering Chibson guitars. It seems there are a number of reviews of them on YouTube and some have reasonable reviews from American purchasers. Not sure if any of this is legal or anyone has experience of them. They do seem to have a lot of knowledge about numerous guitar models but I for one would not trust them even at their low prices.

They might be good! Chinese stuff has come a long way.

Can you link to the vibra artist on their site? Can't find it...

Hi, I too cannot find any reference to the vibra artiste. I would be interested in one. Can you tell me where you saw this on their website?
Rover

Go to website. Custom made page 24 . 1961 Burns Vibra Artist De luxe. Photo looks like one taken from an American auction site
Bill

Will you are correct about the improvement in Chinese quality. I purchased a Gretsch electromatic G5570 Elliot Easton style. Made in China looks and plays great. Can't fault quality. Thought of changing pick ups to TVJ but very expensive. The ones which are on it sound very good but more like Gibson sound than Gretsch.
My concern with rare electric guitar is communication although you only pay $50 up front they then send you hi Res photos so not too much risk. The total price for the de luxe is $500 delivered. The gold tremolo arm on eBay at the moment is more expensive than that

I note the next page on this site shows a "Burns Hank Marvin 1966" for $435. The thing is - the illustration shows a replica of a Baldwin Bison - http://www.rareelectricguitar.com/Burns ... _1510.html !!! It also lists a Burns Rezo-Tube Shadows Bass - but the illustration is of a replica Burns Maquee 6 string - http://www.rareelectricguitar.com/-Burn ... _1476.html

Makes me wonder what you actually get from this company.

Brian

http://www.rareelectricguitar.com/1961- ... _1525.html . Not sure where they would get parts ? I asked for some detail about electronics and truss rod not heard anything yet. Strange how the semis and acoustics are just as cheap as solids.

I have bought 3 'Chibsons' (Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Custom and ES335) plus a Strat and a Ricky bass from Chinese suppliers. You need to regard them as project guitars, because although the construction and finish are usually first rate, the hardware can leave a little to be desired. On my Standard for example, the only original parts left when I've finished with it will be the tuners, pickup selector switch, stopbar and 3 of the 4 pots. Everything else will be changed. Some fare much better; my Custom is having a new pair of pickups, and the tuners are only being changed because I prefer the shape of the new ones. All other changes are cosmetic - knobs, truss rod cover, pickguard, etc.

Taking the Standard as an example again, It cost me £220 including carriage from China, a hard case and import VAT. Total spend after changing all the parts will be £318 (although selling some of the original parts could reduce that). Compare that with a real Les Paul and it represents a massive saving, and I'm convinced that it will look, play and sound almost as well as a real one, especially after a bit of a setup. (Admittedly I can do fret levelling and profiling, and replacing and shaping the nut myself so don't need to pay someone else for these).

Now I don't need to tell you how expensive Gibsons are, not to mention Gretsch, Rickenbacker, PRS etc. For a Fender, buying from China doesn't represent so much of a saving. In fact (even though I've done it) I would not recommend this approach; a Squier, a Mexican Standard, or a (secondhand) Classic 50s/60s/70s Strat or Tele would make a much better starting point.

With regards to Burns, I've not seen many on offer so can't comment; websites you can try include TradeTang, D H Gate and the one I used, AliExpress. For further information, look at the China Guitar Sceptic videos on YouTube, or his website:

http://cgs.x10.mx/index.html

This includes the Chinese Guitar Forum, where such things are discussed and new purchases reviewed by the buyers. Finally, don't forget these things are FAKES, FORGERIES, COUNTERFEIT, call them what you will. It's not illegal to buy or own them, but some of you may have ethical objections. (It is however possible to order one of these guitars with any name you like on the headstock so if you are unhappy about ripping anyone off ... you don't have to.)

Heard back from this company they cannot supply correct pick ups or tremolo unit I also doubt they would supply van Ghent tuners or the correct bridge. Wonder if they would have got anything correct

I've just received an email from a company called HiHa Music, from whom I nearly ordered a guitar recently, but didn't!

They included a link to their gallery, which includes a few Burns! Here's the relevant page:

http://photo.163.com/haoxiaohiha/#m=1&aid=217199613&p=1

However I went on their website (hihamusic.com) and I couldn't see them anywhere!