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Hello,

Own a white Burns Hank B. Marvin signature. (last generation)
Play it on a VOX VR30 amp.
Can't get that typical Burns sound as in the earlier LP's like DWTS and TSOTS.
Do not now the strings there are, are those that are sold.
Can someone help me out for the ideal settings?

thanks,
Eddy

The majority of the Burns instros are played with the neck or middle pickups. Hank also at this time used a volume pedal as in the Lost City and Santa Anna etc to get that Wah effect. Dont know what strings he used but your Burns should be fitted with D'adario from new!

David Martin is the man to ask on this subject - his knowledge of the Burns sound far exceeds mine! I know he recommends the amp settings as Bass full on and treble set so that it just bites! This is for an AC30!

And that's the real answer... AC30 or good emulation... Full bass, no or little middle if you can control it, treble till it bites. If you have a tranny or digital amp, you may want to add a little compression.

The test piece is the intro to It's Been a Blue Day... If that sounds right everything else will follow. (Neck pickup) And don't neglect the neck/middle mix for Lady Penelope or Now That You're Gone...

See what I mean!!!!

I'm not sure that the Vox AC30vr will do the job, I have yet to try one but unless the tone controls react in the same way as a normal AC30 TB, it may sound different on those settings. The compression that David mentions is the key here, which could be added via an effects module. There is an AC30vr at our local music store and I'll try it next time I'm in town.

I was at an eclectic guitar gathering in Doncaster last weekend (last weekend in March) and had the first chance I've ever had to use a Vox AC30CC. I was standing in for someone who was booked to play The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt but had sustained a hand injury.

Not wanting (or having time) to experiment with its various facilities, I just used the normal channel with the top cut "on" about 75%. Using my '65 Burns Marvin and a Magicstomp, I reckon I got a satisfactory "1964" tone (once I had turned up the volume adequately):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD9qS3TckeI

I bought an AC15CC1 just before Christmas last year and it delivers what I think is a great Burns sound using the TB channel and David's recommended tone settings. I don't use any other effects except for the onboard reverb. Even my Strat can sound like a Burns when it's hooked up this way.

There's nothing wrong with the new generation of Vox valve amps sound-wise, I used Malc's a few times, the contention has been the reliability and difficulty to repair since their introduction. That said, the only trouble Malc ever had was with valves that had to be replaced, but I'm told that they are awkward to work on from an engineers point of view.
They do the business and I got a great sound for each of the different eras of Shads music.

In our "ARTRIO SHADOWS" we have a set of 1 vintage MARVIN & 1 LEGEND & vintage BASS ! Hear the sound, I`m very satisfied !


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCU2Xgtkh7A ( rehearsal / 1. take ) - AC 30 CC

And on our promovideo ( SHINDIG - on a BURNS ?? !! ) - AC 30 / 68 vintage ! ( from 4:16 on )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFZZ4rsGuvs

When I will have a Video from Blue Sky; Blue Sea, I will post it ...... sounds great !

Hans