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I think there has been discussion before about the differently shaped Baldwin Marvins ('prototypes') used by Hank and Bruce on the Oz tour in the mid/late '60's..

Not only were the bodies differently shaped, but also the scratchplates, and they also seemed to have a different control setup- four knobs only, rather than the three knobs and selector switch used on the preceding Burns Marvins.

I was just watching a youtube review of the reissue 1962 Burns Bison, which has the four knob setup- as did the second version of the Bison which came after the original 4 pickup model.

As far as I am aware, the Bison circuit differed from the Marvin circuit, in that the four knobs were master tone, master volume, two way rotary switch to change circuits, and a four position rotary pickup selector- giving eight different settings.

I wonder whether those Oz tour guitars had Bison wiring rather than Burns Marvin?

Thank you!

I think that they only posed on TV with those, when I saw them in 1967 live they were using the normal Marvins.

Kevin,

Did you see them in Australia on that tour?

Yes I did John, I had my original Marvin in those days and they were playing the same.

Kevin

Where did you see them?

A friend of mine (now passed away) went to one of the shows here in Adelaide, and he sneaked in a small portable reel to reel recorder and mic- and he taped the show! He played it to me years ago- it was quite a good recording, considering the recorder he used!

I saw The Shadows in 1967 both in Geelong and then a few days later in Shepparton and photos I have show them playing what look like the Original Marvins....

Kevin, you might remember The Lyric Music saloon had a display in the Civic Centre, Shepparton and on that night I played a Marvin, borrowed of course from the display stand, and I think that Guitar show was in Feb or March of 1965... wish I had bought it

Tony

No Tony I do not remember that,however I did not live in the area at that time! one thing I do remember is you using my Marvin at the Civic Centre in september 65!

Yes, now I remember, I did ... how time flys and one forgets...

regards
Tony

Seems like I came back at the right time!

The Shads did use the prototypes live, I saw them on stage at Chequers nightclub in Sydney, indeed I had a long discussion by letter about the 'single scratchplate' Marvins with Dusty Frets when he was putting 'The Burns Book' together way back when ( I still have the original letters somewhere in archives -I think).

HI Bill and welcome back!!! Long time since we've heard from you!

I'd love to know if those prototypes had Bison wiring!

Cheers from Adelaide mate!