To broaden this thread a little, the 1961 4 x pickup Burns Black Bison is a most extra ordinary guitar and proof of Jim Burn's ambition and imagination, particularly when viewed in context. It was launched on the cusp of postwar gloom and the emerging swinging 60s, in a country that did not have a strong guitar making tradition. The features and benefits totally eclipsed the competition both at home and abroad. They were handmade and included:
- a solid mahogany neck and body
- contoured body
- a gearbox truss rod adjustment
- a set neck
- bound ebony fingerboard
- a 24 3/8 scale
- 22 frets
- gold or chrome plated hardware
- 4 x single coil Ultra-Sonic pickups each with 6 windings (ie 24 windings in total)
- 8 sounds including 'Split Sound' (compared to a Strat's 3)
- a floating cradle bridge & vibrato that stays in tune
- a spectacular looking beast.
No doubt there were many reasons for the 1961 Black Bisons' lack of commercial success (cost, complex/over engineered, lack of development, relaxation of US import restrictions and the lack of association with a big name etc). However, if Jim had retained the original character and vision in subsequent Bison developments, and had been able to convince Hank to put his name to it, the Burns story may have been very different. Santana might be playing a Burns (and not a PRS) and it follows, many members of this site would be playing Burns Black Bison Marvins!!!!