I just had to report on this great guitar that I bought a few days ago, out of curiosity more that anything.
It's the new Burns Bison Ultrasound with the three big P90/Jazzmaster like pickups, which did as I had hoped offer different sounds to the Strat, although it does a good impression of an old Strat too.
There are two Strat like switches for pickup selection, one is the usual five way that you'd find on a Strat, but the other one is a three way, giving you position 1 = normal mode, position 2 = fatter, more mellow sound, position 3 = Wild Dog which has a lot of bass rolled off and is a very distinct vintage Burns tone. It also has the 'pull out' tone control on the bridge pick up tone control which brings in the neck pick up when the bridge is selected, a bit Telecaster sounding.
The trem works great, very smooth and remains in tune, better than my Marvin and the Marquee, i don't know why they didn't use this years ago.
All in all it's a very versatile guitar, I played all the Shads favourites, some Gary Moore (Parisienne Walkways) and the sustain was endless - a bit of rockabilly, Duane Eddy and a little country plus a lot more, finding that it covered everything we do, which normally requires a Strat & a Gibson or Gretsch. As big as it is I was never uncomfortable using it stood for an hour, the action is superb and it balances well. The amazing thing is the price, in trans-orange, brand new it cost me £300.
I mention this here because before I tried one in a music shop, I imagined it would be an awkward lump to play, but I did try one and was pleasantly surprised, thus my purchase. Recommended !