Barry Gibson Retires ? What happens to Burns ?

[Billyboygretsch]

Doesn’t really tell you anything. Alan Entwistle and dealers concerned by lack of info.

[bor64]

In Burns’ newest incarnation, Gilson stated that it will be at least a year before production starts again, as extensive background work is being undertaken to re-engineer the existing vintage designs so that they meet modern standards of playability while still being genuine Burns guitars....

So I'm a afraid it makes the way free for all kind of easier(cheaper) manufacturing, drop the typical Burns/artist quirks .
Enter more strat neckpocket, no scroll, no Rez-O-Tube trem, no toast rack....no van Gent tuners....etc.
I hope I'm wrong!

Cheers Rob

[Dance with Shadows]

My eye caught the phrase ".. designs so that they meet modern standards of playability... ". Doesn't that suggest primarily changing the rezo tube trem, and the pickups?

[Teflon]

My eye caught the phrase ".. designs so that they meet modern standards of playability... ". Doesn't that suggest primarily changing the rezo tube trem, and the pickups?

It also kind of implies that current Burns guitars don't meet modern standards. So, will the new owners give me a refund for the one I bought last summer?

I don't wish to appear negative, and really hope things turn out well. It strikes me though, that in the 2 weeks that they've owned the company they appear to have disenfranchised their dealers, insulted their current product line, and put at risk the brand loyalty so carefully nurtured by Barry over the years. Maybe I'm over-reacting - I hope so.

Of course, I don't actually want a refund on my Burns, it's a wonderful instrument. I just hope that the ones produced going forward are of a similar quality. I agree about the future of the Rezo tube design, it must be expensive to produce and would likely be a prime candidate if cost cutting is a consideration. Hopefully we'll be proved wrong, time will tell I suppose.

Cliff

[SandChannel]

Since Burns are darn near impossible to find in the US, it is good to know that Guitar Center is involved in the purchase as well. It would be mint to able to purchase an English-made Burns without having to buy it sight unseen and shipped over for a small fortune.

[Dance with Shadows]

I interpreted playability as the ability to play something with lots, lots of distortion. For there is nothing much wrong with the Burns' set up from the viewpoint of the player. The action, neck profile is far superior, in my opinion, to the baseball bats produced by the latest Fender strats. I like the bridge too. Soft on the skin for muting.

[bor64]

Altering the Burns guitars of the past....for modern playing
Rez-o-Tube becomes FR double locking trem copy
Rez-o- Matic becomes a generic strat pu (already done on the 40th) and some humbuckers in HSH or HSS figuration with coil tap for the old sound
Van Gent tuners become far east made generic Schaller clones
Scroll head becomes flat with tuners on one side...six in row for easy handling and protect the minds of the youth.
Pick guards becomes one peace just for solid mounting and faster playing.
Reshaped body contour softer horns, so no sharp corners so the kids are saver while playing.
Lighter balsa-wood body to protect kids back

But be assured it will be a real Burns branded guitar!!!!

Cheers Rob

[Hank2k]

after seeing the new owners posting with just the main core line up of instruments i wonder if they might go back to the 60s in terms of designs and remake things like the split sonic etc for modern times. Would be a good to see UK built Burns again and the talks of a Custom shop are exciting

[bor64]

Hi Steve,

I hope your right and I'm wrong.
I fear the market for 60's type Burns is still getting smaller along the years...
Real vintage Burns are still available and don't have the fabled quality saga and prices as the pre CBS guitars.
Not al lot of youth, has a Burns in their cross-hair for a first or a serious guitar., perhaps because no big guitar hero in in the chart playing a Burns?

Cheers Rob

[MeBHank]

Hi Steve,

I hope your right and I'm wrong.
I fear the market for 60's type Burns is still getting smaller along the years...
Real vintage Burns are still available and don't have the fabled quality saga and prices as the pre CBS guitars.
Not al lot of youth, has a Burns in their cross-hair for a first or a serious guitar., perhaps because no big guitar hero in in the chart playing a Burns?

Cheers Rob

Agreed, Rob. When was the last time a big guitar hero was regularly in the charts? Hasn't happened since Slash with Guns N' Roses, and that was a good 25 years ago, if not more.

As far as I can observe or understand, Burns is irrelevant as a brand without the nostalgia factor. With even the giants like Fender and Gibson struggling to keep guitar sales up the only way a guitar manufacturer is going to stay competitive is by trying to break into the budget market.

Barry's given us as good as we're ever going to get.