E-Bay Burns Vibra Artist

[Nick Allan]

No 140590445967

Never seen one like this before - never heard of one in this colour or with the gold bits. Any views?

Regards,

Nick

[noelford]

Seller has only 253 eBay transactions and is already down to 80% feedback rating! Dodgy!

[des mcneill]

Hi Guys,
This guitar is a Vibra Artist Delux. The gold plating is genuine although I doubt the colour is. The band I played with in the sixties had a pair of them,one of the guys still has his although it is damaged and dismantled. Both these guitars were a little different in true Burns fashion,- we never saw any other examples but the one on ebay could be genuine. I spoke to Paul Day about these guitars many years ago because he had a picture of one in his Burns book and at that time he told me he had never seen one and wasn't sure they existed so was surprised we had two !
Still,as already said,- beware.
Des.

[dusty fretz]

Since speaking to Des all those years ago (hello again!), I've seen around a dozen examples of the Vibra Artist Deluxe. All have differed slightly, as the necesary upgrade conversion of the standard version was done largely by hand, while some components varied too, which was very typical of Burns. However, the one currently on eBay has a liquorice allsort colour scheme that's new to me, because the norm was a thin black laminate scratchplate contrasting the Vibra Artist's usual cherry red body with black neck.

It could be genuine, as anything IS possible where Burns' oldies are concerned, but the condition is worryingly 'new', especially the gold-plating. The latter looks to be pristine, even in exposed areas, which certainly wouldn't be the case after all these years, as this fancy finish soon wears off with any use. My guess is that the guitar is the real deal (complete with unusual 'cradle' bridge) but not original, having been the subject of a total re-furb. The end result is certainly eye-catching and could appeal to Bertie Bassett fans, but whether it's worth the asking price is another matter. That said, I see that a website specialising in various Auction House listings has an all-original example (looks like my old one in fact) up at a very optimistic £3,500!

[mgeek]

If that IS all original, I think the asking price is pretty fair, because it'd be pretty much unique- which is more than can be said for the Ebay BIN graveyard of bog standard jazz split sounds and short scale jazzes listed for fifteen hundred quid BINs I keep seeing at the moment

That said- I have a feeling I've had stuff off that seller in the past, and if it's the guy I'm thinking of he is generally pretty cagey with the details, so not explicitly saying it's all original would worry me. As would this bit "far more a collectors piece than a modern day workhorse".

Like I said, not 100% certain it's the same guy, but if it is, his idea of a straight neck and my idea of a straight neck are very different things!

[David Martin]

Suspect this is not original. The bridge looks much much later...

And on that basis, even £499 seems high for a hacked about Burns... good though the hack might be

[dave robinson]

I have checked it out and the bridge is the same one as fitted to a four pickup Bison, I believe it is genuine

[Adrian Fountain]

The Burns Vibra Artiste Deluxe thats being questioned belongs to me. Ive collected Burns guitars for the last 25 years and have owned the guitar in question for around the last 20. The Black finish is the same Burns finish as on my 4pup bison and I believe it to be original....its slightly crazed just like the 4 pup Bison....it does not, repeat does not look re-sprayed. The bridge on this example is definitely original......Ive removed the scratchplate and there are no signs of any other bridge ever being fitted to this particular guitar, no marks, no holes, no filled holes....the Cradle type bridge fitted on this example was fitted at the Burns factory and the scratchplate is cut around the unit to suit, just like on the 4 up bison!!!! .......the bridge is also the same is fitted to the '4 up bison' and the 'Split sound 6 string bass'. Ive had this guitar for 20 years and I have not had the guitar re-plated it has however been cased and untouched really in that time.....The gold plating is not quite as good as it looks in the photos....but very very good all the same......the only fault I can see with the guitar is that the headstock badge has a piece broken other than that it all looks good.......correct Bound fingerboard, unlike the standard Vibra Arstiste and Pearl buttons again unlike the standard Vibra Artiste. I advise anyone to contact me personally via the advert rather than second guessing on here.............in reagrds to feedback Ive just sold A Fenton Weill ''Contra' bass and a Hohner 'Amazon' on the same account and both buyers are very happy with there purchases..... I believe this guitar to be original which makes it a very rare Burns find hence the £1500 price tag...........

Thanks

Adrian

[ecca]

That's shut the buggers up Ade !

[mgeek]

Well- on that basis, I'd say £1500 is a pretty damned good price, and I'm surprised it hasn't been jumped on yet by someone with more cash than me!

Also: The guy I was thinking of wasn't named Adrian- so consider above speculation withdrawn. Apologies!