The Burns story is definitely not just about Jim Burns – it´s about a team. Both the development of the guitars and the work to turn idéas to reality depended on some of the best people in business.
To mention a few:
Derek Adams - Pioneer of the original renowned Burns polyester finish. Known for high quality work)
Les Andreews – The very first Burns employee, worked form Burns and Baldwin for ten years.
Gordon Chandler – The orginator together with Jim Burns of the Split Sound system and the floating Bridge Vibrato.
Eddie Cross – An important faktor through the years. Supplied Burns with scratchplates and other hardware)
Barry Gibson – Started up the new Burns London Ltd 1962. A good guitar player who faithfully took care of the the Burns tradition and continued to make new good guitars under the Burns banner.
Jack Golder – One of the most important men in the team. Contributed greatly to the success of Burns guitars in many ways, not only the woodworking side. Sidemen to Jim over the years from Burns, Baldwin, Ormston, Hayeman, Burns UK and Jim Burns Ltd. Read about his fine Shergold guitars on www. shergold.co.uk
Bob Hall – After the demise of Burns UK, Jim worked with Bob who had his own musical instrument business. They worked with the developement of the new Hallmaster range.
Norman Holder – Another important sideman from the early days and all the way. Among other things he made the trussroads. Norman shared the success of Shergold guitars.
Ike Isaacs - Increasingly involved in the guitar developement side with the players opinion.
Alf Jarret – Supplied Burns with some of the metalwork and hardware for the early models.
George Jackson – Timber supplier and built the bodies of the Sonic model.
Stanley Lloyd-Hughes – Co-designer of the original Gear-Box trus rod adjustment system.
Geoff Manning – Guitarist whom provided valuable assistance during the developement of Burns UK Artist and Mirage models.
Hank Marvin – Helped to develope the Marvin model. He wanted a perfect solid electric guitar. The scrollhead was also his idea.
George Mills – Responisble for much of the electrical circuitry
Bob Pearson – Former Vox employe who was a part of the team which developed the famous Vox Phantom. Worked together with Jim on developing the Hayman and the Burns UK . Also worked with Shergold guitars.
Phil Sweet – The right hand man on the research and development side.
Les Weatherley – Head of the Re-An company which helped to provide hardware for man Burns products. Turning paper ideas to practical reality.
Henry Weill – The Burns-Weill Range. A shortlived partnership where Jim supplied the bodies and Henry the electrics. Henry continued to manufacture the original Burns-Weill models after Jim had gone solo. Weil London was the first choice of name but soon he changed to Fenton-Weill and produced some really nice guitars between 1960-65.
My apologise for the omission of anyone important in the Burns team.