Born in Count Durham in 1925, Jim Burns learned playing the guitar in his teens. At the age of 18 he joined the RAF, but was prevented by airsickness from becoming a pilot. Instead, he joined the ground crew as a fitter, which earned him experience with metalworking. As he did not have a guitar with him in Africa, he constructed one of his own from nothing but sheer ingenuity and RAF materials. For instance, a bar magnet from an aero engine and a coil with thirteen dry joints wrapped in toilet paper was used to make a pick-up. The two other guitarists in the squadron band were impressed enough to wish for similar guitars of their own.
In 1946, as Jim left the RAF, he resumed work as a joiner. The evenings were spent playing slide guitar. He still considered himself first and foremost a musician. By 1952, he was appearing as a Hawaiian guitarist with Felix Mendelson's Hawaiian Serenaders. Daytime he held a variety of jobs, but the idea of setting up his own business as a guitar builder was becoming more and more attractive to him. His first guitars for general sale were produced in London while he himself earned his living a waiter and a paintsprayer. Early on, Jim felt that he had something special to offer, and was aiming mainly for the top guitarists. Most of these were reluctant to take on products by newcomers. A notable exception, though, was Ike Isaacs, who accepted Jim's offer. It was the Mullard circuit valve amp which caught Ike's attention. In return for making one of these amps for Ike, Ike agreed to test the instruments that were produced. As Jim's reputation began to be established, the firm of Ormoston-Burns was incorporated in 1960.They got workshop space on Cradley Heath as well as an interest free loan. The Artist was the first guitar to be launched. Soon enough, the corporation expanded and moved to larger premises in Romford, where the Black Bison and Marvin models were produced. In the heyday of Burns guitars, over 150 were produced each week, and the market was almost insatiable. But Jim Burns was an eccentric person whose forte was guitar design and technology and not business and financial management. Despite the good times for guitar selling, Jim was deeply in debt to suppliers and creditors and in desperate need of rescue. In 1965, Jim decided to sell the company to Baldwin Piano & Organ Company, and it was sold on the condition that Jim must make no more guitars under his own name for three years. After a brief interlude of manufacturing under the name of Ormston and Hayman, Jim would make two attempts at a come back -- 1974 and 1979 -- using his own name. In spite of the effort put into creating innovative guitars, however, things did not go quite as well as expected, and in 1983, Jim left the stage. In 1992, he returned as a consultant to the then newly formed Burns London Ltd, who started an excellent re-launch of the best Burns guitars from the '60s. Jim Burns died in 1999.
The TeamTo 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.
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