1965 Burns Double Six

The guitars of Jim Burns are highly regarded in England but they are are not very well known here in the US, which is too bad because his early guitars are very nice, with a look, feel and sound all their own. Burns started building instruments in the late 1950s but he really hit his stride in the mid-1960s, right at the peak of the British Invasion. In 1964 he introduced his most famous model, the Marvin, which he built with input from the legendary guitarist Hank Marvin. That was a major coup at the time as Marvin was well known for playing a Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster. (The image of Marvin and his Strat was so iconic, however, that he eventually went back to playing one.) The Double Six was also introduced in 1964 as an answer to Rickenbacker’s 12-strings.

This particular guitar was made in April, 1965 (there’s a dated inspection sticker under one of its various pickguards,) a few months before Burns was purchased by the Baldwin Piano Company. Baldwin had put in a bid for Fender a few months earlier but they lost out to CBS and I guess they figured Burns was the next best thing. Burns did not fare too well under Baldwin and the quality began to slip fairly rapidly. By 1970, the Burns guitar line was quietly discontinued. I’ve only played one Double Six, and that was about 25 years ago.  I do recall the neck was a bit wider than those found on most electric 12-strings and that it was very comfortable to play. It didn’t sound as jangly as a Rickenbacker but it did have a useful range of tones. I suspect a few players will find the green sunburst a bit off, but personally I find it weirdly attractive. This Double Six currently resides at Retrofret where it has price tag of $1650.

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Elvis rocking out on a pre-Baldwin Burns Double Six in the 1966 movie Spinout .

The Searchers with their matching Burns guitars, including a Double Six.

Hank Marvin and the Shadows with their matching Burns guitars in 1969.