Vintage Burns Double Six 12-String - UK 1964

Burns is a British guitar brand that was founded by Jim Burns in the late 1950s. The company gained recognition in the 1960s for producing innovative and distinctive electric guitars, particularly the Burns Bison and the Burns London. These instruments were known for their unique body shapes, high-quality construction, and versatile tone options.

Burns guitars have been used by various musicians over the years, including Hank Marvin of The Shadows, Elvis Presley, and Brian May of Queen. The brand has gone through different ownership changes and production hiatuses, but it has experienced a revival in recent years, with new models being released and the continuation of classic designs.

From Burns about the Double Six:

'First introduced in 1963, the Double Six Guitar is by far the most user friendly 12 string guitar on the market today. The 50mm nut allows ample room for the strings to be separated for easier fingering. The strings are fitted through a Gotoh bridge, specially designed to achieve perfect intonation.'

Burns Guitars about the Tri-Sonic pickups:

'Nothing quite compares to the Iconic Burns Tri-Sonic, which has always held a unique niche in musical history. From warm, smooth jazz tones — to bright, sparkling high's - right through to screaming, orchestral lead lines.'

This Burns Double Six was bought in 1964 by its current owner and played in their Newcastle based band, 'The Second Thoughts', between 1965-1967. The guitar was then sold to another professional musician - Bobby Jordan of 'Bobby Taylor & the Impacts' until being bought back again in 1976 by its current owner - played seldomly and well cared for since then.

As a result, the guitar is in fantastic shape for a 60-year-old instrument. There is a nice crazing in the lacquer, all three pickups work perfectly well and sound incredible. The scratch plate has a custom 'RSG' engraved in it - of which the owner is not sure the meaning, perhaps 'Read, Set Go', very cool in any case! The guitar is extremely original except for one tone knob being replaced and a missing bridge cover.

A super-rare and interesting piece of music history in stunning condition.

Features: 

• Basswood body
• Bolton hardrock maple neck
• Burns original headstock
• Classic polyester finish
• Original Greenburst Finish
• Scale length of 25.5"
• 50mm nut width
• Burns gear-o-matic truss rod
• Gotoh bridge unit
• 21 frets
• Chrome hardware
• Burns deluxe machine heads
• Three Burns deluxe Trisonic pickups
• Five way pickup switch
• Push/pull pickup selector
• One master volume
• Two tone controls