Baldwin - Burns Bison Solid Body Electric Guitar (1967)
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Baldwin - Burns Bison Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1967), made in London, England, serial # 20580, white lacquer re- finish, African mahogany body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black gig bag case.
This restored late model Baldwin-branded Bison guitar is a supremely striking creation (visually, at least) and represents the final original stage in the evolution of the Burns Bison, one of the most fantastically eccentric of 1960s English guitars. This one has a refinish on the body only and some restored parts but still plays well and maintains its original iconically eccentric look.
The original 1962 Burns Bison was a 4-pickup, gold-plated, set neck marvel, a handmade playable sculpture too complex for factory production. A simplified bolt-on neck model with three pickups followed, produced in fairly small numbers up through mid-1964. In the fall of that year, the Bison was thoroughly redesigned to share many of the design features of the new Burns Hank Marvin signature model including a carved scroll headstock, three Strat-inspired Rez-O-Matic pickups, a three-piece segmented pickguard, and the elaborate Rez-O-Tube vibrato unit designed specifically for the Shadows' guitarist.
While this shared layout robbed the Bison of some of its unique charm, it did not diminish the guitar's eccentric visual appeal -- the flashy carved body with the unique forward-curving horns remained as unmistakable as ever. The grey tortoise pattern celluloid pickguards on the white-finished body are a unique touch, and the whole guitar really stands out from the pack with a sort of retro space age character.
This one was made a couple of years after the Baldwin takeover in September 1965, not long before the original line was discontinued. By this time the deep Hank Marvin-designed scroll headstock had been simplified to a flatter and less visually striking shape for ease of production; This guitar represents the final variation of the Bison model.
Besides its visual appeal, the Bison guitar is a great sounding instrument with a very strong "Stratty" character from its three Fender-inspired Rez-O-Matic pickups. Although carrying the same pickup and knob rig as the Marvin, it actually offers a much wider tonal range thanks to the addition of a second selector switch. This multiple switching facility accesses a range of extra pickup combinations, including extreme "Wild Dog"-like out-of-phase combinations. Most Burns and Baldwin Bisons are relatively rare especially in the US, especially the higher end models which are both visually and sonically impressive guitars. This is a cool player's example of the Baldwin-branded Bison guitar, one of our favorite fretted oddities of the 1960s.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 7.42 lbs.
This guitar has a nicely original look to it, but has had an eventful life with some restoration along the way. The original Polyester finish on Baldwin guitars often suffered disastrous checking and cracking; this body has been refinished in thinner white lacquer that retains the original look without that problem. This finish shows some dings, dents and scuffing but no major wear. The neck finish is the original Poly with some light wear and checking on the headstock.
The hardware is largely original with some correct repro parts installed. The pickups, wiring, pickguard(s), backplates, strap buttons, vibrato and bridge unit are original; these has been some re-soldering to the wiring. The 3 knobs and oft-missing vibrato arm are correct reproductions and the original Rez-O-Tube unit is working as it should. There have been several sets of tuners over the years but original VanGent machines have been re-installed leaving some errant screw holes still visible. The headstock "Bison Guitar" nameplate has been re-mounted and the small plastic trim pieces from the side of the scroll are missing, as is the plastic trim piece below the vibrato.
This is a good playing guitar, with a definitively unique look and sound, a good gigging example of this highly eccentric but very cool instrument. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This restored late model Baldwin-branded Bison guitar is a supremely striking creation (visually, at least) and represents the final original stage in the evolution of the Burns Bison, one of the most fantastically eccentric of 1960s English guitars. This one has a refinish on the body only and some restored parts but still plays well and maintains its original iconically eccentric look.
The original 1962 Burns Bison was a 4-pickup, gold-plated, set neck marvel, a handmade playable sculpture too complex for factory production. A simplified bolt-on neck model with three pickups followed, produced in fairly small numbers up through mid-1964. In the fall of that year, the Bison was thoroughly redesigned to share many of the design features of the new Burns Hank Marvin signature model including a carved scroll headstock, three Strat-inspired Rez-O-Matic pickups, a three-piece segmented pickguard, and the elaborate Rez-O-Tube vibrato unit designed specifically for the Shadows' guitarist.
While this shared layout robbed the Bison of some of its unique charm, it did not diminish the guitar's eccentric visual appeal -- the flashy carved body with the unique forward-curving horns remained as unmistakable as ever. The grey tortoise pattern celluloid pickguards on the white-finished body are a unique touch, and the whole guitar really stands out from the pack with a sort of retro space age character.
This one was made a couple of years after the Baldwin takeover in September 1965, not long before the original line was discontinued. By this time the deep Hank Marvin-designed scroll headstock had been simplified to a flatter and less visually striking shape for ease of production; This guitar represents the final variation of the Bison model.
Besides its visual appeal, the Bison guitar is a great sounding instrument with a very strong "Stratty" character from its three Fender-inspired Rez-O-Matic pickups. Although carrying the same pickup and knob rig as the Marvin, it actually offers a much wider tonal range thanks to the addition of a second selector switch. This multiple switching facility accesses a range of extra pickup combinations, including extreme "Wild Dog"-like out-of-phase combinations. Most Burns and Baldwin Bisons are relatively rare especially in the US, especially the higher end models which are both visually and sonically impressive guitars. This is a cool player's example of the Baldwin-branded Bison guitar, one of our favorite fretted oddities of the 1960s.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 7.42 lbs.
This guitar has a nicely original look to it, but has had an eventful life with some restoration along the way. The original Polyester finish on Baldwin guitars often suffered disastrous checking and cracking; this body has been refinished in thinner white lacquer that retains the original look without that problem. This finish shows some dings, dents and scuffing but no major wear. The neck finish is the original Poly with some light wear and checking on the headstock.
The hardware is largely original with some correct repro parts installed. The pickups, wiring, pickguard(s), backplates, strap buttons, vibrato and bridge unit are original; these has been some re-soldering to the wiring. The 3 knobs and oft-missing vibrato arm are correct reproductions and the original Rez-O-Tube unit is working as it should. There have been several sets of tuners over the years but original VanGent machines have been re-installed leaving some errant screw holes still visible. The headstock "Bison Guitar" nameplate has been re-mounted and the small plastic trim pieces from the side of the scroll are missing, as is the plastic trim piece below the vibrato.
This is a good playing guitar, with a definitively unique look and sound, a good gigging example of this highly eccentric but very cool instrument. Overall Very Good + Condition.