Ampeg Wild Dog EG-1S Jazz Split Sound Solid Body Electric Guitar, made by Burns (1964)
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Item # 8683
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Ampeg Wild Dog EG-1S Jazz Split Sound Model Solid Body Electric Guitar, made by Burns (1964), made in London, England, red/black sunburst Polyester finish, sycamore body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, gig bag case.
The most popular design from the always-eccentric James Ormston Burns, the Jazz Split Sound is a 1960s classic and a very stylish guitar. This is the American export version of this British-made guitar with the Ampeg logo on the pickguard, available in the US between 1963 and early '65. Ampeg was looking for an electric guitar line to complement their popular amplifiers and imported a limited line of re-branded Burns instruments, but the price in the US after transport and import duties were figured in proved to be a major stumbling block.
The "Jazz Split Sound" was re-named the "Wild Dog EG-1S" by Ampeg, but the nameplate on the actual guitar remained unchanged. By the time the Burns company was purchased by Baldwin in late 1965, the agreement had already lapsed. Ampeg advertised the guitars as "Exciting Wild Dog" models, but in the crowded US market the guitars were not much of a success...this model actually is the most commonly seen of the very rare line and was the only one sold in any quantity at all.
The Jazz Split Sound was Burns' midline instrument; professional class, but less expensive than the more dramatically-styled Black Bison and Hank Marvin signature guitars at the top of the line. Obviously owing a lot to the Stratocaster, the JSS has three "Split Sound" Tri-sonic pickups with a rotary control giving four tone selections including the snarlingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" and the patented "Split Sound" which combines different half-coils to accentuate bass and treble registers.
The lavish Burns "Series II" vibrato system incorporates a floating bridge cradle and fully adjustable individual saddles and must rate as one of the best systems of its kind. The medium-scale neck is slim and comfortable with a slightly less round feel than a Fender. All the instruments from the Burns London period (1961-65) are extremely well-made, and this rates as a fine-playing guitar with tons of character and a very distinctive sound.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 3/8 in. (594 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a very clean example, complete and all original with just some light wear. The finish shows some dings and dents mostly on the edges but none of the heavy checking common to these English-made guitars, and the red color in the sunburst is very strong with virtually no fade. There are a couple of tiny chips out of the pickguard adjacent to the middle pickup adjustment screws, which are barely noticeable. The guitar is complete including the often missing trem arm and tailpiece cover. A very nice playing and sounding Ampeg/Burns guitar, with the "Wild Dog" ready to growl! Excellent Condition.
The most popular design from the always-eccentric James Ormston Burns, the Jazz Split Sound is a 1960s classic and a very stylish guitar. This is the American export version of this British-made guitar with the Ampeg logo on the pickguard, available in the US between 1963 and early '65. Ampeg was looking for an electric guitar line to complement their popular amplifiers and imported a limited line of re-branded Burns instruments, but the price in the US after transport and import duties were figured in proved to be a major stumbling block.
The "Jazz Split Sound" was re-named the "Wild Dog EG-1S" by Ampeg, but the nameplate on the actual guitar remained unchanged. By the time the Burns company was purchased by Baldwin in late 1965, the agreement had already lapsed. Ampeg advertised the guitars as "Exciting Wild Dog" models, but in the crowded US market the guitars were not much of a success...this model actually is the most commonly seen of the very rare line and was the only one sold in any quantity at all.
The Jazz Split Sound was Burns' midline instrument; professional class, but less expensive than the more dramatically-styled Black Bison and Hank Marvin signature guitars at the top of the line. Obviously owing a lot to the Stratocaster, the JSS has three "Split Sound" Tri-sonic pickups with a rotary control giving four tone selections including the snarlingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" and the patented "Split Sound" which combines different half-coils to accentuate bass and treble registers.
The lavish Burns "Series II" vibrato system incorporates a floating bridge cradle and fully adjustable individual saddles and must rate as one of the best systems of its kind. The medium-scale neck is slim and comfortable with a slightly less round feel than a Fender. All the instruments from the Burns London period (1961-65) are extremely well-made, and this rates as a fine-playing guitar with tons of character and a very distinctive sound.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 3/8 in. (594 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a very clean example, complete and all original with just some light wear. The finish shows some dings and dents mostly on the edges but none of the heavy checking common to these English-made guitars, and the red color in the sunburst is very strong with virtually no fade. There are a couple of tiny chips out of the pickguard adjacent to the middle pickup adjustment screws, which are barely noticeable. The guitar is complete including the often missing trem arm and tailpiece cover. A very nice playing and sounding Ampeg/Burns guitar, with the "Wild Dog" ready to growl! Excellent Condition.