Ampeg Deluxe Wild Dog/ Split Sonic Owned by Steely Dan's Walter Becker Solid Body Electric Guitar, made by Burns (1963)
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Item # 9087
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Ampeg Deluxe Wild Dog/ Split Sonic Owned by Steely Dan's Walter Becker Model Solid Body Electric Guitar, made by Burns (1963), made in London, England, serial # 2653, sunburst polyester finish, sycamore body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original blue check tolex hard shell case.
Here is one of the rarer instruments we have encountered from England's James Ormston Burns -- the Ampeg-logo "Deluxe Wild Dog" guitar; the American-distributed version of the Burns "Split Sonic". In the early '60s Ampeg was looking for an electric guitar line to complement their popular amplifiers and imported a rather limited line of re-branded Burns of London instruments. These were high quality, unique guitars but the price in the US after transport and import duties were figured in proved to be extremely high -- a major flaw in the plan!
This "Split Sonic" was the first Ampeg-logo model introduced early in 1963, re-named the "Deluxe Wild Dog Guitar" although the nameplate on the actual guitar remained unchanged. The initial Ampeg line consisted of two models, this guitar and a matching "Wild Dog Bass". These were brought in in very small numbers, as they are both exceedingly rare today with only a few examples documented. Ampeg advertised these in 1963-4 as "Exciting Wild Dog" models, but in the crowded US market the instruments went little noticed. The line was expanded in 1963 to include what became only decent seller: the less expensive, short scale "Jazz Split Sound" guitar, which was imported into the US in small but steady quantities up through the beginning of 1965. These are the only Ampeg model generally seen today.
The Split Sonic itself was Burns' upper/midline instrument; thoroughly professional but less expensive than the dramatically styled Black Bison at the top of the 1962-3 line. Owing a debt to the Stratocaster, the Split Sonic differs primarily due to its particularly "British"-styled body with a truncated upper bout and fluid contours. The three "Split Sound" Tri-sonic pickups with two coils in each are linked to a rotary control giving four tone selections, including the snarlingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" and the patented "Split Sound" which combines different half-pickups to accentuate bass and treble registers. The Burns "Series I" vibrato system incorporates a floating bridge cradle and fully adjustable individual saddles and even in this early version can be considered one of the best, capable of some truly dramatic whammy effects. The 24 1/2" neck is slim and comfortable with a slightly less round feel than a Fender.
All instruments from the Burns London period (1961-65) are extremely well-made; this early Ampeg model would have been one of the first brought to the US. Some years ago this rarity became one of a number of instruments the late Walter Becker purchased from us. Since his passing we sadly miss his visits to the shop, which usually lasted well into the after-hours of the evening. It was always fascinating to observe the care he took in selecting pieces, often spending hours experimenting to see how many different sounds he could draw from an instrument. This guitar, with its wild range of tones from the honkingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" to deep "Jazz" purr, was an instant favorite.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 13 in. (33 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.).
Overall this guitar is in very fine, all original condition with some typical minor wear. There is quite a bit of fade to the sunburst finish; the red pigment is mostly gone and the guitar today has a very subtle brown/black look. The Poly finish shows very little of the heavy checking often encountered, however. There is one small circular dink on the upper front face. All components are original and mostly quite clean; there is some wear to the plating on top of the bridge saddles.
The only repairs are the tip of the upper pickguard extension was cracked and repaired near the bridge, and there is a re-inforced crack in the pickguard under the jack, very common on these hard-plastic early Burns PGs. There is some wear to the frets and fingerboard in the lower positions, but the guitar still plays well. It includes the excellent original Ampeg blue-check case with the Steely Dan studio catalog markings on red tape on one end. Excellent Condition.
Here is one of the rarer instruments we have encountered from England's James Ormston Burns -- the Ampeg-logo "Deluxe Wild Dog" guitar; the American-distributed version of the Burns "Split Sonic". In the early '60s Ampeg was looking for an electric guitar line to complement their popular amplifiers and imported a rather limited line of re-branded Burns of London instruments. These were high quality, unique guitars but the price in the US after transport and import duties were figured in proved to be extremely high -- a major flaw in the plan!
This "Split Sonic" was the first Ampeg-logo model introduced early in 1963, re-named the "Deluxe Wild Dog Guitar" although the nameplate on the actual guitar remained unchanged. The initial Ampeg line consisted of two models, this guitar and a matching "Wild Dog Bass". These were brought in in very small numbers, as they are both exceedingly rare today with only a few examples documented. Ampeg advertised these in 1963-4 as "Exciting Wild Dog" models, but in the crowded US market the instruments went little noticed. The line was expanded in 1963 to include what became only decent seller: the less expensive, short scale "Jazz Split Sound" guitar, which was imported into the US in small but steady quantities up through the beginning of 1965. These are the only Ampeg model generally seen today.
The Split Sonic itself was Burns' upper/midline instrument; thoroughly professional but less expensive than the dramatically styled Black Bison at the top of the 1962-3 line. Owing a debt to the Stratocaster, the Split Sonic differs primarily due to its particularly "British"-styled body with a truncated upper bout and fluid contours. The three "Split Sound" Tri-sonic pickups with two coils in each are linked to a rotary control giving four tone selections, including the snarlingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" and the patented "Split Sound" which combines different half-pickups to accentuate bass and treble registers. The Burns "Series I" vibrato system incorporates a floating bridge cradle and fully adjustable individual saddles and even in this early version can be considered one of the best, capable of some truly dramatic whammy effects. The 24 1/2" neck is slim and comfortable with a slightly less round feel than a Fender.
All instruments from the Burns London period (1961-65) are extremely well-made; this early Ampeg model would have been one of the first brought to the US. Some years ago this rarity became one of a number of instruments the late Walter Becker purchased from us. Since his passing we sadly miss his visits to the shop, which usually lasted well into the after-hours of the evening. It was always fascinating to observe the care he took in selecting pieces, often spending hours experimenting to see how many different sounds he could draw from an instrument. This guitar, with its wild range of tones from the honkingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" to deep "Jazz" purr, was an instant favorite.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 13 in. (33 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.).
Overall this guitar is in very fine, all original condition with some typical minor wear. There is quite a bit of fade to the sunburst finish; the red pigment is mostly gone and the guitar today has a very subtle brown/black look. The Poly finish shows very little of the heavy checking often encountered, however. There is one small circular dink on the upper front face. All components are original and mostly quite clean; there is some wear to the plating on top of the bridge saddles.
The only repairs are the tip of the upper pickguard extension was cracked and repaired near the bridge, and there is a re-inforced crack in the pickguard under the jack, very common on these hard-plastic early Burns PGs. There is some wear to the frets and fingerboard in the lower positions, but the guitar still plays well. It includes the excellent original Ampeg blue-check case with the Steely Dan studio catalog markings on red tape on one end. Excellent Condition.