electric · vintage
Burns London (Bison, Marvin)
| Maker | Historic & Defunct Brands (Kay, Silvertone, Teisco, Mosrite, Burns, Harmony, Supro, Eko, Airline) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Various |
| Type | electric · vintage |
| Maker founded | 1880s–1960s |
| Status | current |
A defunct British maker whose Bison and Marvin models belong to the early instrumental rock era.
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Why it matters
Burns built guitars in London and the Bison and Marvin models are the two names that still circulate on the vintage market. The company changed hands more than once, so original instruments and later reissues share model names but not construction, and telling them apart drives the price more than condition does. No maker price list exists for the brand, so values come from dealer listings only.
Note
The UK's answer to Fender (Hank Marvin signature).
Specifications
- Scale length: 647.7 mm (25.5 in)
- Neck shape: unknown
Before you buy
- Originals and later reissues share model names
- Ask for build details and serial information in writing
- Vibrato and pickup parts are difficult to replace
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Premier Guitar · 2017-02 · 57,377 views
Demo of the Burns Bison Ultrasound at NAMM.
New Kings Road Vintage Guitars (New Kings Road Guitars) · 2021-01 · 18,041 views
“Licking the lockdown on a 1964 Burns Marvin 6 string electric guitar in white finish down at the New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium”
A 1964 Burns Marvin in white finish shown and played.