The Guitar Collection of Guy Mackenzie
This chassis was built by Jims Burns in 1958 prior to his departure from Supersound at the end of that year. Ths photograph clearly shows the ‘glued and screwed’ neck joint which was a feature in Burns guitars including the Bison.
For more information about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Until recently I didn’t have a “lefty” and I didn’t have a twin neck, then I walked into my local secondhand shop and, Hey Presto, I now have both! OK it’s modern and made in China but doesn’t it look great?
You can also hear how great it sounds in this video as played by Adrian Withers:
This entry level guitar was made in Japan, probably by Kawai, dates from around the early 70s and was marketed in the UK by Woolworths. My thanks go to David Turner for donating it to my collection.
Dating from probably December 1958 this was one of the last bodies to be built by Jim Burns prior to his split with Alan Wootton in that month. However it was subsequently modified either by Alan Wootton or the carpenters shop in Hastings after the Company moved there in 1959.
For more information about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
With electrics by Alan Wootton and body by a carpenters shop in Hastings, this bass dates from between 1959-1963 and is one of possibly around 20-30 instruments built after Jim Burns left Supersound (but originally designed with his assistance in late 1958). Brian Davis of Dave Edmunds’ band, the Raiders, used one of these in 1963.
For more information about this bass guitar see the Historic Guitars page.
For more about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Built by Jim Burns with electrics by Alan Wootton and dating from early autumn 1958, this is the oldest surviving UK commercially built solid electric bass and almost identical to the first bass made for Teddy Wadmore of the Ted Taylor Four and used by him on TV’s Jack Jackson show in that year. Check the Historic Guitars page for an extensive write up. For more information about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Jim Burns interview in 1994 on YouTube
And last but not least, here’s the Supersound Single Cutaway Bass in action:
Built by Jim Burns with electrics by Alan Wootton and dating from early autumn 1958, this is the oldest surviving UK commercially built solid electric guitar. Almost certainly similar to the guitar used by Bob Rodgers of the Ted Taylor Four on TV’s Jack Jackson show in that year. Check the Historic Guitars page for an extensive write up. For more information about Supersound see the Story of Supersound website.
Introduced on April 25th 1959 by Dallas Arbiter, with “screwed on” Framus pick up and “add on” controls, this was the UK’s 3rd (after Supersound and Burns Weill) commercially built solid electric guitar and was test marketed in small quantities. See a picture of a young Kevin Watkins: www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/history.htm
Watch Phil Walker play the Dallas Tuxedo at The Guitar Collection YouTube Channel:
Built in Japan by Guyatone and marketed in the UK by Rose Morris this starter guitar dates from the early 60s and was previously owned by Camborne’s first lady of R ‘n’ R and sold to me with her matching Selmer Little Giant amp!
Dating from 1961/2 and described as a semi-accoustic(!) this British made guitar combines Dallas Tuxedo styling with early Vox neck, adjustable bridge, Fenton Weill electrics and retailed for £13-7/- (£13.35p).
