The First Prototype Burns Electric Guitar at The Music Locker
The First Prototype Burns Electric Guitar at The Music Locker
I am beyond excited to offer this guitar for sale. In short this very guitar was made with Elvis in mind by Jim Burns himself, given to The Beatles for a basement session to tempt them away from Gretsch & Hofner, is gold plated, and owned by Alice Louise Farrell (co-founder of Burns guitars alongside James Ormston) ever since. This is one of the last family-owned prototype guitars left worldwide, and what a CV it comes with!
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the family of Alice Louise Farrell who co-founded Burns guitars with James Ormston Burns in the late 1950s. These are the words of Alice’s Grandson, Jimmy, that I found incredible exciting:
“The guitar used to belong to my Nan, Louise Farrell, who co-founded Burns Guitars with Jim Burns. She was the financial and business-minded lynchpin of the enterprise. This particular guitar was a prototype designed with Elvis in mind in 1961. I have no idea why they didn’t make more. Perhaps it was too costly to produce. I do know it was used in in-house demonstrations and played by various respected musicians at trade fairs.
The Beatles
There is a story that in the early 1960s, Jimmy Burns and my Nan, attempted to entice John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison to start playing Burns. This was one of the guitars apparently used at a secret jam session in my Nan’s basement. I was told John, Paul and George liked Burns very much but weren’t willing to give up their lucky Gretsch, Hofner and Gibson which had obviously served them extremely well. Apparently there was a reel to reel recording made of this session; unfortunately the tape is yet to resurface. Alas, until it does this particular story remains apocryphal.
In the late sixties my Nan emigrated to New Zealand and the guitar was packed away in a trunk. It remained stored away for many years and has sadly never been played again. The guitar passed to my Dad after my Nan died, then to my elder sister, and now to me. I am very proud of my Nan and what she achieved. She was an incredible lady and very much loved and missed. I would really like to see this beautiful historical instrument cared for, displayed and perhaps played again”
The Burns Book
Personally, I’m in awe of the history this guitar holds. A good friend of mine got in touch with Paul Day, who was well aware of this guitar which appeared in his famous book, with all the details coming from Jim Burns himself. Also below is a pretty cool newspaper marketing from the period, showing this exact guitar with the option of ’24 ct. gold plated and left-handed models available to order’.
I’ve also included a picture of Alice with Jim alongside a well-known prototype lap steel that sold not too long ago for five-figures.
This is THE guitar that launched Burns to be arguably the best British made guitar brand for decades! It is, for sure, a genuine one-off prototype guitar, handmade by Jim himself. Oh…and what is an added benefit, this guitar has come with an original 1958-1960 ‘Stone Cases’ 335 case since new. These are the same cases used for the Bursts!
