BURNS MARVIN SIGNATURE GUITAR

[russjsmith]

Up until now I have never tried a Burns guitar or even considered them to be any competition to a good strat, however yesterday while browsing in a local store I came across a new Burns Marvin signature and gave it a try. I was seriously impressed with the tone, playability, build quality and overall looks.
Another plus point for me is that it has quite a wide nut. The trem is quite responsive and I would have liked it to be stiffer. Is this adjustable.
I would welcome others views and comments on this guitar.
Also whether the maple or rosewood fingerboards are preferable.
Russ

[martyn]

Hi Russ,
I have a Burns Marvin (see my avatar) and rate this very highly. Interestingly most folk who have tried it, or those of friends, say how they prefer the trem specifically because it is so responsive. It all depends upon what you're accustomed to, I suppose. It doesn't tend to create quite so much dip or rise in pitch (or at least mine doesn't) but its gentle action is something I enjoy.
It has a very playable and accurate neck that's slightly wider than my strat's, which even with my small hands and fingers is just fine. The bell-like tones, particularly in the upper octaves, are notably clearer and more rounded than my strat and with terrific sustain. I personally like the rosewood fingerboard as I feel it creates a slightly softer tone (this could be nonsense and just my perception of things) but others prefer maple and the only way to really tell is to try each type.
I ummed and aahed for some time before buying it, thinking it the poorer relation to a strat, for some reason. This may be because I knew the Shads changed to Burns but then reverted to Fender again so had it in my mind, for absolutely no justifiable reason, they must have thought them inferior. I love the Burns sound and before I bought it had my strat's pickup wiring modified so I could use bridge/neck together as is standard on the Burns. The latter has even more pickup combination options that make a unique sound, which the strat cannot produce. Having said that, the bridge, middle and neck pickups when played solo can be made to sound identical to a strat, which is presumably why Hank chose and part-designed the model in the first place. I heard a recording recently that I was convinced was done with a strat's bridge pickup, only to discover it was a Burns.
I did debate selling the Burns at one stage to help fund another much more expensive strat but just couldn't do it as it's immaculate and sounds so good.
Don't know if all of the above has helped or hindered . . .
Cheers,
Martyn

[russjsmith]

Many thanks Martyn,

That was extremely helpful,
You have helped me make up my mind and I will definately go for it.
I also modified my 62 strat to enable neck and bridge pu together.
I had been contemplating building my own project strat but I think I will spend the money on the Burns now, especially as I tried a custom shop fiesta red strat with noiseless pus at the same time and found it to be completely dull and lifeless.

Russ

[rogercook]

Hi Russ

I have D'Addario 10.5s on my Burns and have the trem set quite stiff. I have 4 trem springs fitted and there is provision for 5. I don't think you'd be disappointed

Roger

[joeboy]

Hi Martin

Such a glowing report on the Burns

I have been toying with buying a Burns Apache over the last few months & your post made me make up my mind. I've just come off the phone from speaking with Barry Gibson at Burns & my Apache is now on order ..... now the waiting game begins

Hi Russ

I have been reading posts & listening to sound files & have yet to find someone who regrets buying a Burns, my final choice was either a Marvin or Apache, I say go for it

[martyn]

Mar 2, 2010 14:31:57 GMT russjsmith said:

That was extremely helpful, you have helped me make up my mind and I will definately go for it.
I also modified my 62 strat to enable neck and bridge pu together.
I had been contemplating building my own project strat but I think I will spend the money on the Burns now, especially as I tried a custom shop fiesta red strat with noiseless pus at the same time and found it to be completely dull and lifeless.
Russ

Hi Russ,
I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase - I've yet to hear anyone say they bought one that disappointed, or was faulty or dull sounding.
I still tend to play the strat more often but that's because I always loved the strat sound, having owned one back in the sixties but whether it be Shads stuff or anything else, I choose the Burns quite often for certain tracks as it just has the edge in some tonal configurations. They make a good pairing for me and I regularly switch between them as I try out different BTs and decide which will suit them better.
Having said the solo pickups were much the same as a strat in terms of tone, maybe I should amend that slightly because checking and comparing just now, I'd say the middle pickup's almost the same, the bridge may be very slightly more growly whilst the neck is a tad softer and more mellow. But I suppose if they were completely identical there'd be little point in having both .
How happy are you with your '62 strat? I get varying reports on these for some reason. I was also intrigued by your negative view on that custom shop strat as I'd always assumed these were the bees knees of the strat offerings.
Cheers,
Martyn

[martyn]

Mar 2, 2010 15:36:54 GMT joeboy said:

Hi Martin

Such a glowing report on the Burns
I have been toying with buying a Burns Apache over the last few months & your post made me make up my mind. I've just come off the phone from speaking with Barry Gibson at Burns & my Apache is now on order ..... now the waiting game begins

Hi Robert,
Think you'll love it - maybe I should ask Barry for sales commission?
I'm sending you a PM re the guitar etc.
Cheers,
Martyn

[Pittnuma]

My father had 1 for a couple of years and loved it, unfortunatly he sold. I love some of the tones you get out of it, quite different. I would certainly consider 1.

DC

[joeboy]

Hi martyn

Heh, heh... I had already virtually made my mind up, your post just stirred me into action, plus it was my birthday ;D

I was closely watching an Apache on the well known auction site but it wasn't really the colour I was looking for

[russjsmith]

Hi Martyn,
The 62 strat stays in the case now and I tend to use my Mexican cheapo strat most of the time. I keep threatening to sell the 62 but my wife and daughter wont let me. I think the daughter thinks it will pay off her mortgage when I finally shuffle off! ( I doubt it, I think the days of crazy money for old strats has gone).
I have had the 62 since 1971 when I paid £105 for it , I gigged with it for many years but I never used to play much instrumental stuff in those days. I had a Watkins copycat and AC30 but could never get anywhere near the Hank tone with it.
I am looking forward to getting the Burns but I may wait and see what the new Apache with noiseless pickups is like.
Russ