Burns Marquee

[specky]

Sorry for going back over old ground gang-
I acquired a Lefty Burns Marquee early in the year -It is a magnificent guitar -(actually my pride and joy)also a great topic of conversation.
It has the point classic trem unit on it-but no play on the trem- is there an easy way to adjust it.??
Thanks gang for any help

Tommy

[sixchannel]

I assume that the back of the Marquee has a pkastic plate below which are the springs and claw.
At its most basic - unscrew the claw screws a little at a time so the back of the bridge starts to 'float'up. Re-tune etc etc etc. It will change other things like saddle height, string action and intonation so you will have to attend to these later also.
HTH
Ian

[baz]

Hi Tommy............I had a Marquee Pro and I assume your guitar has the classic strat type trem with 6 or possibly 2 screws.


Is the back end flat on the body?..........if so it could be (as Ian suggests) that someone has overtightened the claw retaining screws or possibly that some one has "blocked" the trm by inserting a wooden block between the metal block string carrier and the body recess wall. (I believe Clapton does this to his Strats) If so you'll have to remove the inserted block which could be simple or easy depending on whether its fixed in place.

Hope this helps

Regards

Baz

[oakeswellstudio]

Hi Tommy,
Have a look at an old thread 2009,is that your problem..

The problem with your Point Tech trem is known by Burns,I contacted Barry Gibson at Burns about it 10 years ago,and I believe he took steps to correct it by redesigning it........
I bought a pair of greenburst Marquees when they were first introduced to the market,both strung with light strings,probably 8s, after a couple of weeks playing them in on these strings I changed them to my normal stainless tapewound strings,one to 9s the other to 11s,the problem started with the one with 11s,it would not hold tuning,the trem was tipping forward.
A fifth spring on the block pulled it back but it held tuning for a shorter period, the other one fitted with 9s,was then fitted with 11s,the same problem appeared,they were both dismantled and the problem was found,it was the use of the wrong choice of materials ,to correct the problem cost less than £1 in materials and 2 hours in the machine shop...........
THE PROBLEM....
Is or was the fulcrum points supporting block..the points are made from heat treated carbon steel, the mating part on the bridge is made from a heat treated carbon steel, but the metal block housing the the 5mm wide pins,which point forward and slightly upwards, is only 8mm wide and made of cast zinc,held to the guitar body by thin screws,the pull from the strings and the trem block springs forces the points to elongate the the holes, in the zinc block holding them, backwards and pointing more upwards...............
THE CURE............
Remake the zinc block in steel,make sure the wood it is mounted to is flat,it may not be,use
slightly longer quality screws and shim from the rear of the block with metal shims to give solid contact with the guitar body.....
With this modification you will also gain a big jump up in tone and sustain,I still use my Marquees and the problem has been forgoten a long time ago....
Regards...........Alan J
p.s If you need a steel block,I am now retired from engineering,
but have the means to make you one,post me and it should not take long to do......cheers Alan J OAKESWELL STUDIO

[specky]

Hi Ian,Baz and Alan -thank you all for the tips re the Burns -will see how I get on messing about -
Regards all

Tommy

[bor64]

Hi Alan,

Is that the real fix to get that darn Marquee trem wobble out?
I've 1 marquee and 1 marquee S hanging here unused on the wall because of those $%#@ point trem problems....
But I'm not a engineer, and I don't know one....so is there a other trick to fix it perhaps?

Cheers Rob

[oakeswellstudio]

Hi Rob,
The fix is in my old thread,the trem does not touch any part of the body,the only part that is in contact with the guitar is the fulcrum block and points,nothing can be seen from outside the trem block,the points locate just under the saddles and works on a seesaw action in use,the front goes down and the back goes up,and vis-versa.If the trem is in a locked state and not moving means that trem block is not located with the pins under the saddles..
The trem unit should be flat with the guitar body and free all round to seesaw freely....you cannot replace the unit with a strat type as the cavity would have to be modified..if on inspection you find that all this does not make sense,then yours is not a Point Tech trem by Charlie Fisher..
When you have it set up it is a dream to use,I have built 3 strat types for customers who have called on me and tried my Burns and have happily paid twice the cost of a Fender trem to have what I had and they are very happy,as of 2 weeks ago I dont have the Burns it was sold.

Cheers I hope this helps Alan

[bor64]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your splendid explanation!
I'm sure both trems on the Burns are the Point Tech trem, my both Marquees are very early models and many moons ago I looked under the bonnet.
So I recognise what your explained to me.
Both trem baseplates are raised above the level you write about and are very stiff to handle and lose there pitch easly...
So I recon those points are a bit crooked in the soft metal bar on the body as you wrote.

Cheers Rob

[oakeswellstudio]

Hi Tommy and Rob,

I have tried to get in touch with Charles Fisher regarding your problems,the point trem has a lifetime warranty ,he is no longer available on any number I have,I have not spoken to him since 2009,his e-mail address is no longer in use..if you need a fulcrum block you can contact me with PM.

Regards Alan

[specky]

Hi Alan
Thanks a lot for going to the trouble of trying to contact Charles Fisher on my behalf -
I will continue messing about and see what happens
Regards
Tommy

[Darryl]

The later Marquees & Cobras are fitted with a vibrato stamped "BURNS LONDON DELUXE"

The marquee I used to own had this type as does my King Cobra Custom & I have/had no problems with tuning.

If it would fit perhaps you can get a complete unit from Barry at Burns.

Regards

Darryl

[bor64]

Hi Alan,

PM send yesterday.

Cheers Rob

[oakeswellstudio]

Hi Rob,
Reply to your PM sent today.

Regards Alan

[sykesr45]

Hello Alan, came across your old post about the retention bar in the Burns Marquee Guitar. Are you still in a position to make one of these. I have had this guitar from new for 18 years aprox, my pronblem started when I put a couple of heavier gauge strings on. The bridge rose up, I took it out and it was bent like a banana, and the pointers had gone backwards bulging the metal out. Sent an EMail to the company that make the retention bar replacement made in steel. I haven't had a reply. Meanwhile I straightened the thing, replaced the wood screws with bolts, and moved the bar back and placed bolt nuts behind it to stop the pointers bending the metal out.That seems to have solved the problem but it is not exactly the ideal way. As I said at the beginning I am interested to know if you are still willing to make one of these retention bars.
Your Richard Sykes
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