Rare Collection of Supersound Guitars Found in British Basement, British Jim Burns, Alan Wootton

Gibson.com ^ | April 15, 2009 | Gabriel J. Hernandez

[Son House]

A rare collection of British-made Supersound guitars has been found in the basement of a house in the U.K., according to a report from the BBC.

The Supersound brand of guitars resulted from a collaboration between noted British luthiers Jim Burns and Alan Wootton during the late 1950s. Burns, of course, went on to produce guitars played by such notable musicians as Queen’s Brian May, Andy Bell of Oasis, and others.

The collection of 12 Supersound guitars appears to be one of the most definitive – and important – examples of a fairly undocumented period of British guitar-making history.

“In nearly 50 years of playing, working on and writing about the electric guitar, this is the first time I have actually seen one Supersound instrument, let alone 12,” Paul Day, author of The Burns Book, told the BBC. “These are among the earliest electric guitars and basses from any British builder and therefore comprise an important, but hitherto virtually unknown chapter in UK guitar-making history.”

The guitars were purchased by Guy Mackenzie from an unidentified “owner” who’d originally purchased the instruments from Wootton’s son several years ago. The guitars had remained in an “untouched’ state ever since.

“I don't actually play, but I just love them in the same way that people collect old paintings even though they can't paint,” Mackenzie told the BBC. “As soon as I tracked down these ultra-rare instruments – apparently some of the very first made by U.K. legend Jim Burns – I just had to meet the owner.”

No word yet on Mackenzie’s plans for the rare instruments.

[Son House]

My antique amp is the Gibson Skylark similar to this, only not the tremolo feature, garage sale $8, the lady played it in church, the Gibson decal had broke off and I found it in pieces in a baggie stuck in the back of the amp

[Son House]

Jimi Burns Guitar

[vetvetdoug]

Most important player of the Burns IMO was Elvis. His Burns is on display at Graceland. Elvis played it a lot. Ironic, since he access to just about any guitar he could have wanted.

[Mr_Moonlight]

My first guitar 'amplifiers' were a bunch of old tube radios and such picked up at yard sales during the late 60's ... remember they all had that *AUX* RCA-type input? Well, thats where I plugged the darn thing into :)

And what a huge noise those beasts made too(!) ... sometimes I'd daisy chain two or more of 'em and the audio output would become so loaded down that there would actually be a *delay* in what I was playing and what eventually came out of the speakers ... cool stuff for a 9 year old in the 60's :)

Of course I got my fair share of electrical shocks too, but somehow wasn't killed by 'em ... ahhh, those were the days as a kid ..... /laughs

[Mr_Moonlight]

Greatest single live performance in Rock history ... Jimi at Monterey ... otherwise, The Who at Woodstock is a close 2nd :)

[Drew68]

My first guitar 'amplifiers' were a bunch of old tube radios and such picked up at yard sales during the late 60's ... remember they all had that *AUX* RCA-type input? Well, thats where I plugged the darn thing into :)

LOL! Brings back memories.

I discovered that by plugging into the input of my tape deck, simultaneously pressing 'record', 'play' and 'pause' and cranking the record level, I could get distortion! I had a homemade "stack" consisting of a Teac tape player plugged into a Marantz receiver into a Radio Shack power amp and finally into four Pioneer home stereo speakers. That sucker was LOUD!!!

Those days were a long time ago. Now I've got a proper guitar amplifier.

[Drew68]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't May always brag about how his guitar, (or at least the one used during Queen's early years), was completely hand built by his own hands in his father's workshop?

The first "Red Special" was indeed a father/son project. Since then, May has worked with several manufacturers including Burns (UK) and Guild (USA) in designing commercially available reproductions of his iconic homemade guitar.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Thanks much for the ping!

I’d have to bet those guitars look better than they play or sound, but I appreciate the historical moment.

[vetvetdoug]

In 1968 I made a fuzz by hooking into a Webcor Reel to Reel mic input and doing the same. I had a cheap lipstick pickup DanElectro. Now I play a Les Paul electric and a Taylor 910...and have a propper Delta Blues Fender amp.

[Son House]

Speaking of guitar players, the one from Loudness is one of my favorites;

LOUDNESS / StreetWoman / LonelyPlayer / AngelDust
25TH ANNIVERSARY LOUDNESS LIVE AT INTERNATIONAL FORUM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPMsip0QUSU

Loudness - Run For Your Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3zbYtiLzw4

[Liberty Valance]

Here's a Hofner 175.
Gotta love that tremelo arm :o)