I got this one from my friend, and after bit long time Googling , i think this is the Japanese copy bass ( having the Burns logo but but i think it was bit modified )
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Help detecting this Japanese bass
- Thread starter imme9x
- Start date
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
*my bass sense is tingling
I can definitely detect it.
I can definitely detect it.
I detect it’s one of those awful catalog guitars that was sold to parents who weren’t sure their kid would “stick with it”.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It's awesome! One of the "non-reverse" Thunderbird referenced designs from late 60's Japan. Same tuners were on many basses of many different badges then.
Pretty cool, throw some strings on it. set it up and see how it sounds and plays, looks like a non reverse Thunderbird.
Yeah first i though it was Burns but seem like the previous owner has modified it to be *Burns* 
i'm not sure if Burns made this kind of bass ~ non-reverse Thunderbird...also the pickup position is quite weird
i'm not sure if Burns made this kind of bass ~ non-reverse Thunderbird...also the pickup position is quite weird 
The Burns brand produced in Japan in the 1960s had nothing whatsoever to do with Mr Jim Burns of London or his illustrious company. This 'Bird was, perchance, made by Tombo, and seems a pretty rare specimen for what it is.
Another logo was used on "Burns" violin basses:
Another logo was used on "Burns" violin basses:
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Never seen kind of brand name before, Googling about Burns Japanese instrument or Burns bass mostly returned the info of Jim Burns London instead of this Japanese thing. Thanks a lot for your info. Looks like it's really cool stuff
Yeah first i though it was Burns but seem like the previous owner has modified it to be *Burns*
Youre right, could just be a glue job
Logo looks about right, actually.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
In another auction, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] the seller mentions that he's heard that Teisco produced Burns guitars in the 1960's for the domestic Japanese market (maybe similar to Fender Japan's deal?) but that he's not sure of that.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
In another auction, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] the seller mentions that he's heard that Teisco produced Burns guitars in the 1960's for the domestic Japanese market (maybe similar to Fender Japan's deal?) but that he's not sure of that.
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This is really helpful information. I looked over the logo on these auctions and see they're same with this bass, so maybe this is not *glue* work 
Yeah, I think it’s legit. A quick search for Burns, Japanese-made, and guitar or bass *in Japanese* shows a pile of instruments with that logo and the other one cdef posted dating to the early 60’s. Some have Teisco on the neck plate, some don’t. That’s all I can tell for sure.
It also seems like in Japan, the British Burns company is referred to as “Burns London"
It also seems like in Japan, the British Burns company is referred to as “Burns London"
I happen to be playing tonight with a guy who’s a real expert on Japanese guitars, he said it’s true, that the guitars were made in agreement with Burns, to be sold in Japan. Ones made by Matsumoko had a smaller neck plate, ones made later by Fujigen had a neck plate more like a typical Fender size. You’ve got an early 60’s Matsumoko made Burns, if I understood right.
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That's awesome. i think this one like Matsumoko since the neck is quite smaller than the fender size. Could be the early 60s Matsumoko Burns
