Project Vista Sonic (rut row, JIO's at it again!)

[JIO]

Strange I never noticed that, but I just checked and you're right. It feels like a significantly larger bass, and it fits perfectly in a long scale case that once held a Rickenbacker. Except for the E string, the silks on the long scale Roto Tru Bass fit it just fine.

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I know different brands have different winding lengths.

Yes, the import tariff killed any chance Ampeg may have had of selling significant numbers of these. The guitars aren't common, either, but there are many more of those that turn up on the market.

I ordered the medium scale D'Addario's. You can see on your bass that they are long - most times the string wrap is just past the nut, and the wrap on the E string is around the peg.

 

[JIO]

The reason I was questioning med-scale strings had to do with my med-scale (32") Calabrone. Back when I made it I ordered med-scale strings for it and they were too short. However, reconsidering it in retrospect - my string-thru design added inches to the med-scale formula by its exiting at the lower bout. The Vista Sonic is 1/2" shorter at 31.5", and the strings end at the bent-plate bridge. In this regard, med-scale strings should be perfect and even better in my favorite brand/type.

 

[farace]

I'll be watching to see what the verdict is on the strings. I'm in no hurry to replace mine; my Rics are my main basses in my jazz band, and I just finished a one-off zydeco band/gig where I committed to using my Guild/Ashbory (fun!). So I can wait and benefit from your experience.

 

[JimmyM]

The reason I was questioning med-scale strings had to do with my med-scale (32") Calabrone. Back when I made it I ordered med-scale strings for it and they were too short. However, reconsidering it in retrospect - my string-thru design added inches to the med-scale formula by its exiting at the lower bout. The Vista Sonic is 1/2" shorter at 31.5", and the strings end at the bent-plate bridge. In this regard, med-scale strings should be perfect and even better in my favorite brand/type.

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I agree with this. But dang...50 G? What are you? Superman???

 

[JIO]

I agree with this. But dang...50 G? What are you? Superman???

My first foray into heavier guage strings was after getting a free set from D'Addario of their NYXL's when they first came out. I just really liked their strings and have been using them since. My recently completed Scarab Deluxe Bass has their newest "XT" set on it. (50-105) I have a pretty light touch and my string action is set moderately low. I also have big mitts. But aside from feel, I like all the strings including the G string to be beefier in tone. I've been gravitating to mid-centric tone basses so I get the "beef" through the strings and my amps.

 

[farace]

My first foray into heavier guage strings was after getting a free set from D'Addario of their NYXL's when they first came out. I just really liked their strings and have been using them since. My recently completed Scarab Deluxe Bass has their newest "XT" set on it. (50-105) I have a pretty light touch and my string action is set moderately low. I also have big mitts. But aside from feel, I like all the strings including the G string to be beefier in tone. I've been gravitating to mid-centric tone basses so I get the "beef" through the strings and my amps.

How do the XTs compare to the XLs and NYXLs? I have used XLs as my fall-back string for many years. Got a set of NYXLs early on by trading in Player Points, and for my purposes they're way too bright and sproingy (I have them on my 1982 AVRI '57 Precision with Seymour Duncan Hot P-Bass pickup).

 

[JIO]

How do the XTs compare to the XLs and NYXLs? I have used XLs as my fall-back string for many years. Got a set of NYXLs early on by trading in Player Points, and for my purposes they're way too bright and sproingy (I have them on my 1982 AVRI '57 Precision with Seymour Duncan Hot P-Bass pickup).

The XT's seem to sound a bit bright but they are new - I think the main difference is longevity. (X-tra length of wear) Personally I've never felt the NYXL's were too bright - I originally put them on my '93 American Standard J (w/Nordy pu's) and then on my '64 T-bird (buckers) and they both sound great. I mostly use the BT (balanced tension) nickel strings but for me standard nickel XL's are also good.

 

[farace]

Some of my favorite D'Addario strings end up getting discontinued. I liked the copper-coated XL Reds in the '80s (used them on the '78 Ric 4001 I had then), but they turned my fingers black. Then they discontinued them. Then they came out with the coated EXP Reds, which didn't quite have the same sound, but solved the patina problem. Then they discontinued them. I use them on my '83 Ric and have a small stash squirreled away.

 

[JIO]

Some of my favorite D'Addario strings end up getting discontinued. I liked the copper-coated XL Reds in the '80s (used them on the '78 Ric 4001 I had then), but they turned my fingers black. Then they discontinued them. Then they came out with the coated EXP Reds, which didn't quite have the same sound, but solved the patina problem. Then they discontinued them. I use them on my '83 Ric and have a small stash squirreled away.

Some strings do the black fingers thing at first, but eventually it tapers off. Never had it continue beyond break-in period. I used GHS strings before switching to D'Addario's - still like their Progressives and Precision flats.

 

[farace]

Some strings do the black fingers thing at first, but eventually it tapers off. Never had it continue beyond break-in period. I used GHS strings before switching to D'Addario's - still like their Progressives and Precision flats.

I only ever had it with the original XL Reds. They were copper-coated, and not only did they turn my fingers black, they built up a greenish-black grime on the strings, enough that I started to wrongly suspect my then-girlfriend's housemate's boyfriend, who was a mechanic, of playing my bass with dirty hands when I wasn't around. But it wasn't him, it was the copper reacting to my then-youthful body chemistry. Decades later I found an NOS set of XL Reds on eBay and put them on a Precision. They no longer reacted like that.

 

[Dynacord]

I only ever had it with the original XL Reds. They were copper-coated, and not only did they turn my fingers black, they built up a greenish-black grime on the strings, enough that I started to wrongly suspect my then-girlfriend's housemate's boyfriend, who was a mechanic, of playing my bass with dirty hands when I wasn't around. But it wasn't him, it was the copper reacting to my then-youthful body chemistry. Decades later I found an NOS set of XL Reds on eBay and put them on a Precision. They no longer reacted like that.

Remember those well - and the discoloration of both fingers and the strings themselves. Talk about BRIGHT strings! When the now super popular TI Jazz Flats were first more widely made available in the US in the 90's they would also blacken fingers (and leave trace metal dust on pickup polepieces). Learned quickly to clean them with alcohol when new. They obviously fixed that.

 

[JIO]

Knobs arrived - pretty much exactly the same as an original BURNS knob w/o the "dot" on the rotary knob. A matching size drill bit and a dab of black paint solved that. These are found on eBay for less than (the exact same thing) sold by BURNS. (currently available) As the BURNS company has been reinstated in Norway, some new parts are available. The Tri-Sonic guitar pu's (not sure about bass pu's) can be found on eBay coming from China, and there's a company doing some BURNS scratch-plates. (minus BURNS engraving) The newer BURNS guitars/basses look similar but have upgraded bridges and electronics. And no complicated truss-rod mechanism. As the company has been bought and sold a number of times over many years, their output is more about re-issuing than innovating anything new.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Haven't traced the whole harness out yet, but it looks like the transformers are in fact used for impedance matching for two of the switch positions. Over engineer much?

 

[JIO]

Haven't traced the whole harness out yet, but it looks like the transformers are in fact used for impedance matching for two of the switch positions. Over engineer much?

This is what Jim Burns was known for.

 

[Jon Clegg]

This is what Jim Burns was known for.

To quote Dr. Raymond Stantz: "The architect was either a certified genius or an authentic wacko!"

 

[Matt Liebenau]

To quote Dr. Raymond Stantz: "The architect was either a certified genius or an authentic wacko!"

It’s a very, very fine line!

 

[JIO]

To quote Dr. Raymond Stantz: "The architect was either a certified genius or an authentic wacko!"

It’s a very, very fine line!

Reading about the man, he was an eccentric person "living large" - an idea man that got people around him to help create his vision. At 18 (1940s) he joined the RAF employed as a fitter. There (in Africa) he made a guitar "from nothing but sheer ingenuity and RAF materials. For instence, a bar magnet from an aero engine and a coil with thirteen dry joints wrapped in toilet paper was used to make a pick-up." Like Leo Fender he started out building his own Hawaiian guitar in 1952. But he was very different from Leo Fender who was more of a 9-5 meat & potato's pocket pen-protector guy. Jim Burns was a cigar smoking nightlife person who slept a good part of the day. There were few technical drawings - new designs were drawn on scraps of paper and paper nightclub napkins. He'd be by the side of the (wood) shaper drawing revisions in pencil on the body until it was "just right".

James Ormston Burns (on left) - and Leo Fender, pocket protecter and all.

 

[JIO]

Check out this '62 Burns Sonic Bass. 29.5" scale, 20 fret sycamore fb and crude metal adjustable bridge. '60-'61 models had a floating wood bridge. It was sold as a beginners model. Used the same Tri-Sonic pu's as on the Vista Sonic. Scratchplate was vacuum-formed by an outside source - the etched engravers plate version became their standard (in house) in late '61.

Not sure if it's set-neck or one piece. Very fluid lines on this little thumper.

Interesting resolution of the hs into neck. I could see visiting this concept - may provide a bit more beef for the E (or B) string.

This bass was played!

Not sure if the neck was stained or made of a different wood than the fb.

 

[JIO]

1965 Burns factory insight with cheeky (condescending) British voice-over; "...all this to make a bedlam of adolescent noise" Note they spray a couple of trans-red bodies.

 

[JIO]

From '64 - The Shadows with matching Burns guitars - the bass most favored then was the Bison Bass - HUGE and heavy... but kinda' cool looking in its extravagance and fitting to the name in black.

The white one being played by Jet Harris in this vid was called the "Shadows Bass" which was a signature model based on the Model 519 "Split Sound Bass" and companion of the "Marvin" guitar, which Hank Marvin is playing. The Shadows were an instrumental band - this show was them supporting the singer. (not in the band)