Burny

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Burny is a range of Gibson replica guitars produced by Fernandes Japan.

1 History
2 Characteristics
3 Serial Numbers
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] History

Fernandes was established in 1969 in Japan. The Burny brand was used for the Gibson replicas and the Fernandes brand was used for the Fender replicas. At first Fernandes made Acoustic guitars and around 1971/1972 also started making electric guitars. The Burny Les Paul models first appeared in the mid 1970s. Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols has used Burny guitars as has Hideto Matsumoto from X Japan and Robert Fripp of King Crimson and Steve Hackett of Genesis have used Fernandes Guitars.

[edit] Characteristics

The original selling price in Japanese Yen is often included in the model number for example FLG-90 = 90000 Japanese Yen. The higher priced Burny electric guitars had VH-1 Gibson PAF like pickups installed from 1985 onwards. The early VH-1 pickups starting from 1983 (installed in Burnys from 1985) are approximately 7.5 kΩ DC resistance and are handwound and have an alnico magnet. The VH-1 pickups from 1987 and after are approximately 8.2 kΩ DC resistance and have a ceramic magnet and are not wax potted.

The higher end Burny guitars have fret edge binding and most models were finished with a thin polyurethane finish with only a few high end models having nitrocellulose lacquer finishes. The FLG-240, FLG-150, FLG-90 Les Paul models and the FSA-80 Semi Acoustic model were made by Terada from 1980-1981 and the RLG-150, RLG-120, RLG-90 models were made by Matsumoku from 1982-1986. Some Burny guitars from the 1970s/1980s had a tenon and dowel neck joint similar to what was used on some Greco guitars. Some Burny guitars from the 1980s had a Matsumoku bolt tenon that was also used on many Matsumoku made Aria guitars.

The early Burny Les Paul models had a "Les Paul model" logo on the headstock which was later changed to a "Super Grade model" logo in 1981. The FLG-XX Burny models are from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s and the RLG-XX Burny models are from the early 1980s onwards. Burny have made signature models such as the Randy Rhoads LC-75RR with VH-1 pickups and fret edge binding. Fernandes have also made Acoustic guitars using the Fernandes and Burny brand names. Fernandes currently have guitars made in Japan, Korea and China. Fernandes do not have their own guitar manufacturing factories and rely on OEM guitar manufacturers to make guitars for them.

The Japanese Burny solid body models were made by Terada in the 1970s and then by Tōkai in the late 1970s and then by Terada (FLG models) in the early 1980s and then by Matsumoku (most RLG models) [1] and FujiGen (most RLC models) [2] from the early 1980s up until the late 1980s and then by FujiGen from the early 1990s to the mid 1990s. FujiGen were not making many set neck guitars in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Tokai currently make the Japanese made Burny guitars. Atlansia have supplied body and neck parts for Fernandes/Burny [3] and Santai [4] have also worked with Fernandes. Fernandes/Burny Japanese Acoustics up till 1982 were made by Hayashi Gakki and from 1982 by Headway [5]. Chinese Burnys are currently made by Yako (Taiwan).

[edit] Serial Numbers

Burny guitars from the early 1980s to the early 1990s do not generally have serial numbers. When Burny guitars do have serial numbers then usually the first number stands for the year. The Tokai made Burny guitars from the late 1970s have Tokai Serial Numbers. The Terada made Burny guitars from the 1970s and early 1980s have a serial number format of YXXXX, Y=year, XXXX=production number. From the early 1990s, Burny guitars have a serial number format of YXXXX, Y=year, XXXX=production number printed in the pickup cavities and not on the back of the headstock.

Dating for Burny models can also roughly be done by noting the differences in the truss rod cover designs. Burny models from the 1970s to the late 1980s have a Gibson style bell shaped truss rod cover. From the late 1980s to the mid 1990s the truss rod cover is Christmas tree shaped. From the mid 1990s the truss rod cover is dome shaped with 3 screws. Japanese Burny models with 3 screw truss rod covers are the RLG-90 and higher models. The price is in the model number (RLG-90 = 90000 Japanese Yen).