Baldwin - Burns GB 65 Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1965), made in London, England, natural polyester finish, mahogany body, flamed sycamore top, hard shell case.
The GB 65 is one of the rarest and most unusual Burns guitars. This model was in production for just over a year from 1965-66 and was one of the first instruments discontinued by Baldwin after they fully took over the company's operation. This is a flat-topped fully hollow body guitar with two pickups, eccentrically shaped soundholes, and a long 25 1/2" scale neck.
The heavily braced cutaway mahogany body was called the "Controlled Resonance" design by the company; this concept was continued with the somewhat better known "Virginian" guitar with a round soundhole introduced later in the year. Jim Burns himself was extremely proud of this creation, which was unlike most guitars in existence in 1965. The guitar handles very well and the sound is quite bright and clear for a full-size hollow instrument. While the GB 65 appears to have been an evolutionary dead end, we can't help but notice the similarity of the new Taylor electrics recently introduced!
Overall length is 42 1/2 in. (108 cm.), 16 3/8 in. (41.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
Overall a nice playing example; very heavy finish checking typical of many Baldwin-era Burns instruments but no major finish loss. The knobs are not original and the bridge is an aluminum Bigsby unit re-worked to resemble the original Burns fitting. The headpiece name-plate is a somewhat amateur reproduction but looks okay. Plays and sounds excellent and is a surprisingly good-feeling and interesting-sounding guitar. Very Good + Condition.
