Ampeg Wild Dog EG-1S Jazz Split Sound Model Solid Body Electric Guitar, made by Burns (1964), made in London, England, serial # 4373, red/black sunburst finish, sycamore body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original blue checked tolex hard shell case.
The most popular design from the always-eccentric James Ormston Burns, the Jazz Split Sound is a dark-horse 1960s classic and a very stylish guitar. It is the American export version of the British-made guitar with an Ampeg logo on the pickguard, available in the US for less than two years between late 1963 and early '65. Ampeg was looking for an electric guitar line to complement their popular amplifiers and hooked up with Jim Burns at the 1963 NAMM show. A deal was struck to import a limited selection of re-branded Burns instruments, but the price in the US after transport and duties proved to be a major drawback. Ampeg's catalog listed this guitar listed at $399.50 in 1964, plus $45 for the blue-checked case; a sunburst Stratocaster ran $289.50, plus $52.50 for the case. Guess which one most folks went home with!
The "Jazz Split Sound" was re-named the "Wild Dog EG-1S" in Ampeg catalogs, but the nameplate on the actual guitar remained unchanged. Ampeg advertised the guitars as "Exciting Wild Dog" models, but in the crowded US market the guitars were not much of a success; this model is by far the most commonly seen of the very rare line and was the only one imported in any quantity at all. This one is not date-marked under the pickguard but the serial number dates to that Beatle-crazed year 1964 when any electric guitar was as good as gold. By the time the Burns company was purchased by Baldwin in late 1965, the agreement had already lapsed.
The Jazz Split Sound was Burns' midline instrument; professional class, but less expensive than the more dramatically-styled Black Bison and Hank Marvin signature guitars at the top of the line. Obviously owing a lot to the Stratocaster, the JSS has three "Split Sound" Tri-sonic pickups with a rotary control giving four tone selections including the snarlingly out-of-phase "Wild Dog" and the patented "Split Sound" which combines different half-coils to accentuate bass and treble registers. "Jazz" is the surprisingly deep sounding neck pickup, while "Treble" is the bridge pickup alone, probably the most generally useful sound.
The lavish Burns "Series II" vibrato system incorporates a floating bridge cradle and fully adjustable individual saddles and must rate as one of the best systems of its kind. The short 23 3/8" scale neck is slim and comfortable with a slightly less round feel than a typical Fender. In general instruments from the original Burns London period (1961-65) are extremely well-made, and this rates as a fine-playing guitar with tons of character and a very distinctive sound.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 3/8 in. (594 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a truly superb example of this fairly rare instrument. It remains 100% original and complete with only a little wear and none of the finish checking or cracking common to these guitars. The all-original finish shows some very small dings and dents mostly on the edges and the red color in the sunburst is very strong with virtually no fade. All original parts are present including the oft-missing vibrato arm and bridge cover. It still resides in the original Ampeg blue-checked Tolex case. This is simply the nicest of this model we have ever had, a fine playing and sounding Ampeg/Burns guitar with the "Wild Dog" ready to growl! Overall Excellent Condition.
