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Now this I do find interesting...

I was watching Top of the Pops 1977 last night on BBC4 and the first band on the show was called 'HANK THE KNIFE AND THE JETS'. Interesting in itself. They did a song called 'Guitar King'. Although it didn't seem particularly 'Shadowy' the lead singer was playing what looked to me like an original white/black Burns Marvin. The first time I have seen anyone other than the Shads playing one. Strange, eh?

Just thought I'd mention it...

There used to be a solo artiste doing the northern clubs under the name Marvin Burns.

He played a mid-sixties scroll-head Burns Bison...

Many thanks, BTW. I've managed to set my recorder for the repeat, using the Sky+ app on my iPad, all from the breakfast table here in the USA.

drakula63 wrote:Now this I do find interesting...

I was watching Top of the Pops 1977 last night on BBC4 and the first band on the show was called 'HANK THE KNIFE AND THE JETS'. Interesting in itself. They did a song called 'Guitar King'. Although it didn't seem particularly 'Shadowy' the lead singer was playing what looked to me like an original white/black Burns Marvin. The first time I have seen anyone other than the Shads playing one. Strange, eh?

Just thought I'd mention it...

Hank the Knife's real name is Henk Bruysten and he comes from Arnhem, Gelderland, The Netherlands, just a couple of miles or rather kilometres away from where I live. Me and my father have seen them multiple times. They have had about three or four hits, the most famous being "Guitar King" as you mentioned, "Stan The Gunman" these both first issued in 1975, "Yesterday Star", issued in 1976 and I think another one, but can't remember at the moment. One of Hank the Knife's first singles he bought was The Shadows' "Wonderful Land". He used to play guitar in Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers who had a hit with "Do You Remember?", which is a medley of some of the biggest rock 'n' roll hits from the 1950's and 1960's, combined with the selfwritten chorus "Do You Remember?". After that, in 1974 he formed Hank the Knife & The Jets, the last name and heavy low lead guitar sound both inspired by Jet Harris. The lead singer/bass guitarist/co-composer of the group was Pierre Beek, who sadly died on May 24th, 2009, just 63 years old.

Thanks for that interesting information. I couldn't believe that all the coincidental elements were just that, a mere coincidence, and you have confirmed it. I know that the Shadows were particularly popular in the Nederlands and I guess their influence inspired many Dutch guitarists and bands in the 60s.

The bass player of the Searchers (Frank Allen) used a Burns bass for a while, (around 1965/66 period) i can't find any photos on the internet though.
Would like to know his comments on it though!

RE: Hank the Knife - and what about the white Fender Bass VI!!

RE: Frank Allen - "Then came the most memorable set of guitars - a matching set of white Burns instruments, almost the first off the line. Frank's Bison bass had enormous horns forming the cut-away and the instrument seemed to dwarf him. John's and Mike's guitars were neater and better proportioned. Burns supplied not only the bass and six-stringed guitars, but also the twelve-string models which by now had become a Searchers trademark. A couple of the twelve-strings were in a green sunburst finish. A photograph of the group using the set of Burns guitars appeared in a paperback book on the history of Burns instruments. Although they persevered with them for a while, they did not find them to their liking, and soon switched to other makes." (from http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/guitars.htm which also has a photo of the all Burns lineup )

George

I've just had a look at the Searchers website and indeed there is Frank's Bison. Look on the other side though, what a strange Burns! It looks a bit like a Marvin but with a different headstock, and without the trademark split scratchplate.

http://youtu.be/Jws-u3T9XqQ

Spotted on you-tube.

Uncle Fiesta wrote:I've just had a look at the Searchers website and indeed there is Frank's Bison. Look on the other side though, what a strange Burns! It looks a bit like a Marvin but with a different headstock, and without the trademark split scratchplate.

Burns Jazz - don't often see them in white though..usually in burst finishes. I would think there were more of these sold in the 60s than the Marvin.