Page 1 of 1

Burns Orbit 3 amp

PostPosted: 12 Oct 2013, 08:01
by Billyboygretsch
For some nostalgic reason I purchased a Burns Orbit 3 a while back. It works to an extent and is very loud. Tremolo doesn't work and nothing on the third channel. I also get a lot of hum. Local repair man said fetch it in - easier said than done- on arrival he gave me the garage repair man look and shook his head. I am a bit worried as don't wont a shock and am nervous about using it. Does anyone know of anyone who might specialise in this sort of thing. Needs to be reasonably local to Luton as need to get it there. If not may try to sell it as getting nagged as always in the way and heavy to move

Re: Burns Orbit 3 amp

PostPosted: 12 Oct 2013, 10:59
by JimN
Stewart Ward is your man for anything solid state - but he's in Hampshire. No-one will understand your amp better or do a better job.

PS: I remember Burns Orbit amps as being very light in weight (compared to Vox, Selmer or Fender).

Re: Burns Orbit 3 amp

PostPosted: 12 Oct 2013, 15:42
by Didier
There is a Burns fan who lives in the north of France who have such an amp : http://chtiburnsman.e-monsite.com/album ... hree-1963/

Image

He found it in a flee market and didn't pay much for it, some cleaning was enough to put it back to work !

Didier

Re: Burns Orbit 3 amp

PostPosted: 16 Oct 2013, 12:01
by cockroach
Dear old Bert Weedon used to use one of those...(he was an old friend of Jim Burns)

They would have been one of the earliest transistor guitar amps probably?

Re: Burns Orbit 3 amp

PostPosted: 16 Oct 2013, 12:08
by s4wgb
I had a an orbit 12 some years back and the reverb did not work.
Keith Wastell who worked with Jack Golder (both ex Burns) rewired the reverb unit but it would still not work.
They did say that the transistors came from India & were called Germainum (spelt right?)
I sold it eventually for a Vox.
I later found out that apparently the knobs were the same used on the Burns Bison guitar.
All in all it was a nice amp.

Re: Burns Orbit 3 amp

PostPosted: 20 Oct 2013, 18:20
by Didier
s4wgb wrote:They did say that the transistors came from India & were called Germainum (spelt right?)

Germanium transistors, which were early transistors, superseded by silicon transistors.

Didier