Bursting at the seams

I was recently browsing, *ahem* another forum, devoted to Gibson guitars when I came across a thread devoted to the beauty of the sunburst finish, particularly on the so-called vintage era guitars. I thought it might be interesting to see how many members have some burst beauties tucked away in their collections.

When I looked at my own herd I was surprised that I didn't have that many!

1964 Gibson ES330 TD


1984 Westone Spectrum GT


Vantage VA 30N-12 circa 1982


1983 Ovation Collectors Series


So, let's see 'em! Whatchergot?

You've all seen my bursts.... The blueburst Electra Phoenix and Spectrum GT plus the slimeburst APII Urchin.
Call me an anarchist, but burst finishes like Barrys' 330 don't get my juices flowing, and never have, whereas that redburst Spectrum is almost darkened room and tissue material....

Love Bursts!  They're presently my favorite.  

Nothing says "I'm only a guitar but practically my own band member" like a 'burst.

Those are beautiful Barry!  Really like that red burst, don't see many of those around. 




Carvin CT4m in Classic Sunburst


Electra X930 Antique burst of some sort


Electra X240, another antique burst of some sort


Electra X935CS Classic Sunburst


Vantage VT430 Classic Sunburst


Samick SBA460 ts  Tobacco Sunburst



I'd like to have a 1980 or so Gibson Explorer II in a burst, those are amazing.

Wow Chad..... that Samick 460 is stunning, what a great looking guitar, bet it's a real player too

Thanks man, I like it a lot.  The SBA460 was an original for Samick, they didn't make a whole lot of them.  I've only seen one on Ebay in the last 3 years.  Was my first electric, actually from 1998.  It is so weirdly shaped that no one wanted it but me, got it cheap!  Really a great guitar, excellent build quality.  I'll swap pickups one day when the urge hits me hard enough.

Just started checking them out on the web, there's alot of newer stuff around and really well priced but little on the SBA460 , and certainly none for sale. I guess that's one for the bucket list

Samick is one of the world's largest guitar manufacturers, they make guitars for all kinds of company's we all know like Epiphone, Washburn, Hohner, and a whole bunch more, not to mention the tons of major label guitar brands that employed them from the 80's and 90's that I can't remember anymore.  Those brands would hire Samick to make guitars for them and put their names on them.  An old Samick dealer told me that at one time, Samick made most of the world's electric guitars. 

If you find an SBA460, certainly buy it.  Chances are it'll be cheap because they're really obscure.

Many thanks for the heads up Chad, it's now on the radar, cheers fella

poking around the collection i have found a few…

Aria 5102T

Guild Burnside Blade

Kay SG, (crappy pic)

Lyle SG

60's Rickenbacker copy

my own-made Strat, Alder body, maple/rosewood neck, GFS Lipstick pickups

Sigma DC-3, i picked this up at the Martin factory in PA, when i went for tour of the place back in the early 80's. it was in the second-hand shop, although it was new and unplayed. i found a small defect in the finish and i think that is why it was not sold on to a store. there are NO Martin guitar 2nd's, they are destroyed if they do not pass quality control. Sigma guitars of that time were built in Japan, with parts made in the USA factory, then returned to pass thru the exact same quality controls that Martin branded guitars must pass. i suppose this one didn't pass, but was not 'required' to be destroyed. i got lucky, lucky. this thing plays like a dream and sounds fantastic!

here's a few other old japanese guitars…

I've had a few over the years (the geetars were nice, the photos less so...):


1988 Les Paul Custom


2001 Les Paul Studio Plus


1970s Pearl Les Paul Standard copy


1990 Music Man Silhouette


1989 Music Man Stingray 2EQ (the neck was gorgeous on this one!)


1991 Music Man Stingray 2EQ


Wesley Viscount (cheap Ovation knock-off...)

That Kay SG is the bee's knees!

it is an unusual sounding guitar
it has pretty good pickups and the action in really low and smooth
the strings behind the bridge are quite resonant and it almost has a plucky, banjo like tone because of it
the black paint around the trem disguises the body contour which resembles the way a rickenbacker tailpiece is recessed
the pickguard is raised above the body with spacers, it has a nice floral engraving that is wearing off from years of use
i have the 3-way switch tip somewhere, although it is missing in this pic. it has a crack so doesn't stay put
i don't have the original whammy bar. i have the little round "K" badge that goes on the headstock, but the glue dried out and it fell off. aside from those items it is in primo condition.

There's me thinking I didn't have any sunburst guitars, and I forgot about my sweet little Squier '51 that a few years ago I paid the grand sum of £41 for!!!

Westone Corsair Classic

Rainbow II

Richwood Artist series

Westone Thunder I

Westone Prestige

Love that Thunder I!

Damian, what's the story on that Thunder I?
I never saw them finished in a burst or with those speed-knobs other than the owner modified ones (with some stunning results I have to say!) The top seems to have been altered with a veneer too.. did I miss a threat or.. does my memory fail me?    I love it and wouldn't have mind a darker Rosewood on the fretboard but still very beautiful and appealing !!

That Corsair's finish is absolutely stunning too!  

So much to drool over in this thread...

Hey Damian, forgot your dramatic "reveal music"...

I was going to say I have no bursts.

<---- Then I remembered bluebursts - herp derp

jim wrote:Damian, what's the story on that Thunder I?
I never saw them finished in a burst or with those speed-knobs other than the owner modified ones (with some stunning results I have to say!) The top seems to have been altered with a veneer too.. did I miss a threat or.. does my memory fail me?    I love it and wouldn't have mind a darker Rosewood on the fretboard but still very beautiful and appealing !!

That Corsair's finish is absolutely stunning too!  

So much to drool over in this thread...

Here you are jim
http://forum.westoneguitars.net/t2448-thunder-i-rebuild