Burny

Burny is a Japanese guitar brand associated with Fernandes Guitars. It became best known for electric guitars modeled on Gibson instruments, particularly Les Paul-style solid-body guitars, while also producing copies of other historically important designs and, later, instruments with more independent styling. The brand formed part of Fernandes' division of product identities: Burny was generally used for Gibson-inspired instruments, whereas the Fernandes name was more closely associated with Fender-style copies and other guitar lines. Fernandes was established in Japan in 1969. The company initially concentrated on acoustic guitars and moved into electric-guitar production in the latter part of 1973. Burny Les Paul-style models appeared by 1975, placing the brand within the large Japanese market for accurately styled, competitively priced replicas of American guitars. Burny also used its name on 1970s Stratocaster copies, including the Burny Olds and Burny Custom, although the brand's strongest identity remained its Gibson-influenced range. The marque's model history includes instruments sold under FLG designations and, from the beginning of the Revival period around the end of 1980, RLG designations. In a number of models, the numerical portion of the designation reflected the original Japanese retail-price level; an FLG-90, for example, was associated with a 90,000-yen price category. Higher-priced electric guitars increasingly featured VH-1 pickups, designed to evoke the sound and construction of vintage Gibson PAF-style units. Earlier VH-1 examples used handwound construction, alnico magnets and relatively low measured resistance, while later versions differed in magnet material, resistance and wiring details. Burny's instruments were produced through multiple Japanese and overseas original-equipment manufacturers rather than through a single permanent Burny factory. Documented manufacturing partners and facilities associated with different periods include Terada, Tōkai, Kasuga, Matsumoku, Dyna Gakki, FujiGen, Hayashi Gakki, Headway and Yako Musical Instruments. Production characteristics therefore vary considerably by year and model. Burny guitars from the 1980s and 1990s commonly used thin polyurethane finishes and fret-edge binding, while selected higher-end instruments used nitrocellulose lacquer. Construction details, neck joints, hardware and pickup specifications also changed across factories and production periods. The brand developed a following among musicians and collectors because its better Japanese-made models combined familiar vintage-inspired shapes with construction and component specifications that could be attractive relative to equivalent imported American instruments. Players associated with Burny instruments have included Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Hide of X Japan, Mike Clark of Suicidal Tendencies, Robert Fripp of King Crimson, Steve Hackett of Genesis, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Duff McKagan in Loaded, and Andy Latimer of Camel. Fernandes also issued unofficial artist-oriented recreations, including the Randy Rhoads-inspired LC-70RR. In addition to solid-body electric guitars, Burny branding appeared on semi-acoustic and acoustic instruments. The product range later included original designs rather than only replicas, and Fernandes continued to arrange production in Japan and several overseas locations. The company was reported to have shut its doors in 2024, but the available reference material does not establish whether Burny remains an actively marketed brand, is maintained through remaining inventory, or has been formally discontinued. Its current corporate status and post-2024 distribution therefore remain unclear.

Burny emerged from the Japanese guitar business of Fernandes, a company established in 1969. Fernandes began with acoustic instruments and entered electric-guitar production late in 1973. The company used different brand identities to distinguish product families: Burny was principally associated with Gibson-inspired guitars, while Fernandes was more closely linked with Fender-style replicas. This division gave Burny a recognizable place in Japan's extensive market for copies and adaptations of influential American guitar designs. The first Burny Les Paul models appeared in 1975. Early instruments were marketed as close visual and functional interpretations of Gibson's solid-body guitars, and some early headstocks carried a Les Paul model designation that disappeared in 1978. A Super Grade model designation was adopted later, with the change documented around 1981. Model nomenclature also evolved: FLG designations were replaced by RLG designations around the end of 1980 as the Revival-era instruments appeared. Burny's pricing and specifications reflected a tiered Japanese market. The number in some model names corresponded to the original Japanese price category, allowing buyers and later collectors to distinguish instruments by intended level. Higher-priced models received more elaborate construction and electronics. From the mid-1980s, many such models used VH-1 pickups modeled after the tonal concept of Gibson PAF pickups. Early VH-1 units associated with the 1983 design and 1985–1987 production period were handwound and used alnico magnets. Later examples differed in resistance, magnet type, potting and wire covering, making pickup date and construction useful clues when identifying individual instruments. Production was distributed among numerous factories. Terada made several listed Burny models from 1980 to 1981, including FLG-240, FLG-150, FLG-90 and FSA-80 instruments. Kasuga produced RLG-150, RLG-120 and RLG-90 models during part of the 1982–1984 period. Matsumoku made Burny guitars in 1985 and 1986, including instruments using a screw-down bolt-tenon construction also seen on some Aria guitars. Other factories associated with Burny or Fernandes production include Tōkai, Dyna Gakki and FujiGen. Acoustic production also moved between suppliers: earlier Japanese Fernandes/Burny acoustics were associated with Hayashi Gakki, while Headway became involved from 1982. Construction varied by factory and model. Many 1980s and 1990s Les Paul-style guitars used fret-edge binding and thin polyurethane finishes; a smaller number of higher-end instruments used nitrocellulose lacquer. Certain 1970s and 1980s examples used tenon-and-dowel neck joints, while Matsumoku-made instruments used a bolt-tenon approach. These differences are significant to collectors because the Burny name covers instruments from several manufacturing periods rather than one uniform production specification. Although replica guitars remained central, Burny also offered Stratocaster-style instruments such as the Burny Olds and Burny Custom, semi-acoustic models, acoustic guitars and later original designs. Fernandes additionally produced unofficial artist recreations, including the Randy Rhoads-inspired LC-70RR. The brand gained visibility through use by musicians including Steve Jones, Hide, Mike Clark, Robert Fripp, Steve Hackett, Billie Joe Armstrong, Duff McKagan and Andy Latimer. Fernandes arranged production in Japan and overseas markets, including China, Korea, Vietnam and the United States at different times, and did not rely exclusively on company-owned factories. Chinese Burny instruments were associated with Yako Musical Instruments and could be identified by an FG prefix before the serial number on the rear of the headstock. The latest ProSpec one-off instruments from 2020 onward were described as reportedly made in-house, although the extent and continuity of that production are not established here. Fernandes reportedly ceased operations in 2024. Since the available material does not confirm a successor, current Burny production, ownership and official distribution remain unresolved.

1. 2024Fernandes reportedly ceases operations

   Reference material reports that Fernandes shut its doors, leaving Burny's present operating status unclear.

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2. 2020ProSpec one-off production is reported

   The latest ProSpec one-off models are reported to have been made in-house from 2020 onward, although the scale and continuity of this production are not confirmed.

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3. 1985VH-1 pickups become associated with higher-priced models

   Higher-priced Burny electric guitars use VH-1 pickups from approximately this period onward; Matsumoku also produces Burny instruments in 1985–1986.

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4. 1983Early VH-1 pickup design period

   The early VH-1 pickup design associated with later Burny installations is developed, featuring handwinding and alnico magnets.

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5. 1981Super Grade naming appears

   Later Burny headstocks adopt Super Grade model wording, replacing the earlier Les Paul model designation.

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6. 1980Revival-era model nomenclature begins

   Around the end of 1980, FLG model designations begin changing to RLG designations as the Revival-era range develops.

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7. 1978Early Les Paul wording is discontinued

   The early headstock wording identifying certain instruments as Les Paul models is discontinued.

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8. 1975Burny Les Paul models appear

   Burny introduces its first documented Les Paul-style guitars, establishing the core identity of the brand.

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9. 1973Fernandes enters electric-guitar production

   After beginning with acoustic guitars, Fernandes moves into electric-guitar production late in the year.

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10. 1969Fernandes is established in Japan

    Fernandes, the corporate guitar business associated with Burny, is established in Japan.

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Vintage-inspired Japanese guitars combining Gibson- and Fender-influenced designs with varied price tiers, Japanese and overseas OEM production, and selected higher-specification components.

• FLG seriesLes Paul-style electric guitars1975

  The FLG range comprises early Burny Les Paul-style solid-body guitars. Model numbers often reflected the original Japanese price category, and instruments varied by factory, year, finish and electronics. Documented examples include FLG-240, FLG-150 and FLG-90. Some were made by Terada in 1980–1981.

• RLG Revival seriesLes Paul-style electric guitars1980

  The RLG series followed the FLG naming system around the end of 1980 and formed the core of Burny's Revival-era Les Paul-style offerings. RLG-150, RLG-120 and RLG-90 instruments are associated with Kasuga production during 1982–1984. Specifications differ across production runs.

• Burny Olds and Burny CustomStratocaster-style electric guitars

  These 1970s Burny models applied the brand to Stratocaster-style copies. They represent an extension of Burny's product scope beyond its better-known Gibson-inspired instruments and illustrate the overlap between Fernandes' different replica-oriented ranges.

• Super Grade modelsLes Paul-style electric guitars1981

  Super Grade models are later Burny Gibson-inspired guitars identified by the Super Grade wording adopted on the headstock around 1981. Higher-priced examples could include VH-1 pickups, fret-edge binding and more elaborate finishes, although exact specifications depend on the model and factory.

• FSA-80Semi-acoustic guitar1980

  The FSA-80 is a Burny semi-acoustic model associated with the early-1980s Japanese production period. It is among the models identified as having been made by Terada from 1980 to 1981.

• LC-70RRArtist-inspired electric guitar

  The LC-70RR is an unofficial Randy Rhoads-inspired Burny model. It is described as using VH-1 pickups and fret-edge binding, combining an artist-recreation concept with features associated with higher-specification Burny instruments.

• Burny acoustic guitarsAcoustic guitars

  Fernandes used both Fernandes and Burny branding on acoustic guitars. Japanese production before 1982 was associated with Hayashi Gakki, while Headway was associated with production from 1982 onward.

• 2024Fernandes reportedly shuts its doors, leaving Burny's current status uncertain

  Reference material states that Fernandes shut its doors in 2024. Because Burny was a Fernandes brand and no separate post-closure announcement is provided, the present operating and distribution status of Burny cannot be confirmed.

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1. Burny