Whitstable Guitars
A selection of good quality, used guitars and specialising in imports from Japan since 2008
1990's Fernandes/Burny Japan RLC-70-60 Les Paul Custom Black & new hard case
£759.00 + shipping
JAPAN IMPORT
Here we have a Japanese Fernandes Burny Les Paul Custom from 1991-1993. Japanese Burny guitars are really highly rated. A quick google search will tell you that.
The Burny RLC-70-60 is basically a Les Paul Custom featuring Gold hardwear, bound body, neck & headstock and featuring it's original VH-1 pickups which are very sought after. If you look in the gallery photos, the VH-1 stickers are still on the pickups although you can only just make out the lettering. The finish on this guitar is supposed to be polyurethane but the lacquer looks more like I have seen on old Nitro finished guitars. Maybe someone can correct me?
This guitar has been used in its 30+ year life and there is tarnishing to the gold hardwear. The bridge & stop tailpiece are pitted and the pickup covers are also tarnished. Most of the screws on the pickup surrounds that would have originally been gold are now black but everything still functions and the guitar is all original apart from the strap buttons which were replaced recently and the pickguard which was missing when it came in. I have added a generic one which is a reasonable fit. The body of the guitar has numerous chips and scrapes from honest use but the frets are good and it plays and sounds amazing
Here is some information I obtained about this model from Japan:
The Les Paul Custom RLC was featured in the '80s and '90s, and was reintroduced towards the end of Fernandes' life.
It was in the '80s as the RLC-60'60 MODEL, and in '89 the headstock inlay was made the same as this instrument's, and in '90 it was refined as the RLC-65'60 MODEL with changed pickups.
It was renamed the RLC-70'60 MODEL in '91, but disappeared from the catalog in '93. With its all-mahogany body and mahogany top, it exudes a unique character that can't be found in a simple Les Paul copy. Even at this price point, features such as over-fret binding and a vintage-inspired 17-degree headstock angle are testaments to Fernandes' commitment and advanced technical expertise.
About Fernandes/Burny
Burny is a sub-brand of Fernandes Guitars. Initially used on their range of Gibson replica guitars produced by Fernandes Guitars. The Fernandes company was established in 1969 in Japan. Its Burny brand was used for the Gibson replica guitars while the Fernandes brand was used for the Fender replica guitars. Fernandes initially made acoustic guitars and started making electric guitars in late 1973. The Burny Les Paul models first appeared in 1975. Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols has used Burny guitars as has Robert Fripp of King Crimson, Steve Hackett of Genesis and Billie Joe of Green
I have had to do a bit of research on this guitar and Japanese Burny guitars were built at both the Fujigen & Terada factories like Orvilles were. Some Fujigen built ones had no serial numbers or they were in the pickup cavities, under the tuning pegs or other unusual places. As you can see in the gallery, there is no serial number on this guitar & the only way to date it is by the production dates.
A quick google search of this model shows them being advertised at around the £1000-£1200 mark. That seems a little excessive to me and I would compare it to an Orville or OBG of the same period and I have priced it accordingly
These guitars were only ever made in small numbers making them quite scarce & sought after, particularly outside of Japan.
1991-1993 Fernandes/Burny Japan Les Paul RLC-60-70 Specifications
Body:
Non-weight relieved body
Mahogany body with a Mahogany top
Weight 4.23kg
Neck: Mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
17 degree headstock angle
2-screw bell truss rod cover
Bone nut
Scale Length 24.75"
Width at 1st fret 42 mm
Width at 12th fret 52 mm
Black 3ply Pickguard
Electronics:
GOTOH VH-1 humbuckers
7.84k Neck & 7.76k Bridge
2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
3-way selector switch
Hardware:
Gold coloured hardware
GOTOH Japan enclosed tuners
SG bridge F3107
Black speed knobs
Colour: Black
New Generic fitted hard case.
All in all it's an excellent guitar from the Fujigen factory in Japan that you probably won't find here in the UK
Hard Case Policy
As said many times, all my guitars come shipped in a new black hard case which is included in the price. I find this is the safest way to avoid damage in transit. This case is a new one from Thomann in Germany. Alternatively, if you are collecting the guitar and, like some buyers have cases coming out of their ears, that's no problem, I'll adjust the price (usually around a £50 discount) and I can usually find you an old gigbag to take the guitar away in. The only hard and fast rule I have is that I won't ship a guitar in a gigbag.
If you are further interested in this guitar, you can either email me with any queries & I'll do my best to get back to you within 24 hours.
Or, you can buy quickly and safely using the PayPal "buy now" button and I will ship to most UK addresses the next working day. Highlands and Islands can be slightly dearer but I'll keep the cost as low as I can.
I can accept credit card payments by phone and will also offer a small discount to purchasers using bank transfer payments.
Overseas customers are very welcome but please email me first for shipping quotes.
