Baldwin 706 (335 copy)

My 706 is cherry red and a genuine one-owner guitar. I bought it new in September '67 as I couldn't afford a Strat or the Burns/Baldwin Marvin model. I paid #67 for it when a new Strat was #165. I had an unpadded gig bag for years then a hard case but I'm now back to a padded gig bag as I'm living in an apartment with little spare space especially as I also now own the matching 704 bass and 712 twelve string - both cherry red and all three hanging on my wall.

As far as features go it's quite basic - tone and volume for each of two single coils, a three-position switch and I had an original Baldwin trem fitted quite early on. Now got straplocks!

I like the 706 sound - it's light and has a 60s vibe that suits me. I now play it through an Epiphone Valve Junior and it punches through a band mix quite nicely (I play rhythm)

The bridge pickup is very bright but the neck can be a bit woolly

I've never had the action adjusted in nearly 40 years. I had the frets dressed twice but that ended up too low for a 50+ years guitarist so the refret (and I presume set-up adjustment) was a blessing.

The necks are beautifully fininshed and well worn in without being worn out!

The 712 bridge has bowed (I reckon the strings used by the previous owner may have been too heavy and strung to tight as there's also a lacquer crack by the post)

Pickups are a bit buzzy sometimes but nothing that worries you in a live band.

I've played the 706 for nearly forty years, generally at home but with quite a few low-key gigs in that time. The original tailpieces (chrome) are a bit pocky now but otherwise everything is in order - even the original machine heads

I've replaced the strap buttone with Schaller straplocks on all three - because the bodies are identical I can swap one strap around all three if I need to

I've always taken a spare for gigs but (touch wood) never had to resort to it. Taking the 706 and the 712 means that I can swap between instruments if I need to

Baldwin no longer do guitars and Burns don't support the semis. I have had a great refret on the 706 from Martyn Booth and work on the 712 by Graham Norden in Denmark Street - he even found an original 712 volume knob in the same condition as the missing one!

Playing since 1962 and apart from the 706, 704 and 712 I own a Burns Custom Shop Double Six in green sunburst. I started in 1962 on a (new!) #5 steel acoustic and progressed to a blonde no-cutaway deep bodied no-name jazzer to which I fitted one neck pickup. I sold that for #12 to part-fund the #65 for the 706.

Bearing in mind that my dad was earning less than #1,000 a year as a senior building estimator in those days (say #30k now) the guitar was the equivalent of around #2,000 in today's money!!!

Over the years I've also had a Mexican Telecaster, a Hank Marvin Strat and an Epiphone 335 but I've always come back to the Baldwin. It's a plug & play guitar

If it were stolen I'd just have to come to terms with it because I couldn't replace it.

1967 Baldwin 706 "Made in England" on back neck plate. In the Model name I called it a "335" copy, that is because it's the same basic set up as a Gibson 335 looks and controls wise AT A GLANCE. Nothing like a Gibson at a closer look. There is not alot of info on the web about Baldwin guitars and most of the info I found says the 706 was quite an interesting guitar. The body, pickups, and "B" tailpiece were made in Italy, while the Neck and everything else was made in England(by the former Burns of London), then shipped to Arkansas,USA to be put together. However Most 706, and 706V(with bigsby like tremelo) say "Made in Italy" on the neck plate. Are the 706's like mine that say made in England the first ones made? Are they completely made at the Burns factory? One thing I do know is that there are alot more that say Made in Italy.(if you have any knowledge please email me) anyway back to the features...Bolt on neck. 2 Humbuckers, Tunomatic bridge. It has what any guitar like this has.

Very unique sound. It has a slight Ric-like "Jangle" but with a bit more jazz tone. Great for Classic Brit, modern Indie rock.

Great action. Neck is kind of big "C" shaped, but fits my hand perfectly. (Maybe not for some one with real small hands)My guitar must have been locked in the closet, or under someones bed since 1970. There is no fret ware and the guitar looks almost unplayed. It does have a few finish cracks, but show me a Burns/Baldwin that doesnt. The European guitar makers used a polyesther finish that cracks look at any Vox, EKO, and you'll know what I mean. Would be a 9-10 if not for the clear coat.

This is a nice well made guitar. These guitars cost more than a strat in 1967. The were in the same price range as Gibson. It's not a student guitar like alot of other European guitars were. The 706 was the low end of the Burns/Baldwin line, but mostly on cosmetics. Doesnt feel "cheap" in your hands like alot of 60's Jap/Euro/Entry-level hollowbodys do. Never giged with, but I would if I was currently in a band. Never play a show with out a backup guitar. Ever break a string?

Baldwin doesnt own Burns anymore, and the old Burns company doesnt exist.They dont make them anymore. I did email the current Burns of London on a saturday night and They emailed me back on sunday!!!Eventhough he didnt have hardley any info on the 706 they seem to be a commited company.

Been playing for 9 years, I currently own 29 guitars and have sold about 10 others. I have high end and low end. Gibson, Ric, Fender, DeArmond, Vox, Harmony, Kay, Ovation etc... I like this guitar it feels good, sounds goods, looks goods and is easy to play. Can you ask for anything more? Would I buy another if lost or stolen...if the price was right YES. These things are starting to get quite expensive in the vintage market.