Burns Shadows 2005 Tour Guitars – UK 2005

Here is a set of Burns Shadows Custom Limited Edition guitars, created in 2005 to commemorate The Shadows’ European Farewell Tour. Designed and built by Burns London under Barry Gibson, these instruments were produced in extremely limited numbers for Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, and Mark Griffiths, and represent a rare intersection of British guitar history, iconic stage use, and bespoke luthiery.

These guitars were commissioned specifically for the 2005 tour, with three matching Fiesta Red instruments built for stage use and later returned to Burns after the tour concluded. Each instrument was then preserved in storage before being sold as a matched set to a dedicated collector. The set includes the “Prototype Hank 2,” “Prototype Bruce,” and “Mark Griffiths Shadows Bass,” all of which were used nightly during the tour and remain in outstanding preserved condition.

Each guitar features a select American alder body, Canadian hard rock maple neck, and Indian rosewood fingerboard with a 25.5" scale length for classic Fender-style feel and response. They are fitted with Burns Rez-o-Matic single-coil pickups, delivering clear, articulate tones closely associated with The Shadows’ signature sound. The Burns Rez-o-Tube tremolo system provides smooth vibrato action, while gold hardware and gloss Fiesta Red finishes complete the vintage-inspired aesthetic.

A key historical detail is the provenance of these instruments, with documentation from Barry Gibson confirming their use throughout the 2005 tour. They are also accompanied by promotional and tour photographs showing the band performing with these exact guitars, including signed material from Hank Marvin. Most notably, they retain their original tour-fitted strings, adding a rare and direct physical connection to their stage history.

Condition across the set is effectively as new, having been carefully stored since the tour and preserved in their original Burns hard shell cases with tour stickers intact.

Specifications: 

Year: 2005
Country: UK
Model: Burns Shadows Custom Limited Edition (Prototype set)
Finish: Fiesta Red
Body: Select American Alder
Neck: Canadian Hard Rock Maple
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Scale: 25.5"
Pickups: Burns Rez-o-Matic Single Coils
Bridge: Burns Rez-o-Tube Tremolo
Case: Original Burns Hardcase (tour stickers)