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Burns Orbit Amplifiers

A few of these turning up these days, but not a lot of service information. They're some of the earliest mainstream transistor guitar amps, and Orbit Twos and Threes can still be had for a few hundred pounds. If you want to be pedantic, the Vibrato effect is actually Tremolo on all Burns equipment.

Just a personal opinion but, interesting (and good sounding) as they are, these are some of the worst examples of mechanical design and assembly you're ever going to see. Think twice if someone says "I've just bought this; can you have a look at it for me." Expect multiple age and corrosion related faults, especially high resistance solder joints, and difficult to find parts.

STILL WORKING ON THIS PAGE

Available initially as a 2 x 10" and later as a 1 x 12"

16"h x 121/2"w x 91/2"d

Advertised output 40watts (British)

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This is misleading. British power ratings were normally rms and this would be the peak power - 20watts rms (see Orbit Three below)

Orbit Two 2 x 10"

Burns Orbit Three

Orbit Three schematics (and new layouts) have moved to HERE

There are four different versions of this unit:

881 and 882 (reverb): 'Orbit Three'  3 x 10"

885 and 886 (reverb): 'Orbit Three Double 12'  2 x 12"

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21"h x 25"w x 10"d     Weight approx 37Ib

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Advertised output power:

60watts. Although it's not specified in the brochure, this is peak power

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Actual measured output power at clipping:

33watts rms into 2 ohms

25watts rms into 4 ohms

Worth noting that, although Burns advertising didn't seem too bothered, the 'Orbit Three Double 12' is not the same as an 'Orbit Double 12' (see below).

882 Orbit Three 3 x 10" with reverb

Channel 1 gets a rotary Bass control instead of the tone selector switch.

An amp that Bert Weedon used and spoke very highly of. His own Double 12 (right) was part of a collection sold at auction by Bonhams, London in 2012.

Photograph courtesy of Bonhams auction house

www.bonhams.com

Available as a 6 x 10" or 3 x 12" with or without reverb.

23"h x 331/4"w x 12"d

Weight (insert large number)

Advertised output power 100watts (British)

This is probably peak power - 50watts rms into 2 ohms

Orbit Six 3 x 12" with reverb

Advertised output power 75watts through 2 x 12" speakers.

Although there were still a lot of Burns versions around, this was the only Orbit in the Baldwin 1966 catalogue. It's a mix and match, transition model using the new Baldwin control panel styling and old Burns cabinet shape.

The speakers have moved around to what used to be the back and you can actually see the controls on stage (at last).

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They can be found, now and again, with light brown cabinet covering and knobs from the Sonic range.

Baldwin Burns Orbit 75