the Burns Orbit SIX was possibly the biggest Combo amplifier on the market during the 60´s. With its power of no less then 80 watt´s thrue either 6 x 10" ELAC-Burns Orbital or 3 x 12" FANE-Burns Orbital spekers it was a true beast!
Three channels where one of them was intended for use with a bassguitar.
Up until a few week´s ago Ihav´nt seen any of those amp´s, and as far as I know the Swedish importer of Burns at the time "Boosey & Hawks" never sold a SIX.
My amp come´s from Brittain and me freind Bill. But what was its story before that. Another fellow in UK had it for a year or two, without ever using it, until Bill took it over. But before that? Who had the need of such a huge powerful amp during that time, and who could afford it? Thousand´s of questions pop up in me head. Is it possible to find an answer?
So the restorationwork on me SIX contintued. Everything electronic was set back to original standard, and the amp really show´d it´s hidden potential. The outside of the cabinet was not good at all. It was RoadWorn!! Looked like shit. Parts of the black nagahyde was slized, but could be glued back. Lower front looked extremly bad and a new strip of similar material was glued and rivetted in place. Suddenly it started to look at least fair.
Biggest problem to solve was the green cloth in front of the speakers. I already knew that it would be impossible to find the same aluminium mesh that once was original so after consultation with a steelcompany I found a mesh in aluminium that could serve as a substitute. I think it do looks okey.
At the backpanel of the amp the original production badge was still intact, even it the numer was extremly hard to read. With the help of a lens this minor problem was solved. Number 2388 was back. At least a small clue to it´s story. Yet another part of the story was found inside the amp in form of a output transformer unit. On the badge "RINGWAY MUSIC" could be read, and with that beguins the history of this amp!
There was for sure not that many band´s that bought and used the Orbit Six combo, even in the UK. It was huge, it was expensive - way to much. Then again a few bands used it like "the Ramblers" on picture below with no less the two SIX´s at back. I´m pretty sure they used one of em as a Bass-Combo.
the Rambler - London
Another band "the Volume Four" had a SIX model with 6 x 10" speakers. Shown here on the pic with an Orbit Three on top.
then I suddenly remember a pic showing "the Spencer Davis Group" outside a musicshop in Birmingham.
In 1965 the band went into the shop mainly selling organs, and bought not only a SIX but also a Burns Buzzaround Fuzz box. the Fuzz was used of one of their first hits "Keep on running" together with the Orbit Six. Steve Winwood vocal-organ and his brother Muff on bass.
Might be that the brothers bought the huge SIX with 3 x 12" speakers to use it as both an organ-amp and bass-amp. I will for sure try to find an answer to that.
this picture at least tell a little about the size of the amp.
A contact gave some extra help! (the Burns freak world is fun and helpful) as far as He told there was only two Orbit Six Combos sold by Ringway Music Birmingham, and one of em was equipped with 6 x 10" speakers!!
Well, in no way I can prove today that my Orbit Six is the same as on the Spencer Davis picture outside the shop, but it seams to be the right answer. If so the beguinning of it´s history is known, now there´s only some 30 years of that missing... What happened after SDG?
