My 2013 Cobra in Guards Red now sold
Full details of the first three models are on Trevor's site. These are the 1998 Cobra and Cobra Deluxe
along with the newer version launched in 2004. Since Trevor stopped updating his site there have been some changes to the
model and some new Cobras launched
Changes The cobra prior to 2010 had 2 string trees and no truss rod cover.
In 2010 there were changes including a new smaller type of pickups and one string tree still no truss rod cover.
Around 2010/11 changed to no string tree and a truss rod cover has an angled headstock. Around 2015 Burns started producing
the Cobra and the Marquee with the new Full contact trem unit which according to Barry Gibson provides better tuning stability,
however that does not mean that some will not be produced with the old trem unit, apparently it depends on availability of parts.
Complications August 2018
I have noticed several brand new Cobras (all white) with the pre 2010 headstock and indeed the white one on Burns web site
has this headstock. The other colours have what we would think to be the right headstock. I emailed Burns and Barry
told me that they don't really have any records of changing headstock types and it seems that they vary depending on
which of the various Korean and Chinese factories build them. So perhaps the headstock changes were not deliberate
design changes merely factory changes.
Around 2015 Burns started producing the Cobra and the Marquee with the new Full contact trem unit which according to Barry Gibson provides better tuning stability, however that does not mean that some will not be produced with the old trem unit, apparently it depends on availability of parts and which factory is doing the build.
At least three models have been launched since Trevor last updated his website. These are the King Cobra the King Cobra Custom and the Cobra Neomatic.
King Cobra
This is a current model made in China launched in 2014 the following information is taken from
Burns web site and added to from seeing changes to the guitar.
The Burns King Cobra guitar is based on the '90s Drifter Custom and the double-cut body shape has a full and rounded
form reminiscent of the '70s. The neck's gloss polyurethane finish is wider and flatter than the Fender equivalent of that era
and the medium-gauge fretting is excellent and the white edge binding adds a finishing touch.
While many contemporary Burns fingerboards are buffed to a shine, this one exhibits the even dryness you would expect from
quality Indian rosewood. One of the uniquely features of the King Cobra is the trio of Mini Tri-Sonic pickups that are
designed to emulate the classic, larger-format vintage pickup's sound but in a smaller footprint.
Features include:
Flamed maple top
Bolt-on neck
22-fret Indian rosewood fingerboard
Three-piece alder body
Knife-edge vibrato
Locking machine heads
Three mini Tri-Sonic pickups
The newer models feature 3 Neo Matic Pickups change occurring around 2015
Master volume and independent tone controls (with push/pull action for two extra pickup settings)
Five-way selector switch
Block neck inlays
Neck binding
Available in the following colours:
Honeyburst or Greenburst
Have recently seen 2015 or 2016 Models in Red and Baby Blue but Burns Website doesn't feature these colours.
Update March 2021
The 2020 Model of the King Cobra has some different features. Mainly Construction changes
Here's the specs
Knife edge tremolo system.
Burns Neo-Matik pickups
Three piece pickguards
25.5" 648 m.m. scale
5 position selector switch
Neck and middle pickup tone control
Bridge tone and push/pull pick up control
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, bolt-on
Fretboard: ebonite
Nut width: 43 mm
Neck radius: 300 mm
21 Frets
Matching "Batwing" headstock
Burns bi-flex truss rod
1 volume control
2 tone controls with push /pull function
5-way pickup selector
Burns Deluxe locking machine heads
Chrome hardware
Cobra Neomatic
Also a current model made in China and launched around the beginning of 2016. Again all the info I have is from the Burns website
reproduced below. It appears to be the new Cobra the main change being the pickups.
This design originates from the popular Drfiter Custom model with matching colour batwing style headstocks.
It features the new Burns knife edge tremolo system and has the low noise, high output Burns NEO-MATIK pickups.
Standard features are the bi-directional truss rod and the push-pull tone control that gives increased pick-up selections.
The guitar is available with a rosewood fingerboard, split three-ply mint green scratchplates and a choice of body colours.
Features include:
Knife edge tremolo system
Burns Neo-Matik pickups
Three piece pickguards
Rosewood fingerboard
25.5" scale
5 position selector switch
Neck and middle pickup tone control
Bridge tone and push/pull pick up control
Front mounted jack socket
Available in the following colours:
Red, White, Black. Baby blue or Greenburst
King Cobra Custom
Not easy to find information on this guitar as far as I have been able to ascertain the guitar has 2 BaroMatik Humbuckers
and as well as the three way switching uses the Varitone 5 way selector as on the Marquee MR2.
They have a natural swamp ash or a flame top alder body.
Further information on the King Cobra Custom
I have seen one of these for sale on Ebay here is the Ebay description of a 2015 King Cobra
Currently retailing for £349.00. Grab a bargain and "Buy It Now" for £220.00.
Swamp Ash body. Maple Neck. Rosewood fretboard.
4 way Humbucker switching rotary control.*
Wilkinson Hot Zebra MWHZ IV Humbucker Pickups.** replacing original pickups
Locking tuners.
Metal Strap Locks replacing standard strap buttons
Machined steel Vibrato Block replacing standard zinc block.
Non-mud tone control.
In addition to the conventional 3 way [Bridge] - [Bridge & Neck] - [Neck] pickup selector there is a rotary
switch in place of the first tone control to select the various coils:-
1) Full Humbuckers
2) Outside coils (tele).
3) Inside coils (strat)
4) Neck single & bridge Humbucker.
Rare Guitar?
This Cobra sold for £200 on Ebay in January 2018. The seller claimed only 5 of these were made. He didn't know what was
different about it but Barry Gibson had told him there were only 5 of them. The only significant difference I can see is the
headstock, which has a single string tree and a truss rod cover.
The Cobra in 2020/21
As at March 2021 there are still some Cobras for sale. Specs are changed a bit and the Headstock has a single round string tree.
Significant amongst the Spec changes are the introduction of an Ebonite Fretboard and Neo Matic Pickups so it's really a version
of the Neomatic
Full Specs
Knife edge tremolo system
Burns Neo-Matik pickups
Three piece pickguards
25.5" 648 m.m. scale
5 position selector switch
Neck and middle pickup tone control
Bridge tone and push/pull pick up control
Front mounted jack socket
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, bolt-on
Fretboard: ebonite
Nut width: 43 mm
Neck radius: 300 mm
Matching "Batwing" headstock
Burns bi-flex truss rod
1 volume control
5-way pickup selector
Burns Deluxe machine heads
Chrome hardware
Cobra DX
At some point the Cobra DX has appeared as usual there is nothing to be found on the Burn's website that would
be too much like letting the customers know what's going on. There are many for sale both new and used as at March 2021
The main difference would appear to be the Tri-Sonic pickups but here's the full specs
Body Basswood
Neck Maple
Fingerboard Rosewood
Frets 22
Scale 648mm
Machine Head Burns RM-1234(CR)
Nut Crystal Tone(WH)
Pickups Burns Mini Tri-Sonic Pickup×3
Controls 1Vol, 2Tone(Front/Center with Push/Pull SW),5 way switch
Bridge Burns Deluxe Knife Edge Tremolo
Colours Pearl Blue(PBL), Black(BLK), Candy Apple Red(CAR), Guards Red(GRD), Pearl Pink(PPK), White(WH)
A very unusual Cobra Limited Edition
I have had a email from Diz Disney who owns a most unusual Cobra it looks like a cross between a Marquee and a Cobra very
much like the 1998 Cobra Deluxe but with Rezomatic Pickups and some other differences.
On the neckplate it is styled as a Cobra Custom but on the COA as a Cobra Deluxe Ltd, the usual confusion that surrounds modern Burns.
It was made in 1998 no idea how many were made but if there were more than a handful I feel I would have seen another before
now. Best way to describe it is with pictures so here are some of the ones Diz has kindly supplied.
