Bill Alston
The Cobra Family
My 2013 Cobra in Guards Red
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.
Models not covered by Trevor
At least two models have been launched since Trevor last updated his website. These are the King Cobra and the Cobra Neomatic.
King Cobra
Cobra Neomatic
King Cobra
This is a current model made in China the following information is taken from Burns web site
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
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
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
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
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