Burman

Gregg Burman had a relatively short but meteoric career as a major-brand UK amp builder. Starting out in the industrial heartland of Newcastle upon Tyne in north-east England, Burman began making his characteristically bomb-proof tube amps in 1966. He labored away locally, earning a strong reputation, until the late '70s when his amps suddenly exploded onto the scene.

The exceptionally well-built (but heavy) Burman Pro Series was launched in 1974 and featured a triple preamp gain section. The first series came in 50-watt and 100-watt single or twin-channel combos, in 1x12 and 2x12 versions, and there were also 100-watt heads. Later models saw a switch to high quality Gold Lion KT77 tubes (they were badged accordingly) and were then rated at 70 and 100 watts respectively. Notable users included Thin Lizzy - Scott Gorham was particularly keen - Geordie Walker of Killing Joke, Manic Street Preachers, and Status Quo.

Burman launched the GX3 preamp, which received rave reviews and should have gone on to be a great seller. Unfortunately, Burman closed the company in the early '80s, having lost a controversial lawsuit with a publisher. A few years later, he suffered a disabling stroke and never returned to amp making.

For all that, many Burman amps still survive. They were well ahead of their time, are still repairable, still sound extremely good, and are not overpriced.

Mr. Burman built his own over-specified heavy duty transformers

These amps have legendary build quality, comparable to HiWatt, combined with innovative design, resulting in a superb sounding, reliable amp.