BALDWIN 706

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • electric guitars

Series name: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1967 to 1970

Production of the 706 MODEL began in 1967 - possibly lasting a few more years.  Baldwin 700 (712 12 string, 706 6 string and 704 bass) series were 335 lookalikes (not close up), including "solid" centre block, bodies made by Crucianelli in Italy and necks made by Burns in London (early necks made in Italy too maybe).

Some guitars were assembled in London allegedly but most in Fayetteville in USA as there was a tax break for importing parts and assembling in the States. One of the few Baldwins that owed nothing much to the Burns line. Hardware was so so, usually a trapeze tailpiece with a stylised Baldwin "B" fixed to it, floating bridge with intonatable saddles (you have to compromise with 12 strings, one saddle to two strings). Tapered headstock on them all with a faux violin scroll a la Burns - 3 a side VanGhent tuners for the 6 strings, 2 each side (staggered) for the bass and a strip of six per side for the 12.

Finish is, I believe, Polyester - Red or Sunburst, on all models - better part of a millimetre thick and prone to cracking. Necks finished same as bodies and were three screw fixing, space for the 4th screw was taken up by the "gearbox" for truss rod adjustment (basically a tuner machine turned sideways) but you'll see some where a fourth screw has been put in "just in case" by later owners - check the neck where the 4th screw lands, for cracks caused by the extra screw. Model designation told you whether a thick or a thin neck. Dummy first fret of course (Burns).

Some 706s had Baldwin's own tremelo unit (possibly shared with other Crucianelli made makes????), approximately like a Bigsby but with an insert of plastic wood with a Baldwin "B" on it.

All had two pickups - which look like humbuckers but are actually single coils with two rows of screws and very prone to feedback if using loud amps. Two volume and two tone controls with the selector switch on the bass bout like a Les Paul.

Bodies and necks were bound, but not the f-holes. face and back appear to be 3 ply laminate.

Won't go into the Baldwin buys out Burns story (they tried to get Fender but CBS beat them to it) as it's reasonably well documented on the www. I've a theory that the 700's were only made in 1967 but no evidence to support it yet (also no evidence they made it as late as 1970 as is usually stated).

Not in the big money league these lovely old guitars ...but usually fetch a sight more than the £67 or so that the cost new.

Information contributed by guitar-list user Tommy on 3/12/2012.

 

Specifications (17)

Electronics

Pickups configuration2 single coil pickups

General

Finish colorsgold finish, red finish
Finish effectssunburst finish
Made inUK, USA
Bindingwhite binding
Number of strings6 strings

Body

Body shape featuresdouble cutaway
Body styleES-335 style
Hollow bodyhollow body
Pickguard shaperaised pickguard
Soundhole2 f-holes

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialrosewood fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdot fingerboard position markers

Neck

Number of frets22 fret
Tuner layoutthree-each-side

Controls

Pickup selector controls1 pickup selector switch

Hardware

Tailpiecedouble trapeze tailpiece

Prices (2)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
1960£40good
1967£67newMike ThomasBought September 1967 - Jim Beckett's Music Shop, Gibbs Road, Southampton, UK After purchase Baldwin vibrato fitted by Beckett's in 1968. Still (May 2015) in regular use at open mic nights and the occasional pub gig. Refretted in 1997 (old frets kept). Minimal lacquer cracking and great action. Sounds like a Tele... 50th birthday coming up in 2017 (my 70th in the same year!)

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