Fernandes vs Burny is a comparison people often get wrong: they were not two companies. Burny was a brand name used by the Japanese maker Fernandes, mostly for its Gibson-style guitars, while Fender-style models wore the Fernandes name. This guide explains the split, the exceptions that break it, and how to tell which one you are looking at. For the Les Paul side in depth, see the Burny Brand Guide, and for the full company story, the Fernandes guitars history.
Fernandes vs Burny Quick Facts
- Company: one company, Fernandes (founded 1969 as Saito Gakki, renamed 1972)
- Fernandes name: Fender-style copies (FST, RST) and most original designs
- Burny name: Gibson-style copies (FLG, later RLG Les Pauls, SGs)
- Exceptions: 1970s “Fernandes Burny Custom” Strats, hide’s Mockingbirds under both names
- Status: Fernandes stopped trading in July 2024, ending both brands
Key takeaways
- Burny was never a separate company. It was Fernandes’ label for Gibson-style guitars.
- Original designs usually carried the Fernandes name, even the Les Paul-inspired Ravelle.
- A 1970s guitar with both names, or an accurate Les Paul with a Fernandes logo, is a lucky vintage find.
Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own short video below.
Is Burny a Separate Company From Fernandes?
I sometimes see people online saying Fernandes and Burny were different companies. That’s not really the case. Burny was simply a brand used by Fernandes, the Tokyo company that started in 1969 as Saito Gakki, took the Fernandes name in 1972 and moved into electric guitars around the same time.
Like most Japanese brands of the era, Fernandes designed and sold guitars while outside factories built many of them. So a Burny and a Fernandes from the same year often share far more than the logo suggests. Both names ended together when Fernandes stopped trading in July 2024 (Wikipedia’s Burny entry lists the many factories that built the brand over the years).
The Basic Rule: Fender Copies Were Fernandes, Gibson Copies Were Burny
Originally the split was clear. The Fernandes name went on Fender-style copies such as Strats and Teles, and the Burny name went on Gibson-style copies such as the Les Paul and SG. That one rule settles most Fernandes vs Burny questions you’ll run into.
| Guitar type | Usual brand name | Typical model codes |
|---|---|---|
| Strat and Tele style | Fernandes | FST, RST (Revival), TEJ |
| Les Paul and SG style | Burny | FLG (to 1981), RLG (from 1982) |
| Original designs | Usually Fernandes | FR, APG, Ravelle, ZO-3 |
| hide’s Mockingbird | Both, depending on model | MG series |
The Exceptions That Break the Fernandes vs Burny Rule
Original Designs Usually Wore the Fernandes Name
When Fernandes designed its own guitars, it usually put its own name on them. The clearest example is the Fernandes Ravelle of the early 2000s: a single-cut body that is obviously Les Paul-inspired, yet it was sold as a Fernandes, not a Burny. The FR superstrats and the ZO-3 travel guitar followed the same logic.
Same Shape, Two Logos: Classic Burny, Modern Fernandes
Sometimes the same body shape appeared under both brands with different styling. The more classic versions were sold as Burny, the more modern ones as Fernandes.
hide’s Mockingbird models are the best-known case. hide was the guitarist of X Japan, the band that defined Japanese visual kei rock, and his Mockingbirds came out under both names: Burny MG models such as the yellow-heart MG-145S and MG-165S, and Fernandes MG models such as the graphic MG-120X and MG-100X.
1970s Guitars With Both Names
Here’s a fun vintage detail. Some guitars from the 1970s show both names together. Mid-1970s Strat copies were sold as the Fernandes Burny Custom (for example the FST-60 and FST-70), and early Burny Les Pauls carried a Fernandes truss rod cover. Apparently this was done to help raise awareness of the young Burny brand.
Accurate Les Paul Copies Under the Fernandes Name
There are even very accurate Les Paul copies with a Fernandes logo. Around 1978, some FLG Les Pauls carried the Fernandes “stone logo” instead of a Burny headstock. If you ever find one of those, you’re looking at a pretty lucky vintage piece.
How to Tell a Fernandes From a Burny
Listings mix the two names up all the time, so check the guitar itself:
- The headstock logo. It decides the brand, whatever the listing says. Two names on one guitar usually means the mid-1970s.
- The model code. FST and RST point to a Fernandes Strat; FLG and RLG to a Burny Les Paul.
- The shape. A Gibson shape with a Fernandes logo is either an original design like the Ravelle or a rare early copy worth a closer look.
Final Thoughts
Fernandes vs Burny isn’t a rivalry; it’s one company with two signboards. The rule of thumb (Fender-style Fernandes, Gibson-style Burny) explains most guitars, and the exceptions are where the fun is: a “Fernandes Burny Custom” Strat, or an accurate Les Paul with a Fernandes logo, is exactly the kind of oddity I love finding on the used market.
Which do you prefer, Fernandes or Burny? Tell me in the video comments.
FAQ
Is Burny made by Fernandes?
Yes. Burny was a brand name used by Fernandes, not a separate company. Fernandes mainly used it for Gibson-style guitars such as Les Paul and SG copies.
What is the difference between Fernandes and Burny?
Fernandes used its own name for Fender-style copies and most original designs, and the Burny name for Gibson-style copies. There are exceptions, such as 1970s Fernandes Burny Custom Strats and hide’s Mockingbirds sold under both names.
Why did Fernandes use two brand names?
The split kept Fender-style and Gibson-style lines apart in the catalog. In the 1970s both names sometimes appeared on one guitar, apparently to build awareness of the newer Burny brand.
Is the Fernandes Ravelle a Burny?
No. The Ravelle is a Les Paul-inspired original design from the early 2000s, and like most Fernandes originals it was sold under the Fernandes name.
Are Fernandes and Burny guitars still made?
No. Fernandes stopped trading in July 2024, which ended both the Fernandes and Burny brands. Used guitars remain widely available.
Which is better, Fernandes or Burny?
Neither is better as a brand, because they came from the same company. Judge each guitar by its model, year and grade; Japanese-made models from the late 1970s and 1980s are the most sought after.
More Burny guitar articles
Burny History: From FLG Les Paul Copies to the Final Bow (1975-2025)
Burny history is the story of the Gibson-copy brand of Fernandes, running from the first…
hide Fernandes Guitars: Army Panther, Ameba and Yellow Heart Explained
The hide Fernandes guitars are some of the most recognizable Japanese guitars ever made. In…
Japanese Les Paul Copies: Tokai vs Greco vs Burny (1978-1982)
Japanese Les Paul copies from the late 1970s are some of the most faithful Les…
Burny Guitars: FLG, RLG, Super Grade and Which One to Buy
Burny was the Gibson-copy brand of Fernandes, best known for Les Paul copies so faithful…
Burny Les Paul: Early 80s RLG Series
Overview & Key Points Burny Les Paul models from the early 1980s RLG series represent…
