The 1977 Burny FLG-90 is special because it comes from the early period when Japanese builders were no longer making rough copies — they were making highly researched, serious vintage-style instruments. Burny was the Gibson-style line from Fernandes, while Fernandes branding was more commonly used on Fender-style models.
Where did Burny guitars come from?
Burny guitars came from Japan, under the Fernandes company. By the mid-1970s, Fernandes had introduced Les Paul Standard and Custom-style replicas with features such as mahogany bodies, two-piece tops and glued neck construction, initially associated with Terada production before later shifts in manufacturing.
The FLG-90 belongs to the broader Made in Japan “lawsuit era” story, when brands like Fernandes/Burny, Tokai, Greco and Ibanez were building close interpretations of famous American guitars. The “lawsuit era” label is often used loosely, but Japanese makers did become more cautious after Gibson’s 1977–78 action involving Ibanez.
What makes the 1977 FLG-90 special?
A good 1977 FLG-90 is sought after because it captures many of the details players associate with late-’50s Les Paul-style guitars: a mahogany back, carved maple top, set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, vintage-style humbuckers, thin lacquer/nitro-style finish and the classic open-book headstock look. One documented 1977 example is described with a one-piece mahogany back, near-matched two-piece maple top, lacquer “Old Cherry Sunburst” finish, slim ’60s mahogany neck, rosewood board and 18° headstock pitch.
The “90” in FLG-90 also matters. Fernandes/Burny model numbers generally reflected the original Japanese yen price tier, with higher numbers indicating higher-spec instruments. That means an FLG-90 sat above the cheaper models and was aimed at a more serious player or collector.
Why collectors care
Collectors value these guitars because they combine vintage Japanese craftsmanship, strong Les Paul-style tone, and scarcity. They are not just “copies” in the cheap sense — many were carefully built instruments from a period when Japanese factories were pushing hard to match or even challenge American quality. The result is a guitar with real vintage character, strong playability and a great backstory.
Available Now at Colemans Music Melbourne
This 1977 Burny FLG-90 Electric Guitar is available now at Colemans Music in Melbourne, and it is a genuinely rare find for players and collectors alike. Vintage Japanese Burny guitars from this era are becoming increasingly hard to source, especially examples with the sought-after late-’70s build quality, classic Les Paul-style design and authentic Made in Japan character. For anyone chasing a guitar with real history, vintage tone and serious collector appeal, this FLG-90 is a standout piece that does not come through the door every day.
