firebirdplayersforum.freeforums.org

This Topic is primarily aimed at Doug...but all should feel free to respond. I have been looking at your constuction techniques and first of all I would like to compliment you on your skillful builds. Secondly, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the Firebird would be a fairly inexpensive build (due to the modular body design and scarf joint neck). I have one build under my belt. It was a sort of Les Paul Junior on steriods. The body is 1 7/8" thick with a 50's shape neck and the infamous Gibson easy to break headstock design. Did a tinted Nitro cherry finish. Lollar P-90. Turned out pretty good for my first build. If anyone is interested I'll post a a pic or two. Back to the Firebirds. I am guessing that a Bird can be constructed out of fairly narrow and thin lumber. My shop (otherwise known as where my wife used to park her car) is not very elaborate, but I have some pretty good tools. What I dont own I have access to. Anyway any pointers on lumber lists, or suppliers would be greatly appreciated. I live in the central Fla. area.
Thanks in advance,
Jim

Jim,

Yes and no. Honestly, Firebirds require about 4 times as much work as the set neck guitars I build. A lot (most) of this because of its through neck construction. The main issues are because of the neck angles involved, the step to the wings and the headstock angle.

When I build mine, I scarf joint the headstock on for 2 reasons:

1. Its much stronger and we all know how frail firebirds are.
2. IF you were going to make it a 1 piece neck it has to start as either a very, very thick blank or you need to mill your neck sections with 1 x ~3" blanks glued up on edge. To me this wastes a lot of material for little to no gain.

So that being said, I use a 36" long section for the neck portion. I scarf the end for the headstock. The upside is if you start with a 10" wide or so board when you rip the neck section out of it, the drop can be chopped in half and form the two wings.

Now, you'll have to plane roughly a 2-3* angle from just in front of the neck pickup all the way down the neck surface to create the proper angle.

Once thats handled and you have the wings machined and fretboard glued on you have to start roughing out the back of the neck. I use a plunge router set to the taper I like to get it close then shape it in from there.

Its a tricky guitar to build, Im not just saying it to make myself feel better or anything. I'll be happy to offer advice anywhere I can.

You might want to read my blog, its pretty good about documenting how I build birds.

Speaking of.... machining two more tomorrow.

Doug, I appreciate the reply. I will have to do some more research before I try to tackle building one of these guitars. I found getting the neck angle just right was BY FAR the trickiest part of the guitar that I built. I did mine by shimming the neck pocket template I made to create the correct neck angle. It did however work out perfectly (beginners luck) . If I do attempt a Firebird I will probably do a scarf joint as well simply for the strength factor. My son has a '58 Les Paul reissue thats worth about $500 to make that case. He knocked it off the stand onto a carpeted floor and SNAP! BUMMER! Any way thanks for the info and keep up the great work! JIm

I hear you Jim. I looked at a 64 Firebird at a store about a month ago, real clean on the front but the entire back had been sprayed black. I started thinking to myself "... thats odd the sunbursts weren't sprayed on the back" then it dawned on me, it had probably been broken and that was to hide the repair.

I had a thought, if you dont want to mess with the neck angle you could use a strat style hardtail bridge or use recess the TOM bridge.

If you are interested in a strat-style hardtail as DougK suggested, I'd say check out the hardtail style bridges that Hamer used back in the day. I don't know if they were Schallers or if Hamer made them, but I understand they kick ass!

They are called "Hamer Sustain Block"

Nah Guys, I'm a pretty stubborn SOB when it comes to building things. I'll figure out a way to get the neck angle done when the time comes. The biggest challenge will be finding the time to do the work. Also, it is sooo miserably hot and humid right now in Florida that I've probably got at least a two months to wait 'til I can stand to be in the garage. Not to mention my new addiction for building amplifiers. I guess a man has to chose between hobbies. Luckily I have a Bird to play in the meanwhile! Jim

Jim if your going to do it, might as well do it right

Im here if you have any questions. Man the two birds I machined this week are the lightest ones I've EVER had. I'd be willing to bet assembled at 7lbs possibly less.