Firebird project

[jaberwock]

Having long lusted after a Firebird, I'm seriously thinking of building one this year; does anyone know of a wood supplier who sells wood long enough for the laminate neck through body construction ? I was considering white Limba, and walnut for the 5 piece neck.......does anyone have any favourite recipes ?

Many thanks Jabberwock

[cmatthes]

I almost listed a Mahogany Firebird body over the weekend, but didn't get the chance to get any good shots of it. I had it made for a set neck project, but honestly, that and a bunch more projects are going. I just don't have the time!

[ptm1diver]

There is a source for White Limba in New Jersey. It's called Exotic Woods. Not cheap, but I got some great wood from them.

[hamerhead]

..... but I got some great wood from them.

It must be good.

[L Nutter]

I'm working on a Firebird project myself. I was able to get a nice piece of African Mahogany at a local place here in Chicagoland (Owl Lumber). Even found someone who used to work at Hamer to help me pick it out! (Thanks Mike)

I'm thinking Mahogany with Walnut strips for the 9 piece laminated neck - I think that was the original Gibson recipe...

[gtone]

I'm working on a Firebird project myself. I was able to get a nice piece of African Mahogany at a local place here in Chicagoland (Owl Lumber). Even found someone who used to work at Hamer to help me pick it out! (Thanks Mike)

I'm thinking Mahogany with Walnut strips for the 9 piece laminated neck - I think that was the original Gibson recipe...

Don't be afraid to post a couple of pics as you wade into this project. There are a few of us here who are genuine fans of the 'Bird design...

[jaberwock]

I'm working on a Firebird project myself. I was able to get a nice piece of African Mahogany at a local place here in Chicagoland (Owl Lumber). Even found someone who used to work at Hamer to help me pick it out! (Thanks Mike)

I'm thinking Mahogany with Walnut strips for the 9 piece laminated neck - I think that was the original Gibson recipe...

I'd love to see some pics, and hear about the progress on your project; mine won't be as true to the original as yours, five piece white limba/ walnut neck, korina wings, I might scale it down a fraction to make it more stage friendly, and whilst I love the look of the banjo tuners, I've heard they can cause neck dive.

Jabberwock

[tobereeno]

limba would be lighter, but the beauty IMHO of a mahogany set-neck Firebird is that you'd get the classic Hamer tone and vibe. Through necks are just really different.

[cmatthes]

Limba is not always lighter than mahogany. Only in color. I've played some super heavy Korina guitars and some featherweight mahogany versions of the same model. It can vary wildly!

[bubs_42]

I love an all featherweight mahogany guitar.

[jaberwock]

I thought white limba, and Korina where pretty much the same, and had a sound similar to mahogany.

" the beauty IMHO of a mahogany set-neck Firebird is that you'd get the classic Hamer tone and vibe "

Starting to think a set neck might sound better, there are quite a few guitar forum threads stating that through neck guitars whilst having excellent sustain, and unparalleled access to the upper frets, tend to be very bright, and lack tonal complexity.

[cmatthes]

"Korina" is just a trade name for Limba. There really isn't a separate species of "black" or "white" Limba - it's all the same stuff.

[G Man]

What are you guys planning on for pickups? I have an eclipse coming in with the stock SDs and I know their coming out, just not sure what going back in. Right now I am leaning towards the new Mojotone Johnny Winter set, but open to suggestions.

[Brentrocks]

I would love to see some pics when you get rolling.....I love the idea of Limba and Walnut. Marv Lamb (Gibson/Heritage) makes Firebirds lots of times with some very cool combos....

Flame maple/HOG

Limba/Flamed maple

Flame maple/HOG

Limba/HOG

They are beautiful....but very pricey

[jaberwock]

What are you guys planning on for pickups? I have an eclipse coming in with the stock SDs and I know their coming out, just not sure what going back in. Right now I am leaning towards the new Mojotone Johnny Winter set, but open to suggestions.

P 90's sound very nice on Korina.

[gtone]

On the topic of FB pickups...

JS Moore had wound me several sets of custom pickups over the years. He's great at translating the tone you describe to him to the custom pu's you order through him that it's uncanny, really. With that in mind, I asked him to hand wind some alnico mini's that had edge, bite and dimension of Jimmy McCulloch's '72 Firebird V in this clip. I'll be damned if he didn't nail it to a T, all for an insanely low $165 + shipping! Jon is the man, in my book...

[jaberwock]

On the topic of FB pickups...

JS Moore had wound me several sets of custom pickups over the years. He's great at translating the tone you describe to him to the custom pu's you order through him that it's uncanny, really. With that in mind, I asked him to hand wind some alnico mini's that had edge, bite and dimension of Jimmy McCulloch's '72 Firebird V in this clip. I'll be damned if he didn't nail it to a T, all for an insanely low $165 + shipping! Jon is the man, in my book...

$165 a pair !! which decade was this ?

[gtone]

^^^

I got my FB-V in Oct/13, so I think I got the Moore pu's around Dec/13 or Jan/14. So not that long ago really.

www.tonefordays.com

No affiliation - just a satisfied repeat customer.

[L Nutter]

My Firebird is coming along slowly. Made a few more 50" rip cuts for the neck - mahogany and walnut.

I'm thinking of using a 2Tek bridge in my Firebird. The 2Tek seems to be a pretty popular bass bridge - less so on guitars. People seem to be worried about the big hole needed for the install.

What do you guys think?

[cmatthes]

I personally LOVE the 2Tek bridge - both on Guitar and Bass.

I've got a 6 string version collecting dust in the parts stash...waiting for something to use it in, but haven't found anything "worthy" yet!

[jaberwock]

From what I've read, neck through body construction emphasises the fundamental, and enhances sustain, but maybe at the cost of tonal complexity; could fitting a 2tek bridge just exacerbate this ; I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. All the vids I've seen of the 2tek guitar bridge installations have been on bolt on neck guitars where the extra clarity, and sustain could be a bonus. I remember playing some eighties thru neck Ibanez's that almost sounded like pianos, great at first, but the novelty soon wore off.

Did Hamer ever fit 2TEK bridges on guitars, or just on basses ?

[cmatthes]

Just basses.

[gtone]

From what I've read, neck through body construction emphasises the fundamental, and enhances sustain, but maybe at the cost of tonal complexity; could fitting a 2tek bridge just exacerbate this ; I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. All the vids I've seen of the 2tek guitar bridge installations have been on bolt on neck guitars where the extra clarity, and sustain could be a bonus. I remember playing some eighties thru neck Ibanez's that almost sounded like pianos, great at first, but the novelty soon wore off.

Did Hamer ever fit 2TEK bridges on guitars, or just on basses ?

You make some interesting points here. When I was doing upgrades on my FB-V, I went with my "go to" steel Callaham ABR-1 and tailpiece. While I love the way these work, I actually had to go back to zinc tailpiece as I noticed the tone getting too much like a piano with the Firebird - strong ringing, bell-like fundamental. Murkat/Jay recommended I go back to a heavier zinc piece to restore some overtones and harmonic richness (he liked the older Schaller made Gibson units as they were beefier than the modern Gibson pieces). Worked a charm - restored a nice bit of tonal complexity back into the equation from where I had gotten with the all steel setup.

[JohnnyB]

..... but I got some great wood from them.

It must be good.

Now that's what I call customer service.

[jaberwock]

From what I've read, neck through body construction emphasises the fundamental, and enhances sustain, but maybe at the cost of tonal complexity; could fitting a 2tek bridge just exacerbate this ; I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. All the vids I've seen of the 2tek guitar bridge installations have been on bolt on neck guitars where the extra clarity, and sustain could be a bonus. I remember playing some eighties thru neck Ibanez's that almost sounded like pianos, great at first, but the novelty soon wore off.

Did Hamer ever fit 2TEK bridges on guitars, or just on basses ?

You make some interesting points here. When I was doing upgrades on my FB-V, I went with my "go to" steel Callaham ABR-1 and tailpiece. While I love the way these work, I actually had to go back to zinc tailpiece as I noticed the tone getting too much like a piano with the Firebird - strong ringing, bell-like fundamental. Murkat/Jay recommended I go back to a heavier zinc piece to restore some overtones and harmonic richness (he liked the older Schaller made Gibson units as they were beefier than the modern Gibson pieces). Worked a charm - restored a nice bit of tonal complexity back into the equation from where I had gotten with the all steel setup.

I remember back in the eighties making a solid brass tail piece for my 335, even had it gold plated, after all that effort I tried to convince myself it sounded better, but took it off after about three months.