Bouncing ideas of a Firebird build

[purevilpleasure]

I've been wanting to build a Firebird for a bit now and I think I'm going to go with the Studio Firebird. But I haven't figured out what wood I want to go with yet. Thinking of the classic Mahoganey body and neck with Maple cap.

But I almost want to go with an Ash body, Maple neck, and some exotic wood top or Walnut top. If I go with this I may not even put normal humbuckers in it maybe some lip sticks or strat/ tele pups.

What would be some other options to look at?

 

[NateM]

Spanish Cedar is another popular wood for bodies. Any reason you want to go with the maple cap? That's not typical for firebirds as far as I know. A birdseye maple cap would be rather apt though

 

[tolm]

Mahogany neck using a neck thru design, walnut wings with 2 thin flame maple 'spacer' strips between the neck-thru section and the wings. Finish off with a slight vintage Amber tint showing the wood underneath.

 

[JBLesPaul107]

you should duck tape a Line 6 Pod to it and call it an Firebird X

 

[dougk]

Be careful what you do, you want to keep the mass on the body end of the guitar.

 

[purevilpleasure]

you should duck tape a Line 6 Pod to it and call it an Firebird X

I'm liking the ideas guys.

The reason I was thinking of a Maple cap was the look and I do want to do some thing different with it.

But I also don't want to make it look like a clown guitar at the same time. Never thought of the cedar.

 

[bertzie]

How about a maple body, with a mahogany cap?

 

[Penny Dreadful]

you should duck tape a Line 6 Pod to it and call it an Firebird X

lol!

 

[Reverend D]

How about a maple body, with a mahogany cap?

With the rather large body I suspect that would make it rather heavy unless you hollowed out a lot of it and then added the cap which would work pretty well. Maple also might tend to make it a bit bright, but thats debatable. Just an opinion though. Personally, if I were going to use single coils I'd probably go with P90's rather than strat or tele or lipsticks all of which would tend to make it more Telecaster sounding I would think since they're all kinda bright sounding, but I guess it depends on what one wants.

Regards,

D.

 

[jp litch]

I suggest binding

 

[tolm]

3xP90's always looks cool on Firebird style guitars to me. Plus they sound killer.

 

[DRF]

But I also don't want to make it look like a clown guitar at the same time.

I suggest binding

I'll be watching your build excitedly as I just ordered a Firebird template myself.

What do you mean clown guitar-because of a maple top?. I like the idea of binding too. 3 lipstick p/u's would be neat or how about 2 lace sensor alumitone humbuckers.

I suppose you don't want to get to fancy/clowny but I'd make something you couldn't go down to the dealer and get.

 

[Connavar]

Maybe a black beauty style firebird?
(i.e black with gold hardware and cream binding)

or something like this one made by dougk would be cool too

 

[tolm]

Maybe a black beauty style firebird?
(i.e black with gold hardware and cream binding)

or something like this one made by dougk would be cool too

Oh my goodness ...

 

[DRF]

Ya thats a nice Bird,the carbon and Steinbergers are a nice touch.

 

[purevilpleasure]

Not bad at all for ideas guys. I think I'm going to try to grab some cheap lumber to do my test run with on the body and such. I'm almost thinking of going walnut body, maybe koa top? Binding didn't cross my mind as of yet. Thinking of going with an amber or honey burst style finish.

Like I said I'm not really looking for something I could buy, but a P90 in the mix doesn't sound too bad.