Firebird Hollowbody?

[thorn]

Hi Guys,


I am going to hand craft a semi-hollowbody guitar from scratch beginning in a few weeks, and I was originally planning on copying the ES 339, because I want a sound that is somewhere between a LP and the 335. However, I had an idea the other day to make it shaped like a reverse Firebird in the body. Would this drastically alter the sound in your opinion? I'm thinking of doing it in Maple on the top and Walnut back and sides with either some PAF style humbuckers or maybe the minis from the Firebird if I go with that design. It could be really cool to incorporate some F holes into the Firebird design. Any thoughts from the pros here?

 

[Dr. Arkam]

I can't give you any tips but I think that would be pretty cool.

 

[AxeBuilder]

It remains to be seen how drastic the difference is. I'll bet it's not so dramatic.

I'd recommend a shape other than "f" for the holes - something that fits the Firebird shape better, like elongated diamonds.

 

[River]

I'd recommend a shape other than "f" for the holes - something that fits the Firebird shape better, like elongated diamonds.

Or firebirds!

 

[Dougie]

Hey thorn, welcome to the forum..

Do it like Fender did with the chambered teles! They had some with a 1/4" thick German spruce top and oh holy sheesus man those things sounded GREAT! Use one dainty nice f hole on the bass side. There isn't any ruleset that says you have to have two.

Hollow bird? Probably sound really good. I'd do it but then again that's cheating because I love Firebirds!

 

[dougk]

Don't do the traditional headstock otherwise you'll have serious balance issues on a hollow bird.

Another thing, if you build it true the middle is only 1.5" thick and wings 1.25" so not much to hollow. If you are doing shape only for details make it 1.75" thick, no step and then hollow it. Could be fun

 

[thorn]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Doug, I was planning on building it like a 335, just shaped like a firebird. My initial idea was to keep the standard ES headstock on it as well for the reason you described.

Dougie, that is an excellent idea. That solves my problem about what to do with the pick guard and f holes and all that stuff. I just have to remember that I can do it however I want because I'm building it from scratch. Ha.

 

[JonMan94]

In my opinion, I would build it like a normal firebired, but much thicker, but like Dougie said, go for the Tele Hollow construction. That would a intresting guitar indeed.

 

[Dougie]

Ok there ya have it! Combine Dougk's idea and mine, and build it like that! Hey two Dougs are better than one huh?

 

[J-Dizzle]

I'm thinking that tonally, it could sound a bit like the Gibson Dave Grohl model?

 

[jeff.longino]

looking forward to seeing this one. love new twists on old ideas.

 

[emoney]

If you're carving it, ala 339ish, then I can't imagine the tonal difference will stand out that much. If, however, you're planning to laminate the top, ala 335ish, then I can see it would probably sound a lot twangier. Either way, it should be a cool build. Have fun with it!

 

[BCRGreg]

Leave some weight at the bottom strap button area, otherwise you will build a propeller.