Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

[Rusty Fingers]

Anybody have any ideas on this?

I'm interesed in a guitar with two minihumbuckers and based on the tone samples, I like the SM-1 neck and the SM-3 bridge. I would rather have a more traditional shaped guitar than the reverse firebird and I just don't like the looks of a non-reverse firebird. I'm looking for a blues & rock guitar, but not metal. I'd prefer a lighter weight (7 pounds) and lean toward the tone-chambered guitars because of the lighter weight.

My choices seem to be the following,

1. Guild Blues 90 (replacing the P-90s with minis)
2. USA Hamer Artist P-90 or Studio P-90 (replacing the p-90s)
3. Gibson SG classic (replacing the P-90s)
4. Chandler 555 (stock minis)
5. Warmoth project guitar

With the Guild I'm wondering, if the maple top would be a detriment to the firebird sound? The Hamers might be interesting especially the all mahogany P-90 Artist. But then both of these are tone-chambered, if that would have a negative effect.

Would a Hamer Studio P-90 be a better choice? Of course this has the maple cap too?

The SG might work, but its not really the shape I want. I don't know much about the Chandlers.

Of course I could do a Warmoth project. I'd pick an L-5s body and go from there, but a bolt-on neck seem pretty far away from a neck-through, plus I'd probably feel better about a "name" guitar anyway.

If anyone has any thoughts I'd appreciate it.

Rusty

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

WEIRD....I just started a Gibson Firebird thread before seeing this..................

LOVE 'EM!!!!

 

[orbiter]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

well .. how about a les paul deluxe? or a les paul jr. and swap the 90's for mini's.

also .. there is a Hamer called the Eclipse .from the early mid 90's.. basically has the shape used now by Terry C. McInturff ... sorta like an LP jr. but w/ duncan mini's as stock equipment. I see for around $400 ... and they are very nice IMO.

if weight is a concern ... outside of a chambered/hollow guitar .. the SG might just be the cats pajamas.

I kinda believe the firebirds get their tone from the unique body shape and construction ... but an all mahogany set neck guitar w/ mini's should get you in the ballpark.. no substitute for the real thing tho ~~IMO

BTW ~~> I love mini's!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

the only thing is that a Firebird is multi-lam neck through and it does have a sound all of it's own, BUT a good set neck, 24 3/4 inch scale guitar with firdbird pickups would be pretty damn close.

BTW...whats with all the damn Firebird GAS going around!?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

It needs to be said that a mini bucker and a Firebird pickup are 2 different things...an Epiphone Mini bucker like on a Les Paul Deluxe is like a typical bucker, just smaller, a Firdbird pickups is a completely different desighn...

 

[Rusty Fingers]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

well .. how about a les paul deluxe? or a les paul jr. and swap the 90's for mini's.

also .. there is a Hamer called the Eclipse .from the early mid 90's.. basically has the shape used now by Terry C. McInturff ... sorta like an LP jr. but w/ duncan mini's as stock equipment. I see for around $400 ... and they are very nice IMO.

if weight is a concern ... outside of a chambered/hollow guitar .. the SG might just be the cats pajamas.

I kinda believe the firebirds get their tone from the unique body shape and construction ... but an all mahogany set neck guitar w/ mini's should get you in the ballpark.. no substitute for the real thing tho ~~IMO

BTW ~~> I love mini's!

Thanks for the tip on the eclipse. I'll have to take a look for that.

The problem with the les paul jr's or the specials is that I'd never be able to take the p-90s out of them.

For me, standard LPs are too heavy. I've never heard a deluxe in person so I'm not sure how that would compare to a firebird, but my guess is that it would be closer to an LP than a firebird. And with firebird pickups I suspect that the maple cap might add too much brightness (?). That's why I'm not sure about modifying a Blues 90.

The SG made the list because it would be lighter and wouldn't be hollowed out, so my guess, too, is that it would get the closest.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

I would think that the pickups play a fairly large part in the tone. But it's mostly mahogany with walnut in between the wings on the body I think??

I dont' think that would play a HUGE role in tone...but some...yeah.

BUt I think you could get fairly close just by having the mini-buckers.

 

[Rusty Fingers]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

the only thing is that a Firebird is multi-lam neck through and it does have a sound all of it's own, BUT a good set neck, 24 3/4 inch scale guitar with firdbird pickups would be pretty damn close.

That's why Hamer made the list. 3-piece neck and a 24 3/4 scale. I just played a Hamer Newport for the first time the other night and was quite impressed. A wonderful neck...rock solid...great quality. Hamer was never on my radar before. So an all mahogany Artist with minis seems to be on the top of my list right now, with the SG second.

Still would love to hear any more thoughts.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

sure man ... no problem ,, they look like this~>

eclipse

six string

there's a 12 string eclipse too .. also pretty sweet! most of the 6's have a wraparound tailpiece .. but somewhere along the line they switched to a reg. TOM style.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

It needs to be said that a mini bucker and a Firebird pickup are 2 different things...an Epiphone Mini bucker like on a Les Paul Deluxe is like a typical bucker, just smaller, a Firdbird pickups is a completely different desighn...

I had mini-buckers on my '71 deluxe and they were fairly bright....kinda unlike most humbuckers I know. It was almost twangy in a sense. Good sounding...but just different than most hums.

 

[Rusty Fingers]

Re: Can I get the firebird sound without the firebird body shape?

BTW...whats with all the damn Firebird GAS going around!?

You say that like its a bad thing! :laugh2: