My take on a Firebird

[Embenny]

Looking sharp! The bigsby suits it, it's already a little non traditional so there's nothing wrong with having a different vibrato (and like you say, it'll work better which is typically the most important thing on a guitar).

[cdwillis]

Looks great so far. Cutting that headstock down was pretty slick. Where did you get the body?

[HNB]

A friend built me the body. He makes my weird ideas into physical things. I am pretty lucky.

The headstock decal is applied.

IMG_20200402_145807 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[HNB]

Next to the body. Both are satin finish.

IMG_20200404_202233 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

(My Pet Monster action figure photo bomb.)

[Scout]

Nice color choice, the vibrola would have been nice but I guess a little too much kitchen engineering. Its a winner.

[whatisdust]

Great job so far! I’ve got a couple of Firebird mashups that have been in suspended animation for longer than I care to remember. Your thread is a real inspiration to get out & clean up my shop so I can get back to building guitars! Thanks for posting your project’s progress pics, good stuff here.

[HNB]

Thanks!!

[Fiddy]

What's wrong with the lyre tremolo? Will the strings just sit up too high on top of the bridge? Is there no way around it?

[HNB]

Would have needed to do a Tom bridge and angle the neck pocket to get the string break needed and those parts were already made. He offered to make me another body but I liked this one so I figured a bigsby would still look good. The vibrola sat too high off the body for the Mustang bridge to work.

[Fiddy]

Ah gotcha, it's because of the Mustang bridge. I guess I didn't realize a TOM would sit much higher..

Bigsby is still cool.

[HNB]

Got it all wired up today.

IMG_20200407_174301 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

I love how the back plate is tortoise also.

IMG_20200407_183016 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20200407_183012 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Then I got the toggle wired and the bigsby mounted. Knobs on and strap buttons. Just need the neck to be ready and strings!

IMG_20200407_182948 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20200407_182953 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Pretty excited to hear how it sounds!!!

[JakeNelson2002]

Liking it!

[HNB]

Thanks!!

[Larry Mal]

Shield those cavities, brother! You are right there, this is the time.

[Pacafeliz]

cool! kinda like my old Ibanez Firebird!