I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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FrankRay
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by FrankRay » Tue May 26, 2020 9:22 am

Out of interest, is a vox phantom offset??

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PorkyPrimeCut
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Tue May 26, 2020 9:58 pm

FrankRay wrote:
Tue May 26, 2020 9:22 am
Out of interest, is a vox phantom offset??
Yes and no.
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UlricvonCatalyst
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by UlricvonCatalyst » Wed May 27, 2020 3:17 am

Maybe, to qualify as offset, a guitar has to have not just an offset waist, but an offset waist at the precise angle Leo patented.

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FrankRay
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by FrankRay » Fri May 29, 2020 11:15 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:
Tue May 26, 2020 9:58 pm
FrankRay wrote:
Tue May 26, 2020 9:22 am
Out of interest, is a vox phantom offset??
Yes and no.
Hmmmm......... that isn't helping very much.

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windmill
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by windmill » Fri May 29, 2020 4:03 pm

It must be time to have a another look at Ferbis the offset dog HTH :)

Image

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BoringPostcards
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by BoringPostcards » Fri May 29, 2020 4:57 pm

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:
Wed May 27, 2020 3:17 am
Maybe, to qualify as offset, a guitar has to have not just an offset waist, but an offset waist at the precise angle Leo patented.
No, it just needs to be the upper waist that is offset, as that is what makes a functional difference for seated playing, as that was the intention behind the design in the first place.
The firebird waist is reverse of that and only a very slight angle. It has no affect on seated playing.
The patent number for the waist is on the original headstock decals for most of the original offset Fenders (2,960,900).
Google that and you will find the original patent drawing, which displays the seated playing.
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cincinnatiharry
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by cincinnatiharry » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:57 am

bleachboy wrote:
Tue May 26, 2020 7:51 am
@Cincinnatiharry: thanks !
Yes those pickups sound actually pretty good (esp. the neck PU). Have you tried Q pickups for mini humbuckers ? I’ve read many raving reviews about them. The specs look very promising, and the price is actually very nice ! https://reverb.com/uk/item/8224072-fire ... -q-pickups
Never tried the Q, will check it out if I get yet another Firebird (no way that's gonna happen, *sigh* it WILL probably happen)
"some misguided Marin county hot-tubber"

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mijmog
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by mijmog » Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:12 am

bleachboy wrote:
Sat May 23, 2020 12:50 am

- There is a switchcraft jack in place of the original one.

- Tuners have been replaced by Schallers (as written in the listing).

- The original slider (and often problematic) switch was replaced with a regular three-way toggle switch, as is often done with those guitars.

Here’s what’s weird about that guitar:

- There is no copper plate inside the pots cavity.

- Some pots look legit, others I’m not quite sure about.

- There is no strap button on the heel of the guitar, nor is there a hole for it, there’s only one on the bout (back of the neck). I’ve read that most if not all Birds came with a strap button both on the bout and the heel.

- When I unscrewed the pickguard, I noticed that the guitar cavity had three pickup routes, whereas the guitar only has 2 pickups and the pickguard is routed for 2 pickups too. The listing made no mention of this. EDIT: after further research, it seems that all Non Reverse Birds were factory routed for three pickups.

- The hole for the bottom right screw in the pickguard (bottom « horn ») is weird, I can’t put a screw there, it doesn’t screw into the wood, but directly into the « empty » cavity, therefore is useless.
Hi Louis, I have a '67 NRFB - all the points I've quoted above have also happened to my guitar - this is total normal stuff to happen to a +50 year old instrument.

My pickguard has shrunk so badly that the original screw holes are now 4mm away from the current position. I've also lost the control cavity shield too, the bottom screw at this point doesn't go anyway near the wood, I've had to build it out with some mahogany epoxied into place!

All Firebirds had 3 routes. Mine was originally a 2 pickup guitar that had 3 pickup guard and extra pickup fitted.

I've got numerous holes for strap buttons, its like Swiss cheese!

The slider has long gone, so are the original tuners.

Still sounds ace, play the shit out of it!

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bleachboy
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Re: I need help to I.D my 1968 « mystery » Firebird

Post by bleachboy » Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:03 am

Thanks very much ! It’s great to hear that !

And as soon as I will be able to tour again, that Bird is most definitely going everywhere with me !!

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