The Team will be complete.

I ordered number 27 today...to get me through until next year....still have a Bass underway and a Ukelele kit I was given.

https://www.pitbullguitars.com/shop/...-kit-mahogany/

The Firebird will join the Thunderbird Bass I made last year.

As the body and the neck are Mahogany....and I like that wood....I will be only making the edges around the body and a trying a bit of trickery with the headstock in a dark or black colour on this one. The rest will be natural.

I think....initially anyway....that I will make the Firebird completely out of the box....no upgrades.....oops...first fail...I ordered the Grover tuners with the kit....doh. But that is it...honest.....well I found this fellow in Melbourne who makes original spec Firebird pickups.......mmmm....may have to have a chat with him.

So black trim around the edge of the body....clear natural in the middle. Gotta shape the reverse headstock....and think I will go reverse to normal.....normal is Black in the middle with a natural or minimal stain colour around the routed edges......so my decals will work.....I think a natural headstock face with a black accent around the outside may be the way.

Now just gotta find a scalable reverse headstock template.....have a dremel tool.....have an Aldi router....but also have sandpaper and chisels.....so I think shaving, rasping, filing by hand to make the shape...then chisels along an outline to finish the raised edge shape will be the go.

So keen.

Merry Xmas all......ooh....gotta think of a name for this girl....the T Bird is the DOWNUNDER BIRD. MMMMMMM.

Wow, number 27? You clearly have a much bigger house than I do..........!

27! You're killing it man. Look forward to seeing it come together

I have longingly pondered over doing Firebird and will just have to enviously sit back and watch this one come together.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Andyxlh

Wow, number 27? You clearly have a much bigger house than I do..........!

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Pick the bloke who lives on his own....3 bedroom unit....16 guitars and basses in my lounge....10 upstairs in my work room.

Girlfriend thinks I may have an issue.....nah....don’t like shoes....ha ha ha.

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Originally Posted by JohnH

27! You're killing it man. Look forward to seeing it come together

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Oh sorry to mislead....this one will be 27 in total in my possession.....not all made by me....I have made guitars for my son and nephew...a Bass for my daughter and a Bass for girlfriends cousin.

In my home right now:-

3 x Yamaha Basses. 2 x Artist Guitars....strat and Les Paul copy....1 Artist acoustic.....all three bargain bin repairs.

1 x Yamaha Pacifica strat copy.

1 x rescue Bass.....plywood body...given to me in two pieces....Tone Rider P Bass pickups etc fitted.

1 x donated ukelele kit that was not wanted....unfinished.

17 built ones..... 1 hollow body guitar, 1 Floyd rose fitted Ibanez RG copy, 1 lovely telecaster, 1 ugly jazzmaster with great P 90s fitted. 1 McCarty PRS copy, 1 strat copy, 11 Basses including the double neck BG46, TBird, PBH, Yb4, P Bass, Ash body Jazz Bass, P Bass Ash body, mahogany body five string musicman, unfinished explorer four string........the list goes on.

Actually at work and can’t think of the other three???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wazkelly

I have longingly pondered over doing Firebird and will just have to enviously sit back and watch this one come together.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

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I was not going to....checked on EBay store....said only three in stock...so jumped. Missed in the past.

I think same Tru Oil treatment....but with just a dark/black edge and headstock trim will look and feel great.

Maybe get some FW black proof tint.....seems to work better for me....feather an edge may be an issue though.

May have to be black ubeaut water base stain.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozzbike

17 built ones..... 1 hollow body guitar, 1 Floyd rose fitted Ibanez RG copy, 1 lovely telecaster, 1 ugly jazzmaster with great P 90s fitted. 1 McCarty PRS copy, 1 strat copy, 11 Basses including the double neck BG46, TBird, PBH, Yb4, P Bass, Ash body Jazz Bass, P Bass Ash body, mahogany body five string musicman, unfinished explorer four string........the list goes on.

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ha ha, I feel like 17 builds is still killing it

Nice one. where do you stash all these basses/guitars?

Just wondering what type of team has 27 as the 'complete' number?

NRL = 17
Soccer = 18
AFL = 22
Rugby = 23

You have me intrigued?

I only have just enough to field a soccer team with nil reserves.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wazkelly

Just wondering what type of team has 27 as the 'complete' number?

NRL = 17
Soccer = 18
AFL = 22
Rugby = 23

You have me intrigued?

I only have just enough to field a soccer team with nil reserves.

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Actually a team of two....Thunderbird and Firebird.

But now that you have raised it....your fault....not mine.....you made me think.

I think the team would not be complete until it numbers 50.

Don’t deny it. You made me do...it is all your fault....23 more. 😎🎼🎧🎸

Fifty!!!

Wow, that is almost NFL team numbers (53).

Understand what you have done as I did the same with EX1 & EX5 and will be interested to know if bodies are also the same size as was the case with both explorers, just different routing for PUP's & control cavities and obviously size and length of necks.

I haven't even cracked double digits for finished builds yet.

Anyway, having built one of these a while ago, one thing to look our for is the hole for the vol pots being drilled too close to the raised centre section on the body and the bottom of the knob hitting on the raised part. It may not be an issue now but still a good idea to fit pot and knob to check.
Attachment 29203

Grant

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neverwas

I haven't even cracked double digits for finished builds yet.

Anyway, having built one of these a while ago, one thing to look our for is the hole for the vol pots being drilled too close to the raised centre section on the body and the bottom of the knob hitting on the raised part. It may not be an issue now but still a good idea to fit pot and knob to check.
Attachment 29203

Grant

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Oh wow...thanks. I shall check that.

The girl has arrived today.....deliver at 6.00 p.m.....Aussie Post is doing the hours. :)

I think to keep the Australiana theme going....The Thunderbird is The Downunder Bird.....I think this Firebird shall be the Lyrebird.

I did not notice on the listing....but this kit comes with a bound fretboard.....nice.

I checked the fit...neck is nice....the Grover Tuners are in the kit.....the knobs and pots clear the raised centre section.....all nice. :)

I am thinking about what to do with the headstock. It is a reverse style....and I can't seem to find a resizable printable template....without mirror swapping a normal headstock.

Anybody with ideas out there....your contributions shall be happily received.

Thank you in advance. :)

I like the one neverwas did some time ago.:cool:

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Originally Posted by Andy40

I like the one neverwas did some time ago.:cool:

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Would this be the one....love it....little beyond me...by a lot.

http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...2&d=1542011568

I have sanded and timbermate round has been completed.

I wiped some black stain....water based...on the edges and in about 50mm on the front and back.

Not a fan....thinking I should have stayed with natural or did the FW Fine Buffing Oil and wax route.

So I hit it up roughly with some 240....skimmed the black off in places and then two coats of Tru Oil. I quite like it....but it is different.

I will take piccies of the body once I can touch it tonight.

I have done nothing with the neck at all. Still undecided.

I found a joint in Townsville that sells veneers......topveneer.com.au....or similar. They do a couple of marquetry packs.

That idea has got me thinking.....make a traditional headstock shape.....but dead flat.....stack a couple of sheets of veneer and cut to a shape I like. Use this as the raised centre section.

Then make another multi layer section and cut to a truss rod cover shape.

I think I will wipe a black stain on the headstock and across the base of the neck.....and sand it back with 240 as well.

With a Tru Oil finish.....the guitar will be protected but appear roadworn.

Appeals to me....let’s see if I can pull it off.

Can't wait for the pics.

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Hmmmmmmm.......I just don't know. Love the flame the Tru Oil found near the controls on the front.

Last one of this group.

your 27 makes me feel SO much better... 17 kit builds, 2 scratchies and 3 storeboughts

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Originally Posted by Dedman

your 27 makes me feel SO much better... 17 kit builds, 2 scratchies and 3 storeboughts

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Ha ha...like that.

The thing for me is the building...I play really average....I like putting them together and making them work.

I suck at stains and colours....natural works for me.

I love your blackness...makes me smile. Ha ha

My playing really sucks but that doesn't matter because I still enjoy it ,got no aspirations but yea the building is a great way to spend time. I ordered 2 more kustom kits last night for next year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dedman

your 27 makes me feel SO much better... 17 kit builds, 2 scratchies and 3 storeboughts

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Hmm, 8 kits, 2 rebuilds, 1 scratchbuild, 5 store bought, and so many plans.....

It is amazing that this seems acceptable to significant others. Cars....fishing boats.....not so acceptable....but guitars seems to get the nod.

I have bought a bundle from top veneer over night....be a little time until it ships...they are on holidays.

https://www.topveneer.com.au/product-category/misc/

I ordered the 0.75kg lot of veneers and one roll of veneer tape.

I am thinking a couple of left field things for the firebird.

Replace the pick guard with segments of veneer cut to geometric shapes....cubism....and glued together over a larger veneer.....hoping the veneers are only thin.....the measurements on the site don't seem to add up....20x20x10cm.....I think the photos show them to be thinner than that.

May have to go to Bunnings or so and see if I can get a sheet of thin veneer to use under the nicely figured ones.

Then for the headstock.....I have downloaded some of the pics on the net and noticed that some of the 1970's style firebird have normal tuners...not the banjo style...and appear to have a veneer attached on top of the headstock stained/painted a different colour.

They also seem to have a Gibson/epiphone stylised truss road cover on top of that.

I would like to make a 3 ply veneer to make the normal flat shape on the headstock. Maybe then a single ply truss rod cover.....may have to make a two ply for rigidity.

All three in the traditional shape....all three created from segments cut at angles and in geometric shapes.

Not a word guys....I am thinking that speaks volumes....I am not happy about the black stain residue....thinking about sanding and just going with my natural norm....but with the suggested cover upgrades above.

Hi Ozzie, just caught up as I have been busy doing a few other things lately.

Yeah, tend to agree that the black bit didn't work out as planned and your standard nudie natural may be the way to go. If mine I would try and achieve a deep cherry red colour. Like your idea for doing something different on the scratch plate. If I ever get around to doing one of these my thoughts were to cut a scratch plate from humble thin plywood and stain that as top layer of ply is usually very light.

Mind you, if you did a twin of your T-Bird that would also look good too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wazkelly

Hi Ozzie, just caught up as I have been busy doing a few other things lately.

Yeah, tend to agree that the black bit didn't work out as planned and your standard nudie natural may be the way to go. If mine I would try and achieve a deep cherry red colour. Like your idea for doing something different on the scratch plate. If I ever get around to doing one of these my thoughts were to cut a scratch plate from humble thin plywood and stain that as top layer of ply is usually very light.

Mind you, if you did a twin of your T-Bird that would also look good too.

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Hmm...not the twin thing. I want to try something different.

Yet with that in mind.....my norm would be the naked natural thing.

But the RED intrigues me. I have the Red Mahogany prooftint from Feast Watson I have used on the neck and the back of the body on my EXA-4 kit.....under Tru Oil it is so deep and rich....crimson really.

And doing a single colour takes my ineptitude with stain out of the picture...with my poor efforts at bursting springing to mind.

Okay.....I will sand her back....sad though....hit her up with some more Tru Oil yesterday and the grain is jumping out....nice.

Refill with timbermate....and I will stick with the mahogany timbermate....not doing the black thing....I actually don't like it....sad for me really. Maybe walnut may be a compromise.

I actually saw a couple of videos on YouTube of people making stools with different styles, grains and colours of wood. The end results were just Tung oiled and looked amazing. I have since looked at a few videos on veneers.....gotta find a way of ensuring the evenness of the joining edges....and gotta get some more clamps....only have two.....and some MDF to use as clamping backing plates....CAWLS they call them.

My issue will be trying to get overall thickness within useable limits. The pickguard will be fine.....three/five ply will give me a similar depth to the plastic pickguard. Chamfer the edge.....use whatever in the plies underneath...and make my colour stuff in the top layer only. Then trim...sand lightly...chamfer with sanding.....and Tru Oil to a shine.

The headstock is my concern. If I go the flat headstock with shaped veneer over the top and then a truss rod cover over that I will have to watch the total height for string clearance. The images I have seen show the tuners not in the headstock trim....so the strings will have to maintain clearance over the veneer and truss rod cover.

Really need to see how thick these veneers are.

Now gotta plan a bookpress style clamping system.......Big Green Shed may have some ideas.....oh and have to find some greaseproof paper...hello Woolies.

Watch this space. :)

She has been sanded bare with 60 grit...cleaned up with 80 grit....smoothed with 120 grit....dusted with 180 grit. Now Mahogany timbermate and then 240 grit to follow.

Look sometimes staring over is the best. its gotta be right by you

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Originally Posted by Andy40

Look sometimes staring over is the best. its gotta be right by you

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Damn straight.

Sanded the timber mate off....used the 30 degree day to dry it all out.

One big soak coat of Tru Oil last night.....one more this morning early....looking great.....may sneak another in tonight.

The body appears to be two piece....not centred. The bottom bouts are all one piece and there is a section of lovely tiger flame that goes from just under the raised section on the front of the body....down and around the edge and up to the opposite spot.

Looks so cool. I love how oils pull hidden grain....figure....out of wood.

Photos after a day driving the Uber car.

Quiet today.....all worried about the incoming cyclone....no sign on the Sunshine Coast as of 0935am.

Home now. Another coat on the body...that is 3 coats of Tru Oil again now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozzbike

Hmmmmmmm.......I just don't know. Love the flame the Tru Oil found near the controls on the front.

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Looking awesome

Yeah the flame in that mahogany!:o

Finally bit the bullet today. Going to have a go at shaping the headstock.

I have downloaded and resized and printed about 10 headstock templates.

The PBG paddle is not the right size to allow a proper full sized Firebird headstock shape. There is not enough wood below the High E string tuner hole, nor above the Low E string tuner hole.

The headstock appears to not be as long as the banjo style tuner headstock, and the tuner holes are too close to one edge to allow much room to cut and shape things.

1970’s style reverse headstock with side tuners do not appear to have the routed/contoured traditional headstock face I had envisaged. Rather, they are just flat with square edges.

1980’s ones have a mix of flat traditional shapes with a beveled edge.....and a flat headstock with a lot thinner routed/contoured shape in the middle of the face.

Okay...choices.

I think I will resize and reshape the headstock to give me room for the three or so layered veneer insert and truss rod cover to all be attached over a silky smooth sanded and filled natural finish mahogany headstock.

Fret saw and rasps here I come. Wish me luck.