Build 3 - FBM-1

[Trevor Davies]

Thanks Simon.
I probably should have done that with the FVB-4!

I have google imaged the "real ones" and noticed they are either in the neck plate position or on the top shoulder like with the LP's!

I'll have a think about it.

[Simon Barden]

Top shoulder makes the guitar slightly more likely to be neck heavy. It will also tend to make the guitar sit so the end of the neck is that bit further away from your body, which is already a long way on a Firebird! I’d also recommend straplocks to keep the strap firmly in place, as standard buttons on a sloped piece of body will tend to pull the strap off the button. But it will help keep the top of the guitar sitting closer to you, as with a neck heel button, it will tend to fall forwards unless you hold it in place with your arm or run the strap over the front of the rear of the body. No perfect solution with that body shape.

[Trevor Davies]

Thanks again Simon.

Yes the end of the neck will sit a long way out, the same problem I have with a scratch-body franken-explorer I made 30 years ago.

I also use strap locks with my favorite guitars as I once had the strap come off (luckily no real damage was done).

[Trevor Davies]

Electronics are in and all working - tested with the screwdriver tap.
Cut out a template for the truss rod cover. Now just have to wait for some black pickguard material to arrive (but it may be a 2 month wait)

[Cliff Rogers]

Here in Oz, you will have it faster.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-Ply-Gu...frcectupt=true

[Simon Barden]

Looks great in the pics!

Just check the pickguard material when you get it. On my GSJ-1 I assumed mine had protective film on both sides so just marked out cut away without checking. But it only had the film on one side, so my first effort ended up with what should have been the top all scratched, so that then had to become the template fir the next attempt.

[Simon Barden]

I've just noted that on my 2019 Firebird (and on pics of old ones as well), the rear strap button sits about 1"/25mm higher than the centre line of the neck, the normal place you'd find a strap button. Just in case you haven't fitted yours yet.

[Trevor Davies]

Thanks Simon,
I have fitted the strap buttons, in the middle rear, and on the front shoulder. She seems very well balanced.

[Simon Barden]

That's good to know.

[Trevor Davies]

Put strings on the FBM-1 the other day, then let it sit for a few days for the neck to settle.
I then played around with the string setup. I could achieve quite a low action without any problems.

I have noticed that when the high E string is paying at 8th fret there is some chiming from the A string between the nut and the tuner. This high C note closely matches the note from the A string. A great example of resonance.

I'm using medium gauge 11-49 DÁddario strings.

Has anybody had this problem?