1986 Epiphone Firebird

[Shön]

So, I got her today and immediately went to the garage and started working on her. It helped that I got the new Pink Floyd CD as well, made the garage time even more fun.

So, what I didn't mention when i bought it was it has had a headstock repair. It's solid, and when you factor that it was pretty much parted out and add the headstock repair, $115 shipped makes more sense.

I ordered a single mini humbucker and conversion ring, but they wont be here until tomorrow and, honestly, after adding a temp beat up gold hum to it, I may not use the mini on it ...

Anywho, here's the before pictures I took before I stripped her down and the after pictures showing what, minimal, work I did today. mind you, I know the knob positions are slightly off. *shrugs*

Before:

After:

I think it's wanting a Maestro or a wrap around. Not sure here.

More to follow ...

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Lookin good Voodoo.the wood on that thing has a great color to it.

 

[eS.G.]

LOVIN the wood on that beastie. Congrats man you scored HUGE on that one.

Can't wate to see her done

 

[Kris Ford]

So, I got her today and immediately went to the garage and started working on her. It helped that I got the new Pink Floyd CD as well, made the garage time even more fun.

So, what I didn't mention when i bought it was it has had a headstock repair. It's solid, and when you factor that it was pretty much parted out and add the headstock repair, $115 shipped makes more sense.

I ordered a single mini humbucker and conversion ring, but they wont be here until tomorrow and, honestly, after adding a temp beat up gold hum to it, I may not use the mini on it ...

Anywho, here's the before pictures I took before I stripped her down and the after pictures showing what, minimal, work I did today. mind you, I know the knob positions are slightly off. *shrugs*

Before:

After:

I think it's wanting a Maestro or a wrap around. Not sure here.

More to follow ...

That's close enough for the knobs..thinking a wrap with a short Maestro would hide some if not most of the Steinberger mess..If it were me, I'd go double humbuckers..

 

[Shön]

right now the biggest "issues" I am having are aesthetics. Wife LOVES LOVES LOVES the gold, so, do I try to find a maestro (all parts) or just go with abr/stop on gold? Also, and this may be what is urking me the most, is that damn hole in the pickguard. I have ZERO idea how to get rid of that, without using a white, small, sticker.

 

[Shön]

That's close enough for the knobs..thinking a wrap with a short Maestro would hide some if not most of the Steinberger mess..If it were me, I'd go double humbuckers..

What scares me is finding a way to route that top. If it were a bolt on neck, hey no problem, but with it being neck thru, Im not too sure how to do it. I need to find my templates and see what I can do.

 

[Kris Ford]

right now the biggest "issues" I am having are aesthetics. Wife LOVES LOVES LOVES the gold, so, do I try to find a maestro (all parts) or just go with abr/stop on gold? Also, and this may be what is urking me the most, is that damn hole in the pickguard. I have ZERO idea how to get rid of that, without using a white, small, sticker.

Gold wrap would be a tough one, as they never made those..but an ABR-1 would be sweet too.
Gold maestro here:Gibson Springmount Short Vibrola Gold SG Junior Explorer Flying V | eBay
Gold ABR-1:USA Tune-o-Matic Bridge ABR-1 Gold non wire set for Gibson® guitars - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC
What about a mini toggle to coil tap for the hole in the guard?
Also, check that Philadelphia Luthiers out..I like them better than Stew-Mac..

 

[Shön]

Hmmm. Maybe a lipstick in the neck or a Lace?

 

[eS.G.]

What was in that opening originally by the neck?? lipstick or single coil? YOu might could find a "jumbo" lipstick in gold ?????

 

[Shön]

What was in that opening originally by the neck?? lipstick or single coil? YOu might could find a "jumbo" lipstick in gold ?????

Select by EMG ...

 

[Shön]

Ok, so I've finally decided and ordered most of what I need to get her up and running. I am not going to go the vintage route and I'm not going to try to make it stock, I want to make it fitting to me, so, with that said ...

Neck pup I am leaning heavily on a gold lipstick tube pickup. Odd, sure, but I love how they sound in Dano's and it may be a hell of a sound in a FBird ... plus Im deathly afraid to attempt to route the neck for a humbuck.

Bridge and tail. I am going to go odd here and slap on a GFS xTrem top mount in Gold with a roller bridge. I have heard bad things about GFS xTrem's when placed on guitars with existing trems and bridges, but, mine will be a brand new install, so the only mistake to be made is in my math, lol.

I'll keep the gold hum I have in her already and put the mini hum up for a rainy day. So, once everything get's here (I need to order the lipstick) I'll start the wiring and installing. Should be done in say ... two weeks or so?

Fun!

 

[eS.G.]

You had me at gold lipstick

FYI you have FORCED the Firebird bug to bite the SHITE out of me and I will not REST till I HAVE ONE MUWAHAHHAHHAAAAAAA....er cough HA.

 

[Kris Ford]

Ok, so I've finally decided and ordered most of what I need to get her up and running. I am not going to go the vintage route and I'm not going to try to make it stock, I want to make it fitting to me, so, with that said ...

Neck pup I am leaning heavily on a gold lipstick tube pickup. Odd, sure, but I love how they sound in Dano's and it may be a hell of a sound in a FBird ... plus Im deathly afraid to attempt to route the neck for a humbuck.

Bridge and tail. I am going to go odd here and slap on a GFS xTrem top mount in Gold with a roller bridge. I have heard bad things about GFS xTrem's when placed on guitars with existing trems and bridges, but, mine will be a brand new install, so the only mistake to be made is in my math, lol.

I'll keep the gold hum I have in her already and put the mini hum up for a rainy day. So, once everything get's here (I need to order the lipstick) I'll start the wiring and installing. Should be done in say ... two weeks or so?

Fun!

Right on! Any thoughts on the hole in the 'guard?

 

[Shön]

You had me at gold lipstick

FYI you have FORCED the Firebird bug to bite the SHITE out of me and I will not REST till I HAVE ONE MUWAHAHHAHHAAAAAAA....er cough HA.

I'd jump all over that Tokai.

I'm officially on a guitar hiatus. Still gotta buy the house and we close on Thursday, so I gotta drop a HUGE chunk of bank. I grabbed up what I could to hold me over, lol. Least I got some decent winter projects.

 

[eS.G.]

I hear ya, I am currently about to close a refi to get rid of some old stuff still lingering from my first marriage (but I squirreled a little for one last nice geetar buy before the belt has to tighten going in 2015)
:) Priorities ya know---Motorcycles---food-- guitars--house--kids etc. (didn't make that clear to the first wife---Second wife got that run down on date #2. ---things has been just fine since lol)
ROCK ON MAN!

 

[Shön]

Right on! Any thoughts on the hole in the 'guard?

Right now I have a piece of white sponge in it (see pics). It's not as noticable, but it's there. I ordered the following today to get this finished. I'm shooting for Sunday.

- GFS xTrem in Gold
- TusQ Nut
- Gold Gibson Tophats
- Gold ABR
- Grover Rotomatic Locking Tuners Gold

I have decided to route the neck pocket to accommodate the matching gold bucker I have. Found a way I think will work. The only bitch I have at the moment is finding the truss rod cover that doesn't cost $25.

Everything is looking to be here by Friday, so I should have it ll put together and ready, sans a few minor things, on Friday, with the first play date being Sunday morning. I did put a matte gloss on the front tonight. I am not a huge fan of super shiny guitars and I find it looks so much better when it's flat.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Love these kind of threads.

 

[eS.G.]

Rock on Voodoo rock on!!! Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Alex_SG]

Hell yeah, bro! That is gonna be one sick axe!!! Rock on!

 

[Shön]

Well ... I started a few different things on her today. Tusq nut is installed, as is the bridge. Apparently, I no longer own a router, so I pulled out the dremel and started routing out the neck pocket to make it a hum. I broke 3 cutting discs and all the sanding drums. Frustrated, I left everything in the garage and came in the house. It's coming along, but I'm thinking that play by Sunday dream wont be happening. I gotta go to Lowes and get a few more tools.