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Bonamassa Signature Firebird I?

Stevie C.

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
126
I posted a pic of mine on the first page.

Yours is awesome, but I want to see and hear reviews on the actual ones that are/will be going on sale? It would be great to have the consumer models be as nice as the prototypes, but to be honest, I have my doubts... I hope I'm wrong because I have had one on order since Oct 2nd, and am anxiously waiting for it to be delivered to me if Sweetwater ever gets them in!
 

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
Here's mine pre refinish.

D82A21D3-D4F5-40B7-86F1-E7DAD436A772_zpsdpopwvb9.jpg



Here I am right now:

I used an old wrap around from the 60s, aged the tuners and knobs and added some NOS CTS pots along with a .027 Cornell Dublier cap and a Lollar Firebird pickup (I had to drill out the Epiphone ring for it to fit. I bought it used if you go new buy Lollar's ring).

The last thing I'm waiting for are new dots for the neck. The Epi dots don't look right to me.

I got mine just to play slide on for one tour this spring. I mainly wanted something that would look cool and I didn't want to spend much money because I don't play slide all that much. I have about $100-$125 into this one and am pretty happy with it so far.

15726835_10211558282301573_4910302365578001781_n.jpg
 
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Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
Here I am right now:

One word: HOT

Thanks man! Here are some more pics. I was lucky enough to buy a huge lot of .022, .033 and .027 capacitors that had never been used from someone who has worked at the CD plant in New Bedford, MA last week.

I aged all the screws and the tuners. The pickup was used and the bridge is old, so I didn't touch those. I used the bridge as a guide to how far to go with the aging.

I was going to add some dings, but if I know myself it will have a few real ones in about three weeks after I start using it :p

Like I said, a lot of people here are probably more into authenticity than I am, but for a low cost refinish job I'm really happy so far.

3E134530-7EC1-4D87-8BC8-E596DDA5737B_zpszjrt7jcp.jpg


2600C21C-385E-46A9-BA96-4DAF98C0F267_zpsoxilxd3v.jpg


FCE6208A-D963-4604-8D18-C7D4D8549C6B_zpsacfu5y0x.jpg


2771A553-D2B7-4368-A777-DCF6D12A5CE3_zpsbl7mnr5v.jpg


43E812C5-C7F3-4548-8EFB-CBCB83AE4754_zpswippkwmg.jpg
 
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Stevie C.

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
126
Here's mine pre refinish.

D82A21D3-D4F5-40B7-86F1-E7DAD436A772_zpsdpopwvb9.jpg



Here I am right now:

I used an old wrap around from the 60s, aged the tuners and knobs and added some NOS CTS pots along with a .027 Cornell Dublier cap and a Lollar Firebird pickup (I had to drill out the Epiphone ring for it to fit. I bought it used if you go new buy Lollar's ring).

The last thing I'm waiting for are new dots for the neck. The Epi dots don't look right to me.

I got mine just to play slide on for one tour this spring. I mainly wanted something that would look cool and I didn't want to spend much money because I don't play slide all that much. I have about $100-$125 into this one and am pretty happy with it so far.

15726835_10211558282301573_4910302365578001781_n.jpg
Is that Gibson truss cover the same hole spacing as the Epi's?
 

Hackubus

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2001
Messages
1,591
The red refin is very nice!

Got my tracking order from Sweetwater this afternoon. Shouldn't be much longer now.
 

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
I did all the prep work and the primer. I let the shop spray the color because I wanted it to be as thin as possible.

The poly comes off as a white dust and I probably ended up with 1/4 LB+ of the dust when I was done. I should have weighed it before and after but without any pickups/hardware it was noticeably lighter once it was stripped and remained so when the refinish was done.

It wasn't hard to do but you probably should wear a mask and use a dust collection system if you decide to strip one yourself. I used a Bosch orbital sander with a vacuum and a Porter Cable profile sander (to get the finish around the raised areas) as well as a Jet Spindle Sander. .

The Lollar pickup I chose is a little heavier than the stock Epiphone pickup and the old bridge I'm using is a little lighter than the stock Epiphone bridge.

The one thing I would be interested in knowing how they did is the signature on the back of the headstock. That white pen stayed there even when all of the color was stripped. It must have been done before the clear or with one strong ink!
 
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Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
I'm going to guess and say Mid-70's cause the racks the guitars are in are not the same as the ones used in the 50's & 60's. Those were wood rack then. The woman with the 3-pickup LP in the back looks to have a fancier type block inlay like the Artisan's had.
The Firebird however looks like it has a white finish or some other lighter colour. You can see some reflections in a few spots that only a finished guitar would have, so the laminations would not show in that case.. but the `76 Firebird did not have the 9-ply laminations like most of the Sixties Firebird's had..

I would say '77-8 in kZOO...as the 3 pickup Custom was re-introduced in '76, Artisan soon after, and it would make sense that a Firebird, most likely a post Bicentennial version, would look new then as well.
 

Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
ALL that beautiful work, and ya got use those shitty knobs..:biggrin:
15726835_10211558282301573_4910302365578001781_n.jpg

Worst "reflectors" ever made..
I'd personally use these:

Which look more like these:

THAN these:dang

 

Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
LOL! You're probably right but like I said, I'm more of a player than someone who gets hung up on the historical details. I had those lying around. Maybe sometime I'll order some different ones.

Thanks for the pics!
 
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