Twiz Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh currently has a pretty cool exhibition on guitars and the science that makes them work. Today my girlfriend and I went down to check it out. They had a bunch of instruments (both acoustic and electric, as well as instruments that were ancestors to the guitar) on display. One caught my eye, and I can't figure it out. -The Firebird pictured below. Have any of you guys seen one with a headstock like that? I figured maybe someone put a SG neck on a Firebird body, but the guitar didn't look like it was re-finished or anything. Maybe they made 'em like that at some point? Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Wow thats pretty cool.. never seen one like that.. I wonder if its a prototype before they decided to give it a new headstock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I actually want a Firebird now. Looks so much better than an actual one's headstock. Though, I'd to the white tipped Klusons on it. You should have gotten more angles of it ;-; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I thought they were neck through designs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Regular Firebirds are, I have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Johnny Winter has one of those, I have seen pictures of him playing a guitar just like this, If you google probably it'll come up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppelinguy Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 It probably had something to do with a Fender lawsuit. There's a lot of design variation in early/mid 60's Firebird models for that reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I still want a Flying-V w/a LPC neck......and "Leroy" inlayed on the FB!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I am one of a few that helped build that guitar. We also put the standard headstock on many other models, and put an Explorer HS on an SG, an many other weird things. Proof?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I recall seeing Johnny Winters with a 'bird like that one but I forget the story behind it,I believe it was in an issue of Vintage Guitar Mag a while back,Ill have to look it up and try to find it.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 http://www.facebook.com/Majezfeld?ref=tn_tnmn Proof enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 weird, i had my profile set to public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiz Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 I thought they were neck through designs. Yep, I didn't think of that when I first saw the guitar yesterday. That had me even more intrigued. The way they had the display case set up, I couldn't really get any other good angles of the guitar. The regular Gibson headstock on this Firebird makes me wonder if that is where they got the inspiration for the RD Artist design. Hmmmm... I recall seeing Johnny Winters with a 'bird like that one but I forget the story behind it,I believe it was in an issue of Vintage Guitar Mag a while back,Ill have to look it up and try to find it.' I looked for some photos today before I left for work. I'll keep doing some research. If anybody has one, I bet Johnny Winters does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Winters lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 It probably had something to do with a Fender lawsuit. There's a lot of design variation in early/mid 60's Firebird models for that reason. I don't think there was a lawsuit, I think it was a politely worded letter between gentlemen that Leo didn't even want to write and wouldn't have if Forest hadn't leaned on him to do it. But I could be wrong, I may be mis-remembering it. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiz Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 Winters lol Oops. #-o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eades Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 A few of the RD's that didn't sell in the early 80'S were re shaped in to the firebird shape because they were very similar and sold better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 ^^^no way, i bet the body shapes don't overlap and would cost much more to re-shape and refinish a guitar all over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 A few of the RD's that didn't sell in the early 80'S were re shaped in to the firebird shape because they were very similar and sold better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiz Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eades Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 not completely finish guitars that would be stupid, im talking about just the unfinished body slabs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiz Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Ok, so I figured it out. A friend of mine knows someone who helped install the exhibition at the Science Center. Turns out that guitar did/does belong to Johnny Winter, and it is original. Haha. I wish they would have posted that info in the display! Mystery solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 Ok, so I figured it out. A friend of mine knows someone who helped install the exhibition at the Science Center. Turns out that guitar did/does belong to Johnny Winter, and it is original. Haha. I wish they would have posted that info in the display! Mystery solved. That could actually be Johnny Winter's guitar. From what I have read its an SG headstock replaced after a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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