Some background. I ditched my white '77 Tbird (bought new) in '81 for the usual reasons, neck profile and dive. I was always happy with the sound, especially played through 3 Coliseums and 3 SVT cabinets. '81 was very different from '77, married w/new son, down to one coliseum and a 2-15 cab. Before I straight traded the Bird for a '76 'StingRay (still have it, weighs 12 lbs, great boat anchor) I made a tracing of the body.
Fenderbird was in my head.
I quickly tired of the weight and blah sunburst of the 'Ray, though the neck profile is very nice, and decided to cannibalize it for a Fenderbird (Musicman=Leo=Fender). Instead I bought the components: a left handed Charvel neck (new), Kluson reverse LH tuners, DiMarzio P pup and Badass, etc (all used from, I think, Freedom Guitars) for around $100 and commuted the 'Ray's sentence to life under my bed. Built the Bird, painted it red and gigged it. Still did the neck dive dance a little, but at least the profile was more to my liking. And I liked the DiMarzio OK.
Stopped playing after my daughter was born in '84. After '98 divorce revisited the Bird and stripped the paint, made the Badass thru body, modified the headstock and added a P/J set of Duncans. Then I replaced the Klusons with Gotohs. Time to finish this one.
2001 w/ SDs. You can see the original rout for the MM pup
Photoshop Concept (Blonde Ambition)
Last week (NR pg planned)
Counterbores for flush string ferrules
Plugging pot holes
Thinking about this, unfortunately after I drilled those counterbores. But there's always the next one.
Prepped for face lift, skim coat of filler sanded.
Not quite ready for its closeup. Paper backed veneer, Titebond glue. Using this bridge or the Badass may reappear.
Next is pup routing, pot holes and gut contour, then body prep for finishing. Pups will be 2 EMG 35 TWs, chromerized. They are EMG's "vintage" sounding 3 coils. We'll see.
http://www.emginc.com/products/category/247/2Headstock has to be recontoured, veneered and refinned.
Color to be determined, a lot depends how well the back and sides clean up. I'm leaning blonde or transparent Fiesta Red stain.
LBO has been a HUGE inspiration in the short time since finding it and joining. THANKS!