Firebird same as TB?

[drbassman]

One more question!  My guitar friend was wondering if the headstock is the same also for bass and guitar?  I think they look like it, but I'd rather hear from you guys on that one!     

[uwe]

IIRC that is not the same size at all. Why? Because Gibson, thrifty as they are, could not use guitar necks on a bass (I'm sure they tried though!), so forced to make a long scale neck from scratch they thought what the heck let's enlarge the headstock too.

PS: On a 2007 Firebird I once had, the headstock was definitely smaller (if similarly shaped) than on my modern day TBs.

[drbassman]

IIRC that is not the same size at all. Why? Because Gibson, thrifty as they are, could not use guitar necks on a bass (I'm sure they tried though!), so forced to make a long scale neck from scratch they thought what the heck let's enlarge the headstock too.

PS: On a 2007 Firebird I once had, the headstock was definitely smaller (if similarly shaped) than on my modern day TBs.

Makes sense Uwe.  Anyone here able to send me a tracing of an old NR Firebird headstock?

[Dave W]

If you can shrink a drawing of the Thunderbird headstock you might wind up with the right size. IIRC the Firebird headstock is like a mini-me of the Thunderbird, proportioned to the shorter neck. Same relative proportions, just smaller. Hope that makes sense.

Unfortunately I've never had two to compare directly.

[drbassman]

If you can shrink a drawing of the Thunderbird headstock you might wind up with the right size. IIRC the Firebird headstock is like a mini-me of the Thunderbird, proportioned to the shorter neck. Same relative proportions, just smaller. Hope that makes sense.

Unfortunately I've never had two to compare directly.

Makes sense Dave.  Thanks.