NONRFBIIID (New Old Non-Reverse Firebird III Day)

[Gavanti]

Took a road trip this weekend to meet a fellow midwestern OSGer (Hiwatt Bob) and came home with this lovely beaten and bruised bird. I've been wanting one of these for awhile. Player's grade works out best for me for price and practicality. This one fits the bill—refinished, rewired, and ready . I've had to get used to the body being so thin and the vibrola action, but it's nice and light, and I really like the neck profile.

It's set up with 3 volumes and a push/pull pot for the middle pickup. The neck and middle pickup are original and date it to '68-'69, and the bridge is an older hot-wound MJ Juarez SD. All of them sound good, and I love the flexibility of tone that P-90s have using the controls. It's definitely one of the best sounding guitars I've played through dirt pedals. I've got a Lollar Firebird set I had originally intended to use to covert a NRFB I or III over to Firebird V specs, but i like the originals enough I might just see how the Lollar bridge mixes in and let it go at that.





On the way back, I thought it would be fitting to stop by the Surf Ballroom, Iowa's main claim on tragic rock history (along with Ozzy's bat eating and Slipknot).

[Embenny]

Man, that is absolutely gorgeous. Amazing find. Play the heck out of it!

Player grade vintage guitars are where it's at.

[Gavanti]

Man, that is absolutely gorgeous. Amazing find. Play the heck out of it!

Player grade vintage guitars are where it's at.

Thanks! Yeah. Players are super fun. Hiwatt Bob gets credit for the find though. He picked this up awhile back and had it put into shape. My only contribution so far is the knobs. Keeping my fingers crossed that band practice happens tonight...

[Hiwatt Bob]

Glad you’re liking it! I see you changed the knobs too—those look nice.

[Gavanti]

Glad you’re liking it! I see you changed the knobs too—those look nice.

It's great. I've been making ridiculously scuzzy sounds (and some nice ones too) for the last few days. Too much fun. Thanks again!

[Despot]

Nice! Happy NGD Gavanti!

[budda12ax7]

Oh man that looks really nice

[rbrcbr]

God, I love those things. Hopefully will get my hands on a Non reverse with minis someday. Glad to see cool guitars still changing hands among forumites! Happy NGD!

[MechaBulletBill]

woah that's nice.

[Gavanti]

God, I love those things. Hopefully will get my hands on a Non reverse with minis someday. Glad to see cool guitars still changing hands among forumites! Happy NGD!

Sometimes, you just have to make your own luck. NRFB V's and VII's are out of my range but used Lollars are not.

The P90s sounded good, but I love Firebird minis. I'm not sure what to do with the middle pickup though. Maybe I'll shift the neck bird to the middle and restore the original neck P90, which I liked a lot, or else put in a mini sized gold foil or mini-humbucker in the middle...lots of potentially fun options.

[rbrcbr]

God, I love those things. Hopefully will get my hands on a Non reverse with minis someday. Glad to see cool guitars still changing hands among forumites! Happy NGD!

Sometimes, you just have to make your own luck. NRFB V's and VII's are out of my range but used Lollars are not.

The P90s sounded good, but I love Firebird minis. I'm not sure what to do with the middle pickup though. Maybe I'll shift the neck bird to the middle and restore the original neck P90, which I liked a lot, or else put in a mini sized gold foil or mini-humbucker in the middle...lots of potentially fun options.

Ahhhh, touché! Ya know, I haven't had the chance to play original firebird pickups but I've always heard them and loved the sound. Definitely something to consider I guess, I'd probably just feel bad about swapping out parts on a vintage firebird. Looks great how you've got it now! One of the guitarists from The National has a non reverse with firebird minis in the neck + middle and a P90 in the bridge. Sounds greeeat. Especially paired with his brother's non reverse.

[Gavanti]

Ahhhh, touché! Ya know, I haven't had the chance to play original firebird pickups but I've always heard them and loved the sound. Definitely something to consider I guess, I'd probably just feel bad about swapping out parts on a vintage firebird. Looks great how you've got it now! One of the guitarists from The National has a non reverse with firebird minis in the neck + middle and a P90 in the bridge. Sounds greeeat. Especially paired with his brother's non reverse.

Yeah, I would be more reluctant to start pulling things out if that hadn't happened already. I'm planning to keep the two original P-90s and covers with the guitar in case a future owner wants to restore it back to something closer to original.

It definitely caught my eye when the Dessners started using NRFB's. I met them through a mutual friend when they played the Bowery supporting Boxer. Good guys.