Posted on June 6, 2024May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan by Mike Doolin Originally published in American Lutherie #75, 2003 See also, Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan by David Riggs Marc Vermeiren from cyberspace asks: I’m searching for a plan of a Gibson Firebird. Mike Doolin of Portland, OR responds: I’ve never heard of a published plan for a Firebird. It’s a Gibson solidbody that came out briefly in the ’60s and has occasionally been reproduced since then. It wasn’t terribly popular. The pickups were different than normal Gibsons, but I think Seymour Duncan makes a Firebird replacement pickup. I’d say your best bet would be to find a Firebird and trace the body shape. ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024May 23, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Rebec Building Plans Questions: Rebec Building Plans by Cammie Mills Originally published in American Lutherie #97, 2009 Cammie Mills from the Internet asks: I am looking for the building plans for a rebec. Cammie Mills found the plans: Paul Butler offers a plan for the 3-string rebec (also known as a soprano) on his website. His page covers how he built one and gives a mildly detailed history of the instrument. The site in general is very informative. He also provides links to more information as well as a link to some music for the rebec and how it sounds. http://crab.rutgers.edu/~pbutler/rebec.html. ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024May 28, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan by David Riggs Originally published in American Lutherie #76, 2003 See also, Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan by Mike Doolin David Riggs of Joplin, MO answers Marc Vermeiren's question regarding acquiring a plan of a Gibson Firebird: I have several templates, having made a few Firebird-style instruments before Gibson started making reproductions in the ’70s. Anyone interested may e-mail me: titanicslim@yahoo.com.
Posted on June 6, 2024May 27, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Dobro Plans Questions: Dobro Plans by Mike Dotson Originally published in American Lutherie #87, 2006 Charlie S. from the Internet asks: Can you give me a source for plans to build a Dobro? Mike Dotson of Phoenix, AZ responds: The only readily available plan for a resonator guitar I know of is the one by Paul Beard at Resophonic Outfitters. (www.beardguitars.com. Click “parts,” then “blueprints.”) They also supply all the parts needed. You can get the same plan as well as parts from Stewart-MacDonald (www.stewmac.com). ◆
Posted on June 6, 2024May 27, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Requinto Plans Questions: Requinto Plans by William Cumpiano and Luis Alberto Paredes Rodríguez Originally published in American Lutherie #87, 2006 Chip H. from the Internet asks: I’ve been looking everywhere for a set of plans for a requinto. Any thoughts on where I might find one, or some generous soul that might send me the dimensions and scale length? William Cumpiano of Northampton, MA responds: I doubt anyone has ever produced plans for a requinto, or at least offered one for commercial distribution. For most Hispanic luthiers I know, sharing information with strangers is a low priority. I’m an exception. Requintos are made just like a Spanish guitar, with a smaller template but full guitar-depth sides. They are tuned like a guitar capoed at the 5th fret, A to A, with the same intervals between the strings as a guitar. Scales vary from 21 5/8" to 22 1/8". Cutaways are very popular. Thicknesses of all the top, back and side plates are the same as the ones chosen for the larger Spanish guitar. Five fan braces with two cutoff bars on the bottom are most common. Strings chosen are the same as for full-size guitars, but understandably the gauges on the lightest-tension sets are preferred. All other full-size guitar dimensions and construction details apply. Luis Alberto Paredes Rodríguez from Bogotá, Colombia responds: Here are the basic dimensions of the requintos we make in our shop. The body measurements are similar to those of the Colombian tiple: upper bout = 25CM; waist = 21.4CM; lower bout = 32.5CM; body length = 42CM; body depth = 9CM–9.5CM. The scale length varies from 540MM to 560MM. But we find the ideal scale to be 550MM. The other neck dimensions are the same as the guitar and the neck joins the body at the 12th fret. Some have a body cutaway. The instruments invariably have a pickguard. (Editor’s note: GAL Instrument Plan #51, the Colombian Tiple, was drawn by Sr. Paredes. It may be ordered from the GAL website.) ◆ (See also our Instrument Plan #54, Mexican Requinto)
